Willy gripped his wine glass so tightly his knuckles turned white, then downed the drink in one gulp.
He had just received horrifying news—Ghost Fox, the mercenary he had betrayed, not only survived the trap but killed the two brothers and even took down an elite police captain!
Willy had acted with great discretion, but he knew Jack—Ghost Fox—was no fool. All it would take was a bit of reasoning, and Jack would realize how the two brothers had discovered his escape route.
Willy, a former Pokémon hunter turned broker with nearly a decade of experience, wasn't naïve enough to expect mercy. He certainly wouldn't rely on their former friendship to save him.
So he made a decision: strike first.
Willy had built a solid reputation and accumulated many resources over the years. He had long become an elite-level trainer. More importantly, he had deep connections, enough to call on powerful help when needed.
What he feared most about Ghost Fox wasn't his strength or execution—it was his caution.
Even after two months of being his agent, Willy knew next to nothing about Jack. He hadn't seen his face, only that his Pokémon was Ghost-type.
That mystery made Jack dangerous. You couldn't prepare for someone you couldn't profile.
Still, Willy had a trump card—an ace specifically designed to counter Ghost-types. Combine that with some fellow veteran Pokémon hunters, and use himself as bait? He was confident. Jack couldn't be inhuman.
Once the plan was set, Willy wasted no time.
He quickly summoned his men to the town, a place he'd lived in for years and knew inside-out. He could escape from it blindfolded if needed. He'd even trained several underlings for moments like this—good enough to serve as spotters or cannon fodder.
The only thing Willy regretted was that he couldn't flood the town with surveillance devices. Too many, and the police might start asking questions. Otherwise, he would've created a net tight enough to choke a Gengar.
Still, the people he brought in soon arrived and positioned themselves according to Willy's instructions, hidden in alleyways, rooftops, and shadowed corners.
But even after two full days, there was no sign of Ghost Fox.
Willy began to wonder—could Jack have been spooked by the betrayal? Did he now consider Willy too dangerous to deal with?
But deep down, Willy knew better.
Ghost Fox would come. And he would strike.
This was a game of patience. The first to move out of fear would show their hand and lose.
Fortunately, the people Willy hired had no complaints. Why would they? They were being paid daily. If they encountered Ghost Fox, they'd be paid five times more. And there was even a bonus if they captured or killed him.
"I never thought Willy—stingy old bastard—would splurge like this. All to take care of me? He really does know when to open the purse."
Just as Willy expected, Jack—Ghost Fox—was already in the town.
Thanks to Gastly's ghostly talents and Jack's invisible monitors, he'd already figured out Willy's layout.
It wasn't that Willy had been careless. It was just that Jack had set up shop in places Willy couldn't monitor.
The invisible monitors fed Jack all the data he needed, exposing every flaw in Willy's trap.
More importantly, Gastly also brought back something even better—information about Willy's connections.
Early in the morning, Jack—disguised as a middle-aged traveler—checked out of his temporary lodging and slipped back into the forest. He'd return later, maybe in a day or two, as someone else—maybe a teenager next time, maybe an old man. Always changing.
This time, Jack picked a remote cave in the woods.
He planted his remaining three invisible monitors at key spots around the area, and set up a perimeter laced with bombs.
If anything—or anyone—got close, he'd know instantly.
Once everything was in place, Jack turned to Gastly.
"Go ahead, Gastly. I've got your back."
Gastly didn't hesitate. It was time to evolve.
Unlike in games, Pokémon in this world could control their evolution once they reached the required level—just like Ash's Pikachu refusing a Thunder Stone. Some trainers even used evolution stones to prevent accidental evolution.
But Gastly was ready.
The ghostly energy around him shimmered and pulsed. White light enveloped his body as the evolution process began.
Jack stood guard, watching the monitors while keeping his eyes on his partner.
He was calm on the outside—but inside, he was a storm of nerves.
Gastly had been with him through countless life-and-death missions. They were more than trainer and Pokémon—they were family.
But evolution was risky. A failed evolution or one interrupted midway could be fatal.
All Jack could do now was trust Gastly.
The light intensified.
Seconds stretched into what felt like hours.
Then, finally—Haunter emerged.
A purple specter with a floating, round body, disembodied hands with three clawed fingers, and spiky protrusions on either side of its head. Its triangle eyes gleamed white, its jagged mouth full of wicked teeth.
Haunter hovered effortlessly in the air—faster, stronger, more dangerous.
A true nightmare for his enemies.
Haunter wasn't just powerful. He could phase through walls, spy unseen, and strike without warning. It was no wonder some believed he came from another dimension.
Jack smiled faintly, eyes gleaming under his disguise.
The real hunt was about to begin.