"Can anyone who has come into contact with these Pokémon and Poké Balls be trusted?" Aoki looked at the Pokémon on the shelves and asked the four people standing behind him. The shelves were neatly organized, each section carefully labeled based on the Pokémon's type and quality. The storage facility was dimly lit, with only the glow of computer screens illuminating the rows of containment units.
Skye, Alec, Miyamoto and Kaitou were the four people who had been involved in this operation from the beginning and were the primary operatives overseeing the entire process. Their faces remained stoic as they stood at attention, their postures rigid with military precision. The air was thick with tension as the weight of their clandestine operation pressed upon them.
Those who had been dispatched to various regions to purchase Pokémon had also been hand-selected by this core group. Each operative had undergone rigorous screening to ensure absolute loyalty to the organization.
If those field agents failed to maintain operational security, it would spell disaster for both Aoki and the Sky Hunters organization. A single leak could bring the full force of the Pokémon League down upon them.
"Don't worry, sir," Skye replied respectfully, his voice steady but low. "Those operatives are orphans we recruited after establishing our base in Verdanturf Town. Their backgrounds have been thoroughly vetted and scrubbed clean. They've undergone extensive psychological conditioning by our specialists. They now comprise the Sky Hunters' elite suicide squad - betrayal is not in their programming." His gloved hands remained clasped behind his back as he delivered his report.
The other three commanders remained silent, their eyes fixed straight ahead. The hum of the ventilation system provided the only sound in the tense atmosphere.
Any organization seeking true power and longevity must cultivate operatives willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. This was an undeniable truth in the shadowy world of underground Pokémon operations.
After hearing Skye's assurance, Aoki allowed himself a small measure of relief. His sharp eyes scanned the faces of his four lieutenants, searching for any hint of deception. Finding none, he gave a slight nod.
Currently, the Sky Hunters organization was primarily managed by these four trusted commanders. Each oversaw different divisions - procurement, training, operations, and security. The organizational chart was deliberately siloed to prevent any single member from gaining too much influence.
The challenges of managing a large covert organization were numerous. Internal conflicts between members were inevitable given the high-stakes nature of their work. Rivalries between divisions had to be carefully monitored and controlled. The advantage of this structure was that as leader, Aoki only needed to maintain balance between the factions, playing them against each other when necessary.
As the head of an underground syndicate, Aoki understood the danger of his subordinates becoming too unified. If the atmosphere among his commanders became too harmonious, it would inevitably lead to challenges to his authority. A divided command structure kept everyone looking to him as the ultimate arbiter.
Skye and the others were intelligent enough to recognize this dynamic. They understood that as the Sky Hunters grew in power and influence, professional distance between them must increase. Maintaining the casual camaraderie of the organization's early days would be seen as a threat. Should they ever become too close, that would mark the beginning of their end.
While all four commanders possessed considerable skills and resources, they recognized their limitations. None had the vision or ambition to challenge Aoki's leadership. So long as they focused on executing their assigned duties and followed Aoki's directives, they would continue to prosper within the organization.
Previously, Aoki had operated with relatively loose security protocols regarding his inner circle. But recent developments necessitated more stringent measures. Though he admired figures like Sakagi who could inspire absolute loyalty, Aoki lacked the overwhelming personal power that made such trust feasible. He couldn't afford to be so naive.
After restoring the monitoring system, Aoki had Porygon2 install discreet surveillance programs in their communication devices and personal electronics. This was simply prudent contingency planning - he still maintained operational trust in his commanders. But with this much capital at stake, no precaution could be overlooked.
In truth, Skye and the other commanders were currently too awestruck by their windfall to entertain thoughts of betrayal. The sheer scale of profits had left them stunned, their minds occupied with visions of wealth and power.
Their primary question was how Aoki had anticipated the Fairy-type phenomenon before all the major syndicates and League officials. What connections did he possess within the League hierarchy? A man who could maintain positions in both Team Rocket and the Pokémon League was far beyond their capacity to challenge.
Moreover, they frequently found Aoki's strategies inscrutable, his plans operating on levels they couldn't comprehend. It was better to remain loyal lieutenants than to gamble on schemes beyond their understanding.
"Sir, should we begin moving these Pokémon to market now?" Miyamoto asked, unable to contain his eagerness. "The profits from this operation could reach astronomical levels." His fingers twitched slightly as if already counting stacks of Pokédollars.
Aoki shook his head, a knowing smile playing at his lips. "Not yet. While we've acquired nearly half the available Fairy-types on the market, the other half remains in circulation. Let the early speculators absorb that inventory first. These Pokémon will only appreciate in value - they're not depreciating assets." His voice carried the calm certainty of someone who had played this game many times before.
The most profitable business model was simple: monopoly control. By dominating the Fairy-type market, Aoki could dictate prices at will. Though current market values had already skyrocketed, he knew there was still room for growth. The true peak was yet to come.
"However, we can't maintain our entire inventory here indefinitely," Aoki continued. "Select a few reliable operatives to begin liquidating our lower-quality specimens. This will generate operating capital while reducing our overhead. Maintain absolute discretion - if compromised, use Team Rocket as cover to protect the Sky Hunters' identity. Initial distribution should focus on minor Kanto settlements." His instructions were precise, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
Maintaining their entire stock onsite consumed massive resources in food, housing, and security. Liquidating the lower-tier Pokémon would both generate revenue and reduce operational burdens.
"Yes, sir!" The four commanders responded in unison, their excitement barely contained. Even the normally stoic Alec allowed a glimmer of anticipation to show in his eyes.
Kaitou couldn't hide her exhilaration. When she first joined Aoki to form the hunting group, she believed Pokémon poaching represented the pinnacle of illicit profits. Now she saw that had been small-time operations. No wonder Aoki had shifted focus from direct captures.
In reality, Aoki hadn't abandoned capturing operations by choice - he simply lacked the bandwidth to manage everything simultaneously. The Fairy-type market manipulation had been an opportunistic play, not part of some grand design.
"Operational security remains paramount," Aoki stressed, his tone turning icy. "If compromised, operatives know their obligations. Ensure they understand the consequences of failure." His expression showed no mercy - just cold calculation.
As leader of an underground syndicate, casualties were an accepted cost of doing business. Aoki had long since made peace with this reality.
The commanders stiffened slightly before responding, "Understood!"
The storage facility's organization reflected careful planning. Lower-quality Pokémon occupied the largest section, their containment units marked with blue tags. Mid-tier specimens filled the central racks with yellow identifiers. The premium section at the rear, marked with red tags, contained the smallest number of high-value Pokémon.
Aoki had no intention of selling these elite specimens, nor of deploying them for standard operations. Instead, he planned to leverage his breeder expertise to establish dedicated breeding programs. Through selective pairing and professional training regimens, each generation would show marked improvement.
This would provide the Sky Hunters with a sustainable, renewable resource - a continuous pipeline of high-value Fairy-types for the black market. As the organization grew in strength, they could expand into full-scale Pokémon trafficking, specializing in premium Fairy-types commanding premium prices.
The initial profits from this operation would be reinvested into acquiring high-caliber Pokémon for the organization's core forces, particularly Skuntank and Breloom. These two species demonstrated exceptional synergy in combat operations. In time, they might even become symbolic of the Sky Hunters' growing power.
With Aoki's orders issued, the entire organization sprang into action. The facility buzzed with coordinated activity as operatives moved with purpose through the corridors.
Most rank-and-file members remained unaware of the operation's full scope. Aoki had instituted a strict need-to-know protocol, with teams divided into isolated cells. Only the suicide squad operatives and top commanders had full visibility into the Fairy-type acquisition program.
Field teams were highly specialized: transport handled logistics, finance managed transactions, sales negotiated deals, and security provided protection. This compartmentalization enhanced both security and efficiency - no single operative could compromise the entire operation.
The storage facility's environmental systems hummed as they maintained optimal conditions for the diverse Pokémon in containment. Technicians monitored readouts while security personnel patrolled the perimeter with Pokémon partners at their sides. Every aspect of the operation reflected meticulous planning and ruthless efficiency.
As Aoki surveyed the controlled chaos of his growing organisation, he allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. The pieces were falling into place exactly as he had foreseen. The Pokémon world would soon learn the meaning of true power - and the Sky Hunters would claim their rightful place in its shadows.
The fluorescent lights flickered overhead as another shipment of containment units was processed. Somewhere in the facility, a Poké Ball sealed with a red tag clicked shut, securing another valuable asset for the organization's future. Outside, the sun set over Verdanturf Town, its peaceful residents unaware of the storm gathering in their midst.