Chapter 166: Invitation from the Hunter Syndicate (Patreon)

It was common knowledge that only someone who had also reached the Elite tier possessed the strength to defeat another expert of that caliber.

Yet, out of nowhere, an incredibly young, seemingly reckless, but absurdly powerful Elite-tier expert had suddenly appeared?

Was he a secret investigator trained by the League? Or a sleeper agent cultivated in secret by some unfathomably entrenched prominent family?

Perhaps he was wearing a Ditto disguise? But after listening closely, the man felt the voice didn't quite match that theory.

"Did you kill her?"

The young man's voice was devoid of any emotional fluctuation. It was impossible to tell whether he actually cared about Hunter J's life or death.

Successfully seizing Hunter J's communicator meant there was a very high probability of killing her; it all depended on how lucky that woman was.

Conversely, the man's attitude made Alex somewhat uncertain about Hunter J's status within the Hunter syndicate.

After a moment of hesitation, Alex decided to tell the truth.

"No, her Alakazam used Teleport to escape with her. But I managed to keep her Salamence and Ariados. That should be a heavy blow for her."

Lies not only failed to make a person look stronger in the eyes of others, but once exposed, they revealed a nature that was tough on the outside but fragile on the inside.

Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, it was best to avoid lying. Especially when facing an enemy, a lie could sometimes expose your true intentions more easily than silence.

Hearing this, the man simply nodded slightly. He didn't comment further on Alex's actions, speaking expressionlessly.

"You should have killed her. That way, you could have inherited her identity and codename, and perhaps even some of her assets, becoming one of the key figures involved in decision-making within the syndicate."

Alex was stunned for a moment before blurting out, "Aren't you her ally?"

The man laughed, as if he had just heard a hilarious joke. It was the first time Alex had seen an expression other than cold indifference on the mysterious man's face.

"Hunters never travel in packs. Subordinates are merely cannon fodder; everyone else is a competitor. The only way to become one of the twenty-six elites holding a 'Hunter' codename is to eliminate an existing one."

"Between Hunter J and myself, there was at most a tenuous cooperative relationship based on mutual interests. It was far from what you'd call an alliance."

Alex was completely at a loss for words. It defied common sense that such a cruel, cold-blooded organization had managed to develop so rapidly.

Or perhaps the reason the Hunter syndicate had grown so powerful in such a short time was precisely because of this approach?

"Are you also a member holding a Hunter codename?" Alex probed for the man's true identity.

The man smiled, seemingly entirely unfazed by Alex's questioning. "You can call me B."

Alex felt an odd sense of familiarity looking at Hunter B in his custom black-and-gold combat suit. It was as if he had seen him somewhere before, but he couldn't quite place the face in the moment.

Just then, Hunter B took a document from a subordinate off-screen. He flipped through a couple of pages casually before turning his gaze back to Alex.

"We've verified your identity. A once-in-a-century breeding prodigy, Alex Carter from the Hoenn League. Although I don't know why you'd go to Mt. Coronet, it doesn't really matter. So, what do you say? Do you want to join the Hunter Association and become a Hunter?"

Alex wasn't the least bit surprised that the Hunter syndicate had dug up his intel. After all, thanks to the 'outstanding contributions' of the Breeder's Guild, his basic information was practically plastered all over the internet.

Just as Alex was about to speak, Hunter B preempted him, as if anticipating his response.

"Don't be so quick to refuse. Our Hunter syndicate isn't some bizarre cult made up of societal scum. There are no mandatory missions here, nor do we brainwash people or force you to do anything ridiculous like swearing unwavering loyalty to the Hunter Alliance, unlike some other organizations."

"What matters between Hunters is a genuine, tangible exchange of interests. Everyone gets what they need, and everyone is happy. Furthermore, you're free to come and go as you please. It's entirely up to you."

Hearing this, the corners of Alex's mouth curled up slightly.

Hunter B's words sounded sweeter than a siren's song. But if Alex were truly stupid enough to believe that nonsense and engage in activities strictly prohibited by the League, wouldn't he spend the rest of his life being led by the nose by the Hunter syndicate, forced to obediently do whatever they commanded?

The 'free to come and go' garbage would probably only fool a three-year-old.

On the other side of the screen, Hunter B continued to ramble on about the seemingly irresistible benefits of the Hunter syndicate.

"The organization is relatively loose. Once you become one of the twenty-six codenamed Hunters, no one can restrict your movements. You can exchange resources with other powerful Hunters; a massive variety of rare resources are yours for the taking. Even at the annual Hunter Conference, there are incredibly enticing rewards."

"Even if you want a pseudo-Legendary Pokémon, it's not impossible. The syndicate is more than capable of helping you secure one. In fact, Hunter J's Salamence was one of the perks provided to her by the syndicate."

"Most importantly, being a Hunter doesn't conflict with your status in the League. Many important figures within the League that you can think of are registered with the syndicate, or provide us with various resources and conveniences to support the things they want done but can't conveniently do themselves."

"The League only hunts down Hunters who cross the line. As for the existence of the Hunter's Guild, the League has always adopted a laissez-faire attitude, turning a blind eye. You're a smart guy. You should understand the reasoning behind this."

Alex didn't actually feel a strong sense of belonging to the League. After all, the very nature of being a transmigrator meant his mindset wasn't entirely aligned with the people of this world. But that didn't mean he was willing to join a purely dark organization like the Hunter's Guild.

Frankly speaking, even if he just followed Elesa and developed his career in the Unova League, his future would still be infinitely vast. With such abundant resources available to him, who would be stupid enough to go looking for trouble?

As for the League's motives for tolerating the Hunter's Guild... Calling it a strategy to 'create enemies to consolidate their own power' might be a bit of a stretch. But saying they were cultivating a pair of black gloves to do their dirty work? That was absolutely spot on.

There was another incredibly crucial reason: as long as the profession of Pokémon Trainer existed in this world, Pokémon poaching would spread like weeds. It was impossible to eradicate completely.