Chapter 97: Crazy
Next to a large truck, seven students were bound. Suddenly, their pores contracted, and their necks felt as though they were entwined by a cold, venomous snake, sending shivers down their spines.
âLeaderââ
The poacher guarding the seven immediately addressed respectfully when he saw someone approaching.
Grey Feather, the highest leader of this group of poachers, and Sinnohâs notorious hunter with the code name 16.
The students looked at this person with complex expressions. The young and spirited Tobias and Seiji even glared angrily and shouted at âGrey Feather.â
Their actions made Jinbe and Terrance, among others, anxious, but they could only try to signal them discreetly to stop.
Terrance sighed inwardly; they were making themselves so conspicuous in this situation, directly clashing with the leader of the opposing group. It was neither rational nor safe.
âBanetteâŠâ
What gave them a chilling feeling was something that looked like an ordinary ragdoll with a zipper on its mouth but was, in fact, a Pokémon. It had red eyes even more eerie and strange than Misdreavus, giving off a creepy feeling.
âYou ba*tards, release us now!!!â
âLet go of me, or Iâll make you pay for this!!!â
Tobiasâ shouting even annoyed Terrance, who has quite a good temper. He couldnât see any point in this reckless shouting. Would the other side really release them because of these empty threats?
âYou little bratâŠ.â Grey Feather didnât get angry, but the poacher guarding the seven got annoyed first. He kicked Tobiasâ body, causing him to fall to the ground, groaning in pain.
âEnough.â Grey Feather glanced coldly at Tobias, apparently not concerned about this little bug.
âLeader⊠How should we deal with these people?â The poacher asked cautiously.
âWhat do you think?â Grey Feather countered.
This question left the poacher stunned, unsure of how to respond.
âKeep an eye on them for now. We are poachers, not killers. As long as they behave themselves, weâll release them later.â
âYesâŠLeader!â
Grey Feather looked at the angry faces of the students with some amusement and shook his head. âTo be honest, we rarely engage in the theft of other peopleâs PokĂ©mon.â
âDespite being called poachers, our business mainly involves selling PokĂ©mon with potential at low prices on the black market to people without trainer qualificationsâŠor transferring âPreserved PokĂ©monâ captured by the League to new owners.â
âItâs precisely because of this that we rarely crossed the Leagueâs bottom line, allowing us to escape through the cracks like rats, and then grow, leading us to where we are now.â
âDid we do wrong?â
âNo⊠we didnât!â
âThanks to our existence, many people from humble backgrounds could find a path to change their lives.â
âThanks to our existence, some PokĂ©mon donât have to worry about food in the wild and pointless competition. Instead, they can find shelter in the arms of wealthy families.â
âThanks to our existence, those âPreserved PokĂ©monâ donât have to be kept in captivity as mere ornaments. They can experience different lives. Isnât that our contribution?â
âThe system is whatâs wrong hereââBecoming a trainer requires money, obtaining PokĂ©mon requires money, everything is legal in the hands of the League, but it becomes illegal in our hands. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the weak have no chance to succeed whatsoever. Dreams are nothing but daydreams for those who enjoy comfort. This system is too corruptâŠâ
âDo you⊠understand?â
âNo⊠people like you, born into privilege, will never comprehend.â
âNow, Iâve changed my mind. I want to try taking away the treasures of people like you who live in comfort⊠PokĂ©mon, right? What will you do if you lose them? Anger⊠or indifference? Maybe youâll just go out and catch another.â
Grey Featherâs pupils, like black holes, gazed at the seven students and smiled. Seeing these new-generation Trainers reminded him of his own childhood experiences, igniting an indescribable fury within him.
Resources always flow toward the wealthier and the more powerful people.
The weak, the poor, they only become weaker. Whether when dealing with the rich or the poor, it made him see through this corrupt system.
âThis wrong thing⊠should be destroyed⊠and then builtâŠanewâŠ.â
Terranceâs scalp tingled, and he struggled to swallow his saliva. He didnât know how the others comprehended Grey Featherâs words, but to Terrance, Grey Feather was almost like a lunatic.
However, what worried him most at this moment wasnât any astonishing scheme by this poaching organization butâŠ. the words that came from this personâs mouth: they intended to take away their PokĂ©mon.
âBeautifly⊠SwabluâŠâ When he thought of them, Terrance couldnât hold back. It was something he absolutely couldnât accept.
Even though he knew that staying put might keep him out of harmâs way, he couldnât tolerate the idea of Beautifly and Swablu being taken away.
Terrance trembled involuntarily.
Raising his head and looking at Grey Featherâs mocking expression, he suddenly had a realization.
âThis guy⊠is doing this on purpose.â
His own safety⊠or having his Pokémon taken away? Which should he choose?
Terrance felt like he had fallen into an ice cave, feeling like he was being toyed with. Even if the other person was a lunatic,it was clear he wasnât an idiot. Someone capable of controlling such an organization, his intelligence was definitely not in question⊠What set him apart was his peculiar personality and mindset, something beyond the ordinary, which normal people couldnât comprehend, and that could only be formed after a series of events.
This Grey Feather was evidently such a person.
âWatch over themâŠâ Grey Feather patted the poacherâs shoulder and left the area. Perhaps out of a twisted personality or perverse amusement, he had teased this group of students for reasons unknown.
Watching Grey Featherâs departing figure, Jinbe, Seiji, Orange, Yuko, and the others were left breathless, their eyes filled with confusion. For people of their age, this was a deeply traumatic experience.
âJust stay put!!â The poacher growled, and continued to watch over the students with his Ariados.
This poacher gang was systematically and quickly mining Water Stone vein. They had assigned just an ordinary poacher to guard these seemingly harmless students.
Terrance groaned inwardly. Ariados⊠and a poacher. If he relied on Misdreavusâs illusions for a surprise attack, he might just be able to escape.
But the key was that the opposing group had numerous members, and he had no idea where their PokĂ©mon were being held. If he recklessly charged out without a plan, heâd only be wasting his efforts and potentially missing the most crucial opportunity.
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