Senmu skillfully pulled a transparent glass jar from the side pocket of his uniform. Inside sloshed a dark violet-black liquid.
The moment he uncorked it, a rancid stench burst into the air. His Pawniard recoiled instinctively, turning its head in disgust.
Without hesitation, Senmu poured the liquid over the corpse.
The effect was immediate.
Thick black smoke billowed upward, accompanied by the sharp, nauseating scent of burning flesh. Within moments, the body dissolved into a puddle of murky fluid, as though it had never existed.
Captain's Icano Acid is truly useful, Senmu thought as he stared at the ground. Essential for travel, assassination… and erasing traces.
Once the cleanup was complete, Senmu returned with Pawniard to report to Iwama.
He arrived at the place where everything had begun—Team Rocket's outpost hidden within the slums of Goldenrod City.
This branch of Team Rocket oversaw the underground black market. They collected management and entry fees from vendors, prevented open conflicts to keep business running smoothly, and gathered intelligence on the Johto League.
The structure was simple: one squad captain—Iwama—three platoon leaders, and roughly thirty Rocket grunts.
Senmu, as a newcomer, answered directly to Iwama.
Thanks to the leadership of Giovanni, the organization was far from impoverished. Even this remote base possessed a fully equipped training facility.
Dozens of off-duty grunts were currently drilling their Pokémon in the yard. Many of them had joined Team Rocket for one simple reason—they could not survive in the slums.
If you could eat the emperor's grain, who would choose to be a rebel?
At the very least, Team Rocket offered the poor a ladder—however steep—to climb upward.
"Brother Guzao, still training? Your Pidgeotto's speed's improved again!" Senmu greeted warmly as he passed the field. He understood a simple truth: it was better to offend a gentleman than to provoke a petty man.
"Back already, Senmu?" A middle-aged grunt wearing a bronze R badge was training his Machoke. He waved casually.
"Just finished dealing with an idiot. Came back to report to the captain."
"Alright. Let's grab a drink sometime."
"My treat next time."
As he reached the far end of the training yard and angled himself away from prying eyes, the warmth faded from Senmu's face, replaced by quiet indifference.
Three months ago, none of these people had treated him this way.
Boom! Boom!
Outside the office, a Nidoqueen-sized silhouette hammered the air with a Megaton Punch. Nearby, an Arbok fired precise streams of Poison Sting at a target board.
"Is the captain inside?"
The Nido—now fully evolved into a Nidoking—recognized him and gave a short nod before resuming training.
It had once been Iwama's Nidorino. That very night, it had absorbed the Moon Stone Senmu provided and evolved.
The Arbok nearby was Iwama's second Pokémon. The acid used earlier had come from it.
Senmu steadied himself and knocked, though the door stood half-open.
"Captain. I'm back."
"Enter."
The office was simple yet spacious: a broad desk, several chairs, and shelves lined with books.
Iwama was reading a manual on training Poison-type Pokémon. He gestured for Senmu to sit.
"Captain, your Nidoking's strength is becoming terrifying."
"That's thanks to the Moon Stone you gave me," Iwama replied evenly. "Otherwise, I'd have needed at least two more months to afford a mid-grade stone—and those aren't always available."
He looked up at Senmu meaningfully.
Iwama had arrived one month before Senmu, parachuted in from headquarters directly into the captain's position. The three platoon leaders who had competed for the role had not been pleased.
Senmu had been a blessing.
At the time, Iwama urgently needed a Moon Stone to evolve Nidorino and consolidate his authority. Senmu's offering had solved that crisis.
Beyond that, the young man was loyal, efficient, and tactful. He understood what to say—and what not to say. Unlike some others, whose obedience had been little more than lip service before Nidoking's evolution.
Especially Fujimoto Itsuki, a former local gang boss. He relied on his influence to throw his weight around in the black market. To outsiders, it sometimes looked as though he were the true leader.
Iwama lowered his gaze, thoughtful.
Without comparison, one does not feel dissatisfaction. The more he observed Senmu, the more he considered giving him a greater opportunity.
Senmu did not regret trading away the Moon Stone.
Exchanging it for his life was no loss. In fact, it had been profitable.
Under Iwama's sponsorship, he had obtained Pawniard.
A mid-grade Moon Stone sold for around 250,000. His stone had been lower quality—worth perhaps 200,000 at best. Pawniard's market price, however, hovered near 300,000.
Other grunts envied him.
Normally, only squad captains could freely select rarer Pokémon such as Pawniard, Arbok, or Koffing. Grunts were typically limited to more common choices—Spearow, Oddish, Caterpie, Weedle—as their first partners.
Thanks to his past-life gaming experience, Senmu knew something most others did not:
Pawniard's evolution line did not end with Bisharp.
After evolving into Bisharp, it could undergo a further transformation—into Kingambit—by defeating three Bisharp holding Leader's Crests.
After evolution, its base stats surged, and it gained a powerful ability—Supreme Overlord. For each fainted ally, its Attack and Special Attack would increase by 10%. In endgame scenarios, it could turn defeat into reversal.
As a Dark/Steel type, it was immune to Poison and Psychic moves, resisted nine types—including Dragon, Ghost, Normal, Dark, Rock, Steel, Grass, and Ice—but was weak to Fire and Ground, and catastrophically vulnerable to Fighting.
The only issue?
Bisharp evolved at level 52.
According to inherited memories, Pokémon levels were divided as follows:
1–5: Novice Stage6–20: Growth Stage21–30: Standard Tier31–40: Elite Tier41–50: Gym Leader Tier51–60: Elite Four Candidate61–70: Junior Elite Four71–80: Mid-Level Elite Four81–90: Senior Elite Four91–100: Champion
In other words, Pawniard would need to reach Elite Four Candidate strength before its final evolution.
Within Team Rocket, rank was similarly tied to Pokémon strength.
Standard-tier grunts could pass promotion exams to become platoon leaders—their iron-black badge turning bronze.
Elite-tier grunts could advance to squad captain—their badge silver, like Iwama's.
Gym Leader-tier strength corresponded to battalion commander, marked by a gold badge.
Promotion to executive required personal selection by Giovanni himself.
Iwama seemed to reach a decision.
He opened a nearby cabinet and withdrew a device resembling a slim wristband.
"This is a spatial bracelet," he said. "I used it when I was a platoon leader. One cubic meter of storage. I don't need it anymore."
He tossed it casually.
Senmu caught it smoothly. He did not bow excessively—too much politeness could create distance. On the surface, he was already Iwama's man.
"Thank you for your guidance, Captain."
Iwama waved it off.
"Any further tasks today?" Senmu asked.
"Nothing urgent. Take tomorrow off. In a few days, you may need to travel on assignment. I'll inform you when the time comes."
"Me? Travel?"
Senmu wanted to press further.
Iwama only smiled faintly.
"It's a good thing. You'll know when it's time."