Seeing the notorious Harris being taken away, the surrounding crowd immediately raised their hands and applauded, breaking into waves of enthusiastic cheers.
"That bastard finally got what he deserved. Guess justice showed up after all."
"That's right. You can run from the law for a while, but not forever."
"This feels incredible! That cancer finally got cut out. I'm going home tonight and having a proper drink!"
"You reap what you sow. He had it coming."
"I never would've guessed that young man had such a powerful background. You really can't judge people by appearances."
"Right? Aside from the handsome face, nothing about him looked expensive. And somehow he turns out to be a holder of the Highest National Honor Medal. Harris picked the worst possible person to mess with."
"Heh... ever heard of hiding your strength?"
...
The onlookers clapped and cheered from the side. It seemed Harris's rotten reputation was known to everyone.
At that moment, Aaron turned his gaze toward Donovan.
Donovan immediately shuddered, then hurried over to Aaron with an ingratiating smile.
"Commander Aaron... Commander Aaron!"
"I had no idea you had arrived so suddenly. Please forgive me for failing to welcome you properly!"
"Perhaps I could host a proper welcome dinner for Commander Aaron and Champion Brutus?"
There was no trace of Donovan's earlier arrogance left. He had lowered himself as far as he could go, and cold sweat was nearly pouring down his forehead.
Aaron did not even spare Donovan a glance. He turned directly to Brutus and said,
"Brutus... do me a favor. Launch a thorough investigation into the Donovan Group."
"This group has been using organized crime and violence to seize homes and land by force."
"They even sent people to force children and an elderly director out of the children's home behind me."
Aaron's voice was cold. He was clearly furious.
Hearing this, Brutus patted his chest and said,
"Don't worry. Leave it to me."
"For something this vile to happen in my own city without me knowing... that's on me. I've been away too much."
After hearing Aaron's words, anger flashed across Brutus's face as well.
Scum like this would never be let off easily.
"Champion Brutus... Champion Brutus!"
"Don't you remember me?"
"It's Donovan, sir. We met once through my uncle, Champion Quentin."
Hearing their conversation, Donovan's heart nearly leapt out of his chest. Cold sweat poured down his back.
He barely managed to squeeze out a smile as he spoke to Brutus.
He was bringing up his backer, telling Brutus that Champion Quentin was his uncle, hoping Brutus would show him some consideration.
But when Brutus heard this, the anger on his face grew even stronger. He shouted at Donovan,
"So Champion Quentin is your backer, is that it?"
"Call him over here. I'll beat him up too!"
Brutus glared at Donovan with eyes blazing in rage.
Donovan immediately collapsed onto the ground, too terrified to speak.
"Take them all away. Just looking at them annoys me."
Brutus waved his hand, ordering several officers to take Donovan and the others away.
"Yes, sir!"
Several officers raised their rifles and escorted Donovan, Hank, and the others away.
"Champion Brutus... you can't do this to me! My uncle is Quentin! Champion Quentin!"
Donovan was dragged along by two officers like a fat hog, shouting in terror.
"Fuck..."
Brutus was already furious, and Donovan actually still dared to threaten him at a time like this.
How could he possibly put up with that?
He strode forward and reached Donovan in one step.
Under Donovan's terrified gaze—
SMACK!
A crisp slap rang out.
Brutus slapped Donovan so hard his mouth filled with blood, sending several teeth flying.
"AAARGH!"
Donovan howled in pain like a pig being slaughtered.
"Trash. Even if Quentin were standing right here, he wouldn't dare talk to me like that."
Brutus's face was full of anger as he spoke coldly to Donovan.
Indeed, whether in potential or actual strength, Brutus completely outclassed Quentin.
Brutus had already become a Champion at the age of forty, while Quentin was now seventy and still only a Champion.
On top of that, Brutus's strength firmly suppressed Quentin's.
Fighting-type Pokémon had a complete advantage against Dark-type Pokémon.
Quentin was no match for Brutus at all.
Not to mention Aaron was still here.
Aaron's Nightmare Pokémon was no joke.
Even Dr. Dov, who had near-Master-level strength, had been defeated by it in a single move.
What did Quentin think he could do?
Even if Quentin were called over, he would not dare say a word.
And just as Brutus thought, after Quentin later learned that Donovan had been arrested, he originally wanted to go rescue him.
But when he discovered that the person Donovan had offended was Aaron, he said only one thing to Donovan's family.
"Prepare for the funeral. There's no saving him."
After that, he ignored the matter completely.
...
After the First Ranger Corps arrested Donovan and the others, Brutus let them leave first.
Then he had the surrounding crowd disperse, leaving only Brutus, Aaron, and the people from the children's home behind.
"Brutus... thank you."
A faint smile appeared on Aaron's face as he spoke to Brutus.
"You brat... what are you thanking me for? Something like this happened in my own city, and I didn't even know about it. That failure is mine."
"I should be the one thanking you."
Brutus gave Aaron a playful punch on the chest.
"Sir... I, Brutus, owe you an apology."
Brutus turned toward the old director, bowed slightly, and spoke with a solemn expression.
"This... this won't do. It really won't do."
"Champion Brutus, I can't accept this!"
The old director hurriedly tried to stop Brutus, speaking anxiously.
Brutus was one of Hualis's Ten Champions, while he was only an ordinary old man. He could not possibly accept such a gesture from Brutus.
"Sir, don't say that. Elders deserve respect."
"That's a traditional virtue of Hualis."
"If not for Aaron, you and these children might have been forced onto the street. That would have been my failure."
Brutus's eyes carried a deep sense of apology as he spoke to the old man.
When Brutus looked at the few pitiful children behind him, the guilt in his heart grew even heavier.
"All right, all right. Everything's been settled."
"Brutus, if you feel that guilty, just increase your monthly donation to Haven Children's Home."
Aaron said with a smile from the side.
"That much is obvious."
Brutus agreed without hesitation.
A faint smile appeared on Aaron's face.
Behind the old director, the petite and adorable Eden stared blankly at Aaron, her bright, watery eyes shimmering with an indescribable light.
...