Boom!
A deafening explosion tore through the alley, reducing the gang leader and all his men to ashes in an instant.
This was exactly why Jack preferred Excellent-level targets.
With the right timing, he could complete the mission flawlessly—without ever revealing himself.
After the job was done, Jack disappeared into the shadows as usual.
What he didn't know was that the moment his identity and movements were reported, they were intercepted by Hideki Kusaka.
Without hesitation, Hideki mobilized his squad and set out immediately.
Compared to Ramil, Hideki Kusaka held a distinct advantage: he had access to the Kusaka family's intelligence network.
Thanks to that, Hideki quickly acquired fresh data on Jack's recent activities and pinpointed his approximate area of operation—far faster than Ramil ever could.
But if tracking down the Ghost Fox were really that simple, he wouldn't have survived this long.
By the time Hideki and his team arrived, Jack had already vanished without a trace.
"We'll stay in this town and wait," Hideki ordered, his voice calm and composed. "We'll strike the next time the Ghost Fox makes a move."
"Based on the intel we've gathered, Ghost Fox is currently searching for a new agent after eliminating his last one."
"His movements are so discreet that we can't get a detailed fix on him. So our best move is to wait until he settles in one area with his new agent. Once that happens, we can post bait missions in the area to lure him into the open."
Despite losing the trail, Hideki wasn't shaken. He calmly laid out his next plan to his team.
Naturally, the other three members didn't object. Their job was simple: follow Hideki Kusaka's orders and ensure he completed the mission flawlessly.
But there was more going on than just orders.
Hideki explained the plan not just to clarify, but to solidify his control—he wanted these three to trust him, to see him as a leader worth following even beyond this mission.
As a member of the Kusaka family, Hideki had ambitions of his own.
And if there was a chance to strengthen the power under his command, he would never pass it up.
The three subordinates understood exactly what Kusaka was aiming for. But none of them rejected the idea. After all, if they had any pride or high ideals, they wouldn't be working under him in the first place.
That said, they also knew how to play the game—act loyal, but keep their worth high.
Meanwhile, Jack was completely unaware of this silent power play.
After completing the assignment, he simply notified Old Hard that he would be ready for a new mission in three days.
Over the next three days, Jack planned to watch and observe Old Hard's interactions closely.
Most importantly, Jack wanted to see who would come looking for him.
To know your enemy is to gain the upper hand.
Sure enough, Ramil soon arrived, having received word of Jack's movements—and fell directly into Jack's surveillance net.
Even though Ramil used some disguises to mask his presence, he had come with clear intent. That made him easy to spot.
Jack wasn't the only one who noticed.
Hideki Kusaka also quickly picked up on Ramil's arrival.
He didn't see Ramil as a threat—only as a convenient contrast. Someone to make him look better.
Still, seeing that Ramil hadn't given up, Hideki decided to have a little fun with him.
A day later, after failing to make any progress, Ramil resigned himself to waiting in the town for Jack to show himself again.
Interestingly, his plan mirrored Hideki's exactly—both intended to lock down Jack's area of activity and lure him out.
While walking through town, Ramil suddenly heard someone call out behind him.
"Captain Ramil, fancy seeing you here!"
Turning around, Ramil's expression soured.
Of all people—it was Hideki Kusaka, along with his three teammates.
"Captain Ramil, I completely understand your desire to track down the Ghost Fox and bring him to justice," Hideki said, voice smooth as ever. "But shouldn't you wait for your team before acting?"
"Or… do you think your teammates are a burden, and you're better off working alone?"
Ramil clenched his jaw.
Hearing Kusaka repeatedly call him "Captain Ramil" felt like nails on a chalkboard. But he couldn't refute him.
If he admitted to acting alone, he'd be seen as a selfish operator—someone who couldn't function in a team.
If he was powerful enough, that label might not matter.
But he wasn't.
So he had no choice but to lower his head.
"You're right. I was too impatient and didn't wait for my team to catch up. Thanks for the reminder, Captain Kusaka. I won't let it happen again."
Even though he wanted to punch him in the face, Ramil kept his tone light.
"I understand your urgency, Captain Ramil," Hideki said with a friendly smile. "But teamwork is essential."
Then he turned to Ramil's three teammates.
"You three must also remember to stay close to your captain and follow orders. How could something as ridiculous as losing track of your leader even happen?"
"We understand, Captain Kusaka," one teammate replied quickly. "It won't happen again."
"Absolutely. We'll stick close to the captain at all times."
"You really are kind, Captain Kusaka," another chimed in. "We'll be sure to give it our all to track down the Ghost Fox!"
Watching his own teammates cozy up to Kusaka, Ramil felt like he was the odd one out in his own squad.
And honestly, he was.
They might've been his team in name, but they didn't truly see him as their leader.
After some small talk, Ramil and his "loyal" teammates walked away.
By then, Ramil already knew—he wasn't going to complete this mission.
His heart simmered with resentment—toward Hideki Kusaka, toward the Kusaka family, and toward this twisted, unjust alliance system that always favored the powerful.
But he couldn't do anything about it.
He could only endure. Watch others take the opportunities meant for him. Wait silently for another chance… only to see it stolen again.
As he looked down the street ahead, Ramil felt like he was staring at a future filled with mediocrity and failure.
Inside a quiet café nearby, Jack calmly sipped his coffee.
He had heard every word exchanged between Hideki and Ramil—thanks to the invisible monitor Haunter had planted earlier.
He now knew exactly who was after him—and how they planned to act.
After both teams left, Jack gave Haunter a silent command.
The ghost Pokémon reappeared, gently retrieved the hidden device, and vanished once more.
Now that he had the intel he needed, Jack was ready to begin his next move.