Chapter 353: Chaos in the Southern District

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News spreads quickly in the gray zones, and the southern district of Pewter City had undoubtedly become the territory of the Black Serpent Gang.

After a week of consolidation, the entire southern district was now filled with the gang's informants.

Not long after Sato left the alley, a group of thugs wielding clubs and knives arrived in a hurry—these newcomers were none other than members of the Black Serpent Gang.

Led by a burly man with a scarred face, they quickly roused the unconscious gang members in the alley and began interrogating them one by one.

"Speak!!! Where did the person who knocked you all out go?"

The scar-faced man slapped a bald-headed underling awake, grabbed him by the collar, and lifted him off the ground, his tone menacing.

This scar-faced brute was the leader of the new arrivals—his name was Kosuke, known as "Mad Dog" in Pewter City's underworld. Ruthless and vicious, he had over a dozen lives on his hands and was currently the Black Serpent Gang's top enforcer.

"Ky-Kosuke, boss, I don't know! That guy was too strong—he took us all down in an instant. If he had really wanted us dead, I wouldn't even be here talking to you now."

The bald underling, initially furious at being slapped awake, immediately cowered upon recognizing Kosuke.

However, compared to Kosuke, he feared Sato even more. After a quick mental calculation, he decisively chose to lie.

"Hmph, what a bunch of useless trash. Anyone who dares to mess with the Black Serpent Gang won't get off easy. If word gets out, those weaklings we just crushed will start acting up again. Hurry up and find him before he leaves the southern district!"

Kosuke didn't doubt the bald underling's words, especially since every other gang member he questioned gave the same response.

He tossed the man onto the ground and then coldly issued his order to the surrounding gang members.

Although Kosuke seemed to be just an enforcer, he was actually the one managing the gang's daily affairs.

The reason the Black Serpent Gang had risen so quickly wasn't just because of Team Rocket's backing—Kosuke, a seasoned underworld figure, had played a crucial role in its establishment.

In truth, Rondo was only the gang's leader in name. As a member of Team Rocket, he rarely showed his face in Pewter City anymore.

His recent rise to notoriety in the underworld had exposed his affiliation with Team Rocket, making him a prime target for the city's law enforcement.

Currently, the Pewter City police were keeping a close eye on Rondo, and the Pokémon Center had even posted a bounty for his capture, encouraging League trainers to hunt him down.

At the same time, the authorities were cracking down on the Black Serpent Gang, recognizing it as a proxy force for Team Rocket.

The gang had only recently annexed the territory of the Spearow Gang, gaining dominance over the southern district's gray zone.

However, their rapid expansion meant their foundations were weak. Without Team Rocket's backing, they wouldn't have been able to take over the Spearow Gang in the first place.

Now that Pewter City's League forces were actively suppressing them, Team Rocket could no longer provide overt support. Even their secret assistance had been reduced significantly.

For the time being, they had to lay low.

Thus, despite appearing strong, the Black Serpent Gang was actually quite fragile—teetering on the edge of collapse.

Kosuke, a seasoned criminal, knew that in such precarious times, the gang couldn't afford to lose face.

If word got out that they were nothing more than a paper tiger propped up by Team Rocket, even without League intervention, the remnants of the old gray factions in the southern district would tear them apart.

"But Kosuke, boss, that guy was seriously strong... I don't think our men stand a chance against him—ahhh!!!"

Before the bald underling could finish, Kosuke's face twisted in rage, and he viciously kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying several meters.

Blood spurted from the man's mouth as he lost consciousness.

Truthfully, Kosuke hated this idiot to the core. If it weren't for his reckless shakedown attempt, the Black Serpent Gang wouldn't have provoked Sato in the first place—now, the entire gang had to clean up after him.

If not for the risk of causing internal dissent, Kosuke would have already killed him. And now, this fool was even trying to talk back to him? Utterly oblivious to his own fate.

The surrounding gang members, already in awe of Kosuke, trembled at the sight of the bald underling's fate.

Without hesitation, they quickly released their Pokémon and scattered in all directions.

Within moments, every member of the Black Serpent Gang in the southern district was on the move, scouring the area for any trace of Sato.

Watching them scramble, Kosuke remained still until only his five most trusted subordinates and the unconscious bald underling were left.

He then gave a slight nod.

"Come out, Houndoom. Use Odor Sleuth and track the scent of any unfamiliar individuals here."

Regaining his composure, Kosuke retrieved an Ultra Ball and released the Pokémon inside.

A battle-scarred Houndoom emerged, its fierce eyes sweeping over Kosuke before obediently following his command. It lowered its nose to the ground, sniffing carefully.

Moments later, it found something.

Turning its head, Houndoom signaled to Kosuke with a nod.

Receiving the confirmation, Kosuke gestured for his subordinates to follow as Houndoom led the way.

"I worked too hard to establish my own power in Pewter City under the banner of Team Rocket. I don't care who you are—if you dare to mess with what I built, I won't let you go unpunished."

Kosuke's scarred face was twisted with fury.

In truth, he was wary of Sato. After all, it was undeniable that Sato had taken down over a dozen gang members in an instant. Kosuke knew he could do the same, but not with such efficiency.

Still, what was done was done. He had no choice but to make Sato pay some kind of price—just enough to make it seem like the gang had maintained its dignity.

Otherwise, if word spread that the Black Serpent Gang had been beaten down while trying to extort someone, their authority in the southern district's gray zone would plummet.

And if that happened, even Kosuke wouldn't be able to salvage the situation.

—

Meanwhile, as the Black Serpent Gang scoured the city in search of him, the very man who had thrown the entire southern district into chaos...

Sato was enjoying a late-night meal at a restaurant near the border between the southern and eastern districts, happily dining with his Pokémon.

Of course, by this point, he had already changed his clothes, altered his face, and even sprayed himself with a top-tier fragrance in order to mask his original scent.