Consider it a discount?
Even if such condescending words were factual, they were incredibly unpleasant to hear.
Still, looking at himself and Aron together, Kashiwagi had a momentary, delusional flicker of hope that lasting three minutes might actually be possible.
Unfortunately...
"You didn't! Give me! A second! To talk!"
Kashiwagi exerted every ounce of strength to dodge the Machamp's fists, while simultaneously tossing Aron to the far side of the ring.
Though the opponent hadn't given him a chance to strategize, there were obvious signs that it was holding back. For instance, out of its four arms, it was only using the lower two. Its offensive intensity was low, and it hadn't used a single move.
Was it guarding against Aron? It felt more like Machamp was simply showing pity.
What was the point of all this? Did a high-ranking Executive really have nothing better to do than call him down here for a random beating? Impossible.
"Find a chance to hit its legs!"
Kashiwagi shouted, twisting his body dangerously to evade a left hook. However, he couldn't dodge the lightning-fast right follow-up. The speed was so great that a faint glimmer seemed to flash.
THUD! "Gah!"
After a sickening sensation of impact, intense pain surged from his abdomen to his brain. Kashiwagi's back slammed hard into the chain-link mesh of the octagon. His body buckled instantly like a boiled shrimp, and he nearly bit through his tongue.
What a fast combo! This thing's level is definitely high! Protect the chin!
He frantically raised his arms, only to feel a massive force and a searing heat against his right bicep. The heat quickly turned into a piercing, agonizing pain—the kind that felt like muscle fibers being torn—and he was swept off his feet.
Smack.
His body convulsed on the mat.
The visions in his head had been beautiful: a narrow escape, a perfect synchronization with Aron, perhaps even taking Machamp down with Endeavor.
But in a real confrontation, he hadn't lasted thirty seconds. He hadn't even had the chance to give Aron a proper signal.
Aron, seeing Kashiwagi go down, lunged at the Machamp. But the fighting Pokémon acted as if it had eyes in the back of its head. It dodged effortlessly and caught Aron by the head with one hand, hoisting it into the air.
"Gaaah~"
Machamp casually used its other hand to block the mud Aron spat out. Using Mud-Slap to blind me? You have to actually hit first.
"Cough... let him down... I forfeit."
Kashiwagi struggled to prop himself up. His throbbing lungs and the dull ache in his right arm made it hard to speak.
Still, he forced himself to use his teeth to pull off his gloves. Under Machamp's confused gaze, he used his last bit of strength to quickly recall Aron into its Poké Ball.
Once done, he shrank the ball and shielded it in his embrace, curling into a defensive ball to protect his vitals. He tapped his right hand repeatedly on the mat.
The universal sign for submission.
He chose to give up because he saw the gap. Continuing would just be a pointless beating. He had confidence in his constitution, but if his spleen ruptured, he'd be dead on the spot.
Silence.
After a long moment, Kashiwagi finally heard the giant's voice.
"Get up."
He slowly straightened his back to find the giant squatting in front of him. A water bottle and a towel were placed less than a meter away. Machamp had already wordlessly exited the cage.
The giant asked, "Anything to say?"
Kashiwagi didn't drink. He just used the towel to wipe the sweat of pain from his face. "...No."
"The weak have no right to speak. What do you think of that sentence?"
"A universal truth."
"You made Chester lose face, injured his subordinate, and interfered with his plans. The Crystal Unit will definitely come for you. What do you plan to do?"
"...Fight back."
"Ha. Fight back like you did today?"
"..."
"The reason you're still standing here safely is that someone high up has a good impression of you."
The giant sat down cross-legged, looking completely normal, as if he hadn't just set Kashiwagi up for a beating. "But that person's attention is limited. The day they forget you is the day you die."
"...Please, show me a way out."
Kashiwagi suppressed the twitching pain in his abs, making his tone as sincere as possible.
"Next week, we have a Pokémon match against Team Snod. Win, and you're a Sand Unit Squad Leader. I'll have your back from then on. Lose, and you're on your own. Any problems?"
The giant's tone was calm, but when his gaze swept over Kashiwagi's body, it carried the terrifying pressure of being stalked by an Ursaring.
Extreme danger. He could attack at any second. Run!
Kashiwagi felt his heart pounding against his ribs. He took a deep breath. "No problems, Lord Soshiro."
"Hmm?"
"...Boss."
"Good. Now get out."
Under Soshiro's blunt dismissal, Kashiwagi clutched his stomach and left the gym.
Machamp, currently rehydrating, watched his departing back, then looked at Soshiro, who was lost in thought in the cage. The Pokémon let out a helpless sigh. He's been using this same routine for years. Doesn't he get bored?
To be fair, the kid was good at dodging. I actually had to use a bit of Bullet Punch to land that hit.
A real talent. Exactly the kind of talent we're missing.
Outside.
Kashiwagi hadn't walked far when he saw the guide again.
"Yo. Took a beating, eh?"
The guide didn't seem surprised by his pathetic state. He smiled. "Who hit you? How many punches did you take?"
"...Machamp. Two punches."
"Your endurance needs work. You've got to train that. Whether you're a lackey or a Trainer, you're no good if you can't take a hit."
The guide walked over to a vending machine, bought two energy drinks, and tossed one over. "My treat."
"Thanks."
Kashiwagi caught it and took a long drink. The cold liquid slid down his throat, and the refreshing sensation dulled the pain in his abdomen.
"It might not be my place to say this," the guide said suddenly. "But since the Boss was willing to see you, it means he actually appreciates you."
"Mhm."
"The beating was for your own good. To keep you humble. Don't let his expectations down."
"I know."
"Good that you know... feel free to look around. The Underdome has plenty of interesting spots. I've got things to do, so I'll head off." The guide tossed his empty bottle on the floor and hurried away.
"Wait—"
Kashiwagi remembered he still needed intel, but the man was fast. One left turn and he was gone. He was left alone, staring blankly at the rough concrete floor.
Hundreds of meters away, the guide ducked into a room.
"How was it?" someone asked.
The guide shook his head. "I don't know how to describe it. In short, that kid... he might be different from everyone else we've met."
"I just hope he doesn't end up hating the Boss. Honestly, Boss is his own worst enemy—every time he finds someone he likes, he uses these methods. It's like he's trying to push them away." The other person sighed.
"Hate? Probably not. I think the kid is pretty smart," the guide sighed in return.
With a Boss who pulled these kinds of stunts constantly, there wasn't much they could do. But then again, weren't they there to solve the Boss's problems?
It's a tough world.
Pop.
The Poké Ball opened. Aron appeared and immediately rushed to Kashiwagi's feet, looking frantic.
"Ku! Ku!"
"I'm fine, I'm fine. We're both okay. Don't worry."
He knelt down and stroked Aron's head and back to calm the little guy down.
The constitution of humans in the Pokémon world was truly something else. When he took the hits, it felt like he was dying, and he could see some bruising when he lifted his shirt. But now, the ache was gone, his arm wasn't stiff, and his stomach felt fine.
Seeing that he was truly safe, Aron finally calmed down and let out a soft cry.
"Ku?"
"Hmm... you're asking why I took the beating? It's simple, really. It's a method of control—Workplace PUA. You use words or violence to shatter someone's self-esteem, then treat them with a bit of kindness and say it was 'all for your own good'..."
Kashiwagi patted its head helplessly. Hitting you because I appreciate you. Beating you into a pulp and then giving you an opportunity. It's the classic 'slap followed by a sweet candy' tactic.
Aron looked indignant. "Ku!"
"You think he's a bad guy? Well, looking at it now, definitely. but people aren't that easy to categorize."
Kashiwagi shook his head. "He used those tactics on us, but given his status, the fact that he's willing to spend time playing games with nobodies like us is a very direct form of appreciation. Not to mention, he'll likely keep his word and protect us. So, his 'PUA' was quite successful—we took a beating, and yet we still have to be grateful for the opportunity."
Aron wore an expression of total incomprehension. This was far beyond its understanding.
"You don't need to get it. Just know that in this place, we are the only ones who can trust each other absolutely. Everyone else has an agenda." Kashiwagi didn't explain further, pulling Aron into a hug.
Aron nuzzled him back gently.
Soshiro's move was an overt trap. Even if Kashiwagi saw through it, he had to acknowledge the man's position. But the resentment was real. Who likes getting punched for no reason?
Yet, the man's role was that of a faction leader—the type in a Hong Kong action flick who fights his way from Tsim Sha Tsui to Causeway Bay. You don't lead people like that with pure kindness.
The "Carrot and Stick" approach was the only logic that worked here.
As for what Soshiro told him, Kashiwagi admitted he tended to judge others by his own cynical standards, so he took the "truth" with a grain of salt. It might not be a lie, but it might not be the whole truth. Sometimes, a story that is 90% true is the best way to make someone lose their judgment.
Pyrite Town had no soil for "good people" to grow. This wasn't Pallet Town or Littleroot Town. Staying vigilant was his only safety net.
Does Chester really want to kill me? Were those hecklers on the surface also arranged by the Crystal Unit? What plan did I interfere with? Surely someone like Shibata wasn't entrusted with anything important? And who is the 'someone high up' who likes me? To be called 'high up' by Soshiro... who could it be? The shadow investors behind Team Snagem? Was Ishigaki's sudden change in attitude because of that person? And then there's the match next week.
Team Snagem and Team Snod had always been rivals. Their grudge started over mining rights and had fermented into total hostility.
I just got my Pokémon. My chances of winning are slim.
"Danger everywhere," Kashiwagi murmured, cupping Aron's chin. "I thought life as an official member would be easier, but the trouble is even worse than when I was a grunt."
At least back then, the only enemy he had to worry about was Shibata.