Taking the Stage

Dian glanced at the two people lying on the ground. The figures from earlier had all been fake bodies created by Misdreavus's Illusion.

Before they lost consciousness, those two probably learned nothing besides the fact that he might have a Ghost-type Pokémon and a Zubat.

That was for the best. It saved him the trouble of having these two pests cling to him like the Meowth trio later on.

He really didn't want three lackeys following him around. Just imagine being on a romantic date, or finally getting to eat after starving for half a day, only for several people to suddenly pop up and cause trouble. The psychological damage would be immense.

"Misdreavus, continue with the looting strategy. Hmm, forget the girl. We're still humanitarians, after all."

Dian glanced at the two people at his feet. The members of Team Rocket should at least be richer than that Kidney-Deficient Youth from last time, right?

As for their Poké Balls, Dian didn't even touch them.

After all, who knew whether Team Rocket had tampered with them? It was better to keep his distance.

Before long, two more people were hanging from a nearby tree.

Dian looked at them. "Misdreavus, this won't do. There's no aesthetic appeal at all. Hang the man on the east side and the woman on the south side. That's the proper way to hang oneself from the southeast branch."

"Mis..."

Misdreavus couldn't understand her Trainer's peculiar sense of aesthetics. She rolled her eyes, then reluctantly arranged them according to Dian's instructions.

Dian examined them again. Hmm, not bad.

"Come out, Skiploom."

Dian called out the newly evolved Skiploom. "Skiploom, use Sleep Powder on these two."

"Ha-na!"

Skiploom curiously glanced at the strange creatures hanging from the tree, then scattered some Sleep Powder over them.

Once Dian