Boundless Imperial Favor

"Misdreavus!"

Dian's gaze sharpened, and he called out.

"Mis!"

As if waking from a dream, Misdreavus withdrew the Illusion she had been using at full strength. She switched to Shadow Sneak and swiftly pinned down both the gun and Aaron.

Only then did Aaron realize who had been lying in wait behind him: a Beedrill.

Dian spoke at his leisure. "What a shame. If you hadn't wasted so much time talking, my Beedrill wouldn't have made it here in time. Here's a saying for you: villains die because they talk too much."

He finished speaking and gave a signal. Beedrill flashed forward.

Bang!

Aaron lost consciousness at once, his heart full of regret and resentment to the very end.

Once Dian was sure Aaron was completely out, he added, "Sorry, what I just said was a lie. Even if you hadn't wasted time talking, it wouldn't have helped. My Beedrill was already behind you when I showed myself to catch Larvitar."

He had said it to deceive Aaron on purpose. Dian wasn't generous enough to give someone who had pointed a gun at him the comfort of going down without regrets.

An enemy ought to suffer while alive, die unsatisfied, and spend every remaining moment regretting his choices.

Ah, he truly was a "cool" man, as merciless to his enemies as a winter's day.

But he wasn't finished yet.

Dian signaled to Misdreavus. "Misdreavus, force-feed him Stun Spore and Sleep Powder until they overflow. No, stuff whatever spills out back in, too."

Then he looked toward the stunned Fearow and Octillery. Those two had certainly seen something new today.

The situation had turned on its head again and again in the blink of an eye. Somehow, before either of them had even worked out what was happening, they had become