Baimu had imagined many possibilities of encountering Jian.
But being "ambushed" genuinely surprised him.
However.
What puzzled him more was that even though Jian had confirmed his location, he didn't attack immediately, but stood there carelessly, speaking for a while before applying for a battle.
Confidence in his own strength?
That was the only way to see it, as people could not fully understand each other; no one could ever completely see through another.
At this moment, another confusing thing happened.
The battle application succeeded, yet Jian still did not attack. Instead, he glanced at the Evil Dog Team Member lying with his cheeks pressed against the searing ground beneath Baimu's feet, "Only one?"
"More than one."
Baimu placed his hand behind his back, subtly signaling a downward motion to the Aron in the shadows.
The latter understood and quietly dug into the ground.
"In that case, let's exchange hostages," Jian seemed not to notice his little maneuver, speaking words that made little sense.
Exchange hostages?
Regardless of whether Jian had hostages, the loser was at the mercy of the opponent, so why exchange hostages in advance?
While Baimu was puzzled, the other party took out a bloodstained headscarf, adorned with mottled, strange patterns.
This is—
"I thought you might recognize this? Hehehehe, this guy, he has a particularly tough mouth."
Jian swung the headscarf, a triumphant smile on his face, "I beat him for over ten minutes, and he still wouldn't tell me where you were. He could have just made something up, said he didn't know, and I'd let him go, but he was stubborn.
"So I broke his teeth, smashed his fingers, and fractured his leg. Hahahahaha, did you know he cried out? Hahaha, it kills me."
Baimu: "..."
"He's got a few breaths left, but if he stays under the sun much longer, who knows what will happen, right?"
Casually, Jian tossed the headscarf to the ground, crushing it with his foot, the dense malice nearly materializing, overflowing as he said wildly, "So, are you going to trade now? Hehehehe..."
Stay calm.
Keep calm.
Baimu tried to steady his emotions.
He somewhat understood why Jian did these meaningless things—[for showtime effects].
Using various means to break his opponent's detachment, thus achieving a dramatic point of interest in the live broadcast, enhancing viewer engagement to earn rewards.
This guy was indeed clever and managed to seize the appeal for many viewers in Pyrite Town—violence, humiliation, hatred, and hysteria.
And the hostage exchange, in a way, was also a gesture of goodwill towards his organization.
『See, I am saving my people! Such a reliable me, shouldn't I be rewarded and cheered?』
Therefore.
Uncovering the malevolence and twisted filth on the exterior of this guy, one can see inside the nature assimilated with money and power.
A maggot pursuing power by any means necessary.
More frighteningly, such a person in Pyrite Town not only would not be condemned but would also be wildly pursued...
Disgusting.
Baimu genuinely felt irritated, maybe it was because of Otsuka, or perhaps Jian's arrogance... or maybe even Pyrite Town that gave rise to such scum.
After all, by coincidence, there were countless such jerks out there.
Thinking of this...
"It's enough to make you want to puke."
He looked at Jian, who had partially shifted his attention to the camera, suddenly raised his hand, and opened a Pokeball.
Bang!
Buzz——
A noisy fluttering sound echoed beside his ear.
"Watch the left!"
Baimu's gaze did not shift and decisively pointed to the shadow in the left rear.
And the moment he called out, a pitch-black great bird abruptly emerged from the shadows, swooping in like an arrow!
"Screech——"
Honchkrow let out a sharp call.
"Larfu!"
The Vibrava, slightly slow to react to the warning, luckily still had a considerable distance, allowing its wings to accelerate to a peak frequency!
A green vibrating wave that twisted the air suddenly blasted forward.
Chirping!
Boom!
Overwhelming smoke billowed.
Got it?
No, it hadn't been taken down.
With the deafening ultrasonic waves slightly reduced, Baimu glanced sideways, seeing the Vibrava and Honchkrow heading skyward.
The two were now engaged in a tug-of-war-style aerial battle.
"Oh-ho? What that officer provided is indeed extraordinary, Honchkrow has found his match."
Jian didn't seem worried that Honchkrow would lose, behaving as if he had foreseen the victory, and said leisurely, "Such a fine Pokémon, going to waste with you."
Baimu didn't respond, recalling the rushing Chansey into its Pokeball.
The opponent was rare in wickedness, having hid Pokémon in advance and intentionally selling small flaws; had it not been for his keen senses, he wouldn't have noticed the hidden Honchkrow.
No doubt the other two Pokémon were also hiding somewhere.
As for Intel, Jian had said before the start that someone was passing information to him, so it's normal for him to know the Vibrava's background.
Baimu took out another Pokeball.
Unexpectedly, Jian waved his hand disdainfully, "Alright, alright, I know you like using Digging, and that your Aron is set up in advance, who are you trying to fool with an empty Pokeball?"
As he spoke, Jian suddenly retreated.
Boom!
The sand cracked open!
The shimmering Aron charged out, but leapt at empty ground, looking up only to see the white light of an opening Pokeball.
Bam.
"Shattering Bite!"
"Awooo!"
The howl sounded, the chilling, bloodthirsty jaws approached swiftly, emitting a dark light.
In an instant, the dark attribute energy adhered to it!
"Iron Wall!"
Clang!
In the urgent call, Mightyena's sharp teeth fiercely bit into Aron's head, refusing to let go even as energy burst, releasing a menacing aura.
But unfortunately, no matter how hard it tried, its fangs couldn't penetrate Aron's silver, gleaming steel armor.
Seeing its own biting force only leaving small marks, Mightyena developed a desire to retreat.
Jian's command came just in time, "Retreat!"
"Rock Seal!"
Baimu shouted.
Aron raised its forepaw and slammed the ground; countless rocks, driven by some force, flew towards Mightyena.
Unfortunately, the latter retreated too quickly, and most of the rocks missed, with only a few landing on its head and abdomen, causing negligible damage due to the distance.
"Phew..."
Baimu, who had moved behind Aron, breathed a sigh of relief. He had rushed out following Jian to prevent the Pokémon and the Trainer from becoming disconnected.
After all, Chansey lacked the ability to fight alone. If Aron, like Vibrava, got dragged away by Jian's Mightyena, he'd have to fight on his own.
Battle a Pokémon physically?
Fine.
But unnecessary.
Compared to his relieved state, Jian's expression was not so good.
Despite recognizing Aron's sneak attack, Mightyena's Shattering Bite failed to take it down, partly due to Iron Wall...
Aron's reaction and durability also proved that Baimu wasn't just some small fry.
"You're really infuriating!"
Jian's arrogant expression turned sullen as he pressed the button on a second Pokeball, releasing the Galarian Linoone inside.
"Hiss!"
The bizarre black and white creature extended its long tongue, letting out a malevolent cry.
Baimu, not daring to take chances, let Chansey come out to support Aron.
"Lucky~"
Chansey stood behind Aron, nervous yet no longer trying to hide as before. It wasn't foolish; on the contrary, it immediately sensed the malice from the other party.
No escape.
For the moment.
Four Pokémon watched each other, a tense atmosphere emerging.
"Pounce on Chansey! Bluff Aron!"
The stalemate lasted less than five seconds before Jian issued a command.
He was clearly impatient and, understanding Chansey's healing ability, decisively aimed to take it down first.
However, to mislead Baimu, he didn't specify which Pokémon used which move.
Once spoken.
Mightyena, with a ferocious face, charged towards Chansey's position, with Galarian Linoone closely following.
"Awo!"
"Gu!"
Aron impatiently wanted to meet them but was loudly stopped by Baimu.
"Retreat! Retreat in front of Chansey! Rock Seal!"
Upon hearing, it decisively abandoned the clash with Mightyena, retreating in front of Chansey, stamping the ground with its forepaws!
Bang!
Whoosh whoosh whoosh——
Countless rocks flew towards Mightyena. A dark red aura glowed on its body, unfazed even as they hit it, wearing an extremely arrogant look.
Seeing this, a flame of anger inexplicably rose in Aron's heart, almost burning away its reason.
Fortunately, the flying rocks not only blocked Mightyena's path but also somewhat obscured both their visions, causing Bluff to fail.
However, behind Mightyena, Galarian Linoone leaped, surrounded by a red halo, displaying terrifying jumping power, easily passing over Aron's head, narrowly avoiding the Rock Seal.
"Hiss!"
It stuck out its scarlet tongue, aiming straight for the smoke-shrouded Chansey—
Eh?
Where's the egg?
It paused, landing behind Aron, glaring eye to eye with Baimu at a distance. The large Chansey was suddenly nowhere to be seen.
Thus.
It cleverly didn't dwell on Chansey, continuing to jump and pounce forward.
Can't catch the Pokémon? Then catch the Trainer!
Catch the ringleader first!
"Just waiting for you."
Little did it know Baimu seemed to anticipate its plan, covering his eyes with his arm and fiercely throwing an object to the ground.
Boom!
A burst of bright light and noise exploded!
Despite it being noon, quite bright all around, Galarian Linoone, closest to the light, was severely affected in its vision, with a constant buzzing in its ears.
Mightyena and Jian, further away, were better off but still affected.
This gave Aron, whose back was to the flash grenade and only experienced ear difficulties, an opportunity.
Iron Head!
Its mind recalled Baimu's command and acted promptly, its mask-like head shining with a special brilliance under a silver halo.
"Mightyena, come back quickly!"
Jian blinked his sore eyes constantly, his body retreating frantically.
He never expected that the damned one still had a flash grenade, possibly coming for him at any moment.
Unexpectedly, the next moment when his vision returned, Aron, which he thought would charge forward, had somehow turned around, crashing into Galarian Linoone's waist!
Bam!