[@Pirouette]

Erika’s question of who they were triggered a little giggle from Chimecho’s trainer, while the guy in the gas-mask crossed his arms and the red-haired lady put a hand on her hip and probably smiled under her mask.

[color=ea4c4b]‘Yeah, we were keeping the details light just in case you decide to run off and tell the cigs all about us,’[/color] the red-haired one said. 

[color=d7bf83]‘Trying to send spies to infiltrate the teams stealing from them would not be beyond the nobles,’[/color] gas-mask guy said.

[color=e090b8]‘I’m Chime~!’[/color] Chimecho’s trainer immediately stuck a hand up and happily announced. The other two immediately turned to stare at her, after which the gas-mask guy put a hand on his mask akin to facepalm and the red-haired chick snickered.

The leader looked to Erika.

[color=ac705c]‘We won’t tell you our names. But, as a team, we’re the Night Owls,’[/color] she said.

[color=ea4c4b]‘Featuring zero actual owl Pokémon!’[/color] the red-haired one kept snickering. [color=ea4c4b]‘Anyway, call me Yoink!’[/color]

[hider=Yoink (imagine her wearing a mask and benie)][center][url=https://i.imgur.com/Z4K5VMP.jpeg][img]https://i.imgur.com/pq0l50u.png[/img][/url][/center][/hider]

[color=e090b8]‘As said, I’m Chime~!’[/color] Chime still held her hand up.

[color=ea4c4b]‘Yepp, the Chimecho trainer calls herself Chime,’[/color] Yoink is still snickering.

[color=e090b8]‘Chiiiime~!’[/color] Chime positively beamed as she spoke like a Pokémon saying their name.

[hider=Chime (albeit wearing something more discreet right now)][center][url=https://i.imgur.com/0IwoXQu.jpeg][img]https://i.imgur.com/zUwvo61.png[/img][/url][/center][/hider]

[color=d7bf83]‘I’m Geewee. As in, G-W, two letters,’[/color] the guy in a gas-mask said…

[hider=GW (currently in a gas-mask and not in a suit, you’re positively seeing nothing that’s in this image)][center][url=https://i.imgur.com/eFb05Rv.jpeg][img]https://i.imgur.com/KiUaOf8.png[/img][/url][/center][/hider]

[color=6f6862]‘Uh…’[/color] The big guy that had commanded Quilladin earlier spoke for the first time since the battle. [color=6f6862]‘I’m Block,’[/color] he said, before awkwardly looking away.

[hider=Block (also in a mask)][center][url=https://i.imgur.com/IOURQU6.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/6Wwiytv.png[/img][/url][/center][/hider]

[color=ac705c]‘And I’m Hush, founder and leader of the Night Owls,’[/color] the leader said.

[hider=Hush (once again, in full thief attire, so you’re basically not seeing this, but frame of reference)][center][url=https://i.imgur.com/2n7ztBO.jpeg][img]https://i.imgur.com/q4RTmcJ.png[/img][/url][/center][/hider]

[color=ac705c]‘We originate from the Sunset Slums, and we’re trying to bring fairness back to Bigfjord City, one way or another,’[/color] she continued, [color=ac705c]‘which at the moment is by robbing company-owned stores and bringing the money back to the Slums where it’s actually needed. Along with bringing the noble families down, somehow.’[/color]

[color=ac705c]‘I can share numbers with you,’[/color] Hush continued, in case Erika wanted.

[color=ea4c4b]‘Cooldome City, huh… Does that mean you’re good at Pokémon Battle?’[/color] Yoink asked, peering over.

[color=ac705c]‘… The building over there is the HQ of Rukh Group Corporation, the Rukh noble family conglomerate. They handle logistics and trading and vehicles… but also got their fingers in everyone else’s pies in Bigfjord City. They’re the biggest sponsors of the city, and the ones with executive control. They’re the ones that fund the City Guardians. If you’re looking for the biggest fish to fry, that’s them,’[/color] Hush said, looking at that tower.

[color=e090b8]‘Which of course makes them the best defended in the city~!’[/color] Chime called.

[color=ea4c4b]‘Kinda like having the final boss just looming in the background at all times,’[/color] Yoink chuckled, joining them in looking at the tower.

[color=d7bf83]‘And the big boss himself has his office somewhere in there,’[/color] GW continued on that particular likeness.

So what does Erika make of this?

[hider=Sunset Slums][url=i.imgur.com/1RguN5t.jpeg][img]https://i.imgur.com/gaW7NK1.png[/img][/url][/hider]

[hider=Bigfjord City][center][h2]Bigfjord City[/h2]


[url=https://i.imgur.com/nnyLDfS.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/nnyLDfS.jpg[/img][/url][/center]

Bigfjord City. The center of industry in Isson. If there’s a company, it likely has its headquarters in this city of commerce. The city of Bigfjord is famous for needing a lot of hands. The storehouse of Isson, the city is riddled with countless cheap apartments for the many objects of commerce that are shipped across the land. The ships of Bigfjord sail by the sea to Pureplain, where it is traded to the rest of the world. Inside the city hundreds of companies grow out of nothing and employ the population, and that is the draw of the city. The city itself are just skyscrapers after skyscrapers, modern and organized as far as the eye can see, with the larger companies growing out of the bunch with spectacular structures showing of their wealth and power, lording over the workers who move to Bigfjord for a chance at an easy life working for the big boys.

As you enter the streets of Bigfjord City, the night of Route 13 does not leave. Where the roads of Worldedge City might feel magical, the streets of Bigfjord City feel unforgivingly real. Cars drive around causing long lines of traffic, and uncountable workers and humans tarry about, going to or from work. What perhaps stands out the most is the sheer lack of Pokémon-themed marketing. In Bigfjord City, it is like they look down on the premise of Pokémon driving the world. The only Pokémon you see are the Murkrows sitting on the street lights, hunting for their next meals and trinkets, as well as the Rattatas lurking just visible in the various alleys, doing very much the same thing. Unlike basically everywhere else in Isson, the atmosphere was not welcoming. It was stiffeningly uncaring.[/hider]