Sand Group Boss

There should have been only one person in the Quicksand Team called "boss."

That was what Baimu used to think.

But now he learned that Cang Zhilang, the highest-ranking executive who led the Sand Group, was also called "boss" by his subordinates rather than "group leader."

This was a serious problem.

Though it was merely a form of address, it seemed to carry the implication that "my lord's lord is not my lord."

He hoped he was overthinking it, but the more he learned, the more the Quicksand Team seemed like a ship on the verge of collapse, liable to capsize at any moment...

He only hoped the Quicksand Team would still be around by the time he had grown strong enough.

The fox-like man led Baimu deeper inside. Once they stepped onto an elevator platform, he suddenly turned around and said, "My name is Liu Ge."

"Hello."

Baimu responded softly. He glanced at Aron from the corner of his eye and, seeing it merely looking around curiously at the surrounding metal objects, relaxed.

Pokémon possessed intelligence comparable to humans, but their reason often could not suppress their instincts—violent instincts, reproductive instincts, and feeding instincts.

Although he had fed Aron well before coming out, it would be troublesome if it saw so much iron and could not resist lunging over to take a few bites.

Liu Ge pressed the switch, and the elevator began descending slowly.

He glanced at Baimu and Aron, which was crouched obediently against his ankle, then asked:

"Did you bring it out of the testing grounds?"

"Yeah. I thought it was fate of a sort, so I tried to catch it."

"What about the one the team issued you?"

"I exchanged it for a cash subsidy. I was worried I wouldn't have any experience raising my first Pokémon."

"Heh... you know your own limits pretty well. A lot of people get their first Pokémon and immediately want a second one, only to end up unable to care for either." He forced a smile.

Creak.

The elevator reached the bottom.

A vast underground space abruptly appeared before Baimu. Crude sheet-metal shacks were stacked layer upon layer, colorful neon lights illuminated the gloom, steel beams and pillars ran from top to bottom, and abandoned iron crates and barbed-wire fences lay scattered everywhere.

It looked exactly like the slums from some sci-fi game.

[Underground City].

The complete dark side of Pyrite Town, a paradise for gangs and a hell for the poor. If the surface still had police stations that existed in name only, then the Underground City belonged entirely to the gangs.

Whoever had the biggest fists made the rules.

Baimu had not come here many times either. It was dangerous and unnecessary, and he had never been the type to court death.

As he stepped forward and looked around, Liu Ge beside him pushed up his glasses. "I like rational people. If you don't mind, join me?"

"Huh?"

Baimu froze. Just as he was about to say something, the man who had greeted him during registration yesterday came over.

"Oh, oh, oh, you came pretty early. When I was your age, I was—urk! Lord Liu Ge! Good morning!"

The man's eyes widened. He stood straight and gave a salute.

"Good morning to you too." Liu Ge waved, then turned to the surprised Baimu. "As you can see, I'm an executive of the Sand Group. I'm recruiting newcomers."

"Sorry for being rude just now—"

"Hey, don't say useless things. The boss is waiting for you. Get going." Liu Ge gave his shoulder a push.

Baimu had no choice but to follow behind the man, continuing deeper inside with Aron.

Below the Quicksand Team's highest-ranking executive were the executives—squadron leaders. Each oversaw ten squads, and each squad had ten people. In other words, Liu Ge commanded a hundred official members.

The Sand Group had such a young executive?

Baimu thought it over carefully, then suddenly recalled some Sand Group gossip someone had told him a few days ago. It was about a man who inherited his deceased father's position and defeated every dissenter within a single month.

It was probably him.

Though Liu Ge had started out far better than Baimu, accomplishing something like that was still impressive.

Liu Ge's situation after losing his backer must have been difficult.

"Hey, are you close with Lord Liu Ge?"

The guide interrupted his thoughts.

"No, we just met. I was fortunate enough to exchange a few words with him." Baimu shook his head, with no intention of borrowing someone else's influence to bolster himself. On the contrary, he was a little worried that he had been too impolite just now and might be resented for it.

—Such things were far too common in Pyrite Town. One of his colleagues had been made miserable for forgetting to salute an official member.

He discreetly swept his gaze around. There were not many people in the Underground City, and those who did appear merely watched in silence.

But unlike the gazes aboveground, which were mixed with jealousy and mockery, most of these looks were curious and friendlier.

The faint whispers were difficult to make out, but they did not seem to be saying anything bad.

"Then you're incredibly lucky. Lord Liu Ge rarely takes the initiative to invite anyone. Their squad has great benefits and a good atmosphere too." The guide's eyes held no small amount of envy.

Baimu smiled politely. "Then I have to thank you, brother. If you hadn't reminded me, I wouldn't have come today."

"Hahahaha, kid, you've got a sweet mouth. Go on, the boss is inside."

The guide patted him on the back and pointed at a sheet-metal building directly ahead.

Deafening music and repeated dull thumps came from within, as though something was being pounded. It was rather frightening.

Baimu turned to look at Aron. Seeing that it was unfazed, he slowly walked inside.

The moment he entered, his view opened up.

He found himself in a place resembling a boxing arena, with a huge octagonal cage, blazing incandescent lights, and screens playing recorded footage.

Speakers all around played noisy, blood-pumping music, making it feel like a lively match venue.

Yet there were no spectators in the arena.

There was only a burly man nearly two meters tall and a powerful Machamp. The two stood inside the octagonal cage, throwing punches at each other or dodging. Though both wore boxing gloves, the dull, flesh-striking impacts were still terrifying.

Baimu watched for half a minute before Machamp suddenly drove a fist into the burly man's abdomen. With a puff, the man spat out his mouthguard mixed with blood and saliva, then dropped to his knees and gasped without stopping.

"..."

He twitched at the corner of his mouth and met Machamp's gaze. Without moving from where it stood, Machamp raised its chin toward the burly man.

Its expression clearly said, What are you waiting for? Get up there and help him.

Baimu could only climb in, help the wheezing burly man into a corner, then hand him a towel and water.

The burly man accepted everything, but kept his head lowered and did not look at Baimu once. Only after his breathing evened out did he raise his head, revealing a pair of fierce eyes. "Who allowed you to get into the ring?"

Baimu glanced at Machamp, which had turned away and was whistling with its fists behind its head. "...Quicksand Team rules."

The burly man frowned. "Hm? How come I don't know of any such rule?"

"As a team member, one must protect the boss immediately." Baimu's expression remained unchanged.

"Hmph!"

The burly man sneered and removed his gloves. "Sharp-tongued. Put them on and fight it for one round. Last until the end, and I'll forgive you for getting into the ring without permission."

"...Fine."

Baimu impassively picked up the gloves, feeling rather helpless.

At this point, how could he not understand that he had been set up? But he had never expected a dignified highest-ranking executive to play such petty tricks. Couldn't they just be direct? Sure enough, trusting rumors was a mistake.

The awkward part was that he had absolutely no right to refuse.

Whether the other party meant well or ill, this feeling of being unable to control his own fate, of having no way to say no, was awful.

"This leg only just healed."

He twisted his right leg. A round generally lasted three minutes, but judging by the intensity Machamp had displayed earlier, surviving even ten seconds would be questionable.

Directly opposite him.

Machamp swung its fists, producing sharp whooshes through the air. There was not the slightest trace of guilt on its face after tricking him, only a smile that could be called cruel.

But just as it was about to approach, a silver figure suddenly stepped between them.

"Grr!"

Aron let out a warning growl at Machamp.

"Ah! I'm such an idiot. How did I panic so badly that I forgot about you?"

Baimu crouched down in frustration and patted Aron's head. "It's fine. Go wait below. This will be over soon."

"Grr!"

Aron turned around and called out sternly.

It seemed to be saying that Machamp was dangerous and that Baimu should not fight it head-on.

If only I could refuse...

Baimu was about to try persuading it again when a terrifying rush of wind suddenly came from above, as though some object was rapidly closing in!

Whoosh!

The heavy punch missed!

Machamp turned in surprise toward Baimu, who had rolled aside while holding Aron, his face stern and brows tightly furrowed.

"There's still an unrelated party in the ring, and you've already started?"

"Heh!"

Machamp smiled and crooked its fingers.

The burly man drinking water in the corner spoke up. "It says you two can fight together. You're getting off easy."

Please vote~ Please keep reading~