"Damn… looks like this is the only way." Icarus looked at the rapidly approaching figure, a trace of helplessness flashing in his eyes.
"Come out, Pidgey, Weepinbell!"
He released his two Pokémon and waited for the figure behind him to enter attack range.
"Oh? Kid, are you still planning to struggle before dying?
Come out, Arbok!"
The man chasing him was clearly cautious. When he was about thirty meters away from Icarus, he stopped and released a massive Arbok radiating a fierce aura.
"Hiss—!"
The giant snake hissed the moment it appeared, staring at Icarus with a hungry gaze.
"Sprout! Spri spri!"
"Damn… it's actually a high-level Normal-stage Arbok!
Isn't that basically a Team Rocket captain level? If you're this strong, why pretend to be a grunt?
And that Arbok… it's eaten people before!"
The moment Arbok appeared, Weepinbell sensed that its energy level was higher than her own and immediately warned Icarus.
"Why? Kid, stopped running?"
As the distance closed, Icarus finally saw the face of the Team Rocket captain.
He looked about forty years old, with thick eyebrows and eyes like copper bells filled with amusement. His wide mouth revealed several yellowed teeth as he stared at Icarus with a mocking grin.
Bang!
At the same time, the captain threw out another Poké Ball.
"Pinsir!"
Another ferocious Pinsir appeared in front of Icarus.
"Sprout… spri…"
Weepinbell sadly told Icarus that Pinsir was also high-level Normal-stage. Neither she nor Pidgey could possibly defeat it. They would try their best to hold the enemy back so Icarus could escape.
"Pi! Pi!"
Pidgey also looked determined, ready to fight to the death.
"Oh? Your Pokémon are well trained."
The middle-aged man wasn't in a hurry to attack. Instead, he looked at Weepinbell and Pidgey with interest.
"There's a chance here…"
At the moment between life and death, Icarus's mind began working extremely quickly.
He could tell the Team Rocket captain didn't necessarily want to kill him.
"That's right… Team Rocket just arrived in this area. They probably need manpower. That's why Aze was recruited.
If Aze could join… why can't I?"
With that thought, Icarus rolled his eyes and immediately put on a flattering smile toward the strong man.
"Hey… this handsome, wise, and mighty Team Rocket captain!
I've thought it through. I'd like to join Team Rocket. Would it be possible for me to work under you?"
He started by praising the man heavily—after all, flattery never hurts.
Then he stated his intention clearly.
"Hahaha! Interesting brat."
The strong man laughed. Clearly, he hadn't been planning to kill Icarus immediately.
"However, Team Rocket doesn't accept useless people.
You killed that guy named Aze in a sneak attack. That doesn't prove you're stronger than him.
So if you want to join, choose one of these two Pokémon.
A one-on-one battle. If I think you're stronger than him… I'll accept you."
After saying that, the strong man gestured for Icarus to choose his opponent.
Icarus began analyzing the situation.
"Pidgey's Flying-type counters Pinsir's Bug-type, but it's an entire level weaker.
And Weepinbell's Grass-type is restrained by Bug.
But Weepinbell is still my strongest Pokémon."
He carefully examined Arbok and Pinsir.
He noticed that Pinsir had fewer injuries, but Weepinbell secretly told him that Pinsir's energy seemed slightly weaker compared to Arbok.
After thinking quickly, he made his choice.
"My lord… I choose Arbok."
"Oh? A wise choice. From your earlier actions, I knew you weren't an idiot."
The strong man nodded and recalled Pinsir.
"But if you're just putting on a show… you'll end up as food for my Arbok.
Go on. You attack first."
"Hiss—!"
After hearing the order, Arbok opened its bloody jaws and hissed threateningly.
"Alright! Weepinbell, use Vine Whip — Paralysis!"
The moment Icarus spoke, he went all out.
He knew he couldn't win.
Even if he somehow won this battle two-on-one, the captain likely had more high-level Pokémon. And the rule had already been set as 1-on-1.
Trying to cheat would only get him killed.
It was better to fight with everything he had and show his value.
"Oh? Interesting technique.
Kid… are you from some noble family?
Arbok, endure it!"
The burly man crossed his arms and watched curiously, deliberately ordering Arbok not to dodge.
Crack! Crack!
Two thick vines covered in poisonous wooden thorns slammed into Arbok's body.
"Hiss—!"
Arbok cried out in pain, feeling numbness spreading from the wound.
"Hiss… that power! It even carries toxin effects!"
The strong man was clearly surprised.
Arbok's scales had been specially trained and hardened, yet the wooden thorns had pierced through them.
That meant Weepinbell's Vine Whip had already reached high-level Normal-stage power.
"My lord, I'm not from any noble family.
I'm just an orphan with a few clever ideas.
And this move isn't finished yet!"
Seeing the captain's shocked expression, Icarus secretly smiled.
Earlier, while approaching, he had already ordered Weepinbell to use Growth to boost her power.
But outwardly he remained calm.
"Sprout!"
Weepinbell immediately controlled the vines still wrapped around Arbok, tightening them.
"Hiss—!"
Arbok, already in pain, was now tightly restrained. The poisonous wooden thorns pierced deeper into its scales.
It struggled violently, but the thorns locked firmly into the vines.
"Oh! Interesting. That's basically disguised binding."
The strong man nodded.
At this point, he had already begun considering recruiting Icarus.
But he still wanted to demonstrate his own strength.
"Arbok, escape with Acid!"
Boom! Boom!
Arbok opened its mouth and spat out a ball of unstable green liquid. The moment it hit the vines, it exploded.
"Hiss—!"
The vines melted instantly under the powerful acid.
"Arbok, Glare!"
The strong man immediately gave the next command.
"Hiss—!"
Arbok raised its body high, displaying the terrifying pattern on its hood while glaring intensely.
"Sprout…"
Weepinbell stiffened under the unavoidable effect.
"Rush in! Fire Fang! End the battle!"
"Shua—!"
Arbok slid quickly through the grass as flames gathered in its mouth.
"Move, Weepinbell!" Icarus shouted.
He already knew the battle was lost.
But he couldn't surrender.
After all, if this was an interview, he had to at least show the interviewer everything he had before losing.
---
The protagonist has successfully joined Team Rocket.
But what identity will he take on inside the organization?
And how will he turn this dangerous position into his own advantage?
(End of Chapter)
-----------Author---------------
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