Chapter 149: The Real Cute-on-the-Outside, Dark-on-the-Inside: Erika

"Is there anything wrong with what I said in the carriage? We should always interpret the enemy's psychology with the utmost malice."

[You're right, but don't say things like that anymore. I have no intention of visiting you in prison on a fixed schedule.]

Upon arriving at the Officer Jenny Academy, Zhu Suihan was escorted by an instructor to a large conference room.

Since not everyone had arrived yet, Zhu Suihan sipped his coffee and opened the internal team voice chat using their shared mental connection.

"Milu!"

We could raid the execution grounds!

Miltank expressed her plan in a vibrant voice, figuring that if they raided the execution grounds later, they could even shout something like "The execution ground raider is none other than yours truly," which she felt would be much cooler.

"That would mean I'm already about to be beheaded; it's completely different from a prison break, you know."

Zhu Suihan couldn't help but say, "Can you guys wish me something better for once?"

"Uu."

If you hadn't said something like that right in front of so many paragons of justice, we wouldn't have started talking about this topic in the first place, alright?

"Milu!"

Big Sis is right!

"Alright, alright, my bad. From now on, I'll only tell you guys things like this when it's just the few of us."

[My suggestion is that you stop filling their heads with this nonsense.]

Mewtwo suddenly felt a weary sense of being the only clear-minded person in a muddy world, feeling that its Big Sis, Second Sis, and the white-haired trainer were all problem children.

Hard to deal with!

The conference room gradually filled with dashing and valiant Officer Jennies. The investigator who entered last precisely locked onto Zhu Suihan as the sole male in the crowd.

He then quite naturally sat down next to Zhu Suihan, pulled a pack of chewing gum from his shirt pocket, and friendly asked Zhu Suihan if he wanted some.

"Thank you."

It was a mint flavor that cleared the mind and refreshed the brain, seemingly infused with some spicy berry powder as well, which reminded Zhu Suihan of the corporate slaves who once claimed they needed to chew Sichuan peppercorns to stay awake.

More and more investigators entered, and upon seeing their fellow male compatriot acting like a lone boat adrift in the sea, they likewise walked over naturally to huddle together for warmth.

The scene instantly turned into a situation where Zhu Suihan was at the center, with the other investigators taking their seats around him in order, making it look almost as though the leadership had changed hands.

Some of the Officer Jennies present had no idea who this white-haired guy was and were quietly asking their good friends if he was a leader air-dropped by the League to oversee them.

"Is everyone here?"

Jenny Ritsu stood before the podium. "I will be presiding over this meeting. Please turn off your smart devices. From this moment on, all radio waves in this conference room will be monitored by technological Pokémon."

[She's just an academy director; why is she qualified to preside over a meeting about moving against Team Dark?]

"You don't understand. Directors and academy instructors possess a dual nature of gods and ghosts."

Zhu Suihan replied internally: "Inside the academy, you can see teachers who are disheveled, holding a thermos as they come to give you a lecture, and who might even gossip a bit about the teacher's lounge."

"But outside, when your teacher is dressed in a sharp suit and leather shoes, normally that's not someone you can approach anymore."

Without combat achievements sufficient to convince the masses, how could Jenny Ritsu possibly serve as the director of such a talent-training base? It was completely normal for her to preside over the meeting.

"Besides, setting the meeting location at the Officer Jenny Academy allows us to use attending an academic seminar as the public reason for personnel deployment, preventing Team Dark members from catching onto any clues."

Jenny Ritsu gave a dry cough and began speaking after confirming that everyone had turned off their smart devices.

"You should all have signed non-disclosure agreements. The League has gathered information through various channels, and it is finally time for Team Dark to be eliminated."

"Just like before, team division, precise strikes. You will deploy as decapitation squads, and the local League branches and Jennies will provide you with assistance."

Jenny Ritsu handed out documents one by one. Considering the nature of confidentiality, each team's mission location was only being announced now—you could even say they had just been typed into a computer document and printed out on the spot, completely randomized.

"Now, we will issue the tools."

Small wristwatches were distributed to everyone, along with matching battery packs marked with a delicate and exquisite Electabuzz logo.

"If you encounter Pokémon controlled by Dark Balls, activate this wristwatch. The sound waves emitted from it can break the influence of the Dark Balls."

Jenny Ritsu said, "The wristwatch has three output levels. The end of the documents just handed out will tell you the specific standards. Just adapt to the situation during battle."

Zhu Suihan held his coffee cup with both hands. He did have a copy of the documents, but the wristwatches and the main task of the decapitation operation were absent for him.

This made the others even more convinced that he was a bigwig sent to oversee operations.

"Depart immediately after grouping is complete. The League has dispatched a flight squad to rendezvous with you."

Jenny Ritsu said: "Remember, there are no uniform orders for this operation. Engage in combat directly upon reaching the target location."

"Until the mission is over, any orders proactively transmitted through smart devices are fake."

With a gap in combat power, wouldn't such a decision pose potential safety hazards?

Yes, a gap in combat power indeed existed.

But that was something Team Dark should worry about, not something the League side needed to consider.

The local League branches were responsible for providing auxiliary support, while the decapitation squads gathered from the academy would take the initiative as elites.

In addition, there were powerful trainers from the League holding down the fort, acting as high-mobility reinforcements.

For instance, a certain Pewter Gym Leader who couldn't wait to trade Bishop for a League Pioneer License.

If they didn't make a move soon, the League was going to hog all the glory!

After issuing the orders, only Zhu Suihan and Jenny Ritsu remained in the conference room. This imposing veteran Officer Jenny transformed in a second into an elderly woman stuffing cookies into your coat pocket.

"Suihan, dear, calling you over so suddenly—are you nervous?"

"I don't really feel anything, mainly because I don't know what I'm here to do."

Zhu Suihan said very honestly: "After all, I didn't know where King Poklates was either. When the phone call went through, I thought our director was trying to scam me."

"We've already located the stronghold where King Poklates is entrenched. Don't underestimate the League's operational capabilities, Suihan."

Jenny Ritsu smiled: "Who knows if it's because it's hard to leave one's homeland, or if there's some treasure in the ruins you opened that could serve as startup capital, but he has a secret stronghold in the ruins near Pewter City."

The moment these words were spoken, the expressions of the family members instantly changed.

There was still money they hadn't found?!

That was our money!

"Pewter City, right? I'm going right now."

Zhu Suihan immediately stood up: "Pewter City... I remember the Gym Leader's name is Brock, right? Are we supposed to cooperate with him?"

"Free action. Your target is King Poklates."

Jenny Ritsu said: "Aside from Brock near Pewter City, Erika from Celadon City and Sabrina from Saffron City are already prepared."

Three Gym Leaders targeting a single stronghold—it seemed King Poklates was doing quite well for himself.

Zhu Suihan nodded: "Understood."

Jenny Ritsu nodded with satisfaction: "As long as you know your target. I've already arranged an aerial unit for you outside."

"My partner can fly too. Mewtwo."

Zhu Suihan opened the Counter-Attacking Ball: "I'll leave it to you."

[Let's go.]

Nodding to Jenny Ritsu, Zhu Suihan and Mewtwo vanished swiftly, reappearing in the sky the next second, transforming into a streak of blue light as they headed toward Pewter City.

Pewter City, Pewter Gym.

The reception room was filled with the lingering fragrance of tea. Erika, with the poise of someone from a distinguished background, rolled up her sleeves and smiled as she poured tea for Sabrina and Brock.

"Gym Leader Erika, sorry for the trouble. I could have just done this myself."

Brock laughed heartily: "If it weren't for this opportunity, it would usually be very rare for me to taste your craftsmanship."

Erika smiled slightly: "This humble person only possesses these meager skills. Pardon my clumsiness."

"Most importantly, the tea leaves treasured by Gym Leader Brock are of high quality. Rather, it's I who am basking in your reflected glory."

The two exchanged a glance, and then secretly glanced at Sabrina, who was currently shrouded in low pressure, feeling immense pressure.

They weren't strangers, yet they had opened the conversation with such boring commercial small talk for one single reason: Sabrina, who had gone into self-isolation after glancing at the plan.

Forget ordinary conversation, even when the Quartz League held Gym Leader meetings, Sabrina—who always hated trouble—had never reacted like this!

"Why him? Why of all people does it have to be him?"

Sabrina was furious: "There are so many elites among the Jennies, why did they have to send him!"

Alakazam gave a dry cough: "Alak."

Weren't you involved in that incident yourself?

Sabrina instantly shot a death glare at Alakazam.

Is this something my partner should be saying out loud?!

Alakazam wisely shut its mouth, took a step back, and entered stealth mode.

"Well... this humble person has also heard of that student. He seems to be a very strong researcher."

Erika smiled: "He should be a strong reinforcement for us."

Brock took a sip of tea: "What a pity. I thought some beautiful Nurse Joy would come to assist us."

Erika covered her mouth and chuckled lightly: "As reliable as a rock, Pewter Gym Leader, you surely aren't the type of person to still be thinking about pretty girls at a critical moment."

"Or could it be that you think this humble person and Gym Leader Sabrina aren't pretty enough?"

As soon as these words were spoken, even Sabrina, who had been in a state of meltdown, instinctively shifted her gaze toward Brock.

No matter when or where, this kind of topic was indeed enough to attract the attention of any woman.

Bad!

Brock instantly entered a sweat-soaked state, never expecting Erika to be laying a trap for him here.

The Gym Leader, as hard and reliable as a rock, wished he could slap himself across the face.

Why couldn't I control this mouth of mine?!

Erika, you're setting me up!

"Of course not. Both Gym Leaders are very beautiful, and your beauties each have their own distinct characteristics. It is my honor to sit here and drink tea with you both."

A high-emotional-intelligence remark was to say "beauties each have their own distinct characteristics." Speaking this way could also directly block Erika's subsequent life-or-death soul-torturing question of "Who is prettier between me and Sabrina?"

Even though he knew this was just a joke Erika made to cheer Sabrina up, Brock declared that he absolutely could not understand it!

Because the sacrifice for this atmosphere-easing joke was himself!

"Hehe, don't be nervous, Gym Leader Brock. It was just a joke."

Erika still wore that smile imbued with refinement and classical charm.

"I would never say anything like who is prettier, or what makes Nurse Joy better than us."

"After all, in Gym Leader Brock's subconscious, Nurse Joy must definitely be prettier than this humble person and Sabrina, right? Otherwise, you wouldn't have said you hoped the reinforcement would be an 'even' more beautiful Nurse Joy."

Brock: ...

Where is the reinforcement from the Joy Academy, and why aren't they here yet?!

Your boy needs backup here!

(End of Chapter)