Baimu once again refused to sell Jian's three Pokémon.
Ignoring the intimidating stares from the Hound Team members, Baimu hurried back to the base with three million in cash.
The arena after the match was a chaotic mix of all sorts. If he let his guard down, it would not have been impossible for some Pokémon to steal from him. The Pokémon world was full of talent; there were even people who could create dreams.
When he entered the innermost tent, he accidentally overheard a conversation.
"Didn't catch them?"
"A lot got away. You know, someone tipped them off. Catching those ones was already pretty good."
"Heh, word got out even during a counter-ambush... Does this count as officially going to war?"
"No. Before their boss comes back, there will only be small-scale clashes. A large-scale fight won't benefit them. They're just a bunch of people shouting slogans for money."
Conspiring out loud?
Although they were speaking loudly enough that they clearly did not care about being overheard, Baimu decisively turned to leave.
But the moment he took a step, he caught sight of someone lifting the tent flap from the corner of his eye.
A man with wine-red long hair like Abra's smiled at him. "You're here? I was just about to go find you."
Baimu: "..."
"All right, come in." Liu Ge cut off his attempt to say something and waved. "Come in. I need to talk to you about something."
After entering, he immediately saw Ayana standing not far away.
Compared with her glamorous appearance when she had come to pick him up earlier, she now looked somewhat travel-worn. There were even dark red clots of blood stuck to the back of her hand.
Noticing his gaze, Ayana raised an eyebrow slightly. "Kid, don't think being a contributor means you can stare wherever you want. I'll still beat you up!"
Baimu did not dare talk back. Looking at Liu Ge, who seemed thoroughly entertained, he said, "...Sir Liu Ge, thank you very much for your Vibrava. It really helped me tremendously."
He held out the Poké Ball containing Vibrava with both hands.
"I'm glad it helped. It means I didn't go out of my way to have someone deliver that Pokémon to you for nothing."
Liu Ge accepted it without changing expression and smiled. "So, what have you decided? Do you want to join my side?"
After receiving such a huge favor, how could he not follow him?
Baimu knew he had no other choice. He immediately bowed. "Please take care of me—Big Brother!"
"Oh!"
Liu Ge's smile immediately became far warmer. He reached out and ruffled Baimu's black hair. "You've got good instincts, kid. From now on, you're a Squad Leader under me."
"Squad Leader?"
Ayana looked surprised. "Did you ask the boss?"
The rank of Squad Leader was not something a cadre could appoint on a whim. Its benefits differed greatly from those of ordinary members, and there were strict limits on the number of them. They could not be allowed to become commonplace.
"You don't know this, but the boss originally promised this kid the rank of Squad Leader." Liu Ge's smile did not fade. "I'm only helping fulfill that promise. And that's not all!"
He looked at Baimu. "Shibata, that vegetable in the intensive care unit, died two hours ago. Someone pulled out his oxygen tube."
Shibata was dead!
Baimu's heart jolted.
"Also, the boss had Saruwatari dealt with. That guy was a Crystal Group spy. The plan was to have the others isolate you first, then get people from the Hound Team to cripple your thigh and turn you into a useless wreck. Once the higher-ups stopped paying attention to you, they'd kill you."
Liu Ge explained calmly, "Wondering why Chester targeted you?"
Baimu nodded.
"It was actually very simple. With the boss gone, he wanted to use the opportunity to take control of the rookie assessment. So he deliberately sent people to put special Pokémon into every match, planning to advance peripheral members close to the Crystal Group, then scatter them among the various groups and secretly seize control of the Quicksand Team's lower ranks."
Liu Ge continued, "But he was afraid Hugo, the leader of the Stone Group—the boss's appointed proxy—would notice, so he dragged things out.
"In the end, Shibata and you accidentally ruined it and caught Hugo's attention. The plan failed completely."
No.
Shibata was the one who ruined it. I'm not taking the blame.
He wanted to tell Liu Ge that, but there was no point in explaining.
"Chester is frighteningly petty. He has no vision, and he cares far too much about saving face. You offended him, and word of it spread, so naturally he had to cause you trouble. But the big boss took a liking to you, so he could only go about dealing with you in a roundabout way."
As Liu Ge spoke, he actually laughed. He clearly had a great deal of contempt for the leader of the neighboring Crystal Group.
Ayana beside him sneered coldly as well.
"..."
Baimu's face was numb. "What about his uncle, Shigaki?"
"A Squad Leader can't disappear so easily, and he has no way to trouble you right now. So you can deal with him yourself. When the Sand Group and Crystal Group clash someday, just go kill him."
Liu Ge gave his shoulder a firm pat. "I believe you can do it."
"Oh, right. Normally, once you join, you're supposed to pay a tribute fee to the big brother you follow. But I figure you must be unhappy about handing over money before you've even had time to warm it in your hands, so I'll waive it this time."
Liu Ge said, "Use that money properly to strengthen yourself and reach Squad Leader level as soon as possible. Of course, whether you replace Pokémon or add more is up to you, but I advise you not to bite off more than you can chew."
His good big brother gave him a meaningful look, then lifted the tent flap and left.
Ayana curled her lip. "Your big brother isn't exactly straightforward either. If he was worried you'd waste your money, he could've just said so. Why spout so much nonsense?"
"Uh..."
How could Baimu dare respond to that?
Still, judging by Liu Ge's attitude and actions so far, following this big brother seemed pretty good. It might even have a promising future.
The same muscular female driver was driving on the way back.
But as Baimu got in, he suddenly noticed that the Hound Team's base was in an uproar. Someone rushed out from inside toward the Quicksand Team's base, only to be stopped by others.
Basin after basin of blood-red water was carried out from the tents inside.
This...
He could not help thinking of what Liu Ge and Ayana had said earlier, along with the bloodstains on the latter.
The Hound Team had ambushed the returning Quicksand Team outside, only to be counter-ambushed by them?
Perhaps that was it.
Otherwise, there was no explanation for why Liu Ge had suddenly appeared there.
What a reliable big brother!
Baimu had thought that a second-rate organization like the Quicksand Team would have no foresight against enemy ambushes. He had not expected there to be capable people after all.
As he pondered this, one of his former teammates in the same vehicle leaned over and asked with familiar ease,
"I heard you'll be following Sir Liu Ge from now on?"
"Yes."
"That's great. So how much tribute are you planning to give? Everyone says Sir Liu Ge is very generous and doesn't charge much tribute..."
"How much is normal?"
"For people like us who just got money from the competition, it starts at one million. Sir Liu Ge might only ask for five hundred thousand."
The man spoke with immense envy.
Meanwhile, Baimu cursed inwardly. Tribute starting at one million? This was not just harvesting the leeks—they would not even leave the roots behind!
"Do those people lying down have to pay one million too?"
He asked in disbelief.
The man shook his head. "Of course not. We pay more because we just got an extra income. Oh, and it's not just the cadres who get a share. Don't forget the Squad Leaders either. I'm giving you a special reminder."
Damn it!
They were eating people alive!