----General Alvarez's P.O.V----
General Alvarez tightened his grip around the porcelain teacup in his hand.
Crack.
The cup shattered under the pressure of his fingers. Broken pieces fell onto the wooden table as hot tea spilled across the surface.
He did not even notice. His face had become darker with every report that reached him.
"Another plan has failed," he muttered through clenched teeth. His voice was filled with bitterness. "Every single time we think we have finally cornered that boy, he somehow walks away alive. Every trap we prepare is broken apart by him. It is as though fate itself refuses to let Gladion die."
He looked down at the shattered cup before clenching his fist even tighter.
"Even one of the oldest and most powerful Legendary Pokémon in existence could not kill him. If even Regigigas failed to finish him, then what exactly do we have left that can stop him?"
Silence followed his words.
Across the room, Madame Boss slowly lowered the report she had been reading. Her expression was just as cold as before, but even she could not completely hide the irritation in her eyes.
"So much preparation," she said quietly. "So many resources. We manipulated the battlefield perfectly. We awakened one of the oldest Legendary Pokémon in existence. Everything happened exactly according to our plan until Gladion actually faced Regigigas. I truly believed that no trainer could possibly survive a battle like that."
She slowly shook her head.
"And yet... Gladion walked away alive."
General Alvarez slammed his fist against the table.
"I was certain Regigigas would finish him."
He let out a bitter laugh.
"Who could possibly survive fighting Regigigas? That creature has existed since ancient times. Legends say it moved continents themselves, yet somehow a child Gym Leader walked away from that battlefield alive."
Madame Boss answered calmly.
"Apparently, Gladion can." She folded her arms as she looked at the battle reports spread across the table. "He has once again accomplished something that should have been impossible. Every time we believe we understand the limits of his strength, he surpasses them. I am beginning to understand why so many people have started calling him a once in a generation prodigy."
The General picked up another report lying beside him.
Several photographs had been taken secretly by his remaining scouts after the battle.
He carefully studied every image.
The first showed the enormous crater where the battle had taken place. The second showed the destroyed mountains surrounding the valley. The third showed Gladion standing together with the members of his team.
General Alvarez's eyes slowly narrowed.
"He did not even lose a single one of his Pokémon in battle against the fucking Regigigas."
His voice was filled with disbelief.
"I expected casualties. I expected at least one of those monsters on his team to fall. Even if Gladion survived, I believed his victory would come at a terrible cost."
He threw the photographs back onto the table. "But nothing."
He looked toward Madame Boss. "Nothing. Every single one of them survived. They walked away together after fighting a Legendary that should have wiped out an entire army."
His frustration only continued growing.
"Tell me honestly, Madame. How are we supposed to deal with someone like him? Every report I receive only makes him appear more dangerous than before. Every time we prepare for one of his strengths, he reveals three more that we never even knew existed."
He began counting on his fingers.
"He commands two Legendary Pokémon that willingly fight beside him. That alone is enough to make most regions hesitate before making him an enemy."
He raised another finger. "He has an Alpha Tyranitar capable of Mega Evolution, and that monster actually managed to push Regigigas backward through sheer physical strength. That should not even be possible, yet our scouts watched it happen with their own eyes."
Another finger. "He possesses a Metagross powerful enough to restrain Regigigas, even if only for a few precious seconds. Those few seconds were enough to completely change the battle."
Another. "He has a Rhyperior capable of reshaping the battlefield itself and supporting the rest of his team perfectly."
He let out another bitter laugh. "And then there is the report that I still cannot believe."
He picked up another intelligence report. "My intelligence officers swear that his Machamp actually stood its ground against Regigigas and physically wrestled with it. Every instinct tells me that report should be impossible, but every witness tells exactly the same story. They all insist that the Machamp helped pin down Regigigas with its own strength."
General Alvarez rubbed his forehead.
"I have spent my entire military career studying powerful trainers. But I have never seen a team like this before. Every one of his Pokémon is powerful enough to become the ace of another trainer."
Madame Boss quietly folded her arms.
"Neither have I," she admitted calmly.
General Alvarez's expression gradually changed. The frustration that had filled his face moments earlier slowly disappeared.
Something else replaced it.
Fear.
Real fear.
He quietly sat back in his chair. "He will come after us. There is no doubt left in my mind anymore. Gladion is not the kind of man who simply forgets an attack like this. He will investigate every clue, question every witness, destroy every criminal network connected to us, and continue searching until he reaches the people responsible."
His voice became quieter. "And eventually..."
His eyes slowly met Madame Boss's.
"...he will find us."
Madame Boss did not deny his conclusion.
Because she had already reached the same one. "Then we should not stay in Sinnoh."
General Alvarez looked at her. "What are you suggesting?"
She calmly unfolded another map.
This one showed the surrounding regions.
"We need protection, and we need it immediately," she said. "Remaining in Sinnoh is no longer an option. Every passing day increases the chance that Gladion uncovers another clue leading directly to us. We need to disappear before he begins closing in."
Her finger slowly moved south. "We need to hide within a larger organization with means to protect us."
General Alvarez immediately frowned.
"What about Team Galactic? They already operate throughout Sinnoh and possess considerable influence. Would they be willing to shelter us until this situation calms down?"
Madame Boss slowly shook her head.
"No. Team Galactic is far too ambitious. They have plans of their own, and bringing us into their organization would only attract the attention they are trying to avoid. They would see us as a burden rather than an ally. I do not believe they would risk exposing themselves for our sake."
General Alvarez nodded."Agreed."
Madame Boss's finger continued moving across the map until it rested upon Hoenn.
"Team Magma."
The General raised an eyebrow. "They would actually shelter us after everything that has happened?"
"They have already agreed," Madame Boss replied calmly. "I contacted them long before Regigigas failed. I always prepare multiple escape routes because plans do not always succeed. Their leadership believes our military experience, intelligence network, and remaining resources will strengthen their organization. Helping us also benefits them."
General Alvarez slowly leaned forward. "And in return?"
"They gain experienced soldiers. They gain access to our intelligence network. Most importantly, they gain allies who already oppose Indigo. For them, this is not charity. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement."
General Alvarez considered the proposal.
It made sense. Remaining in Sinnoh would only allow Gladion to hunt them more easily.
Leaving while they still had the opportunity was the smarter choice.
Madame Boss continued. "I have already prepared our extraction to Hoenn. False identities have been arranged. New travel documents have been forged. Safe houses are ready, and ships have already been secured. If everything proceeds according to plan, we will disappear before Gladion even realizes we have left Sinnoh."
General Alvarez could not help smiling.
"You truly planned for everything. Even after our greatest plan failed, you already had another path waiting for us. Had you not prepared all of this beforehand, I honestly doubt any of us would survive what comes next."
She gave a small shrug. "I learned long ago that surviving requires planning for failure."
She looked toward him. "We will not leave together."
General Alvarez nodded. "That would attract far too much attention."
"Exactly," she replied. "We will leave one by one. Your officers will follow separately over the next several weeks. They will travel under different names, use different routes, and arrive in Hoenn at different times. By the time Gladion begins searching seriously, every one of us will already be beyond his reach."
General Alvarez slowly stood from his chair.
The fear had not disappeared.
But now...There was at least a plan.
He extended his hand toward Madame Boss.
"Very well. This is undoubtedly the best course of action we have left. Staying in Sinnoh would only guarantee our capture. I have to admit, Madame Boss, you truly are someone who always plans several steps ahead."
Madame Boss shook his hand firmly before allowing herself a small smile.
"In our line of work, those who fail to prepare rarely live long enough to make another plan."
-----Author Notes------
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