章節 25: ### Chapter 25: The Pact with Thunderstorm
Finally, Kane found himself free from the suffocating grip of the orphanage once and for all. He was refreshed and filled with a sense of liberation that washed over him like a cool breeze on a scorching summer day. This newfound freedom was intoxicating.
*I've finally changed the fate of my last life with this first step, * Kane thought to himself, filled with a burning resolve. *But this is only the beginning. * His eyes gleamed with determination.
As he wandered through the bustling market near the Ecruteak Gym, Kane decided to pick up a few things that would come in handy. He bought some groceries for daily use and two targets, along with a pair of thick, black curtains to block out any unwanted light.
After returning to his dorm with his purchases, Kane set to work. The dorm was simple and small, but he was resourceful and knew how to maximize space. He nailed the two targets directly to the wall to save room and hung the black curtains over the only window. The curtains were meant to serve a dual purpose—not only to block light but also to ensure his privacy from any prying eyes.
Time passed quickly, and before he knew it, the sky outside was beginning to darken. Just as Kane was finishing his preparations, Liucheng arrived to inform him and Thunderstorm that it was time for dinner.
Of course, Chiyama and Komatsu weren't going to eat with the new disciples, so the dinner table was set for just Kane, Liucheng, and Thunderstorm. The atmosphere was quiet but not tense, with Ryuki's lively personality being the only source of conversation.
Liucheng, was komatsu's nephew, had been living at the gym for years. Now an orphan himself, Chiyama had taken him in. Despite having spent many years under Chiyama's tutelage, Ryuki had never managed to become a strong trainer. His talents were limited, and it was clear to anyone that Liucheng lacked the natural gift required to excel as a Pokémon trainer.
His personality, though, was bright and energetic, bordering on nosy. He had a habit of trying to keep up with all the latest gossip and events in Ecruteak City, always interested in the troubles and affairs of others. A person like him, who was so focused on other people's business, seemed out of place in the world of Pokémon. It was as if fate had destined him to be a journalist or gossip writer rather than a Pokémon trainer.
As dinner progressed, Liucheng suddenly remembered something. "Oh, by the way, Kane and Thunderstorm," he began, his voice filled with sudden excitement. "Master asked me to remind you that after dinner, you two should head to the lecture hall of the dojo."
His words hung in the air for a moment as Kane and Thunderstorm processed the information. Neither of them had much to say in response, simply nodding in acknowledgment.
Liucheng let out a disappointed sigh, clearly upset by their lack of enthusiasm. "I thought things would be more lively around here now that there are more of us at the gym. But it turns out I'm just stuck with two pieces of wood. Guess it's back to me playing by myself again," he grumbled, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
After the meal, Kane and Thunderstorm made their way to the lecture hall together, walking in silence. Though they were around the same age and technically peers, there was no real connection between them. They moved like strangers, neither making an effort to engage with the other, and the silence between them remained unbroken.
The so-called lecture hall was a simple classroom, not unlike what one would find in a typical school. It was used primarily for the gym's trainees to study basic knowledge and theory about Pokémon. Chiyama, the head of the gym, stood at the podium, waiting for the two to arrive.
"Tomorrow will mark the beginning of your official special training," Chiyama announced, his voice steady and authoritative. "But today, I want to take some time to explain to both of you the details regarding the ghost-type Pokémon that you each possess—Gastly and Duskull."
Chiyama lectured carefully, going over each point with patience, but both Kane and Thunderstorm were far from novices. They had already learned all of this before and felt no need for additional explanations. Still, they listened respectfully as Chiyama continued to do his duty as a teacher, sharing the basics of the ghost-type Pokémon in their care.
As soon as they left the lecture hall, Thunderstorm subtly tugged at the corner of Kane's clothes, as if trying to avoid drawing attention. "Come to my dorm. I have something to discuss with you," Thunderstorm whispered quietly, his voice barely above a murmur.
Kane smiled slightly to himself. *So it begins, * he thought. Finally, Thunderstorm had realized that his best chance for survival and success in the Ecruteak Gym was to work alongside Kane. He knew that if he continued to oppose him, Kane would only become an obstacle to his plans. Cooperation, it seemed, was the only path forward for Thunderstorm.
Without bothering to look at him, Kane turned and started walking toward the gym's training ground. "Follow me to the training ground," he said calmly, not even glancing back to see if Thunderstorm was following. He didn't need to. Thunderstorm, having little choice, hurried to catch up, following closely behind.
The training ground was an open space, and it seemed like an unusual place to discuss secretive matters. But to Kane, this was the perfect spot. In an open area like this, they were visible to anyone who might pass by, reducing suspicion. There were no walls or doors where eavesdroppers could hide. It was a public space, but also the safest.
"Alright, talk?" Kane's voice was cold, his demeanor indifferent. He wasn't interested in pleasantries.
"This is a good spot," Thunderstorm said, looking around. His eyes darted nervously as if he expected to be overheard at any moment. "You probably already know what I want to say."
Kane didn't respond. His silence was unnerving, and Thunderstorm hesitated for a moment before continuing. "The Chiyama family... they have a special book," he began, his voice low. "This book contains methods for raising incredibly powerful ghost-type Pokémon. If we work together and manage to get our hands on it, the possibilities for our future will be limitless."
Kane's cold eyes fixed on Thunderstorm, piercing through him as if analyzing every word and intention. "How do you know about this book?" Kane asked, his voice tinged with skepticism.
Thunderstorm hesitated; his nervousness obvious. "I-I just know, alright? Does it really matter where I found out?" he stammered, clearly flustered under Kane's intense gaze. "Believe me or don't, it's up to you."
Kane scoffed lightly. "A side branch of the Chiyama family, perhaps?"
Thunderstorm's eyes widened in shock, his face turning pale. He swallowed hard. "Y-You're terrifying..." he muttered; his voice barely audible.
Kane didn't need confirmation. It was a logical deduction. Since this was a closely guarded secret of the Chiyama family, it was unlikely that any outsider would have this information. The only plausible explanation was that Thunderstorm had obtained it from someone within the family—most likely a branch family member.
"Let's be honest here," Kane continued, his tone cutting. "If this so-called treasure is as powerful as you claim, why would you want to share it with me? Why not take it all for yourself?"
Thunderstorm shifted uncomfortably under Kane's scrutiny. "You're too suspicious!" he retorted; his frustration evident. "If I could get it alone, I wouldn't be here, would I? Besides, we're stuck together in this gym, under Chiyama's watch. If I tried anything by myself, you'd notice right away and stop me."
Kane remained silent for a moment, considering Thunderstorm's words. *fine I'll Cooperation for now, * Kane thought to himself. He had already decided that once they got their hands on the secrets, He would kill thunderstorm. In this world, there was only room for one strong person to come out on top.
"Fine," Kane finally said. "Cooperation it is. A win-win situation."
Relief washed over Thunderstorm's face. "Great. Here's what I was thinking—we should take turns monitoring Chiyama every night after eight o'clock. We'll see if we can uncover any clues about the book."
Kane raised an eyebrow. "And how do you plan to ensure that Chiyama won't catch on to what we're doing?"
Thunderstorm faltered, caught off guard by the question. "Well... if we can't do it ourselves, we could always use our ghost-type Pokémon to help us."
Kane let out a quiet, mocking laugh. "Ghost-type Pokémon? Don't forget who chiyama is. Do you really think we can outplay the master of ghost-type Pokémon with our third-rate Pokémon?"
Thunderstorm's face flushed with embarrassment. "If we can't use our Pokémon and can't do it ourselves, then what do you suggest? I can't stay a trainee for the rest of my life!" Thunderstorm was growing anxious, his voice rising slightly.
Apologies for cutting it off earlier. I'll pick up where I left off and complete the rest of the chapter with the same style. Here's the continuation and conclusion:
---
Kane smirked inwardly. Thunderstorm's impatience was evident—a clear sign that his mind wasn't as calm or as sharp as it needed to be. *Such impulsiveness is a fatal flaw*, Kane thought, but he kept his expression neutral.
"Calm down," Kane said coolly, his voice steady. "chiyama is a gym leader. He's bound to be busy, and there will be times when he's not in the gym. That's when we strike. The Ecruteak Gym is large—there are bound to be clues hidden somewhere. We just have to be patient and wait for the right opportunity."
Thunderstorm, now visibly more relaxed, nodded quickly in agreement. "Yes, yes, you're absolutely right. We just have to bide our time. I'm glad we're working together on this."
Without saying anything further, Kane turned and left the training ground, heading back to his dormitory. Thunderstorm watched him go, a mix of relief and nervous anticipation swirling inside him.
The dormitory was small and far from luxurious; however it was far better than some of the conditions Kane had lived through in his previous life. The bed was a simple, single, hard-bottomed mattress—not the plush comfort he'd enjoyed in his family home, but it was a huge improvement over - sleeping in the rough wilderness, which he had been forced to endure for so long before in his previous life. In comparison, this was a comfortable refuge however still he couldn't help but miss his plush and comfortable bed he had grown used to.
"Alright," Kane muttered to himself once he was alone in the dorm. "Tonight's special training begins now."
From beneath his wrist guard, Kane pulled out a sharp dagger that glinted under the faint light. It was a simple weapon, but one he had practiced with tirelessly. He took his position, standing exactly six meters from the targets he had nailed to the wall earlier.
He aimed carefully. The first throw landed in the eight-ring. The second throw—eight-ring again. The third, fourth, and fifth throws followed the same pattern. Despite his focus, no significant progress had been made.
And so, in that manner, Kane spent his first night at the Ecruteak Gym, sharpening both his skills and his resolve.
---
The next morning, Kane woke up at exactly six o'clock. He moved swiftly through his morning routine, taking a quick breakfast before spending the next couple of hours exercising and stretching his body until eight o'clock.
Once his training was complete, Liucheng appeared, leading both Kane and Thunderstorm to begin their daily chores. The gym was large, and there was always work to be done. They cleaned the toilets, swept the training areas, and tidied up the various rooms in the gym.
Kane and Thunderstorm were assigned the task of cleaning the inner hall, which involved wiping down the floors and carefully moving all the tables and chairs to ensure every corner was spotless. Even the bookshelves were emptied and dusted thoroughly, every small detail taken care of with precision.
Liucheng watched them from a distance, shaking his head slightly. "You guys are taking this cleaning stuff way too seriously," he muttered under his breath. He couldn't understand why they were being so meticulous. In his mind, it was just cleaning—but for Kane and Thunderstorm, there was more to it than that. They were focused, paying attention to every single detail, searching for anything that might give them an edge to finding the book.
Then, they reached the door to Chiyama's study. Kane and Thunderstorm exchanged a quick glance, a knowing smile passing between them. This was it—the moment they had been waiting for. Together, they moved toward the door, ready to make their next move.
Just as they were about to push it open, Liucheng came rushing over, panic flashing across his face. "Wait! Stop!!!!" he called out, waving his arms frantically. "You can't go in there! That's Master Chiyama's private study. No one's allowed to enter without permission."
Kane and Thunderstorm froze, pulling their hands back just in time. Liucheng exhaled deeply, relief flooding through him as he realized he had stopped them from making a grave mistake.
"I almost forgot to tell you guys," Liucheng said, still looking shaken. "It's so dangerous—if you'd gone in, who knows what kind of trouble you could've gotten into. Seriously, you were this close to making a huge mistake. Phew, thank goodness I caught you in time..."
He rambled on for a few more moments, clearly shaken by how close they had come to breaking an important rule. Kane and Thunderstorm simply nodded along, feigning ignorance and relief. Inside, however, they were seething with frustration. They had been so close—yet now they knew that Chiyama's study was even more off-limits than they had imagined.
But this was only a minor setback. Kane knew that opportunities would come, and when they did, he would be ready.
創作者的想法 
Sfisodeck
Sfisodeck from next chapter onwards ill be replacing the name Liucheng with Ryuki because of how inconsistent chinese athors are with names just a little heads up don't get confused
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