Chapter 72

The battle between Leiming and Ailian soon reached its conclusion as well. Houndoom's firepower after evolving was simply too fierce. Even the agile Meowth was no match for it and suffered serious injuries under Houndoom's bombardment of long-range attacks.

Rayming and Ailian's battle reached a conclusion shortly afterward. The evolved Houndoom's firepower was simply too fierce. Even the agile Meowth was no match for it and suffered serious injuries under Houndoom's barrage of ranged attacks.

The final match was also temporarily suspended because Instructor Frostwolf, Cang, and Qiong had hurriedly left. The trial-takers whispered among themselves. It seemed the first and second places would be decided between Qingwu and Ailian.

The final match was also temporarily suspended because Coach Frostwolf, Cang, and Qiong had hurriedly left. The Trial Participants whispered among themselves. First and second place would be decided between Qing Wu and Ailian.

Only Ailian's subordinates vaguely knew that she had already pledged herself to Qingwu. The final result was obvious now: Qingwu would ascend to the throne as the trial-takers' number one.

Only Ailian's subordinates vaguely knew that she had already pledged allegiance to Qing Wu. The final result was obvious: Qing Wu would take the throne as the number-one Trial Participant.

Many of those present began plotting again. Lan Ling was crippled, and Cangmu had fallen ill. The leaders of the two strongest teams were both down, leaving them leaderless. Why not pledge themselves to the strongest person, Qingwu?

The minds of many people present began stirring again. Lan Ling was finished, and Kuraki had fallen ill. The leaders of the two strongest teams were both down, leaving them leaderless. Why not pledge themselves to the strongest person, Qing Wu?

Although that was what they were thinking, these people were all deeply calculating and would never wear their thoughts on their faces.

Although that was what they were thinking, these people were all deeply guarded and would never show their thoughts on their faces.

"Chief Sakaki." Instructor Frostwolf, Cang, and Qiong hurried to the office at the trial base. Chief Sakaki was sitting in Instructor Frostwolf's executive chair, watching the matches in the plaza.

"Leader Sakaki." Coach Frostwolf, Cang, and Qiong hurried into Coach Frostwolf's office at the Trial Base. Leader Sakaki was sitting in Coach Frostwolf's office chair, watching the competition in the plaza.

"This trial has uncovered several promising talents. They need to be given special training," Chief Sakaki said concisely.

"This trial uncovered several promising talents. They need to be cultivated carefully," Leader Sakaki said concisely.

"Yes, we found several promising talents this time. Our Intelligence Division will take them. We suffered heavy losses last time, after all, and you promised me that I could choose personnel first, Chief Sakaki." Cang hurriedly seized the opportunity and echoed Sakaki's words.

"Yes, we discovered several promising talents this time. Our Dark Department will take them. We suffered heavy losses last time, and you promised me that I could choose personnel first, Leader Sakaki." Cang immediately seized the opportunity and followed Sakaki's words.

"Ahem." Sakaki coughed.

"Ahem." Sakaki coughed.

"Hmm. Aside from Qingwu—I have an important mission for him—the rest are yours to choose." Sakaki immediately met Cang's resentful little eyes. At his age, he was still acting so aggrieved that Sakaki found it difficult to look straight at him. It was almost painful to behold.

"Hmm. Except for Qing Wu. I have an important mission for him. You can choose anyone else." Sakaki immediately met Cang's resentful little gaze. He was already so old, yet still acting so resentful. Sakaki could hardly look him in the eye—it was almost painful.

"Then it's settled. As compensation, the top three can each choose one of the three starters. First place will be directly promoted to squadron leader, while second and third place will become company leaders." Chief Sakaki had barely finished speaking when—

"Then it's settled. As compensation, the top three in this trial may each choose one of the Starters. First place will be directly promoted to Squad Leader, while second and third place will become Squad Leaders." Leader Sakaki had barely finished speaking.

The communicator in his hand suddenly rang. When he answered it, the sound of an explosion came from the other end.

Suddenly, the communicator in his hand rang. When he answered it, the sound of an explosion came from the other end.

"Chief Sakaki, this is bad! Mewtwo has gone out of control and is wreaking havoc in the laboratory! Come quickly—ah!" Following a scream, the communicator abruptly cut off. Something terrible seemed to have happened in the laboratory.

"Leader Sakaki, this is bad! Mewtwo has gone berserk and is wreaking havoc in the laboratory! Hurry over! Ah!" Following a scream, the communicator abruptly cut off. Something terrible seemed to have happened in the laboratory.

"Then it's settled. I have an emergency to deal with. I'll relay the mission to you later. Cang, how about this? Qingwu will be considered an external member of the Intelligence Division. He won't be under your command, but his official affiliation will be with the Intelligence Division." After thinking it over, Chief Sakaki offered a compromise.

"Then it's settled. I have an emergency to deal with. I'll pass the mission details on to you later. Cang, how about this? Qing Wu will be considered an external member of the Dark Department. He won't be under your management, but he'll still be registered as part of the Dark Department." Leader Sakaki thought it over and offered a compromise.

Only then did Cang's expression improve, and the resentment in his eyes lessened.

Only then did Cang's expression improve slightly, and his resentment lessened somewhat.

"Then our Intelligence Division will take second and third place," Cang said greedily.

"Then the second- and third-place winners belong to our Dark Department," Cang said greedily.

"Oh, right. These are the rewards for the top three this time—the three starters from the Unova region." Chief Sakaki pulled three Poké Balls, each about the size of a ping-pong ball, from the inner lining of his suit and tossed them to Cang.

"Right, these are the rewards for the top three this time—the Unova Region's Starters." Leader Sakaki pulled three Poké Balls the size of ping-pong balls from inside his suit jacket and tossed them to Cang.

Chief Sakaki then hurried away with his secretary, heading to Team Rocket's secret-base laboratory.

Leader Sakaki then hurried away with his secretary, heading for Team Rocket's secret-base laboratory.

"What a pity about Qingwu. If he joined the Intelligence Division and received our true teachings, he'd be the next chief of the Intelligence Division." Cang held the three Poké Balls and spoke regretfully.

"What a pity about Qing Wu. If he joined the Dark Department and received our true teachings, he would become the next leader of the Dark Department." Cang held the three Poké Balls and spoke with some regret.

"Continue the matches. We still need to determine the final results." The three of them returned to the plaza.

"Let's continue the competition. We still need to determine the final results." The three of them returned to the plaza.

After Instructor Frostwolf announced that the matches would continue, Qingwu and Ailian stood on the battlefield. Qingwu sent out Golbat, while Ailian sent out Houndoom.

After Coach Frostwolf announced that the competition would resume, Qing Wu and Ailian stood on the battlefield. Qing Wu sent out Golbat, while Ailian sent out Houndoom.

The two sides fought bitterly for a full hour. In the end, after Houndoom exhausted its stamina, Golbat knocked it to the ground, making Qingwu the number one in this trial.

The two sides fought fiercely for a full hour. In the end, after Houndoom exhausted its stamina, Golbat knocked it to the ground, and Qing Wu became the number-one Trial Participant.

"First and second place have been decided. Next, we'll determine the winner of third place." Instructor Frostwolf was just about to call Cangmu over when—

"First and second place have been decided. Next, we'll determine who takes third place." Coach Frostwolf was just about to call for Kuraki.

A Team Rocket member jogged all the way to Instructor Frostwolf and whispered something in his ear.

A Team Rocket member jogged over to Coach Frostwolf and whispered something in his ear.

"Ahem. We've received the latest news. Because Cangmu's old illness flared up, he can't compete and has forfeited. So, congratulations to Leiming for winning third place!" Instructor Frostwolf's voice rang across the entire field.

"Ahem. We've just received the latest news. Kuraki's old illness has flared up, making it impossible for him to compete. He has forfeited, so congratulations to Rayming for taking third place!" Coach Frostwolf's voice rang throughout the arena.

Everyone present let out deafening cheers, congratulating the emergence of the top three.

Everyone present erupted in deafening cheers, congratulating the top three on their victories.

"Silence. Although the top three have been decided, the rewards for this trial extend to the top five. Cangmu forfeited the contest for third place, but he's still one of the final four, so Cangmu will be ranked fourth. Fifth place will be decided among Shengci (Blondie), Lian Ji, Avis, and Lan Ling."

"Silence. Although the top three have already been decided, this trial's rewards extend to the top five. Although Kuraki forfeited the battle for third place, he was still one of the final four, so Kuraki will directly take fourth place. Fifth place will be decided among Sheng Ci (Blondie), Lian Ji, Elvis, and Lan Ling."

Once again, four people were competing for a single spot. After two rounds of matches, Avis defeated Lan Ling, but ultimately lost by a narrow margin to Lian Ji.

Once again, four people would compete for a single spot. After two rounds of matches, Elvis defeated Lan Ling, but ultimately lost to Lian Ji by a narrow margin.

Instructor Frostwolf watched the look of humiliation in Lan Ling's eyes after his defeat and knew that Lan Ling was essentially finished.

Coach Frostwolf looked at Lan Ling's defeated, miserable eyes and knew that she was essentially finished.

If a Team Rocket member gave up over such a minor setback and had such poor mental fortitude, even the Four Generals would not invest much effort in training them.

If a Team Rocket member gave up on themselves over such a minor setback and had such a poor disposition, even the Four Generals would not invest much effort in cultivating them.

Thus, the first through fifth places among the trial-takers were all decided.

With that, the first through fifth places among the Trial Participants had all been decided.

"These are the rewards for first through fifth place." Qingwu and the others each received an unregistered card, a forged Alliance ID card, and a red Team Rocket medal.

"These are the rewards for first through fifth place." Qing Wu and the others each received an unregistered card, a forged League identity card, and a red Team Rocket medal.

Qingwu's medal had three bars engraved on it, representing the insignia of a squadron leader. Ailian and Leiming's medals had only two bars, representing the insignia of company leaders.

Qing Wu's medal bore Three Stripes, signifying that he was a Squad Leader, while Ailian and Rayming's medals had only two stripes, signifying that they were Squad Leaders.

"That's strange. I remember Instructor Frostwolf saying that only first place could obtain the position of company leader. Why did I receive one even though I came in second?" Ailian was somewhat confused.

"That's strange. I remember Coach Frostwolf saying that only first place could receive the position of Squad Leader. Why did I get one even though I came in second?" Ailian was somewhat confused.

This was like a pie falling from the sky. To be promoted from squad leader to company leader, one normally had no idea how many missions it would take.

This was a pie falling from the sky. To be promoted from Squad Leader to Squad Leader, she would have had to complete who knew how many missions.

Besides, squad leaders and company leaders had different resources. A squad leader could recruit ten people to form a squad, while a company leader had greater authority and could recruit three squad leaders.

Moreover, the resources available to the two positions were different. A Squad Leader could recruit ten people to form a squad, while a Squad Leader had greater authority and could recruit three Squad Leaders.

In other words, they could have more people under their command. As for squadron leaders, they could control even more personnel.

In other words, she could have more people under her. As for the Squad Leader position, it controlled even more personnel.

"This trial has ended. You'll have three days to rest and recuperate. Three days from now, a private plane will fly directly from Trial Island to Team Rocket's headquarters. There, you'll be assigned to the various Team Rocket squads. Congratulations on graduating." Instructor Frostwolf revealed a brilliant smile.

"This trial has ended. You'll have three days to rest. Three days from now, a special plane will fly directly from Trial Island to Team Rocket's headquarters. There, you'll be assigned to various Team Rocket squads. Congratulations on graduating." Coach Frostwolf revealed a brilliant smile.

"Qingwu, Ailian, Leiming, stay behind." When Instructor Frostwolf saw Qingwu and the others preparing to leave, he hurriedly called Qingwu back.

"Qing Wu, Ailian, Rayming, stay behind." Just as Qing Wu and the others were preparing to leave, Coach Frostwolf hurriedly called Qing Wu back.

"These are the high-quality starters provided by the chief, as rewards for the top three." Cang took out three Poké Balls and handed them to Qingwu.

"These are the high-quality Starters provided by the leader, as rewards for the top three this time." Cang took out three Poké Balls and handed them to Qing Wu.

Qingwu accepted them casually and activated the system scan on the Poké Balls.

Qing Wu accepted them casually and immediately activated the system scan on the Poké Balls.

Small Pokémon: Snivy (Cyan)

Gender: Female

Level: 5

Type: Grass

Ability: Contrary.

Basic Moves: Tackle, Leer, Vine Whip, Wrap, Growth, Leaf Blade, Grass Mixer, Absorb.

Egg Move: Grassy Terrain.

Taught Moves: Sunny Day, Protect, Solar Beam, Grass Knot, Flash, Energy Ball, Leaf Storm.

Small Pokémon: Tepig (Cyan)

Gender: Male

Level: 5

Type: Fire

Ability: Thick Fat.

Basic Moves: Tackle, Tail Whip, Ember, Odor Sleuth, Flame Charge.

Egg Move: Incinerate.

Taught Moves: Rest, Overheat, Will-O-Wisp, Protect, Sunny Day, Rock Smash.

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Small Pokémon: Oshawott (Cyan)

Gender: Male

Level: 5

Type: Water

Ability: Torrent.

Basic Moves: Tail Whip, Water Gun, Focus Energy, Razor Shell.

Egg Move: Aqua Jet.

Taught Moves: Rain Dance, Ice Beam, Scald, Swords Dance, Surf, Dive.