After leaving the small room that housed the TM learning machine, Silas casually scanned his surroundings.
Some nearby rooms were still lit, others already dark.
The patrol forces backing the black market maintained order here and several robed figures occasionally glanced in his direction.
A cold smile tugged at Silas's lips beneath the mask.
He adjusted his hood and melted into the crowd.
Within seconds of his departure, several hidden observers began trailing him, while others remained near the rooms, silently watching every person who exited and it was like predators selecting prey.
...
Silas drifted toward the stall district, pretending to browse wares while tracking his pursuer from the corner of his eye.
He had no intention of tolerating thieves looking to kill for loot.
After weaving through multiple routes and doubling back several times, he shook off most of them.
All but one.
This one was seem skilled in stealth, tracking, disguise ,all of his skills were top tier.
Silas's smile sharpened.
'Heaven offers a path which you refuse… well
so you have choosen hell instead.'
He turned into a web of shadowed alleyways and vanished.
...
Though fighting was forbidden in the black market, deaths were common.
As long as no evidence was presented ,nothing happened.
After all… nobody visiting such a place was clean.
Silas crouched behind a mound of refuse, ignoring the stench.
Beside him, Murkrow endured it reluctantly.
Two minutes later
Footsteps approached.
The follower reached the alley entrance, hesitating.
"Go. Scout."
A Golbat emerged with a screech.
"Kreee-ee-shhh!
Silas's eyes sharpened.
The instant the man stepped inside.
"Murkrow -Tailwind. Drill Peck.
Crawdaunt - Razor Shell, strike Golbat."
Wind surged.
"KRAAA!"
Murkrow shot from hiding like a black bolt, bypassing Golbat and diving straight at the trainer.
In the darkness–
A dull impact resonates.
A strangled cry.
The human body could not endure a Pokémon's attack.
The head was separated and rolled across the alley floor.
Silas watched it stop near his feet , frozen in disbelief.
The scent of blood stirred something buried deep , the pirate instincts which he'd long suppressed.
Golbat fell moments later, knocked unconscious by Crawdaunt.
"Kraaak!"
....
Silas calmly looted the corpse, emotionless.
The dagger in his hand - the same issued when he first boarded a pirate vessel - slit open the robe.
His brows lifted.
"…That symbol?"
Footsteps sound approached.
He cut the emblem free and vanished into the shadows.
Moments later patrol enforcers arrived ,finding only a headless corpse.
.....
Silas re-emerged elsewhere, now wearing normal clothing beneath his mask.
He rented a room inside the black market lodging.
"Half a day."
200 Pokédollars changed hands.
Inside, he swept for surveillance before sitting.
From his pocket he unfolded the cloth fragment.
A bold "R" stared back.
Silas's eyes darkened.
"Team Rocket…
already reaching into Hoenn?."
From the dead man he recovered:
Two Poké Balls
Standard Rocket gear
A rank card labeled
Squad Leader
He studied it briefly… then left.
The Poké Balls stayed hidden under the bed.
He wouldn't risk triggering unknown tracking methods for two mediocre Poison-types.
Silas lived by caution.
Even a sliver of risk wasn't worth it.
....
After exiting the black market, he discarded his disguise and returned to the Pokémon Center.
Night had fallen and sunset was staining the sky crimson.
His schedule had been delayed by constant tailing, so instead of dining out he ordered food through the Pokédex system.
Dinner arrived quickly.
He ate, rested briefly…
Then sat up again.
"No sleep tonight."
From his spatial backpack he removed the materials purchased earlier -rare resources were spread across the bed.
Among them lay a treasure:
Earth Vein Stalactite Essence
He exhaled.
This would be another long night of work.
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(End of chapter)