In a luxurious hotel in Castelia City, Alex was sleeping soundly when his danger sense suddenly jolted him awake. Tense and in a hyperaware state, his eyes shot open, and his hand moved to intercept an attack aimed at his face. The strike came with full force at Elite rank, and despite blocking it, he was sent flying from the bed, slamming into a wall that shook under the impact. Shock ran through him as he scrambled to fully wake, his eyes darting through the pitch-black room for the attacker.
"Don't touch my bagels!" a shout rang out, cutting through the tension as he realized who had attacked him.
Sprawled in her birthday suit on the bed, Rhea mumbled in her sleep, sheets and pillows scattered across the floor except for the one Alex had been using. She had always been a violent sleeper, which was why the girls would move her to the floor once she fell asleep, lest they be woken by a violent kick to the face.
Alex chuckled to himself before approaching Rhea's inelegant sleeping form and slapping her on the ass with the strength of an Adept rank, shaking the bed as he did so.
"Ahn," she moaned, smiling to herself before mumbling, "Anything but my bagels!"
She continued sleeping while Alex went to prepare breakfast and put some clothes on, then he read over Orvan Kestrel's profile again.
Target Profile: Orvan Kestrel
Pokémon: Unfezant, Braviary, Mandibuzz, Cofagrigus, Chandelure, Golurk
Threat Level: Champion Rank
Contract Value: 100 million credits (Team Umbraline) or 1 billion Pokédollars
Status: Kill on Sight
Orvan Kestrel, male, estimated age mid-90s, is the Regional Head of Team Dominion operations within Unova. He presents as tall and broad-shouldered, with a weathered complexion, steel-gray eyes, and dark hair worn short. He is typically observed in tailored suits designed for high-altitude and cold environments. Kestrel is known for a calm, predatory demeanor and favors controlled intimidation over overt displays of force.
Kestrel oversees Dominion's strategic expansion, logistics, and enforcement across Unova. Intelligence indicates he operates with near-total autonomy, answering only to Dominion's grand director. He is directly responsible for multiple large-scale destabilization efforts, including coordinated raids, relic extraction operations, and the targeted eradication of rival criminal cells. His operational doctrine emphasizes overwhelming force, psychological pressure, and rapid withdrawal to deny retaliation.
Kestrel's primary base is near the summit of Twist Mountain, officially registered under shell corporations. The facility is built into the mountain and reinforced against aerial, subterranean, and Ghost type threats. Surveillance indicates hidden launch platforms, hangars, and internal shafts for rapid Pokémon deployment. The site is guarded by operatives and automated systems, with constant aerial patrols. Expect layered defenses, immediate escalation, and no negotiation, with collateral environmental damage likely.
Direct confrontation is considered extremely high risk. Any operation targeting Orvan Kestrel must account for aerial superiority, Ghost type suppression, and rapid reinforcement capabilities. Failure to neutralize him decisively is likely to result in pursuit and retaliatory strikes extending well beyond the initial engagement zone.
The report went on to describe known associates who were all at minimum Elite rank, with quite a few recent Champions as well. It also detailed their bases, known businesses, crimes attributed to them by Team Umbraline, information on their operations, and even the criminal organizations that were taken down as they moved into the region.
"This explains the hefty payout," Alex noted. "But only a few of the Elites here have insignificant bounties, while the rest, including Orvan, don't. It's clear they have an in with the League that's able to clean up after them."
At minimum, it would require a concerted effort by a network of spies within the government, police, and media working in cooperation, as no Gym Leader, Elite Four member, or Champion could keep their activities hidden from the public. They were granted full authority by the League but were required to maintain an outstanding personal image, or they would be replaced. It was something he had learned about from Clarissa over the years.
"Oooh, bagels with cream cheese," Rhea exclaimed as she bounced into the kitchen.
She took a seat at the dining table, filled her plate with sliced bagels, and began spreading cream cheese on them. After a tentative bite, she squealed with delight and quickly stuffed her face.
Once she finished, she asked, "So, what's on the agenda for today?"
"We're heading out to meet Olivia's contact for your information," Alex replied.
"Right! Why do I need that again?"
"You said you wanted to know when and for how long they took their shits."
"Right! So I can explode their asses when they're at their most vulnerable. Also, how embarrassing would it be for them to die while taking a shit? The police would arrive and find their body parts strewn across the bathroom floor, mixed with their recently dumped poop."
"If they live with their children, wouldn't they be traumatized?"
"Clarissa never said anything about traumatizing children," Rhea said with a mischievous grin. "Besides, guys like these don't live with their families. They live with their mistresses and their work. Also, there's only one guy who has a wife and kid, and he barely sees them."
The pair finished breakfast, changed into casual trainer clothes, and headed southeast of Castelia City near the piers. They wove through the busy streets, slipping past pedestrians who kept to themselves, and eventually reached the slums, where small local businesses were more prominent and often questionable. The pier here was older and less traveled, a stark contrast to the bustling commercial docks to the south.
People here were less hurried, with eyes that tended to wander. The buildings were older, built of brick and mortar, and the streets were poorly maintained. It was the shadier part of the city that even tourists knew to avoid. Yet it was exactly the kind of place where the Underworld thrived and where one could find a well-connected information broker.
"You know, this is the place where I made my great escape from Argent Solutions," Rhea said somberly as she and Alex strolled through the grimy streets. "I got lost here when I was just starting my new job, and I noticed a hobo selling tickets for a ship to another region. I remember thinking I would never fall for such an obvious scam."
She chuckled softly before continuing. "Years later, it became my only option, as every other 'official' ship was probably being watched. Left with no other choice, I paid their asking price, huddled with a group of poor travelers, and sailed for months, surviving on nothing but gruel until we finally reached Kanto."
"I'm surprised you weren't trafficked," Alex said.
"They tried, but I had my trusty Tink with me, so they ended up dropping me off in the nearest region, which was Kanto."
"Then you met me?"
"Oh no, I ran all over the place making money online until Nyx offered me a high-paying job, permanent residence, and guaranteed protection. It was too good to be true and too good to pass up, so I took it with plenty of hesitation. And then, I met you."
"Well, I'm glad you did," Alex said, taking her hand with sexual intent and activating both of their psychic implants, bringing their feelings of love to the surface.
Rhea blushed heavily and leaned closer before speaking softly, "Me too."
They continued their leisurely stroll through the slums, drawing stares from shopkeepers, wary pedestrians, and homeless people, until they reached a street that led into a dark alley.
"This is so romantic?" Rhea asked, unsure if this was an ideal dating scenario.
Alex stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Rhea's shoulders, until they reached a dead end where a homeless man was nestled in a makeshift tent of wet cardboard boxes and torn tarps. The smell was exactly what one would expect, and the atmosphere was mildly threatening.
"Olivia sent us," Alex said simply.
The homeless man popped his head out of his tent and asked, "Tribute?"
Alex took out a trashbag from the hotel and tossed it by the man's head who proceeded to rummage through it. He picked at their left overs, took a bite of some half eaten bagel and nodded sagely.
"Down the hatch and follow the signs," the man said, pointing to a manhole cover with one hand and making a hand sign with the other.
The hand sign had the tips of the thumb, index, and pinky fingers connected, with the remaining fingers dangling loosely above to form a gesture that resembled a rabbit's head.
"A Trubbish!" Rhea cheered as she made the sign with her hand.
The homeless man smiled faintly before retreating to his tent to finish the rest of his breakfast.
Alex walked over to the manhole, easily lifted the cover, and had to turn away from the stench of garbage and raw sewage wafting up from the tunnel. With a heavy sigh, he jumped down, with Rhea following after him.
The pair moved through the narrow concrete tunnels, the air thick with the stench of waste and oil. Open sewage flowed sluggishly through the channels at their feet, while flickering lights revealed peeling graffiti and rusted pipes, among them crude markings of a rabbit's head scrawled along the walls and junctions. They followed the symbols deeper, past dripping water and echoing footsteps, leaving the distant noise of the city behind as the tunnels grew quieter and more oppressive.
They continued through seemingly random turns, some of which led back along paths they had already passed, though the new viewing angle revealed more signs to follow. Eventually, they reached a passage that slowly grew louder with the noise of people, growls, and arguments behind a set of heavy double doors.
Alex pushed them open, revealing a massive underground market deep beneath Castelia City.
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Be honest, how many of you made the hand sign and thought, "Hey, it actually does look like a rabbit"?
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