Capítulo 3: Chapter 3: Team Member Evaluation
The Quicksand Team was a second-rate organization, far inferior to the likes of Team Rocket—a sprawling criminal syndicate spanning several regions.
As such, their methods of recruiting new members were far less refined, even bordering on crude.
And the risks? They were far greater than those of Team Rocket's recruitment process.
"Your task is simple: deep in the mines, there are fragments of jade. Find any piece, regardless of shape, and bring it to me by sunrise tomorrow."
A burly, rough-looking man held up a piece of white jade, shouting at the group of gathered thugs. Beside him stood a low-slung, heavy-armored Donphan, its deep growl rumbling through the air.
Nearby, the atmosphere was tense.
Several deep, abandoned mining shafts loomed ominously, exuding a chilling and claustrophobic aura. The acrid smell of dust stung everyone's noses.
"Another abandoned mine? People have died in there, haven't they?"
"Of course people have died—what do you expect? No one maintains those places. Didn't two people die there last year?"
"What if we can't find any jade?"
"Can I just dig one up near the entrance?"
"Worry about making it out alive first. Word is there are Pokémon down there that'll attack you!"
"You've got to be kidding…"
Amid the noisy crowd, Kashiwagi couldn't help but reach for the iron ingot hidden in his chest pocket.
This thing wasn't hard to obtain in Iron Town. As an auxiliary member of the Quicksand Team, all it took was a word at the smelting factory to get one easily.
What piqued his curiosity was how this item would come into play later on.
During yesterday's second simulation, his fixed traits hadn't changed, but the selectable talents had. Gone was Hot-Blooded Youth, replaced by Loyal to the End (Never Abandons Pokémon).
Having suffered a major setback with the Peach Blossom Everywhere talent once before, Kashiwagi wasn't foolish enough to repeat past mistakes. He opted for Careless Grooming (Rough Pokémon Care) instead.
After all, careless grooming was something he could work on and improve during his journey. Most trainers started from scratch anyway. But another love story that dragged him down? No thanks.
Just look at the anime: from the champions to the Elite Four, and even the Gym Leaders among the younger generation—how many of them had romantic relationships?
Only Kukui, who was well into adulthood, had both dated and married. That said a lot.
Take the classic shorts-wearing youngster in Pewter City who starts with a Rattata. His progress was as slow and bumpy as a Bug Catcher's. He barely made it through Gym battles with sheer luck and enthusiasm. The difference? He caught a lot of duplicate Pokémon…
Like catching multiple Rattatas and Pidgeys.
You'd think he was selectively catching strong individuals, but no—he let each one fight and train equally, spreading his resources so thin that his overall progress was painfully slow.
By the time he got to the sixth Gym, his momentum stalled, enduring the torment of eight consecutive losses.
Even in pixelated graphics, Kashiwagi could tell that the shorts-wearing youngster's frustration was palpable. He never made it past the sixth Gym, even by the time the League Championships began.
That he never got to see the Indigo Plateau left Kashiwagi exasperated. In frustration, he spent his free points on leveling Pokémon under Lv. 30 and learning Reckless Attack, then called it a night.
The next morning, he woke up energized.
Becoming a full-fledged member of the Quicksand Team didn't just mean free Pokémon. The benefits and treatment far surpassed those given to auxiliary members. Although it came with increased restrictions, the trade-off was worth it.
He had to aim for this.
"Kashiwagi, aren't you nervous at all?"
A colleague's question interrupted his thoughts.
Turning his head, Kashiwagi glanced at the man dressed oddly, like a Mountaineer. "You're carrying way too much. That's going to be a problem."
"I think it's fine…" The man jumped twice, looking completely at ease.
For now, maybe.
Kashiwagi adjusted the miner's helmet on his head. To keep himself agile, he carried only the essentials: a helmet, dust mask, manganese steel pickaxe, water, compressed food, and a few other necessities.
The Quicksand Team's initiation exams were no secret. They enjoyed creating obstacles—like throwing a few wild Pokémon into the mix or setting up traps.
Staying nimble was critical.
While waiting, a commotion erupted in the distance.
"You think a broke loser like you can pass this test? Don't make me laugh! Hahaha—"
The grating voice made Kashiwagi frown.
Exchanging glances with his colleagues, they moved toward the source of the noise.
Where there were people, there were conflicts. In a place like the Quicksand Team—where status was gained through brute force—internal disputes were common.
The team was full of penniless loners like Kashiwagi. Conversely, there were also those with some wealth or family backing. Each side formed their own cliques, mutually hostile and disdainful of the other.
This was where unity became essential.
As they approached, they saw a group of relatively clean-cut individuals—standing out from the usual grungy thugs—mocking and shoving a scrawny youth.
Their laughter was punctuated by occasional glances at the other thugs standing by, who avoided eye contact and quickly looked away. Satisfied, the bullies turned back to their victim.
"Well, well, well! Look who it is—leader of the broke losers. Here to back up your little gang of nobodies? Think you've got what it takes?"
The ringleader strutted toward Kashiwagi, hands in his pockets, his tone dripping with arrogance. Despite standing tall, he barely reached Kashiwagi's shoulder. Forced to crane his neck for eye contact, he sneered provocatively.
The bullies left the scrawny youth and gathered around Kashiwagi's group instead.
Both sides stared each other down, one spark away from a brawl.
"You'll find out during the test whether I'm good enough." Kashiwagi pulled the scrawny youth behind him, his sharp gaze sweeping over the opposition. Slowly, he raised his hand.
The bullies flinched, instinctively stepping back.
Embarrassed by his followers' cowardice, the ringleader's face darkened in anger. He smirked coldly. "So what if you can fight? Brawn means nothing! Out here, it's all about connections. Just wait, you little nobody!"
With that, he stormed off with his lackeys in tow.
Relief washed over Kashiwagi's companions as they relaxed, consoling the scrawny youth.
"Don't worry. They don't have enough influence to interfere with the test. Just stay calm."
An older man tried to reassure the group, easing some of their unspoken fears.
The troublemaker's name was Shibata. His uncle, a mid-level captain in the Quicksand Team, was considered a big shot compared to the rest of them.
Even so, Shibata still had to participate in this dangerous exam. But it was likely that his uncle would arrange some advantages for him.
Would they stoop to underhanded tactics against the others? That remained to be seen.
The Quicksand Team desperately needed manpower. While upper management allowed skirmishes among lower-ranking members, they strictly prohibited lethal or maiming actions that would compromise labor output.
This delicate balance was what emboldened Kashiwagi's group to stand up to Shibata's crew. As long as they banded together, someone from management would step in to mediate.
But during the test? What if Shibata targeted them?
Breaking this cycle required a permanent solution.
Easier said than done. The exam was grueling enough without wasting energy plotting against Shibata.
"The test begins now! First group, step forward for inspection. If you're caught with jade on you, don't blame me—or Donphan—for what happens!"
The examiner's roar echoed across the crowd, followed by Donphan's thunderous growl.
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