Chapter 269: Secret Spy - Sato Kaede?

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At 6:00 AM the next morning, Sato woke up on time. Unlike his usual sluggishness, he completed his morning routine and shared breakfast with his Pokémon in just half an hour. 

Before the sun fully rose, he had Golbat carry him out of the inn and White River Village through the window.

This plan had been arranged with the village elder the previous night. Sato needed to rest and recover quickly to rescue the elder's son and the members of the village guard. However, before embarking on that mission, he had another important task to complete.

The elder of White River Village, though not exceptionally gifted in battle to the extent of reaching the level of an Elite Four Champion, was a formidable Trainer in his younger days. 

Even now, he possessed a Gengar at level 55.

If not for his advanced age and the fact that no one else could properly command the increasingly disobedient Gengar, the elder alone could have dealt with the Team Magma unit that dared to abduct his son.

In truth, Team Magma's decision to avoid targeting the elder directly was wise. Had they done so, Sato likely wouldn't even have needed to get involved.

The elder's Gengar, with its immense hypnotic powers, quickly turned the six previously defiant Team Magma members into puppets willing to answer any question. From their confessions, Sato easily learned the whereabouts of Marcus and his group.

According to the Team Magma leader, who knew the most, Marcus and his group were alive and currently being held at a dock on Route 122.

A shocking revelation followed: the dock on Route 122 had fallen under Team Magma's control two days ago. They had set up checkpoints along the primary routes leading to the area, using Pokémon to block anyone attempting to pass.

The reason why the League had not yet detected this was that the dock's staff had been subdued, and all outgoing communications were falsified. Team Magma even replaced workers who needed to leave the dock with their own disguised members.

Upon learning this, the elder realized why the crew on the supply boats coming from the dock over the past two days seemed unfamiliar and overly anxious.

As for whether Marcus had revealed the secrets of Mount Pyre to Team Magma, that was something even their leader didn't know. 

However, based on the elder's description of Mount Pyre's hidden paths, it seemed plausible.

Mount Pyre was riddled with secret passages that led directly to its summit. If Team Magma obtained this information, they could bypass the numerous traps and guardian Pokémon the Mikuri Clan had set throughout the mountain.

Mount Pyre wasn't just a storage site for the Red and Blue Orbs—it was akin to Kanto's Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town, a sacred resting place for departed Pokémon.

According to legend, Mount Pyre was the battleground where Groudon and Kyogre once clashed. The mountain itself was said to have been formed by Groudon's mighty powers. 

Consequently, it was a massive burial ground and a haven for Ghost-type Pokémon.

The Guardians of Mt. Pyre, as they were known, initially rose to prominence by training Dark and Ghost-type Pokémon. Every member of the Guardians was required to raise at least one Ghost-type Pokémon.

The Guardians of Mt. Pyre also possessed unique abilities akin to spiritual energy used by shrine maidens. These powers allowed them to communicate with and command Ghost-type Pokémon.

Mount Pyre's unique geography made it perpetually shrouded in mist and clouds, save for a small sunlit area at its peak. This perpetual gloom made it a paradise for Ghost-types.

Thus, ordinary individuals couldn't easily enter Mount Pyre. Even experienced Trainers required companions and preferably Dark-type Pokémon to protect themselves.

Team Magma's target was clearly the Red Orb at the mountain's summit. To rescue Marcus and the others, Sato had to venture into the perilous mountain as well.

The elder warned Sato of the dangers within Mount Pyre, particularly the second half, where the number of Ghost-types increased exponentially. He advised Sato to acquire a strong Dark-type Pokémon to counter the spectral threats.

While Mightyena and Poochyena, abundant in the area, were good candidates, Sato didn't have time to capture and train one. Instead, he planned to borrow one from the elder for the mission, returning it afterward.

Sato already owned a canine Pokémon and wasn't particularly interested in adding Poochyena to his team due to its limited potential.

Sato knew he couldn't defeat Team Magma head-on. His rescue mission relied on strategy, not brute force.

The Team Magma members predominantly used Poochyena and Mightyena, giving Sato an opening to infiltrate their ranks. Using his Ditto's disguise ability and the intelligence he had gathered, Sato was confident he could slip in undetected, protect Marcus, and create an opportunity to free him and the others.

Direct confrontation was a task better suited for the League. Sato's role would be that of a covert operative, supporting the League in rescuing Marcus and his team.

It was time to showcase his acting skills—the first step in Sato's journey to becoming a master spy.