Chapter 89: The Aloof Plan

Soon, Amu and Xiaoxia drew close to the illegal poaching group that had abducted a large number of subterranean Pokémon…

At the turn of the passage, Amu and Xiaoxia concealed themselves, while Amu’s shadow—Gengar—twisted and slithered around the corner, its eyes peering slyly at the resting “Pokémon hunters.”

“There are twelve of them, three capture cage trucks, all resting… Should I release Gastly’s gas?” Gengar slithered back and consulted with Amu.

“Twelve trainers… Absolutely not! Since they’ve come to capture Gastly and Gengar, they must have gas detection devices!” Amu hastily stopped Gengar, then asked, “Is there any other passage leading to their resting spot?”

Gengar suggested, “There is, but it’s above us!”

The place where these Pokémon hunters were resting was a spacious, high-ceilinged underground chamber. Besides the path Amu had followed, there was another passage above that led to a higher vantage point.

“We’ll split up… Casket stays here; wait for my signal once I’m in position!” Amu instructed sternly.

Led by Gengar, Amu quickly circled to the upper passage—a narrow opening that at first glance seemed a dead end, but looking down, one could see the hunters’ resting place below, a drop of about ten meters!

“Casket, begin. Xiaoxia, don’t show yourself unless necessary—watch the situation!”

The speaker Amu had left inside Casket now emitted his voice.

Upon hearing this, Casket’s form twisted, transforming into the likeness from Major Ma’s promotional photos!

This was the image Amu had asked Casket to memorize upon hearing the name “Major Ma” earlier.

Compared to transforming into other Pokémon, assuming a human “memory” was much easier—after all, it was just an appearance, not a change of abilities.

However…

To say Casket memorized it would be an exaggeration. Only the head and facial features were clear, the general body shape of Major Ma was approximated, while below the neck, aside from the hands, the rest of the body looked doughy and fake.

Having had no time to recall clothing and details, Casket simply donned Amu’s spare clothes. They were a bit tight on Major Ma’s robust frame, but just passable.

And most importantly—sunglasses—Casket put those on as well.

…

“Who goes there!” The Pokémon hunters, hearing footsteps, called out.

Then, to their surprise, a rather flamboyant Major Ma stepped from the corner.

Having not prepared in advance, and since Amu never wore sunglasses, the “Major Ma” wore Xiaoxia’s instead!

“M-Major Ma, sir?”

Clearly, they were not face-blind and knew Major Ma well, recognizing him even in this getup.

They even addressed him as “Major Ma, sir,” which made Amu all the more certain they were Rocket Grunts in disguise!

“Why have you come in person? Has Giovanni…”

The moment they spoke, Amu was startled—so Major Ma himself wasn’t here?

Luckily, Amu reacted swiftly. “Silence! Giovanni… Is that what you call him?”

Indeed, the flamboyant Major Ma could speak because Amu was dubbing him, using a voice changer.

As for the actions, Amu was remotely controlling Casket through [Animal Senses]—if one looked up carefully, they would see Amu in a Junsha disguise at the upper opening, directing “Major Ma.”

Luckily, the dim light kept anyone from noticing the lips out of sync.

Major Ma had once been the official Gym Leader of Vermilion City and a renowned Electric-type trainer. In the study videos given by Professor Giantwood, Amu had watched Major Ma’s battles, analyzing his tone and cadence.

“Ah, forgive me… I meant, is there any instruction from the Boss?” the man quickly corrected himself.

Yet, his attitude showed little respect for Giovanni.

Amu thought, Good, that was the right gamble!

Based on what Giantwood had told him, Amu surmised that these “Pokémon hunters” were indeed part of Team Rocket but members of the faction opposed to Giovanni, likely due to the recent championship election scandal.

Their leader was probably Major Ma.

“You lot truly can’t accomplish anything…” Major Ma’s voice was full of disdain.

With that, he strode coldly toward the iron cages holding the Pokémon…

Casket, in human form, could barely manage facial expressions—just moving the lips was the limit. Fortunately, Major Ma was known for his stern demeanor, so none suspected a thing.

The leader among the hunters quickly bowed, accepting the rebuke.

The moment “Major Ma” approached the cages, Amu sensed Casket’s thoughts…

[A lock… a key…]

With regret and anxiety, Amu directed “Major Ma” to reach out a hand.

Without looking back, Major Ma extended his hand toward the leader, wordless…

The man glanced at Major Ma, seeing him staring at the lock, and guessed that he wanted the key. He took it from his belt and handed it over.

Amu thought: It seems Major Ma isn’t a friendly leader—his subordinates don’t dare question him!

However, just as Amu believed this “cold act” was working, the other suddenly paused, looking both surprised and uneasy, and asked, “Lord Lambda, surely you’re not… making sport of us, are you?”

Amu: ???

Who was Lambda now?

The name sounded familiar, but Amu had no time to ponder!

He knew almost nothing about Major Ma or Team Rocket—any extra words risked exposure.

So, he issued Casket the final command, took a deep breath, and released Aduan…

“Enough nonsense!”

The flamboyant Major Ma uttered his last line, seized the key, and—

Before anyone could react,

A Rhyhorn crashed down from above, landing squarely atop a cage!

With a resounding clang—

The cage shuddered, even bent a little, sparks of electricity flashing—clearly electrified. But for a Ground-type Rhyhorn, it was pointless.

Instead, the moment Rhyhorn landed, the shockwave rippled outward, sweeping over everyone!

At the same time, Amu, astride Rhyhorn, released all his other Pokémon in one go…

“Brother Shen!”

“Mm!” Shen Changqing walked along the road. If he met anyone familiar, they would exchange greetings or nods.

But regardless of who it was,

No one’s face bore any extraneous expression, as if indifferent to everything.

To this, Shen Changqing was long accustomed.

For this was the Demon Suppression Division, an agency maintaining the stability of Great Qin, its main duty to slay monsters and demons, though it had other side ventures as well.

It could be said,

Everyone in the Demon Suppression Division bore much blood on their hands.

When a person grows used to life and death, they become indifferent to many things.

When Shen Changqing first arrived in this world, it was unsettling, but over time, he grew used to it.

The Demon Suppression Division was vast.

Those who remained here were all powerful experts, or those with the potential to become so.

Shen Changqing belonged to the latter.

Within the Division, there were two ranks: Demon Wardens and Demon Slayers.

Everyone began at the lowest rank, Demon Slayer,

and climbed step by step, with the hope of becoming a Warden.

Shen Changqing’s predecessor had been an apprentice Demon Slayer, the lowest of the low.

With inherited memories,

he was intimately familiar with the Division and its environment.

It didn’t take Shen Changqing long to arrive before a certain pavilion.

Unlike the rest of the Demon Suppression Division, which was steeped in a killing aura, this pavilion stood out like a crane among chickens, radiating a rare tranquility amid the bloodstained surroundings.

At this moment, the pavilion doors stood open, with the occasional person passing in or out.

Hesitating only briefly, Shen Changqing stepped inside.

Upon entering,

the atmosphere changed abruptly.

A scent of ink mingled with a faint, ever-present trace of blood assaulted him, causing his brow to furrow instinctively—but he quickly relaxed.

The acrid tang of blood on every member of the Division was nearly impossible to wash away.