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As the mysterious figure stepped out from the mist-like shadows, Sato finally got a clear look at this highly skilled infiltrator—someone he actually recognized. The late-night visitor turned out to be none other than Janine, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
Sato hadn't seen any sign of this dangerous female ninja during the day, but it was now obvious that she had arrived at the oasis earlier and had simply remained in hiding.
After twenty days on the island, Janine's strength had clearly increased to an astonishing degree. The Gengar hiding within her shadow, its crimson eyes now glowing ominously, radiated a powerful sense of danger that Sato could feel vividly.
That Gengar had reached level 61. Whether she had captured it before coming to the island or tamed it here remained unclear. Even when hidden within Janine's shadow, its presence felt chillingly close, as if it were right behind one's back—unsettling and eerie.
Moreover, Janine herself exuded a threat level that Sato found difficult to ignore. He had no idea how many foes she had eliminated during her time on the island.
Standing in front of him now, she radiated a thick, metallic scent of blood, even though her clothing appeared perfectly clean.
Particularly intimidating was the sheathed blade strapped to her back. Though the sword was no longer drawn, a murderous aura still emanated from it, making one feel a deep sense of threat.
In that moment, Sato instantly classified Janine as the most dangerous type of enemy.
Her sudden appearance had also roused his Pokémon. Alarmed by her presence, they quickly surrounded Sato, staring her down with fierce vigilance.
But even with his Pokémon nearby, the sense of threat in Sato's heart did not subside. It was only when he had widened the gap between them to around seven or eight meters that the warning bells in his mind eased slightly.
"It's you. Coming to see me at this hour... what do you want?" Sato asked solemnly through telepathy, his gaze fixed on Janine, who wore her usual expressionless face.
At the same time, he remained internally alert, using telepathy to issue silent coordination commands to his Pokémon. The moment she made any suspicious move, he was prepared to strike first and kill her then and there, consequences be damned.
Sato and Janine weren't exactly close. They had very few past interactions and had never clashed directly. However, from what he knew of this cold-blooded kunoichi, her reason for seeking him out was likely one of two things—his numbered badge... or his life.
"A deal. During the ruins expedition, if your Psychic-type Pokémon saves my life at a critical moment... in return, I'll kill someone for you. This is the deposit."
True to her taciturn nature, Janine skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point.
As soon as she finished speaking, she pulled out a black parcel and tossed it in front of Sato.
Sato didn't touch the bundle himself, nor did he instruct any of his Pokémon to open it. Instead, he used a psychic technique he had only recently learned: telekinesis. His eyes glowed with a faint blue light as his psychic power activated.
The black package was quickly enveloped in a shimmering blue aura. Under Sato's control, it slowly unfolded.
Once opened, the contents shocked Sato—a bloodstained outfit and a neatly severed arm with a horizontal cut.
"You… erased him?"
Seeing what was inside, Sato drew a sharp breath. His expression darkened as he asked Janine telepathically.
He remembered very clearly—that bloodstained outfit belonged to Marlos, an arrogant and unruly second-generation Rocket recruit. And those unconventional tattoos on the severed arm? Marlos had them too.
With just these two items, it wasn't hard to guess that Marlos was most likely dead—slain by the icy assassin standing before him.
Come to think of it, Sato did have a bit of history with Marlos. After all, it was his tip-off that had cost Marlos his newly acquired Mega Stone and Key Stone.
However, Marlos never found out who had betrayed him. From his point of view, their conflict was mostly due to Sato rejecting his offer to cooperate.
Of course, Sato knew that even such a minor grudge would've made someone like Marlos determined to kill him on the island. In that sense, Sato did have some desire to see him gone.
That said, no one hated Marlos more than the woman in front of him—after all, he had nearly gotten her killed.
Judging by the current situation, it was clear Janine had settled that score—blood for blood.
"Deal or not?"
Janine didn't respond to Sato's question. Still curt with her words, she simply repeated her proposal.
However, she likely hadn't noticed it herself—but when Sato had asked that question, the corner of her mouth had curled ever so slightly, and a flicker of satisfaction gleamed in her otherwise cold eyes.
'Looks like Marlos really didn't make it out alive… But honestly, he brought it on himself. He overestimated his strength and paid the price. What kind of idiot tries to mess with someone twisted like her?'
As a Psychic, Sato had exceptional observation and insight. He immediately caught the subtle change in Janine's expression that even she hadn't noticed. He sighed inwardly, sparing half a second of silent condolence for Marlos.
A moment later, he began seriously considering the deal Janine had just laid out.
Clearly, she already knew he was a Psychic—and that he had a Psychic-type Pokémon capable of Teleport. It was equally clear that she had her eyes set on the upcoming ruin expedition.
But for someone with such incredible survival skills to feel the need for a backup plan… it showed just how dangerous she expected the ruins to be.
There were quite a few Psychics at the oasis, and many of them also had Teleport-capable Pokémon.
Yet for some reason, she had chosen him.
That was what Sato couldn't figure out.
"Why me?"
Since he didn't understand, he decided to ask outright. He also didn't want to blindly enter into a deal with a dangerous kunoichi without knowing why she picked him.
The question seemed to stump Janine slightly. She stayed silent for a moment before finally answering.
"You're the most normal."
After her brief pause, she looked at Sato seriously, and then delivered a line that left him speechless in a weirdly disheartened sort of way.