However, such a comfortable life could not last long for Aoki.
The month-long conflict between the Sky Hunters and the Void Organization had become increasingly obvious during this period.
At first, Void had attempted to place more operatives in the back mountain, hoping to infiltrate slowly and defeat the Sky Hunters without bloodshed.
But after Aoki discovered the first team of Void personnel, Skye and the others began actively searching for these intruders.
As Aoki expected, over the course of a month, more and more teams from the Void entered the back mountain.
However, these operatives were systematically eliminated by Skye and his team.
The Void Organization grew suspicious when they received no replies from their dispatched teams. Eventually, none of their operatives returned, drawing their full attention.
In response, Void sent increasingly stronger teams, forcing Skye and the others to take direct action.
Just yesterday, Void deployed a squad of elite members deep into the back mountain, even approaching the Sky Hunters' headquarters.
However, the Sky Hunters had superior numbers, and with Skye and his four strongest members present, they managed to repel the assault. After a fierce battle, two of the Void operatives escaped with severe injuries, while the remaining three were captured.
Still, the Sky Hunters suffered significant losses.
Facing five elite operatives, Skye's team of four was stretched thin, relying on their ordinary members to hold the line. Many were wounded in the process.
With two survivors reporting back, Void would now understand the Sky Hunters' true strength.
In their eyes, the Sky Hunters had four elite members—far stronger than the previous Black Snake Gang—but still no match for Void's resources.
Most critically, the Sky Hunters lacked a Trainer with Pokémon at the Pseudo-Champion level.
Skye immediately informed Aoki of the situation.
Aoki saw this as an opportunity.
If Void's high-ranking members had remained hidden in Goldenrod City, dealing with them would have been difficult. But now, if they struck first, Aoki could retaliate.
Moreover, even underground organizations valued justification before conflict. Like official Leagues, they preferred to frame their enemies before attacking.
Now, Void had given Aoki the perfect excuse.
Aoki relocated to the Sky Hunters' headquarters with his Pokémon, preparing for Void's inevitable retaliation.
With Aoki taking charge, Skye and the others felt a surge of relief.
They had been tense for weeks.
Void was no minor faction, and without Aoki, the Sky Hunters stood no chance against a Pseudo-Champion-level opponent.
Void proved more cautious than Aoki anticipated. After a full day of waiting at headquarters, no attack came.
It wasn't until the following night that Slowking detected movement.
Without alerting the others, Aoki donned black attire and a white weeping mask. Using Slowking's Teleport, he vanished from the base.
Void's operatives were advancing but had not yet entered the Sky Hunters' patrol range. Slowking's psychic senses, however, had already locked onto them.
Aoki had no intention of involving Skye's team. If Void came in force, he would handle them alone.
With another Teleport, Aoki materialized behind a group of figures clad in dark purple—Void's signature uniform.
A cold smirk curled beneath his mask.
It had been a while since he'd done this kind of work, but the instincts from his past life remained ingrained. If anything, he was stronger now.
Aoki recalled Slowking—this next task required a different approach.
Three Poké Balls flew from his belt, releasing Honchkrow, Drapion, and Gengar.
These three were perfect for this mission.
Together, they melted into the shadows.
The inky-black Honchkrow, the agile Drapion, and the shadow-melding Gengar—this trio was the ultimate hunting party under the cover of night.
Aoki's steps were silent, his movements muffled by psychic energy.
As for his Pokémon, they needed no guidance.
In the past, navigating the dark forest would have been difficult, but now, Aoki's psychic awareness granted him near-perfect perception.
He darted forward like a phantom.
Void's team was spread out, moving in loose formation—likely a mix of operatives from different cells, wary of one another.
This only made Aoki's job easier.
He closed in on the rearmost operative. Gengar subdued the man's Pokémon instantly—what resistance could an unevolved Pokémon offer against a pseudo-Champion-level foe?
Aoki clamped a hand over the man's mouth. A flicker of motion in the dark—Drapion's claws flashed, and the operative collapsed.
Aoki then opened a small spatial rift, disposing of the body and Pokémon within.
The entire operation took less than a second.
Aoki vanished again.
So long as no alarms were raised, this method was flawless. Drapion and Honchkrow could strike at any moment, while Gengar ensured distractions.
Even two targets at once posed no issue—Aoki could eliminate them before they realized they were under attack.
It felt good to return to this line of work.
The first two attempts had been rusty, but muscle memory quickly took over.
Void's operatives remained oblivious, focused only on reaching the Sky Hunters' base for their planned ambush.
The leading cadre smirked, confident in an easy victory.
Without a pseudo-Champion-level Trainer opposing them, the Sky Hunters would be helpless.
He hadn't even brought many subordinates—just a trusted lieutenant and a handful of grunts, fewer than thirty in total. They had slipped past Verdanturf Town into the back mountains, closing in on their target.
Now, just ten minutes from the base, they had no idea they'd already been detected.
The Void cadre suddenly raised a fist, signaling a halt.
They were nearing the Sky Hunters' patrol perimeter. Time to prepare.
Pleased by the silence behind him, the cadre nodded.
His team was disciplined. Not a single sound.
Perfect.