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The Savage Hounds Gang was in turmoil!
But to be more accurate, it wasn't quite an internal conflict. After all, their group's core principle was built on the rule of "the strong lead, the weak follow."
Talking was cheap; just fight it out. The loser obeyed the winner unconditionally. Whoever won became the boss.
"How primitive, completely uncivilized," Meowstic remarked about the Savage Hounds Gang's system. "Always thinking about fighting and climbing the ranks, how can they do their jobs properly? I just don't understand why Li Mingxuan would help those guys!"
'Because you're complacent and lack ambition,' Riolu thought to itself. After these past few days, it had seen things clearly.
These cats were actually quite lazy, very satisfied with the current situation, and didn't want any changes.
'No wonder no one sought you out for help.'
Taking it a step further, the Savage Hounds Gang was also a core, established group. The gang leader's son was one of their Pokémon. What more was there to say?
"They're fighting, they're fighting!"
Incineroar ran over from a distance, looking utterly gleeful. "Houndoom messed up. That idiot has finally gotten what was coming to him."
"Are you that happy about it?" Riolu didn't understand why Incineroar was so thrilled.
"Absolutely! Seeing that guy's smug face annoys me. Besides, joining in on the excitement is an instinct of all living beings," Incineroar declared proudly, having truly inherited Li Xiang's tendencies.
However, the commotion around Houndoom didn't last long. The eight Eeveelutions, while strong, were no match for Pokémon carefully trained by a dedicated trainer.
Moreover, Houndoom was a top-ranking officer, while the Eeveelutions were just ordinary officers—only slightly stronger than average.
"Bunch of weaklings," Houndoom spat out flames, looking down at the Eeveelutions lying on the ground, their fur scorched in places. It bore some injuries too but remained standing strong.
Beside it, Arcanine was licking its fur, Weavile wore a weird grin, and Honchkrow adjusted its hat, which never seemed to fall off.
Houndoom wasn't foolish enough to take on eight alone; it was four against eight. In that situation, the Eeveelutions stood no chance.
"Guh! Just kill me!" the Umbreon on the ground cried out, its face a mask of utter humiliation, as if it had just been violated by Houndoom. The other Eeveelutions echoed the sentiment.
Houndoom shot them a look of disgust. "Don't be so dramatic. I have no interest in you lot."
Though Eevee and Houndoom shared the Field Egg Group, it was rare for Pokémon to breed across species. Aesthetics differed. Houndoom wasn't fond of cute fox-dogs like Eevee.
"From today on, you're my underlings. Understood?" Houndoom lowered its head, bringing its muzzle close to Umbreon's face, its voice low and threatening.
Umbreon was extremely unwilling, but there was no way around it. The Savage Hounds Gang's decades-old rules couldn't be ignored.
"Don't get too cocky! Once the Boss is out, you'll be finished too!" Umbreon glared fixedly at Houndoom.
Houndoom, however, understood that this one had already conceded. It couldn't help but laugh. "Once he's out, who the boss will be isn't so certain."
The growth rate of a trainer's Pokémon versus wild Pokémon was worlds apart.
Zoroark was thirty-four this year, but Houndoom wasn't even nine yet. There might be a gap of over ten levels between them, but that could be bridged with mastery of techniques. They were Pokémon specialized in fighting!
"Boss! We brought it over!" Two dogs dragged over a Thievul, pressing the traitor before Houndoom.
"Hah, Thievul. I don't think I treated you badly, did I? Just because I made you work, you betray me?" Houndoom's sulfur-scented breath wafted around, a clear sign it was furious to the extreme.
Compared to the overconfident Eeveelutions, it was clearly angrier at the traitor.
"I—I had a moment of confusion, Boss Houndoom. Please, show mercy and forgive me," Thievul pleaded, its face mournful. Within the Savage Hounds Gang, there were Fox and Dog factions. Previously, the Dog faction dominated, but now the Fox faction held sway.
Seeing Houndoom's ambition, this guy felt the Fox faction's position was threatened. Plus, it could no longer get paid without working like before. So, seizing the opportunity when the Eight Eeveelutions were released, it decisively informed on Houndoom.
Little did it expect the Eight Eeveelutions to be so weak.
"Forgive you? Hah," Houndoom sneered, turning to the other dogs. "Pluck out all the fur from its tail and hang it up for two hours as an example!"
"Yes!" the two large dogs barked in agreement.
Upon hearing this, Thievul let out a shriek like a slaughtered pig. "No! Don't touch my tail! Boss Houndoom! No! This is the tail I've nurtured for over ten years! I was wrong! I was really wrong!"
Unfortunately, Houndoom ignored it and nudged Umbreon's body on the ground. "If you don't want to end up like it with all your fur plucked out, get up! Stop playing dead on the ground!" it said coldly.
"Hmph! If you dare touch my tail, I'll fight you to the death!" Umbreon staggered to its feet, then reluctantly approached, extending its tongue to lick Houndoom's fur. The other Eeveelutions followed suit one after another.
In the dog world, only subordinates licked their superiors. For cats, it was the opposite.
"Enough, that's it," Houndoom stopped Umbreon from proceeding toward its rear. As a Pokémon that lived with humans, having its fur licked a few times was acceptable, but licking that area was too much.
"I didn't want to anyway!" Umbreon grumbled, then docilely lay down beside Houndoom.
Thus, this little episode within the Savage Hounds Gang was temporarily over.
But in Houndoom's heart, a sense of crisis arose. If these guys could be released early one by one, it was possible Zoroark could be too. Besides, six months wasn't particularly long or short.
...
On the other side, upon hearing that Houndoom was unharmed, Incineroar felt quite disappointed.
"If only that guy had been seriously injured and punished by Senior Sister Abi, how great that would be."
"Hey, enough already. He never really had any beef with you. Is it necessary?" Riolu rolled its eyes. This cat was so petty.
Incineroar shrugged. It just really enjoyed seeing others in trouble.
"It's about time, let's head back." Suddenly, a voice sounded beside them. But neither reacted, having long grown accustomed to it.
"Do you have a watch?" Riolu spoke to the air.
"I do. It's around two now," Greninja replied, maintaining its protective coloration and invisibility.
Just as the cat and dog had said, there was nothing for it here, but it had still come along out of curiosity.
Riolu nodded. To ensure their condition during the day, two hours of sleep were necessary.
The big three prepared to leave.
In the distance, the dull-looking Galarian Meowth stared in the direction the trio was leaving, its gaze fixed on a patch of air as if it could see something.
"Ah-dai, what are you looking at?" an Alolan Meowth asked, waving a paw in front of its eyes before glancing toward the departing trio. "Is something wrong with Brother Incineroar and them?"
"..." Galarian Meowth shook its head silently, not uttering a word.
"Then don't worry about it. Come play with us~" The young Alolan Meowth pulled on Galarian Meowth's paw, not looking down on it for being dull. In the Iron Cats Gang, the saying "all cats are family" wasn't just empty words.
Arriving at a Meowth gathering spot, the moment it appeared, many cats immediately surrounded it.
"Ah-dai! We want to see that 'Maiden Scattering Flowers' trick again! And that juice and stew from before! I've been thinking about it for a long time."
"Yes, yes! Ah-dai's cooking skills are so good! I think it could fully become a Breeder!"
"That's right! Humans are so stingy. Why won't they let Pokémon take the Breeder certification exams?"
They chattered away, with even Glameow and Purrloin coming over to rub against Galarian Meowth to show affection.
Behind these cats was a pile of berries and an old-looking large pot. Under the pot, flames danced continuously.
Galarian Meowth dully looked at the large pot, then suddenly extended a hand, shouting, "Fetch my headband!"
"Coming, coming!" A little cat ran over carrying a white silk scarf.
Galarian Meowth quickly snatched it, wrapped it around its forehead in one swift motion—covering its two small horns and the coin—and tied it deftly into a knot!
Instantly, as the headband was tied, this guy became completely different! Its dull expression transformed into one of confidence and pride. Its eyes were now lively, and the corners of its mouth held a faint smile!
"Rise!" It slapped the ground, and several berries from the pile immediately flew up.
Then, its claws glowed faintly as it swiftly slashed at the airborne berries! Peels separated; seeds and flesh became clearly defined. Plop plop—they fell into the pot filled with boiling water.
This guy had processed the ingredients in mid-air!
'Incredible!'
The surrounding cats watched with admiration as Galarian Meowth kept adding plants or powders to the pot. In the air, a fragrance gradually spread—a scent that could haunt the dreams of all cats, like super catnip. No, some cats don't like catnip, but no cat could resist this scent!
Golden light shone from the mouth of the large pot! As if the pot was filled with shining gold!
Galarian Meowth held a wooden spoon, spinning it nimbly in its palm. It skillfully scooped a small bowl and placed it before the cats, who had unknowingly already surrounded the area.
"Golden Abundance! Hope you enjoy!" it smirked slightly, looking at the drooling cats before it.
'It—it glowed! This bowl of food glowed!'
The cats widened their eyes, staring at the golden-yellow stew, drool unconsciously dripping from the corners of their mouths.
Seeing this, Galarian Meowth quietly retreated, leaving the large pot to the other cats.
Instantly, the cats swarmed forward!
"Don't grab! Don't grab! There's enough for everyone!" Meowstic's voice was drowned in the chorus of meows, failing to make even a ripple.
Several kilometers away, Incineroar sniffed the air.
"What's that smell? So fragrant." It looked behind. "Is someone cooking something?"
"Is there? Oh, there really is," Riolu said, sniffing the air and indeed detecting a scent of stewed vegetables.
Greninja sniffed around but couldn't smell anything.
"Tss... I'm actually getting hungry," Incineroar clutched its stomach. "There should still be some leftovers from what Li Xiang made, right?"
"He always has leftovers."
The big three chatted as they headed off toward the school in the distance. They did not look back.