Looking at that iconic skull pendant, even though he couldn't clearly see the other person's face, Hoshino immediately recognized that this was someone from Team Skull!
During the previous Braixen incident, Gladion, one of the main participants, wanted to obtain it in order to pass the Team Skull entry test.
Later, he also learned a bit about Team Skull in this world and found that it was just a gang of hooligans made up of truants, dropouts, or unemployed people who chose to slack off after graduation.
Because these guys were too weak and not even noticed by anyone, they couldn't pull off anything, and had long been labeled harmless.
After several years of establishment, the biggest thing they did was graffiti all over Hau'oli City and tear down other people's advertisements to attract attention. Before the police even arrived, they were chased and beaten by other Trainers…
"So why would a harmless gang organization like this be something a young master like Gladion would want to join, and why would they appear at the scene of the warehouse explosion? And…"
Hoshino saw Tandemaus once again display its intimidating posture and knew it must have recognized them. It was Team Skull that captured them and brought them here… No, they were probably brought here and then guarded by Team Skull.
Because these guys aren't on the same level as Team Rockets; they don't have the ability to commit crimes across regions. Most likely, they were just the ones responsible for guarding them.
As for why they came here, it's most likely to see if the police found any clues. Usually, after a crime occurs, suspects return to the scene.
"That makes it simple…"
He directly selected the opponent's location on the map, then quietly snuck up from behind.
The Team Skull member, completely unaware of the approaching danger, was still hiding, carefully staking out the police, and then muttering to himself…
"Why aren't these cops leaving yet? I haven't eaten; I'm so hungry."
"If you're hungry, clock out and go eat."
"I want to, even though everything should have been moved out after the explosion, I'm still afraid these cops will find some clues."
"What clues?"
"It's… Hmm?"
After talking for a long time, the Team Skull grunt finally realized something was wrong. He suddenly turned his head to look, but Hoshino was faster and directly pinned him against the wall.
"Who are you! Let go of me!"
"You don't want to attract the cops over there by being too loud, do you? Confess honestly, what are you Team Skull members secretly doing?"
Hoshino spoke calmly. The Tandemaus on his shoulder was already staring with fierce but cute eyes, wanting to bite the opponent, while Gengar floated nearby, ready to deliver two punches at any moment!
Seeing this stance, Hoshino initially thought this Team Skull grunt would be tougher and wouldn't be honest without a few punches, but unexpectedly, he immediately cowered and quickly responded, "I'll talk, I'll talk! Don't hit me!"
"…"
"I don't know who commissioned us. They asked us to temporarily guard and take care of the Pokémon in the cages for a few days. The reward is generous, but we can't be discovered by others, and we can't leave any clues."
The speed at which this Team Skull grunt confessed truly stunned Hoshino. There was no interrogation process at all; he hadn't even asked specific questions yet. Could he be any more humble?
"…"
He paused, collected himself, and then asked, "So where are those Pokémon that were taken away?"
"They've been moved to the vicinity of the Berry fields outside the city."
"Take us there."
"Yes, yes, right away!"
"…"
Seeing how incredibly obedient this guy was, Hoshino's brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed, and the corners of his lips curved upward as he left with the other person.
…
The Berry fields are located in the northern suburbs of Hau'oli City, relatively close to the small town near Big Wave Beach, and are the largest Berry plantation on Melemele Island.
This place is owned by an old man called the Delibird Elder, and the Berry fields are open to the public. Many wild Pokémon live there and also protect the area.
After a long time, the Team Skull grunt led him to an abandoned warehouse near the Berry fields, which was previously used to store Berries. The Pokémon were hidden here.
"You guys really know how to hide."
Hoshino looked at the warehouse. This place was really remote, at the very edge of the Berry fields, but the Tandemaus on his shoulder became very excited because it was about to see its captured companions.
The Team Skull grunt continued to lead them inside, pulling open the warehouse door. The interior was completely dark, but Pokémon voices could be faintly heard.
Hoshino remained expressionless, following them into the darkness, but suddenly, with a bang, the iron door behind them closed, plunging the entire warehouse into complete darkness.
"Gengar?!"
Gengar was startled by the noise, and Tandemaus also covered its ears, but Hoshino remained unmoved.
Mainly, this trick was so brainless that anyone could think of it; they just wanted to lure him over, which is why he was so proactive in telling everything.
The other party was brainless, he had a little bit, so he followed, and then was ambushed.
After telling the two Pokémon to quiet down a bit and making some arrangements, he slowly asked, "Can you turn on the lights first? It's pitch black; you won't even be able to see me if you ambush me, right?"
"Heh heh, since you've already found out, then I won't pretend anymore! This is what happens when you go against Team Skull!"
A strong music started playing, seemingly an old song. The warehouse lights instantly illuminated, and more than a dozen Team Skull grunts jumped down from above, starting to dance to the rhythm of the music.
"Team Skull! Skull-Skull-Skull-Skull, guess what? Do it, do it, take them down!"
Team Skull sang and danced while approaching Hoshino, surrounding him as if performing some ritual, constantly circling him.
Listening to the music, Gengar clapped its hands to the beat, seemingly finding Team Skull's special theme song quite catchy. Then it gradually submerged underground and disappeared, while Tandemaus maintained its intimidating posture.
"…"
Hoshino glanced at them, then walked over and turned off the speaker in one of their hands. The warehouse instantly fell silent.
"So noisy! If you don't attack me now, then I'll attack you!"
Saying that, he ignored these guys and directly sent out Cyclizar, who was already impatient in its Poké Ball, and swung its tail at them.
But just then, a helmeted Pokémon suddenly dropped from above, striking Cyclizar's head with a slash. With a bang, dust flew up from the ground, and Cyclizar was pinned down by the opponent.
"Hmm?"
Hoshino looked closely, then froze.
"Type: Null?! Where did it come from?"
The one pinning Cyclizar down was indeed the helmeted Type: Null. Hoshino hadn't noticed its battle with Ceruledge when he was playing Trainer battles on the beach before.
"It's you again. You still want to once again…"
"Hmm?"
Hoshino froze again. As the voice approached, Gladion, whose clothes also bore Team Skull's mark, surprisingly appeared here!
He still had a stiff face and coldly continued to speak to Hoshino, "Since you've delivered yourself to us, then as an executive of Team Skull, I naturally won't let you leave again!"
"Executive?!"
Hoshino was stunned. Wasn't he still trying to pass the Team Skull entry test before? How did he get promoted to executive now? Did his position get elevated that quickly?
However, this was not the time to think about that. Last time Gladion unexpectedly popped out, and this time it's this guy again. This is frustrating. Is he specifically coming out to target him?
"I don't think I've offended you…"
Hoshino didn't understand, but he was too lazy to care. As soon as Gladion appeared, the other Team Skull members also took out their Poké Balls, showing triumphant smiles.
Currently, Cyclizar was still pinned down by Type: Null. He was outnumbered by who knows how many opponents. Did he perhaps get a bit too overconfident?
After a moment of silence, he looked at the opponent with a serious expression and said in a deep voice, "You're a Trainer, after all. Wouldn't it be better to have a fair battle and determine the winner?"
Gladion frowned slightly, turned his body to the side, and struck that overly dramatic pose again, loudly responding, "Victory is not determined by a Pokémon's ability, nor by a Trainer's strategy. The result itself is the only truth!"
But as soon as he said this, Hoshino's expression returned to calm, and he nodded slightly: "Hmm, you're right. So I choose to directly attack you!"
"Hmm?"
Gladion was slightly stunned, and then he saw a small pink fist coming straight at him!
He had no time to react and was heavily punched in the face, flying back more than ten meters, and stopping with a thud after hitting something.
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