The man with the Toxicroak was precisely the Braixen Trainer Hoshino had seen from afar in the early morning; that kind face was now all too familiar.
Since the other party had appeared, he was ready to act. He glanced at the Cyclizar beside him and asked, "Are you full?"
"Cycli Cycli~"
The Cyclizar happily patted its belly, having spent a day's wages in one go. The money hadn't even warmed up, but it had eaten its fill.
After settling the bill, Hoshino and it secretly followed. However, there were many police officers here, which somewhat affected the upcoming plan, so they had to be careful.
…
The target did not stop at the night market but walked directly through it, away from the crowd, towards the beach.
"Hmm? It's just a Pokémon trade, not some shady deal. Is there a need to go so far?"
Hoshino, who was secretly following behind, was a bit confused. However, leaving the night market was better; at least they wouldn't be caught by a rapid police response.
Moments later, the target suddenly stopped near a pile of rocks. Only the sound of waves hitting the rocks could be heard, and no one else was in sight.
Just then, he suddenly shouted into the air, "Hey, didn't you say you've arrived? Don't make me wait, my time is precious!"
"…"
The sound of the waves continued, but soon, a blond teenager with an incredibly chuunibyou aura suddenly emerged from behind a rock.
He wore a black leather jacket, with a golden cowlick sticking up on his head, and his signature mop-like bangs covered his right eye. His expression was as if someone owed him 300 Poké Dollar, a rigid face.
"???"
Seeing this person, Hoshino, hiding in the distance, was instantly full of question marks. Isn't that Gladion?
You, the young master of the Aether Foundation, still need to trade rare Pokémon with others… Oh, the Aether Foundation hasn't been officially established yet; it's probably just been approved and will take a few more years. Never mind then…
"Are you Mihak?"
Gladion gazed at the man in front, seemingly confirming his identity, then continued, "Then hurry up, let's see the Pokémon first."
Overhearing this, Hoshino finally knew the guy's name, but his expression subtly changed, and he cursed in his heart, "Damn it, why does that name sound so uncomfortable?"
The man called Mihak nodded, then took out a Poké Ball and released his Braixen. The poor Braixen still hadn't figured out the situation, thinking it was time for a Pokémon battle.
Gladion took a look, then also took out a Poké Ball and released a large-eyed monkey that looked like it was wearing a gas mask. This was Grafaiai, and its iconic feature was the blue middle fingers oozing venom, which emit a sweet fragrance.
After the display, he recalled Grafaiai and then said, "Alright, let's just trade. Give me the Braixen."
"Brai?"
Hearing this, Braixen was stunned for a moment. What did 'trade' mean? It didn't quite understand, and why did this stranger want it?
Mihak did not recall it. Instead, he looked at Gladion and said with a smile, "I heard about it, the reason you're looking for a Fire-type starter!"
"Hmm?"
"I've specifically investigated during this time. You want to pass Team Skull's entry test and become one of them, which is why you don't want others to know about our transaction, right?"
Hearing Mihak's words, Hoshino frowned slightly, not expecting this to be the reason. Gladion wants to use Braixen to pass the test and join Team Skull? Has the young master finally fallen on hard times?
Upon hearing this, Gladion glared with an unfriendly gaze for a moment, then retorted, "What do you want to say?"
Mihak extended a finger and replied with a smile, "A Grafaiai is not worth a Braixen, so you'll have to add another Pokémon that I don't have. I'm a person who never takes a loss!"
"Brai!"
Braixen finally understood. Its Trainer was going to trade it for someone else's Pokémon, not take it out to travel together!
Its expression instantly became blank. After being caught and left in the backyard for so long, although it was often bullied by stronger Pokémon, it had always fantasized about being taken out to travel by its Trainer.
But now, all fantasies were shattered… Its favorite job was gone, its mother's treasured branch hadn't been found, and even…
"Brai!"
Braixen cried out anxiously. Even if there was only a little hope, maybe it had just misheard, but Mihak completely ignored it. He was no longer the kind and gentle figure he had been, but continued to sneer and haggle with Gladion…
However, the aloof young master would not waste words with such a person. Since the other party was trying to extort more, he had nothing more to say.
Seeing him about to leave, the smile on Mihak's face instantly vanished, and the Toxicroak beside him leaped forward, blocking Gladion.
"I'm sorry, once a transaction begins, it must proceed. That's the rule for us adults, boy!"
"…"
Gladion looked back, and just as he was about to act, another voice suddenly came from a distance: "Trade, trade, trade… Trade your ass! Pokémon are not your merchandise!"
"Hmm?"
Both men looked over at the same time. Just then, Hoshino, riding a Cyclizar, charged out at full speed. Mihak was startled, but as a Trainer who had achieved some success, his reaction speed was naturally quick.
He immediately released a Toxapex from a Poké Ball and used Baneful Bunker to block, but the Baneful Bunker was only halfway deployed when it was sent flying by the Cyclizar onto a distant rock, instantly breaking down and fainting.
Hoshino activated Riding EX, controlling the Cyclizar to drift to a stop on the beach, kicking up a cloud of dust. The poisoned status triggered by Baneful Bunker was instantly removed by the Shed Skin ability.
Looking at the young man riding the Cyclizar, Mihak said coldly, "A kid still in school? The filth of the adult world can't be seen by a kid like you, but since you've seen it, then…"
Before he could finish, Hoshino retorted with disdain, "You're chirping so loudly it's annoying, is it your mating season, you guy!"
"You…" Mihak choked for a moment.
"Brai…"
Braixen, on the verge of collapse, recognized Hoshino, the human who had told it to confide in him last night, who lived above the Slowpoke Izakaya.
Noticing its gaze, Hoshino took out a branch and shouted to it, "Don't get it wrong, I'm not here to help you. I just planned to extort you with this thing I found, but I didn't expect to witness such a precious scene."
Looking at the branch, Braixen instantly recognized it as its own, a very important item. Its body trembled slightly, and it reached out, instinctively wanting to go and retrieve it.
But at this moment, Mihak suddenly shouted with a smile at Gladion, "You wouldn't want our transaction to be known by this third person, would you? That Cyclizar is a bit strong, but the Trainer is just a kid. How about we deal with them first? Then we can continue our trade!"
"Alright!"
"???"
Hoshino didn't expect Gladion to agree without hesitation, so he was going to fight two-on-one? Crap, he hadn't planned for this script!
The next moment, Toxicroak attacked directly. Cyclizar threw Hoshino off its back, then braced its hands on the sand and swung its tail, but it was dodged.
"Damn it, I really have to fight two-on-one!"
Hoshino got up from the ground and immediately shouted, "Don't panic, listen to my commands!"
"Cycli!"
Cyclizar's eyes instantly became serious. The Midnight Lycanroc released by Gladion was already approaching, and Toxicroak also launched another attack.
However, its target was not Cyclizar, but Hoshino in the distance! This guy listened to Mihak's command and planned to take out the Trainer first!
But just then, a cross-shaped, eerie blue flame suddenly lit up in the night sky, attracting everyone's attention, and then Bitter Blade quickly slashed downwards!
The eerie blue flame erupted, and Toxicroak fell to the ground with a thud. Only a sword mark was seen cutting through the air, and the scene instantly quieted down. A Ceruledge, exuding a cold aura, stood majestically in the flames!
"That… that's so damn cool!"
Hoshino hadn't even seen what had just happened, but cool was enough. At this moment, he had made a decision: he must capture a Ceruledge in Paldea in the future!
But future matters could wait. Why did this guy come out? Didn't Slowking say it rarely leaves Kabukicho?
However, none of that mattered anymore. At least it wasn't here to take his kidney. And right now, he had something very important to do, so he clenched his fists…
"Brai!"
Braixen recognized Ceruledge and instantly burst into tears, as if after being bullied by others to the brink of emotional collapse, it had finally seen a family member who was kind to it and to whom it could confide.
"…"
Seeing Braixen crying so pitifully, Ceruledge's cold eyes instantly released a terrifying killing intent.
Feeling this killing intent directed at him, Mihak's body involuntarily trembled, and he froze in place.
But at that very moment, Hoshino, who had stealthily approached him at some unknown point, suddenly gathered his punch, charged it, and slammed it hard into his face…
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