Plotting Each Other's Deaths

Under Beedrill's suppression, even that high-level Beedrill was briefly stunned.

The Gym-level Pokémon's Poison Point was now slowly releasing its own scent and energy.

The Tauros herd, already charging fiercely, grew even more frenzied. Drawn by this resource, the Tauros leader was already drooling, its eyes bloodshot.

Although it was not a treasure of the same type, it could still provide energy to Pokémon of other types, though it might lower their potential.

For wild Pokémon, that was no problem at all, which was why they coveted it.

It charged straight at Johnny.

Never mind the leader-even the Pokémon beside Johnny could not suppress their greed once they saw the Poison Point clearly, itching to make a move.

After devouring this Gym-level treasure, breaking through to the advanced tier would be perfectly normal.

Johnny noticed something too. Unlike the Pokémon drawn to it, he instantly guessed what Giovanni intended to do.

Shock first appeared on his face, followed by extreme killing intent and anger. "You little brat, you dare set me up!"

By then, Giovanni had already flown into the air and was fleeing off to the side.

Johnny had been following him closely before, leaving him nowhere to escape even if he tried.

Now that Johnny was held up, that was no longer a problem.

If his guess was right, the Tauros herd probably could not kill Johnny. At most, they would severely injure a few of his Pokémon.

So if Johnny escaped, Giovanni would be in danger.

Fleeing now was the correct choice.

With the Poison Point drawing their attention, Giovanni was naturally ignored.

The Tauros raised their heads and roared, "Moo! Moo!"

The Tauros thundered past like a vast army, instantly engulfing Johnny, who was still standing there, along with his Pokémon.

Giovanni did not pause in the slightest, however, because that sense of danger had not faded.

It seemed Johnny really had not died.

Looking at the stampeding Tauros below and their powerful bodies, Giovanni's heartbeat still refused to slow. That feeling of dread was truly terrifying.

As it happened, Beedrill had just flown out of the Tauros herd's charging perimeter.

Giovanni ran straight into Axin and Sam.

Seeing Giovanni unharmed, Axin let out a slight sigh of relief. The sudden release after all that anxiety made him call out, "Boss, are you all right?"

Beedrill brought Giovanni down from above, his face dark. "I'm fine. Let's leave first, or I won't be."

Giovanni had always looked as though victory was in his grasp. This time, he was clearly acting strangely, and Axin could not help frowning. "What happened?"

Giovanni simply started heading away. "I'll tell you in a bit."

Axin nodded and asked no more questions. "Yes."

But they seemed to have forgotten there was someone else nearby.

"Boss?" Only now did Sam catch on. He had always thought Johnny was the one trying to curry favor with Giovanni. He had never expected that Axin, standing beside him, had long since become Giovanni's man.

Giovanni looked at him and frowned, merely giving Axin a meaningful glance.

Axin had already raised his hand slightly. The Pokémon beside him were raring to go, killing intent filling the air, as though they would attack the next second and kill Sam and his Pokémon.

Axin was second only to Johnny in strength within the squad, and was just a little short of being promoted to Squad Leader.

As for Sam, he had only recently become an Official Member and was the weakest of them, which was why Axin had brought him along.

Under this unusual atmosphere, Sam could not help shivering.

Just then, the ground at the very edge of the Tauros herd churned, then split apart.

Dugtrio brought a thoroughly bedraggled Johnny out. His face was hideously contorted, his eyes filled with venomous hatred, and the shaking had left his head spinning.

He could no longer care whether he would be put to sleep. He was filled with killing intent.

The Tauros herd's charge just now had come within a hair's breadth of finishing him off in that trap.

He had only made it out alive because the Dugtrio beside him had used Dig to take him underground and escape.

Four of his Pokémon had been killed in the trap.

Needless to say, the first was that unlucky Beedrill, which had been smashed to a pulp.

Then came the two Arbok, so completely captivated by the Poison Point that he could not even recall them.

The two pitiful giant snakes had failed to eat the Poison Point and instead been trampled until their gallbladders and venomous fangs burst out.

The other was Gloom, which had unleashed Sleep Powder with all its strength.

The Tauros, unable to stop, had trampled it straight into a heap of mangled flesh and bloody pulp. If it had not stunk so badly, the Tauros behind them would probably have eaten it outright.

It was also because Gloom had used Sleep Powder with all its strength, putting the Tauros leader to sleep as well.

That had bought Johnny and Dugtrio time, and the Tauros herd had not pursued them.

After being set up so badly, Johnny now wanted nothing more than to kill Giovanni with his own hands. "Giovanni, you damned bastard! Where do you think you're going!"

"Axin, Sam, stop him for me!!"

His eyes brimmed with intense greed as he looked at the Beedrill beside Giovanni.

He had recognized Beedrill's uniqueness and its tremendous potential.

Able to suppress a Pokémon over level thirty while only being over level twenty itself-this Beedrill had the makings of an emperor!

With this Beedrill, why the hell would he go back to Team Rocket? Raised with his resources, it would definitely reach the Gym level, or even higher.

Even if he became a Pokémon Hunter, he would have a chance to make something of himself.

At that thought, he grew a little excited.

That made him even more urgent!

After he finished shouting, Giovanni's and Axin's faces merely darkened a little, but Sam looked utterly despairing. Man, aren't you just screwing me over?

He hurriedly spoke to Giovanni. "Wait, I'm willing to sub-"

Before he could finish, Giovanni decisively told Axin:

"Do it. Kill him!"

Axin instantly waved his hand, and his Pokémon swarmed forward. With their overwhelming strength, they killed Sam's Pokémon in an instant and took the opportunity to devour the treasures within their bodies that contained the most energy.

As for Sam, the instant Giovanni gave the order-

Beedrill beat its wings, and its sharp stinger pierced straight through Sam's chest. With a forceful swing, it split his body clean in two.

Blood and entrails splattered across the ground.

He opened his mouth and stammered, unable to form a single word. Only blood gurgled as his life drained away, his eyes filled with confusion.

If Giovanni had been in the mood to answer him now, he would only have said, "I don't like having uncertain factors around me, so you can only die!"

Beedrill picked Giovanni up again, and he called to Axin, who had likewise finished off those Pokémon:

"Go!"

Axin decisively had his Golbat lift him up, following Giovanni as they prepared to flee.

When Johnny saw this, he was first somewhat incredulous, then roared furiously:

"Axin, you actually dare betray me!"

Axin snorted coldly. "Idiot. You're just a Squad Leader, and you thought I'd pledge loyalty to you?"

Johnny roared wildly, released several Pokémon again, and pursued Giovanni and Axin.