"We've already regrouped with Luke—no, with that Luke brat," Cole said hurriedly."There are four of us left. Everyone else is dead. The strongest among us is Luke. He has two intermediate-level Arbok, and one Fearow that's on the verge of breaking into the advanced tier."
As he spoke, Cole lifted his head, trying to read Leon's expression.
"Continue," Leon said coldly, his face calm and unreadable.
"Next is Luke's lover, Alina. She has an intermediate-level Venomoth and a low-level Pidgey. Then there's the fat one—Phill—he has two beginner-level Pokémon. And lastly… me."
Cole laid everything bare without holding anything back.
He could see the situation clearly now. There was absolutely no way he could escape from a psychic—especially with a powerful Gyarados watching him like a predator.
At this point, his only chance was to tell Leon everything he knew, beg as much as possible, and hope to survive.
"This is the tracker," Cole said, pulling a tablet-like device from his backpack and holding it out."It's specially made for the wild—works even without a signal. It shows Luke's position and the others'."
Leon took it and glanced at the screen.
Three red dots and one green dot were scattered across the map. None of them was far away. The closest red dot was only about five kilometers from his current position.
"Luke is determined to win this trial," Cole continued."So he spent a lot of money on this tracker system. We were supposed to help him—collect points, and rob other recruits along the way."
"Oh?" Leon asked with a faint smile."Didn't he say on the plane that he wanted me dead?"
"Cough—well, that's because we thought you were already finished," Cole said awkwardly."After all, you only had a Magikarp back then. We figured you'd already died somewhere. And besides, Luke was leading us while searching for you anyway, it's just that…"
"Just that you didn't expect my Magikarp to evolve," Leon cut in calmly."And you didn't expect me to be a psychic either. Right?"
"Y-yes, exactly. I've told you everything I know now… so can I go?"
"Not so fast," Leon said."How do I know you're telling the truth? Look into my eyes."
A cold light flashed in Leon's gaze.
Hypnosis.
"What—?"
Cole's pupils instantly went dull. He stood there like a puppet, responding mechanically as Leon questioned him.
Several minutes later—
"Good," Leon said flatly."You weren't lying."
The moment the hypnosis was lifted, Cole collapsed to his knees, his heart pounding in terror.
"Please, Leon, spare me!" he cried."I still have a mother at home, and younger siblings waiting for me. I can't die here—please!"
Tears streamed down his face as regret consumed him.
"Just let me go like I'm nothing!" Cole begged."I'll work for you! I'll be your subordinate! I'll call you, boss—anything! Please don't kill me!"
"Fine," Leon said calmly."Leave everything behind and go. I won't kill you."
Hearing this, Cole's eyes lit up with joy.
I'm saved!What an idiot—letting me go just because I begged a little.
His expression remained pitiful and submissive as he placed his belongings on the ground and began walking away.
Whoosh—
A beam of Hyper Beam tore through the air.
It struck him dead center.
Cole didn't even have time to scream. His body was instantly reduced to dust, completely erased from existence.
"ROAR—!"
The one who attacked was, of course, Gyarados.
"I said I wouldn't kill you," Leon said coldly."I never said my Pokémon couldn't."
Leon stepped forward, inspected the crater, and confirmed there were no surprises.
Then he turned away.
Holding the tracker, he headed toward one of the red dots.
The hunt had begun.
Meanwhile—
"Damn it. Luke stays back, enjoying himself, while I'm sent out to scout. What bullshit."
Deep in the jungle, a chubby young man moved cautiously through the trees.
His name was Phill.
Because of his build, everyone simply called him "the fat one."
He was one of Luke's subordinates.
"Rii—!"
The ground shifted at his feet as a Raticate popped out of the soil, chattering angrily.
Above him, a Beedrill hovered in the air.
"Still… without Luke, it's hard to survive on this island," Phill muttered, his face gloomy as he checked the tracker.
"Huh? Cole's already done scouting and heading back?""Whatever. I'll meet up with him. Safer that way."
On the screen, Cole's signal was rapidly approaching.
A hundred meters away, Leon looked at his own tracker and chuckled softly.
He vanished.
"Huh?" Phill frowned."Is the tracker broken? Why did the signal disappear?"
He tapped the screen a few times. The dot reappeared—
—right behind him.
"I knew it," Phill said smugly, turning around."Alright, Cole. Come out. I know it's you."
A figure stepped out from the shadows beneath the trees.
At first, Phill couldn't see the face clearly.
Then he did.
And realized—
It wasn't Cole.
"You—"
Before he could finish speaking, his body was lifted into the air.
Crack.
The sound of bones snapping echoed.
Phill's eyes widened, his body going limp as he collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
He had been killed instantly.
No resistance.
No chance.
"Rii—!"
The Raticate squealed furiously.
The Beedrill, however, fled the moment Phill died, disappearing into the forest without hesitation.
"Stop squeaking," Leon said coldly."You're coming with him."
A moment later, another corpse lay on the ground.
At Leon's current level, killing a beginner-level Raticate was effortless.
"Nothing valuable," Leon muttered after searching Phill's belongings."Figures. The good stuff must be with Luke."
He set off again, following the green dot on the tracker.
Phill had merely been in his way.
Back at the Team Rocket base, Phill had been the loudest one—constantly insulting Leon.
Now, he was gone.
Five kilometers away—
Luke and Alina emerged from a tree hollow, clothes disheveled, faces flushed.
They had just finished something decidedly inappropriate for children.
"Well?" Luke laughed loudly."Doesn't it feel even better doing it out here? Hahaha!"
He looked refreshed and smug.
His Pokémon guarded the area.
What was deadly danger for others was nothing more than a vacation resort to him.
And in truth—
That's exactly what it was.