The Bosses

When Shade escaped captivity, he gathered to himself 84 bosses- powerful Netmonsters who joined his cause or were blackmailed into it. To each he gave a piece of the Decryption Key, the password to his Tower.
They aren't all evil - some have only promised not to oppose him rather than actually serving him. However, when push comes to shove, the NMRC has to take down all 84 to get to Shade.