Pokémon: Chronicles of Freedom-Chapter 528 - 527: Team Magma’s Strategy

After leaving the forest at the foot of Mt. Chimney, Cain recalled his Pokémon to continue his journey quickly. Alongside Steven, who was riding his Skarmory, Cain flew on his Tropius, both heading toward Leafy Town.

...

In the Hoenn region.

On Route 112, above Lavaridge Town, there was a hidden cave nestled amidst the mountainous trail.

Inside the cave was a massive meeting hall.

At the center stood a middle-aged man with red hair, clad in a red and black coat, positioned at the head of the table. His stance was imposing and commanding.

Around the table, the other members of the group varied in appearance, but none dared meet the red-haired man's gaze.

The atmosphere was tense.

Everyone in the room controlled their breathing, afraid the leader might seize any excuse to punish them.

Only three individuals, seated closer to the red-haired man, seemed slightly more at ease. While they too felt intimidated by the leader's presence, they didn't go as far as holding their breath.

Silence reigned in the hall, and no one dared speak.

Time seemed to crawl for everyone present.

"Yesterday! Someone infiltrated Mt. Chimney and was discovered by League agents. They are now under arrest, including a key mid-level member. What do you think we should do about this situation?" said the red-haired man in a tone that brooked no objections.

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At his words, the people in the room exchanged glances, wanting to murmur but quickly recalling the leader's temper. This wasn't the time to make a mistake.

They chose to remain silent and avoid drawing attention.

The red-haired man frowned at the lack of response. His gaze landed on a burly man seated to his right, whom he addressed by name: "Tabitha, what do you think?"

Tabitha, a stout man, forced a nervous smile and quickly stood up. "Leader, this is my fault for not supervising properly. I will personally go and resolve the issue."

With that, Tabitha prepared to leave.

"Wait," said the red-haired man before Tabitha could go.

The burly man, relieved, thinking his leader had forgiven him, began to express his gratitude, but the red-haired man continued: "Tabitha, since this is your responsibility, ensure you clean up this mess thoroughly. The member was captured by League investigators and is now in the Hoenn region prison. I expect that no information about our location has been revealed."

Hearing this, Tabitha felt a chill run down his spine.

He knew his leader was holding back his anger and had only spared him because he was one of the main Executives.

Team Magma wasn't ready to reveal itself to the world.

Tabitha nodded firmly. His plan was to infiltrate the League's prison in Hoenn and eliminate the captured member before they could disclose critical information.

This wasn't Tabitha's first time handling such a task.

After Tabitha left the hall, the red-haired man, none other than Maxie, the leader of Team Magma, sighed and remarked, "After this, we'll lose at least a third of our infiltrators."

It had taken significant resources to plant spies within the League. If not for Tabitha's skill and loyalty, he would have already been punished severely.

After a brief pause, Maxie turned to a thin man with hair covering one eye: "Mack, I don't fully trust Tabitha. Follow him and ensure everything is resolved without loose ends. If you encounter League members, don't hesitate to eliminate them. Team Magma cannot come to light yet."

The man named Mack nodded seriously and vanished from the hall in an instant.

Mack was one of Team Magma's three top Executives, a user of psychic powers. Although not as powerful as Sabrina, his ability to teleport made him a formidable opponent.

The "Three Flames" of Team Magma, as they were called, were Maxie's chief aides, instrumental in the group's growth.

But Team Magma didn't rely solely on them. There were other competent members handling important tasks.

Maxie turned to a slim, handsome young man named Harland, who was seated beside Tabitha. "Harland, take over Tabitha's duties until he returns."

Harland stood, bowed, and responded, "Understood, Leader."

Harland was a reliable member known for managing delicate tasks. However, when he sat down, a complex and enigmatic expression crossed his face, though no one else noticed.

...

After flying for over three hours, Cain and Steven finally arrived in Leafy Town.

Though they had only been away for two days, the town had changed significantly.

In front of Cain's Water-type Gym, a new building had been constructed—a Pokémon Center. And at the town's center, another building now stood bearing the Pokémon League emblem, marking the opening of a police station.

With the gym, Pokémon Center, and police station completed, the town was ready to enter a phase of rapid expansion. All that remained was for Cain, as the Gym Leader, to officially announce the beginning of this new era for Leafy Town.

(End of Chapter)