Pokemon: The Legendary Trainer

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During the battle, the first deserter had finally appeared. If they couldn't stop the chain reaction immediately, it would be nearly impossible to prevent a complete collapse.

Unsurprisingly, these bikers, accustomed to dominating with favorable odds, lacked the resilience to hold their ground.

As soon as one person fled, the rest followed suit, scattering in all directions.

Sato and the other members of the strike team made no significant effort to stop the deserters.

Their strategy, discussed before the operation, was simple: ignore the deserters and focus entirely on capturing the mysterious gang leader and their core members.

Without their leader and the core group, the disbanded rank-and-file members would pose no further threat, and the bike highway's order would soon be restored.

As the disarray among the bikers became apparent, Sato called his Beautifly back and stepped aside to observe. The rest was no longer his responsibility; he only needed to wait for the outcome.

Wattson and the other senior members of the strike team, embroiled in fierce battles with the gang's core members, had no complaints about Sato's decision to stand down.

On the contrary, they were inwardly relieved.

Those in the know understood that if Sato and his shiny Beautifly continued assisting, their chances to gain recognition would vanish, as they'd only serve as his backdrop.

Even without Sato's further involvement, victory was already within grasp. The remaining gang leaders were fully surrounded, their escape impossible.

Moreover, the strength of the bikers' leader and core members couldn't match the strike team's senior members.

The gang leader, with their Level 47 Banette and Level 43 Seviper, was formidable at the peak elite level but no match for Wattson, a seasoned Elite trainer.

Had the leader not fought recklessly, risking life and limb, and exploited Wattson's cautious, conservative approach, the battle would have ended far sooner.

After another ten minutes, the remaining gang members were defeated and captured.

When the strike team removed the gang leader's mask, shock rippled through the group, leaving many members ashamed.

Sato, too, was stunned to see the leader's true identity. The person who unified the bikers and repeatedly outwitted the strike team was actually a young woman.

Specifically, she was a rebellious teenager, around 17 or 18 years old, her face adorned with heavy makeup and tattoos covering her body.

Despite her menacing appearance, her talent as a trainer was undeniable.

Given another year or two and the resources she'd amassed from her gang, she could have reached the ranks of an Elite trainer capable of challenging even Wattson.

However, the scars on her once-beautiful face and the marks of abuse on her body spoke volumes about her tragic life.

Her eyes, filled with hatred and despair, revealed a soul crushed by her circumstances.

"What a waste," Sato thought as he observed her.

"She must have quite the story, and if she'd taken the right path, her potential would've been limitless."

With the battle concluded, the team moved on to dividing the spoils. As the operation's key contributor, Sato was naturally involved in distributing the loot.

Inside the gang's hideout, they discovered a wealth of stolen Pokémon items and valuables, neatly organized and labeled with their corresponding contribution values.

In a small vault, stacks of PokeDollars and rare items like nuggets, known for their high in-game resale value, awaited them.

Sato estimated the total worth to exceed 50 million PokeDollars.

Clearly, the gang leader had ambitions beyond their current operation.

If given more time, she might have transformed her gang into a fully-fledged criminal organization in Mauville City, with herself as its leader.

"This makes being a highway bandit seem like a viable career option," Sato joked internally, marveling at the hoard before him. (Highway Bandit - Sato Kaede?)

However, his musings were cut short by the distant sound of approaching police sirens and news reporters.

He took one last look at the young leader, committing her face to memory, before mounting his mountain bike with Growlithe and slipping away unnoticed.

While he wouldn't witness the official announcement of the raid's success, Sato had no concerns about his share of the rewards.

He'd already made arrangements with Wattson and the others: the reputation boost would be theirs, while he'd take half the mission rewards and loot.

Wattson's integrity, combined with the wealth of his colleagues Kris and Patt, assured him they wouldn't covet his share.

With the gang eliminated, Sato resumed his journey.

Riding his Acro bike along the now-peaceful highway, he pedaled steadily toward Slateport City.

By 9 p.m., under the tranquil night sky, Sato was speeding alone along the highway.

Nearing 11 p.m., the glittering lights of Slateport City finally came into view, feeling like a welcoming sight to the slightly winded trainer.