Viper nodded solemnly. The Alliance sent two elite trainers at once, one of them being a very rare senior-level expert. It seems the Alliance had some understanding of the mission's specifics; otherwise, they wouldn't have deployed such high-level forces. His lightly furrowed brow tightened further as he considered the situation, which seemed increasingly complex.
"What about the leader?" Viper asked.
"The leader already knows who leaked the information, so there's no need to worry it. I just need a few people to help me with some minor tasks. After all, the loss of strength has been significant, and I need time to recover," the man in the black robe replied, retracting his left hand.
Viper's brow relaxed slightly. If it was only a matter of providing a few people, that wouldn't be a problem.
"Would you prefer to wait until the trial is over, or do you want them now?" the Viper asked, smirking slightly. "What can these kids do now? Even the Team Rocket have limited strength."
"After the trial is over, I will select a few. For now, arrange a room for me so I can rest," the man in the black robe said without further explanation. His reasoning for not selecting people directly from the existing ranks was simple: it was unclear who in Team Rocket was truly loyal and who might be an undercover agent for the Alliance. Moreover, it's easier to cultivate someone from scratch.
After the man in the black robe left, Viper stared at the candlelight on his desk, clasped his hands, and fell into deep thought.
Meanwhile, Aoki walked into the forest with Murkrow. This time, he didn't plan to stay near the forest's edge for long. The Pokémon in the periphery were relatively weak and unsuitable for training Murkrow. More importantly, Aoki wanted to find a quiet place to set up camp and make Pokeblocks.
As he ventured deeper into the forest, the paths became less distinct, with more weeds and bushes appearing. He placed the Yellow Berry Pokeblocks into the storage space of his Rockets belt and secured a cloth around his head to protect himself against spikes and branches.
Murkrow perched on Aoki's shoulder, using Tailwind to create a breeze, pushing away branches and weeds to clear the path. For larger branches, Murkrow used its wings to stir up the air using rudimentary attempts at the move Whirlwind, making way for Aoki. This also served as practice for Murkrow's flying-type energy.
"Murkrow, be mindful of your energy usage. Physical strength is your weakness, so conserve it when possible," Aoki advised, providing guidance on how to manage energy efficiently.
"You are both a Dark-type and Flying-type Pokémon. When we find a suitable place, we'll start targeted training for your Dark-type skills as well," Aoki added with a smile, observing Murkrow's growing confidence and strength.
"Caw!" Murkrow nodded enthusiastically. It had a strong desire to grow stronger and embraced the opportunity for battle.
As the two moved through the forest, a wild Spearow suddenly swooped down from a tree, its fierce eyes and sharp beak aimed at Aoki. The Pokémon on the island showed no kindness toward humans and often viewed them as prey. Spearows, known for their aggressive nature, were particularly hostile.
This sudden attack was routine for Aoki. With a slight shift of his body, he narrowly avoided Spearow's assault.
In this world, direct attacks from Pokémon were common and were deadly. Some humans even commanded their Pokémon to attack others. Organizations like the Team Rocket had no qualms about using such tactics to complete their missions.
Having faced countless such situations, Aoki responded calmly to the attack.
"Murkrow, use Tailwind and follow up with Astonish!" Aoki commanded.
Murkrow took off with determination, fuelled by anger from its attack on Aoki. It felt responsible for defending its trainer and quickly executed the attack. The Spearow, caught off guard, screeched as Murkrow's move hit its mark.
Aoki took a moment to scan the Spearow's details.
Pokémon: Spearow (Orange)
Ability: Keen Eye ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Basic Moves: Peck, Growl, Leer, Pursuit, Fury Attack
An orange-talent Spearow was a decent wild Pokémon, Aoki noted.
"Murkrow, don't stop! Use Peck!" Aoki ordered.
Without needing further instruction, Murkrow continued its assault. The Spearow, already weakened, couldn't react in time and paid the price for its aggression.
Ignoring the fallen Spearow, Aoki continued deeper into the forest. Spearows often traveled in flocks, and he wanted to avoid a confrontation with a whole flock. He aimed to conserve energy and find a suitable camping site, as stronger Pokémon were likely to appear further in.
Drawing on his past experiences of surviving in the forest, Aoki avoided the more powerful Pokémon and quickly identified the species of wild Pokémon through subtle clues. After fending off a few more aggressive Pokémon, he finally reached a suitable location—a small lake surrounded by dense trees. On the west side of the lake was a small hillside with a cave, likely dug out by Pokémon.
"This is the place," Aoki said, satisfied with the spot.