The Cicada's Counterattack

Ignoring the man's question, Roy directly guided the dark purple energy in his hand into the man's pupils.

The Ghost Power inherited from Mt. Pyre could not only nourish Ghost-type Pokémon, but also kill people.

This was Roy's first time using Ghost Power on a person.

According to the two elders of Mt. Pyre, once Ghost Power entered a person's mind, it could draw out the most terrifying memories buried in their heart.

It was also the ultimate fear originating from the depths of one's soul, not to mention that Roy's Ghost Power had been upgraded by the system.

The scene before the man's eyes shifted. Countless wronged souls and vicious ghosts wrapped around him, while a female ghost whose resentment ran especially deep tore into his flesh and blood.

"Ha... Hahaha..."

The man cried one moment and laughed the next, but his body remained unable to move because Duskull's Mean Look had locked him in place.

After roughly ten minutes, the man let out a strange laugh and died bleeding from all seven orifices. Yet there was still a smile on his lips, making his death look exceptionally eerie.

This was Roy's first time killing someone with Ghost Power, but he didn't feel anything particularly different. Maybe it was because he had spent too long around Ghost-type Pokémon.

"Let's see what gave you the nerve to rob me."

Roy removed the Poké Ball from the man's waist.

System Scan

Pokémon: Stunky

Level: 37

Gender: Male

Ability: Stench (By releasing a foul odor, it could sometimes make the opponent flinch when attacking.)

Moves: Scratch, Focus Energy, Fury Swipes, Bite, Roar, Venoshock, Screech, Pursuit, Sucker Punch, Toxic

Held Item: None

Egg Move: Double-Edge

Individual Values: 10

Technical Machine/Move Tutor: None

A level 37 Stunky. No wonder he had dared to follow Roy—he had come prepared.

But while your Pokémon countered mine, what if I didn't choose to battle you and just killed you directly?

Roy locked the Poké Ball completely, leaving Stunky no chance to force its way out, then searched the man's body.

After searching for a while, Roy found a total of 3,800 Pokémon Dollars in cash, along with a bottle of purple reagent with the words "Acid" scrawled crookedly across it.

Roy didn't need to think to know what would have happened if he had fallen into the man's hands.

The man also had an old-fashioned communicator. Unlike the one Wallace had given Roy, which could access the internet and communicate, this one seemed only capable of sending and receiving messages.

There was also a bloodstained ID Card, though it didn't belong to the man. It belonged to a girl.

It seemed Roy wasn't the first "cicada" the man had targeted.

Only, the man hadn't expected this cicada to strike back.

After spitting out, "What a poor bastard," Roy stuffed the money and communicator into his pocket. Still, robbery really did bring in money quickly. In barely half an hour, he had gotten 4,000 Pokémon Dollars.

Roy had Litwick burn the remaining bloodstained ID Card.

"I've already avenged you. I hope you can rest in peace in the Spirit World," Roy murmured.

As for the body... Roy looked at the eerie corpse on the ground, then at the Acid in his hand.

The man had probably intended to use the Acid on Roy. He hadn't expected to become the one using it himself.

Roy pulled out the wooden stopper of the Acid, and a corrosive, foul stench spread through the air. Then he poured it over the man's corpse. The instant the thick purple liquid touched the body, it sizzled and released black smoke.

After the Acid reacted for a while, the man's body turned into black liquid. All that remained on the ground was an intact black human skeleton.

When the wind blew, the black skeleton instantly crumbled into black ash and drifted deep into the forest.

Well, that saved him the trouble of disposing of the corpse. This Acid was pretty useful—an essential item for home and travel, indispensable for murder and robbery.

Roy looked at the more than half-full bottle of Acid in his hand. Judging by the amount, it should still be enough for one more use. He carefully plugged it and placed it in his Spatial Bracelet.

As for this Stunky, Roy weighed the Poké Ball in his hand, its surface marked by several scratches.

First, it wasn't a Pokémon he had caught himself, so he wouldn't feel at ease using it.

Second, this Stunky's talent was average. Its only advantage was that it had evolved into its final form, and its level was passable—neither high nor low. It would probably reach level 39 at most.

If he sold it, it would probably only be worth thirty to forty thousand Pokémon Dollars.

But where could he sell it?

The Pokémon League's channels were definitely out of the question. Pokémon League law prohibited open Pokémon sales and trade, and violators could end up facing Officer Jenny's silver handcuffs and little whip... Ahem, the proper kind.

That had also given rise to many filthy underground businesses. Underground black markets in many places, as well as some small private Pokémon Day Cares, bought Pokémon.

Seeing that everything around him had been cleaned up and all traces erased, Roy nodded in satisfaction.

Another breeze passed by, and Roy suddenly turned around. Yet there was nothing behind him. He had clearly felt something watching him just now. Was it an illusion?

Roy withdrew his outwardly spread Ghost Power. Only after confirming there was nothing else did he ride away on his old bicycle.

Not long after Roy left the forest, a Gengar slipped out from the shadow beneath a tree. It patted its fat body, having nearly been discovered by Roy.

Its master had told it to help Roy eliminate the man following him, but now it seemed there was no need for its help at all. Roy had taken care of the man himself.

After making a face in the direction Roy had left, Gengar slipped back into the shadows and disappeared.