Trap Gamble

Outside the hidden rocky cave.

Baimu tilted his head back and watched Delibird fly away with the large cloth bag in its claws. It was hard to imagine that this penguin, barely taller than a person's waist, could carry such a huge object.

"...Won't she suffocate?"

It should be ventilated?

He turned to look into the rocky cave. The Hound Team member had already changed into a Quicksand Team uniform, though it looked somewhat loose on her.

"Good thing Hound Team uniforms aren't divided by gender."

Baimu ignored her ugly expression and put on the Hound Team uniform. Although it was a little tight in several places, it wasn't completely unacceptable.

"What's the point of doing this?" the Hound Team member couldn't help asking. "You exposed yourself so casually! Do you really think everyone else is brainless?"

"So what if I'm exposed?"

He smiled. "I only need to make that person fail to react for a moment. Of course, I need your cooperation too."

He had already realized she was a woman when he searched her.

Although her gender was unfortunate, there was nothing he could do about it. He had finally captured someone without injury, and she was the type who was relatively afraid of death. He might as well make use of her.

Besides, the main reason he had kept her alive was the radar function. He couldn't use the enemy's wristband himself, but there was no problem having the enemy use it.

He had checked it just now. All the wristband's functions were still active and hadn't been disabled.

The woman's face was cold. "What if I don't cooperate?"

"Then you can forget about redeeming your Pokémon." Baimu's expression didn't change. "How about I take two of your thumbs as well?"

"..."

She fell silent.

Baimu continued, "You should actually feel lucky. If you weren't still useful, your fate would have been the same as my teammate's—an eye for an eye."

"By the way, you wanted to bring him down earlier, didn't you? Why? Did you dislike him and want to pull him down for a beating?"

"I'd never do something like that!"

The Hound Team member turned her head away resentfully.

At a time like this, she knew he wouldn't believe her if she claimed she had suddenly developed a burst of kindness, so she simply kept her mouth shut.

Baimu chuckled. "It doesn't matter whether you would or not. We'll cooperate sincerely, and I guarantee you'll get out in one piece. I can even sell your Pokémon back to you at a cheaper price."

"...Really?"

"You can believe I'm lying if you want. That's your freedom. All right, it's almost time. Let's get ready. There are two minutes left until the radar activates."

He put on his cloak, then took a black mask from his bag and put it on the Hound Team member before silently leaving the rocky cave.

The aerial Rotom followed behind them, recording everything they had just done and said before transmitting it outside.

It was projected onto screens everywhere.

Audiences from all over began discussing it in small groups.

Naturally, the main topic was whether Baimu and the female Hound Team member could deceive someone.

At the arena, many people felt he was being clever for nothing and that there was no chance anyone would fall for it. Others thought the target might turn the tables and approach them under the guise of falling for the trick.

In short.

Few people favored Baimu.

The reason was obvious. His previous battle hadn't relied on a direct confrontation. He had taken down his opponent through a sneak attack, showing little actual strength, and his follow-up handling had offered nothing noteworthy.

Your teammate had suffered so terribly, and you hadn't even taken off one of the enemy's arms? Boring. Utterly boring.

"Too inexperienced."

They gave their low evaluations while ignoring the other screens and staring intently at the one showing Baimu.

Meanwhile, at the banquet in Silicon Beryllium City.

There were slightly more viewers who appreciated Baimu. Most of them were people who felt nothing toward bloody scenes and acted swiftly and decisively.

Although the sneak-attack plan was somewhat crude, taking down an opponent in such a short time was still worth praising.

If Mayor Ejin hadn't yet given out the first reward, they would have shown their support in one way or another.

It should be soon.

They looked toward Ejin, who was chatting merrily with several people on the second floor, curious which lucky person would receive such good fortune.

At the Quicksand Team's base.

The tense atmosphere from earlier had eased considerably. Aside from complaints that Baimu was too merciful, there were no other objections. Everyone was simply waiting for Delibird to bring the injured back.

During their idle chatter, the Hound Team's logistics personnel inevitably brought up the 550,000 reward again, guessing who had sent it.

"It must include Big Sis Ayana."

"I think so too. When I went to report earlier, her eyebrows were practically smiling off her face..."

"Stop talking! Look! Someone's approaching!"

Someone interrupted the discussion, pointing excitedly at the enormous screen in the distance.

Although there were smaller projectors at the base, they preferred the large one.

Everyone else looked over and saw a simplified map at the center of the screen. A flashing red dot was approaching another blue dot.

At the same time, the detailed tracking footage showed a Hound Team member cautiously advancing. The path she was walking along was precisely one Baimu had taken before.

In another image, the female Hound Team member in a Quicksand Team uniform was leaning against a huge rock. Behind the rock, Baimu and Vibrava were crouching and moving with extreme care.

His hiding spot ensured that he couldn't be seen from any other direction. Waiting for his prey to come to him while rested, he was a model of a seasoned schemer.

The opportunity to use the radar entered its countdown.

Outside the arena, gambling fans opened a betting pool, wagering on whether the person would fall for it.

Amid the noise and excitement, only a small portion of the audience still cared about the battles taking place elsewhere.

The director also showed great judgment, shrinking some noncombat footage while enlarging scenes where battles were underway or about to begin.

The Quicksand Team's logistics personnel joined the betting as well. Each of them held a betting slip and nervously watched the screen. They didn't even notice when Delibird brought the injured back. Only after someone shouted did they reluctantly turn their heads.

On the screen.

The instant the radar countdown ended, both sides activated it at the same time.

A light screen appeared, and Baimu and the Hound Team member both saw flashing red dots not far from them.

That close!?

Damn, we have to strike first!

Bang! Bang!

The Hound Team member immediately opened two Poké Balls, releasing a sturdy Mightyena and a Houndoom with curved horns growing from its head, resembling a Doberman.

"Go! That person's right ahead!"

She shouted in a low voice and sprinted forward with the two barking hounds.

After circling around the jagged boulder blocking both the road and her view,

she suddenly spotted a fairly open patch of ground at the intersection of two cliffs. A person in a Quicksand Team uniform, their face impossible to make out, was leaning against a rock, their twisted posture making them look as if they were in considerable pain.

The aerial Rotom hovered in the air, its camera pointed toward the ground.

Did they just defeat someone?

Was that Delibird earlier taking someone from their side away?

A trap? Pokémon lying in ambush? Hmph! At worst, I'll turn the tables on them!

Several emotions flashed through the Hound Team member's mind in succession. Uncontainable delight crept onto her lips, and she abruptly raised her arm. "Battle request! Charge!"

"Awwoo!"

"Woof!"

Beep.

The wristband let out a low chime, indicating that the battle request had been accepted. A cry answering the battle request came from the distance as well.

But.

Why did the sound seem to come from behind the rock? Had that person thrown their wristband over there?

The Hound Team member watched the two Pokémon pounce forward. Her footsteps slowed subconsciously, while an indescribable sense of danger made her heart pound.

"Come ba—"

"We're in position!!"