"Damn it—if you want to make big money, then join Team Rocket!"
Petrel's eyes went cold as he weighed his escape.
Something was off about Grey's strength. That Articuno didn't look that strong—so how did Blizzard hit that hard?!
A few snowflakes landed on Petrel's shoulder, melting into his coat.
He panted; the warmth of his breath fogged his view.
"Mr. Petrel, please submit to arrest and enjoy a stay in Pokémon prison."
Grey smiled and strolled forward at an easy pace.
Little Riolu and Articuno flanked him like loyal guards, ready to protect Grey with their lives.
"Damn… Why isn't Archer here yet? Don't tell me he wants to catch Zapdos first and come later…"
Petrel backpedaled with Grey's approach. His throat bobbed—he'd swallowed more than once.
"Miou~" (Grey, what's this 'bounty' you mentioned?)
Little Riolu didn't really understand money, so it prodded Grey for answers.
"Trainers who've made waves in human society end up on wanted lists. In Kanto, Team Rocket's the evil outfit that does anything and everything. The League keeps them posted on warrants."
Grey switched to teacher mode. "Take Mr. Petrel here—he's one of Rocket's core Executives. The public bounty on him is five million."
"Miou?" (Five million—what does that even mean? Spell it out~)
Little Riolu eyed the shifty-looking Petrel while chattering to Grey.
The guy didn't look like much—sneaky and greasy. Five million couldn't be that much, right?
For now, Little Riolu judged by appearances. Petrel's face just looked… unclean. It couldn't help feeling a bit grossed out.
Too sleazy!
What's the difference between him and a street thug?
At best he'd be a back-alley boss in Saffron's side streets. Could you even trade him in for much cash?
A shiver ran up Little Riolu's spine, and it reflexively spat in Petrel's direction.
Lame!
"With five million, we could stack the entire Dojo with your favorite food. If we spent it all on snacks, you'd have a daily buffet for years."
Grey translated it into something Little Riolu could grasp.
"Miou!" (Then what are we waiting for? Arrest him already!)
Justice had never felt so… delicious to Little Riolu.
Sorry, Mr. Petrel—go enjoy that jail time for me!
Little Riolu rubbed its paws together, eyes sparkling.
"?"
Petrel was baffled. He felt like Grey's Riolu had just trash-talked him.
"Damn it… even a Riolu looks down on me now…"
For a moment, Petrel felt the hit.
An Elite-level trainer, chased around by a Dojo Master—and sneered at by a frail-looking Pokémon!
What was this?
Kicking a dog because it had an owner?
"Grey, leave a man some—"
"GRAA!" (Leave you what, exactly?!)
This time it was Annihilape.
It thundered forward in crashing strides.
Thick black light condensed along its body; every step cracked the ground into a web, pebbles grinding to dust as a dirty snow squall lifted into the air.
With the snowfall, the whole scene turned bleak.
Annihilape was blindingly fast. Before Petrel could shout an order, its twin fists had already blown every opposing Pokémon off its feet.
Six Pokémon—none spared!
Golem with sky-high defense, Muk reeking to the heavens—both launched, both hammered aside under that solid black aura!
After blasting all six, Annihilape's lip curled. It raised its blackened arms and let out a triumphant roar.
"Captain Petrel, what do we do now?"
It was the lackey's first mission out of the org—and he'd been exposed in minutes.
All he could do was pin his hopes on his captain.
Please let Petrel get us out alive.
"What do we do? Sit here and wait for death! Or do you have some secret plan to beat Grey? Speak!"
With nowhere else to vent, Petrel snapped at the underling—but he didn't go on long.
The only thing that mattered was Grey. And why was the man still stalling instead of finishing them…?
Could it be he actually wanted to let them go—he just hadn't gotten the payout he wanted?
Petrel thought it through—and suddenly felt he'd hit it!
Right. Grey already had Articuno; compared to that, a Dratini was… whatever.
A Legendary was a different class entirely from a late bloomer like Dratini.
"Dojo Master Grey, you're short on cash, right?"
Petrel lowered himself, posture humble.
Catching his underling failing to bow, he smacked the back of the guy's head. "You trying to disrespect Dojo Master Grey or what?"
"S-sorry!"
The lackey dropped to his knees and kowtowed again and again.
Grey: "(-_)?"
"What… are you two even doing?"
"Dojo Master Grey, I've given this some thought."
Petrel waved, then, to show sincerity, set his Poké Balls on the ground and opened his hands, winking. "You want money, right? After all, you're arresting me for the bounty."
"Yeah, I do. So? You planning to pay me? Think carefully about the number."
Grey rubbed his chin, eyes glinting. "The League's posting on you is a tax-free five million. For most orgs, that's not pocket change."
"Is Team Rocket really going to outbid that?"
"Only five million?"
Petrel frowned.
An Elite-level trainer like him, worth only five mil?!
"Yup. Only five mil—enough to buy fifty square meters of land in Saffron. That's a little light."
Grey nodded hard, taking Petrel's side on this one point.
Too low. Should be more.
"How about this—I'll personally wire you fifteen million if you let me walk."
Afraid Grey might think he was drawing a pie in the sky, Petrel thumped each word:
"If you nod, I'll transfer it on the spot. Say what you want about us, but Team Rocket trainers don't lack money!"
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