For this operation, Alex chose not to bring Rotom or Metagross. As technological Pokémon, they were subject to certain restrictions imposed by the League. It would not be a major issue if they did come along, but the less evidence tied to him, the better.
Since he could not bring his commander, he had to limit the number of Pokémon he deployed.
He did not need his defensive team this time, so he focused on those who could get him out of trouble. He also selected them in pairs, which made them easier to command and coordinate in the field.
Raticate and Arcanine shared a deep connection with Alex that went beyond mere affinity. They had been together for years, building up a strong foundation of trust and mutual understanding. This made them far easier to control in a fight. They were also his most reliable means of escape, making them essential for the operation.
Dusknoir and Ceruledge, as Ghost types, were particularly effective at infiltration and assassination. If Alex managed to catch his targets off guard, he would not even need to lift a finger. As the team's designated Protect breakers, they were absolutely necessary. Their frequent cooperation also gave them a seamless partnership in battle.
The Crobat pair were another critical choice, responsible for scouting, infiltration, and trapping. They were trained specifically for operations like this, which made them indispensable.
Lastly, Hydreigon was chosen for her nighttime stealth, silent flight, and because she had thrown a tantrum when Alex tried to leave her behind. She was paired with Aegislash to serve as his bodyguards and ensure he was never left defenseless.
With the team assembled, Alex teleported to his first stop. The bodyguard Nyx had cited as an example turned out to be the most expensive of the targets, worth approximately five million Pokedollars. Whoever he pissed off must have been seriously wealthy to put that kind of price on a literal nobody.
The targets Nyx gave Alex were all Expert Rank and below. They were grunts who took the opportunity to go the extra mile when committing crimes. With backing behind them, they had gone overboard.
Sure, there were probably plenty of Elite Rank rapists too, but killing them would take more than Alex's current team. Some of them had Champion Rank support, and Alex was not ready to mess with that yet.
When Alex arrived in Saffron City, he went straight to the address listed. It was not much information considering how many targets he had, but it was enough for him.
He made his way to a luxurious mansion on the south side of the city, known informally as Underworld territory.
He looked around and noted the heavy security. There were regular patrols of either trainers or Pokémon, and cameras pointed in every direction.
Alex had probably been recorded while scoping the place out, but he wore full body armor with a helmet that hid his face. He was not going to wait long for the assault anyway, so it did not matter.
It was the middle of the day, so stealth was out. There were no Elite Rank threats inside, so he could just force his way in, but he did not have his full team. Getting out would be easy, though.
"Since I can't use stealth or force my way in, I'll just use a distraction," Alex said as he released all his Pokémon.
"Crobats, take out the cameras near the front gate, scan the entire property, and look for this individual," Alex ordered, holding up a picture of his target on his phone. "Once you find him, give Ceruledge and Dusknoir his location. Then fly around the property and escape when they come after you."
"Ceruledge, Dusknoir, find the target, kill him, and try to bring the body back. If you cannot, then try to lead him out of the mansion. Raticate, take out anyone trying to trap them. Meet back here when it is done."
Alex had considered using his sniper rifle on the weak target, but the mansion walls blocked any clean shot. The nearest building he could shoot from was a few miles away, and landing a hit from that range was unrealistic even with his enhanced physicality.
He also was not interested in waiting for the perfect shot. He had a long list of names to get through.
Heeding Alex's orders, Ceruledge and Dusknoir melted into the shadows along the wall and slipped onto the property, while the Crobat pair took to the skies and darted toward the cameras at the front gate. After getting rid of the cameras, they began circling the mansion, scanning the area with their echolocation.
Their presence instantly drew the attention of the guards.
"We're being scanned. Take those damned Crobats out!" someone shouted, and a wave of guards rushed out of the mansion, releasing their Pokémon in response.
Expert Ranked Pokémon swarmed the grounds in coordinated formations, working to corner the airborne scouts. There were over twenty trainers who scrambled the second they got the call.
As Raticate was about to head out and start taking down trainers and Pokemon, Alex held him back.
"They're more organized than I thought," Alex muttered. "Arcanine, use Roar."
Arcanine burst from their hiding spot near the trees and unleashed a powerful Roar in front of the main gates. No one had noticed his approach, their attention fully fixed on the Crobats.
ROAR
A deafening roar erupted from the front gates, shaking the entire area. Panic followed instantly. Pokémon and humans alike scattered in all directions, overwhelmed by the sheer fear induced by the cry of an Elite Ranked Arcanine. None could resist.
Amid the chaos, Ceruledge and Dusknoir received the coordinates from the Crobats and slipped deeper into the shadows of the mansion. Their destination was the study.
Inside, the gang boss was pacing wildly, rattled by the presence of an Elite Rank threat at his doorstep.
"What the fuck is going on?" he shouted to no one. "I've been laying low like I was told. Why the fuck am I being targeted?"
His hands trembled as he reached for his communicator. "I need to call Enzo. He should be able to do something."
Enzo was his cousin, a grunt working under Umbraline. He was the only reason the boss had not already been arrested for his failing drug trafficking operation.
Ever since Don was taken out, business in Saffron City had been in shambles. To make things worse, the ones left behind were more interested in fighting among themselves than doing business. A new, promising replacement had started rebuilding, but Darren Holt was captured almost immediately.
Now, everyone had been ordered to stay quiet or risk facing the same fate.
Suddenly, his Pokémon surrounded him and released Protect shields, ready to block the incoming attack from a pair of Ghost types who slipped in. But the attack missed him entirely. Instead, it struck and killed his bodyguard and long time friend, Fred.
Fred's Pokémon tried to defend him, but the assassins were precise and coordinated. One used Phantom Force to break the Protect shield, while the other slipped through the gap, raised its blade, and beheaded Fred.
Fred's Pokémon attacked in a fury, but the assassins endured the blows as they retreated, carrying Fred's corpse.
In shock, the boss froze and failed to give any orders as the assassins leapt out the window and vanished into the shadows of the mansion, with Fred's Pokémon chasing after them.
"Fred was the target?" the boss muttered, stunned.
"Thankfully, Fred was the target," he breathed, slumping into his chair in relief. "I don't know who the fuck he pissed off, but they can have him."
Outside, the chaos had died down as the guards began to regroup with their Pokemon right as Ceruledge and Dusknoir jumped out of the mansion's window and bolted for Alex with the target's corpse in Dusknoir's hands.
Unfortunately, they were being followed by six very angry Pokemon who likely belonged to their target.
"Crobats, Raticate, delay the pursuers," Alex commanded.
The Crobats swooped in and used Hypnosis or Mean Look to delay the pursuers while Raticate simply tackled them with Quick Attack sending them flying back. As an Elite, he had enough power to fight off most Expert Ranked Pokemon.
Once Dusknoir handed the corpse over to Alex, he rummaged for the Poke Balls before activating them, retrieving the pursuers, and locking them in their Poke Balls. Finally, he stuffed the corpse into a bag, retrieved his Pokemon except Arcanine and teleported to their next location.
Overall, the operation went smoothly. He had been recorded wearing new gear that hadn't yet been linked to his identity, and the Pokémon seen were typical of Underworld trainers. His Arcanine also managed to avoid being caught on camera, which meant his identity should remain secure.
At most, the Underworld would know that an Elite-ranked trainer was targeting names on the assassination board.
Alex wasn't especially bothered by having his identity revealed, but since he had a good standing with the Underworld, he preferred to keep it that way. This new assassin gig would have to be kept secret for as long as possible.
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