Tetsuya could almost already predict this Gengar's ending:
Gengar returned to Antel in such a weakened state. Failure of the mission was secondary. The key point was that Gengar's appearance would expose him, and he might even suspect that this was a police tactic of casting a long line to catch a big Magikarp. For his own safety, Antel would certainly sever his "relationship" with Gengar at the first opportunity, destroy Gengar's Poké Ball, and might even kill Gengar.
In short, the more miserable Gengar's ending was, the more advantageous it would be for him.
Swinub absorbed the cold energy that had frozen Gengar. Gengar broke free from the ice block, shivering from the cold. Its body was already weakened to the extreme, and it did not even have the strength to Levitate¹[1].
"You may go, Gengar. Tell your Trainer not to provoke me again. Next time… you will not be so lucky!"
In front of Golett and Gengar, Tetsuya put on a "righteous" expression.
Gengar left the room dejectedly. Tetsuya recalled Swinub and Piloswine and followed from a distance with Golett…
---◓---
Swaying unsteadily, Gengar arrived beside the central park. Antel was sitting on a bench in the park, with a Liepard standing guard beside him. Tetsuya and Golett kept a safe distance. Although they could not clearly see Antel's expression, they could still infer his movements.
The moment Golett saw Antel, it showed an excited expression and was about to rush out to meet him.
"Golett! Don't forget our purpose for coming here. You are my Pokémon now. That person only treated you as a simple tool for making money. Watch Gengar's fate first."
Realizing that the dazed Golett was about to act impulsively, Tetsuya quickly stopped it. As a result, Golett stayed with Tetsuya and stared closely at Antel's actions.
When Antel saw Gengar return, he immediately stood up.
"Well? Did you succeed!?"
Gengar shook its head weakly.
"…What? You… you failed!? Then how did you come back with such heavy injuries!?"
Antel suddenly panicked. "Did the people at the Pokémon Center let you go…?"
Gengar nodded.
Antel immediately sensed something was wrong and unconsciously took a few steps back.
"You… idiot!The other side clearly used you to find me!"
Antel quickly looked around, afraid that someone was tailing him.
"Phew~ Luckily no one followed. But you've already been exposed. Keeping you will only make me more dangerous. Liepard… Night Slash!"
Antel seemed to have already arranged things with Liepard beside him. As soon as he finished speaking, Liepard pounced forward, its wicked claws beginning to tear into Gengar's body.
Seeing this scene suddenly, Golett revealed a terrified expression. Gengar had been with Antel even longer than it had. If even Gengar met such an ending, then if it continued to follow him, its result would probably be the same!
Already physically weakened, Gengar had no ability to resist. Although it struggled painfully on the ground, Liepard's level was clearly far higher than Gengar's. What could be heard was only Gengar's soul-piercing wail!
Golett wanted to rush forward to save Gengar several times, but Tetsuya's words, "What chance do you have of defeating that Liepard?" stopped it.
The huge gap in strength was the most effective way to make someone see themselves clearly and regain their senses. Golett naturally knew Liepard's level. It wanted to save Gengar, but its own strength was completely no match for that Liepard…
After Gengar died, Tetsuya glanced at Golett beside him. It was completely stunned. Such a bloody scene was enough to make it abandon all illusions about Antel. Such a yokai was someone it wished to avoid at all costs!
---◓---
Gengar was a Ghost-type Pokémon. After dying, it disappeared directly into the night. To completely clear himself of suspicion, Antel also destroyed Gengar's Poké Ball.
Feeling that everything had been handled, Antel hurriedly left the park.
"Well? You've seen Antel's true face clearly now, haven't you, Golett? I don't think he ever gave you a good systematic training either. You only kept learning those few moves. Aside from serving as flashy stunts, they have no real combat value at all. I can bring out your true potential!"
Tetsuya spoke domineeringly. After finishing, he took out a Poké Ball. Golett nodded and entered the Poké Ball.
Gengar's death had completely shattered Golett's hope in Antel. He had finally gone from being a buyer to becoming Golett's Trainer.
Now he could finally sleep peacefully…
---◓---
The next morning, Tetsuya woke up naturally and was eating breakfast at the Pokémon Center.
Tetsuya had prepared food for Ditto, Piloswine, and Swinub. However, he had never raised a Pokémon like Golett before, so he could only ask Nurse Joy to prepare its food.
Golett also had the Ghost type. It was recorded in Matsuba IV's notes. However, as for the method of raising and training it and the food it needed most, he would have to find out what material had been used to create Golett's body. So for now, it could only be set aside.
Golett was clearly still absent-minded, eating its food listlessly. Tetsuya did not bother with it. This was something it had to face on its own.
"Today, Antel will certainly look for trouble with us in a deserted place. Everyone be prepared. Golett, see whether you have the courage to face your former Trainer."
After Tetsuya finished speaking, Golett quickly finished its Pokéfood and suddenly stood up.
After breakfast, Ditto and Piloswine were training their physical strength in the courtyard of the Pokémon Center. Watching them, Golett also began to wave its arms. Encouraged by Tetsuya, Ditto and Piloswine also pulled Golett into their training.
When dealing with such a Pokémon, one had to use psychological methods. This was also the reason he did not like catching Pokémon that had previously had a Trainer. Just making such a Pokémon acknowledge him required a great deal of effort, and he also had to create a warm atmosphere for it, which was truly quite demanding.
But this Golett was absolutely worth doing so!
The reason he temporarily stayed at the Pokémon Center was naturally to go to the library to look up Golett's raising/training methods. However, the results were somewhat disappointing. There were only some basic introductions and information about its preferred food.
But the foods listed could only be purchased at the Pokémon Center, and their formulas were not disclosed. This was also one of the Joy Family's ways of making money. It seemed that raising this Golett would cost quite a bit of money. Moreover, he had just spent ninety thousand Pokédollar to buy Golett. Now he only had 36k left, which was completely insufficient to afford raising three Pokémon.
Hopefully Antel would foolishly come and "deliver money" to him.
After buying five hundred Pokédollar worth of Golett's food at the Pokémon Center and paying the room and meal fees, Tetsuya left M-City.
Riding on RaDittash, he ran toward the forest south of M-City. Naturally, he carried Golett's og Poké Ball with him. The purpose was to allow Antel to find him more quickly.
Deep in the forest, Tetsuya deliberately headed toward the more darkest areas.
•.
•.
¹. Prior to Generation VII, Gengar had Levitate instead of Cursed Body.
[1] Prior to Generation VII, Gengar had Levitate instead of Cursed Body.