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Purple mist surged quietly through the woods like living tentacles, attempting to cling to the ankles of every intruder.
Ariel retracted his collector, his entire being like a blur of gray lightning as he leaped silently between the massive tree canopies.
He didn't look back at Sen's group.
To Ariel, the current Sen was nothing more than a dead man walking in the mist.
Until he had absolute certainty of a one-hit kill and a clean escape, any redundant provocation or observation was a desecration of professional standards.
He knew very well that the League Trainers behind Sen were by no means ordinary.
Although only one of them had reached the Superior level the last time they met,
Ariel wasn't sure what level of strength the three of them had reached after so much time had passed.
If they had made great progress in strength, had some trump cards, or captured some powerful Pokémon, it would be a problem.
Once surrounded, even if he could escape using Malamar's Teleport, it would mean alerting the enemy, making it even harder to kill him in the future.
"Go."
He barked a low command in his heart.
Ariel's figure quickly vanished at the edge of the forest.
Rocket Hideout.
Ariel passed through several corridors requiring dual iris and voiceprint verification, finally standing before a heavy alloy door.
The door slid open silently. Ariana was sitting in her command seat with her back to the entrance, facing a dozen floating light screens where a waterfall-like stream of data was scrolling.
"Lady Ariana."
Ariel's voice wasn't loud, yet it echoed clearly in the empty command room.
Ariana didn't turn around; she just waved her hand casually. One of the light screens switched to the report Ariel had just uploaded, including the preliminary scan data of those hairs and the video recording of the scene.
"Berserk Pokémon, and Sen from the League?"
Her voice had a unique magnetic quality, with a hint of scrutiny hidden beneath its calmness.
"Do you think there's a connection between these two things?"
"Sen's behavioral pattern doesn't look like he's handling official business,"
Ariel said succinctly.
"But based on my initial guess, the Pokémon's rampage doesn't have much to do with Sen."
"Because if Sen did it, there would be no need for him to get involved in this matter in his capacity as a League official, bringing followers along."
"If this Pokémon riot was man-made, and he entered the forest so rashly as a League official, he would be the first person the League would Lock-On to as a suspect."
"So I suspect there might be something he's after in Petalburg Woods, which is why he chose to take such a risk at this dangerous time."
Ariana finally turned around, her gaze falling on Ariel, sharp enough to seemingly pierce through one's heart.
"Your judgment is very keen. I'll hand this over to the Intelligence and Research Departments for follow-up. You did well, Ariel. Go and claim the reward for this accidental discovery and what you deserve for your Intermediate Cadre status."
"The organization is never stingy with rewards for those who contribute, especially efficient subordinates like you."
Ariel took a specialized storage card and walked out of the office.
Arriving at the logistics and equipment area, Ariel took stock of the resources he had obtained. The list Ariana provided was indeed diverse and generous, far exceeding the single rations of the past:
In addition to fifty boxes of advanced energy cubes developed for Dark-types,
There were also four bottles of Life Fluid capable of deeply repairing cellular damage—this kind of potion was almost impossible to find on the black market regardless of price.
Furthermore, there were two precious attribute enhancers—Hard Stone Powder and Deep Sea Scale extract, corresponding to Krookodile's Ground-type defense and Frogadier's X Sp. Def respectively.
What Ariel valued most was an hm disc recorded with 'Dark Pulse,' and a set of training notes on how dragon-type juvenile pokémon can overcome visual blind spots.
That was specifically prepared for Deino.
Ariel turned and left, his back steady.
Only when the heavy alloy door slowly closed behind him, isolating everything from the outside world, did he let out a soft sigh.
Every conversation with Ariana was like an invisible game of chess, requiring intense mental concentration.
He didn't go to rest but walked directly towards the depths of the base, where the exclusive training area for B-rank members and above was located.
"Identity confirmed, Ariel. Welcome to Training Room Number Three."
As the synthesized electronic voice faded, a hidden door that blended into the surrounding walls opened, revealing an almost luxuriously large space.
This was a training room the size of half a football field. The ceiling simulated the sky, capable of switching from day to night and even simulating extreme weather like heavy rain or snowstorms.
The floor was paved with special energy-absorbing material, enough to withstand a full-strength strike from a Gym Leader Level pokémon.
Various auxiliary training devices were embedded in the surrounding walls: automatic target drones, energy analyzers, gravity adjustment devices...
This was a world that belonged only to him.
Ariel took out all the resources he had obtained, and a dense aura of energy instantly filled the room.
"Come out, guys."
With several flashes of red light, the figures of Krookodile, Malamar, Weavile, Frogadier, and Deino appeared one after another.
Seeing the abundant energy cubes and resources before them, even the steady Krookodile had a flash of longing in its eyes.
The little guy Deino was even more direct, wobbling as it tried to pounce forward, only to be hooked back gently by Weavile's claw.
"Don't worry, there's enough for everyone."
He gave the Hard Stone Powder and Deep Sea Scale extract to Krookodile and Frogadier respectively.
Ariel smiled and distributed the energy cubes and Life Fluid according to each Pokémon's attribute and needs.
The high-intensity battles with Lance a few days ago had left Krookodile, Malamar, and Weavile with quite a few injuries; this Life Fluid was perfect for helping them recover.
Watching them feast, Ariel's mood also relaxed.
These were his strongest support.
His gaze swept over each Pokémon.
Krookodile's aura was becoming increasingly fierce and domineering, with every move carrying the prestige of a Sandstorm monarch.
Malamar appeared even more eerie and unpredictable, its mental power swirling around its body like something tangible.
Weavile ate quietly, but every muscle was filled with explosive power.
As for Frogadier, it ate very quickly and with great focus, as if it wanted to squeeze every bit of energy to its limit.
Ariel knew that sensing Sen's presence again today had been a great stimulus for it.
That hatred buried deep in its bloodline was its most primal drive to become stronger.
Finally, there was Deino.
This little guy's mouth was covered in crumbs, looking somewhat comical, but Ariel could feel the restless, yet-to-be-formed terrifying power within its body.
"Alright, now that you're full, it's time to get to work."
Ariel clapped his hands, drawing the attention of all his Pokémon.