The static coming from the communicator's speaker was ear-piercing.
The Gym Apprentice on the other end was incoherently reporting the tragic state of the marketplace.
Five people were injured, the perpetrator had not fled, and they were still wantonly destroying the scene.
Wallace put away the communicator, his facial muscles tensing.
He turned to look at Ariel; without any unnecessary words, the two reached a silent agreement:
Go to the scene.
Before leaving, Ariel glanced at the pervert tied into a ball on the floor.
The guy's eyes were wide open, and his body was wriggling on the ground, attempting to attract attention.
Ariel walked over, casually grabbed a rag from a nearby shelf, crumpled it into a ball, and decisively stuffed it back into the man's mouth.
"Stay put."
Ariel patted the dust off his hands.
Catching the wrong person was one thing, but keeping this panty-stealing scum tied up a bit longer was essentially doing a service for society.
He didn't have time to listen to this guy continue making excuses.
The two turned and rushed out of the room.
The streets of Sootopolis City were usually filled with the salty scent of the sea breeze and the cries of vendors.
Today was different.
The closer they got to the marketplace, the heavier the smell of burning in the air became.
It was the smell of wood and cloth being scorched at high temperatures, mixed with a faint scent of blood, drifting directly into one's nostrils with the wind.
Ariel moved extremely fast, his footsteps silent.
His mind was racing.
In a densely populated area like a marketplace, the logic of openly committing violence and releasing Pokémon to hurt people was itself a paradox.
If it was for money, the cost of ambushing a lone merchant would be lower;
If it was for revenge, the target should be more specific.
The opponent creating such a grand commotion was more like a test, or rather, a performance-like display of force and intimidation.
As the home of the Water-type Gym, the public security system of Sootopolis City had always functioned well.
The chain of interests behind such an unconventional and malicious incident today was definitely not simple.
Citizens who were originally strolling leisurely were now fleeing in the opposite direction.
Pushing, shouting, and scattered fruits and vegetables were being trampled into a mess.
Red Berry Juice mixed with mud, dragging long streaks across the bluestone road.
A Straw bundle used for selling candied haws lay on the roadside, covered in dust.
Passing through the last alleyway, the scene of the marketplace was revealed in its entirety.
It was tragic.
The neatly arranged stalls were in shambles.
Charred wooden frames emitted black smoke, and tattered awnings hung precariously in mid-air.
A stall specifically selling Water-type Pokémon items had been smashed to pieces, with beads and scales of various colors scattered across the ground, being stepped on by everyone.
There were deep pits and cracks everywhere on the ground, physical destruction left behind after high-intensity skill collisions.
The five injured were being protected in the rear by several Gym Apprentices.
One person had large-area burns on their arm, the flesh peeled back to reveal bright red tissue inside;
Another's lower leg was bent at an unnatural angle, gasping in pain with a forehead covered in cold sweat.
The apprentices were drenched in sweat, commanding Mudkip and Azumarill to perform simple bandaging and cooling treatments.
The Water Gun skill was controlled to a tiny stream, carefully rinsing the wounds.
The surrounding crowd had retreated behind a safety line, but no one left.
Panic spread through the crowd, and whispers converged into a buzzing noise.
In the center of the area stood the perpetrator.
The man wore an oversized gray-black hoodie, zipped to the very top, with the hood pulled low so his entire face was hidden in shadow.
His hands were in his pockets, and his posture was relaxed, exuding a fearless arrogance.
In front of him, two massive Pokémon were perched to his left and right.
On the left was a Charizard.
The flame on its tail burned extremely vigorously, showing a dangerous bright orange.
With every breath it took, scorching white smoke puffed from its nostrils.
Its crimson scales were covered in old scars, extending from its neck all the way to its abdomen.
This was a ferocious beast that had experienced countless slaughters.
It was scanning the surrounding apprentices with violent eyes, a low Roar coming from its throat.
The air around it was severely distorted due to the high temperature.
On the right was a Venusaur.
Its massive body lay on the ground, its limbs as thick as pillars.
The flower on its back was in full bloom, emitting a sweet but dizzying pollen scent.
Thick Vines writhed slowly at its sides, slapping the ground with a cracking sound.
The bluestone slabs on the ground shattered into powder under the lashing of the Vines.
Two final-evolution Starter Pokémon, of high level and raised to be quite fierce.
No wonder the few Gym Apprentices couldn't stop them at all and could only defend passively.
Ariel's wrist flicked, and a Poké Ball had already slid into his palm.
Against an opponent of this caliber, he was still confident he could end the battle within three minutes.
End it quickly to avoid causing more destruction.
A hand pressed down on his shoulder.
"Ariel!"
Ariel turned his head; it was Wallace.
This top disciple of the Water-type Gym, who usually had "magnificent" and "elegant" on his lips, had cast aside all his nonchalance.
He shook his head at Ariel and then pointed to himself.
Ariel understood his meaning.
This was Sootopolis City, the territory of the Water-type Gym.
When such a malicious assault occurred, someone from the Gym had to stand up to settle the matter and rebuild their prestige.
This was Wallace's unavoidable responsibility as the future Gym Leader.
If an outsider had to handle everything, the credibility of the Sootopolis Gym would suffer a devastating blow.
His fingers loosened slightly, and the Poké Ball slid back into his sleeve.
Ariel took half a step back, yielding the stage.
To be honest, he was quite curious about what Wallace looked like when he truly got serious.
This kid usually seemed unreliable; whether he could withstand the pressure when faced with serious matters depended on right now.
Wallace straightened the hem of his clothes and stepped forward.
He didn't rush to Taunt the Hooded Man but instead turned to the frightened crowd.
"Everyone, please step back and take cover in safe buildings."
Wallace's voice cut through the noisy scene, clearly reaching everyone's ears.
Someone in the crowd recognized him.
"It's Lord Wallace!"
Wallace met everyone's gaze, his back held perfectly straight.
"I am Wallace, the top disciple of Gym Leader Juan. Leave this to me; the Gym will ensure everyone's safety. Please cooperate with the apprentices' instructions and evacuate in an orderly manner."
A few short sentences, without any unnecessary embellishment.
The previously panicked crowd miraculously quieted down and began to retreat under the guidance of the apprentices.
Ariel stood at the back, taking all of this in.
He rubbed his chin.
This kid Wallace, as flashy as he usually was, certainly had a knack for crowd control and soothing people's hearts.
Truly a disciple taught by Juan; he already possessed the aura of someone who could hold their own.
Being able to stabilize the civilians first in an emergency, rather than rushing in with a hot head to fight the criminal, was a level of calmness worth commending.
The evacuation of the crowd provoked the Hooded Man.
He hadn't come here to watch a Gym drill.
"Meddling busybody."
A voice came from under the hood.
Without any nonsense, he directly issued an attack command.
Charizard's wings spread, a gale rising from the ground, swirling up ashes and debris.
It tilted its head back, a blinding red light glowing deep in its throat as a ball of high-temperature fire quickly took shape.
Venusaur let out a dull Roar, the flower on its back spewing out a large cloud of green powder, while two thick Vines raced along the ground toward Wallace.
It was a merciless killing move right from the start.
Facing the pincer attack from two fierce Pokémon, Wallace didn't even blink.
His slender fingers gripped a Poké Ball, and with a flick of his wrist, he tossed it high into the air.
The Poké Ball opened in mid-air, white light pouring down.
Accompanied by a crisp, long cry, a slender and elegant figure appeared in the white light.
A fan-shaped tail fin carved a graceful arc through the air, and its water-ripple scales reflected dazzling colors in the sunlight.
Milotic.
It coiled in front of Wallace, its head held high, surrounded by a layer of water vapor that blocked out all of Charizard's heat and Venusaur's pollen.
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