Then, a legendary city hero appeared in Goldenrod City!
Aoki put on black clothes and a black mask, covering his entire body in darkness.
He was followed by his three Pokémon: Honchkrow, Weavile, and Gengar.
For days, he had been moving through the old districts and shadowy corners of Goldenrod City, striking at criminals lurking in the streets.
Aoki started by dealing with small-time thugs, then gradually uncovered junior members of Team Rocket, followed by mid-level operatives, and finally located several of Team Rocket's hidden bases scattered throughout the city. Each time he struck, he left behind a bold declaration:
"I am justice, and I will erase you!"
The theatrics might have seemed childish, but Aoki had a purpose—he wanted to mislead Team Rocket into thinking their attacker was just some anonymous vigilante Trainer acting alone, rather than a coordinated threat.
His plan worked. Team Rocket's leadership didn't suspect a larger conspiracy—they assumed rival factions within Goldenrod's underworld were making a move against them.
Aoki's actions sent shockwaves through the city's criminal networks. Distrust spread among the gangs, each suspecting the others of betrayal. Some even hoped Team Rocket would collapse so they could seize its territory.
If Aoki played his cards right, he could exploit this chaos before the real power players stepped in. Once they did, he'd be lucky to salvage scraps.
Over the next two days, Aoki raided three of Team Rocket's underground outposts, seizing valuable resources—but it wasn't enough. He wanted one last big score before vanishing.
However, Team Rocket wasn't completely oblivious. Some of its higher-ups finally gathered to discuss the mysterious "hero" disrupting their operations. Among them was Furukai, Aoki's greatest enemy within Team Rocket.
But could these scheming, backstabbing executives actually cooperate? If they were capable of unity, Team Rocket wouldn't be in such disarray. To them, the absence of their leader wasn't a crisis—it was an opportunity. Each dreamed of seizing power for themselves, becoming one of Goldenrod's most feared crime lords. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NoveI~Fire.net
The meeting ended with no real plan. The executives guarded their own assets, unwilling to risk their remaining forces. Some even hoped Aoki would weaken their rivals first.
With Team Rocket's leadership in shambles, Aoki had free rein to continue his raids.
Honchkrow, Weavile, and Gengar became a relentless trio, leaving no base untouched. Even minor hideouts were stripped bare—not just for loot, but to sharpen their battle skills. Aoki tested new strategies, refining tactics he couldn't use in official Sinnoh League battles.
A strange pattern emerged: despite Aoki's relentless attacks, Team Rocket's executives refused to consolidate their resources. Instead, they sabotaged each other, blocking any attempts to reinforce weakened branches.
By the time they realized their mistake, it was too late. Aoki had already taken everything of value.
This faction of Team Rocket's downfall wasn't due to Aoki's strength alone—it was their own greed and infighting. A once-powerful faction had rotted from within, proving how vital a strong leader was.
Compared to Giovanni's own disciplined faction in Team Rocket, this fractured faction was no real threat.
By the time Team Rocket's executives finally acted, Aoki had already made off with a fortune—more than he'd expected, and with far less resistance.
The money felt almost too easy. But he knew this was a one-time opportunity—no other organization would be as disorganized as Team Rocket had been.