Although the purple coloration wasn't as deep as that of her own Weepinbell, the markings clearly showed that this Weepinbell's toxicity had been very well cultivated.
"Come, Weepinbell, extend your vine… good. Now, use Poison Powder."
Mina used various instruments to test Weepinbell. After about ten minutes, she finally told Icarus to recall it.
"I didn't expect a grunt like you to have a Pokémon with such excellent aptitude."
After the test, she had naturally determined Weepinbell's true potential and looked at Icarus with surprise.
A Pokémon with aptitude approaching the Superior tier was rare even within Team Rocketheadquarters. Even Captain-level members didn't easily obtain such Pokémon.
"Uh… just luck, all luck… that adult…"
Hearing this, Icarus understood that she already knew. He gave an awkward laugh and looked at Minawith a hesitant expression, as if he wanted to say something but didn't dare.
"Don't worry. I won't say anything. Come back in a week to pick it up."
Mina immediately understood his concern, reassured him, and gestured for him to leave.
"Okay, thank you, Superior!"
Relieved, Icarus quickly bowed and exited the laboratory.
⸻
As the legitimate daughter of the Mitsui family, Mina wouldn't be interested in his Weepinbell. But others might.
If word got out, he would definitely attract trouble.
Even if a stolen Pokémon couldn't provide feedback energy after being re-contracted, Superior-level aptitude alone was enough to give Trainers stuck at bottlenecks hope of breaking through.
⸻
After leaving Team Rocket, Icarus returned to town. After selling off some materials, his savings reached 190,000.
Early the next morning, he and Airi waited at the city gate.
When they arrived, four Trainers in guard uniforms were already there.
"Yo~ little brother Icarus, you're here."
The one greeting him was a man in his forties—Brother Teng.
"Yeah, Brother Teng. I'll have to trouble you to take care of us again."
"No problem. The four of us will each take a direction to search. I'll be honest—my strength is the weakest among us, so I've been assigned the safest area.
You and your teammates can just follow me. I'll make sure things go smoothly."
"Sounds good. We're mainly here for experience anyway. Thanks for looking out for us."
⸻
As for the other three guards, Icarus didn't recognize them. Judging from their confident expressions, they were likely elites from the Pioneer team.
He didn't bother trying to get close to them. Since he planned to play it safe, sticking with Brother Tengwas enough.
⸻
More teams gradually gathered. Soon, around 30 Trainers had assembled.
"They should be here soon…"
Just as Icarus checked the time—
"Wah-yi Rumble!"
A distant cry and rumbling sound approached rapidly.
Looking up, a black dot sped toward the gate, kicking up dust behind it.
Moments later—
"Whoa—stop, Dodrio!"
A tall, powerful Dodrio appeared before the group, with a man in a League Investigator uniform riding it.
⸻
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
The man dismounted and apologized.
This was Inspector Depp.
"Not at all! Assisting you is our duty!"
The Pioneer team members immediately responded enthusiastically, followed by the others.
The rest of the Trainers stayed quiet—they knew their place.
⸻
"No need to rest. We move immediately."
Depp mounted Dodrio again.
"Understood. How should we arrange these hired Trainers?"
"You handle it. Make it quick."
⸻
The four guards quickly divided the teams.
As Icarus observed, Brother Teng was chosen last each time—confirming his earlier guess about his strength.
In the end, Icarus's group was assigned to him.
⸻
"I am Investigator Depp," he announced.
"Our mission is to hunt down fugitives. Kill them if you can—I'll reward you."
He paused, then added:
"But if you encounter their leader, don't get greedy. Use your communicator immediately—it's also a locator.
Their leader is quasi-Superior level. To you, that's basically Elite-level. They can kill your Pokémon in one strike."
"Understood!"
⸻
The group set out.
⸻
On the way, Icarus moved closer to Brother Teng.
"What's the difference between quasi-Superior and Superior?"
"That's not a secret," Brother Teng replied.
"A quasi-Superior Trainer has one Pokémon that just broke into Elite level and awakened elemental power—but hasn't accumulated enough energy yet.
Without that energy, the Trainer can't form an Elite-level protective shield."
⸻
"Oh… I see."
"But don't compare them to Captain Sam!"
Brother Teng suddenly snapped.
"Those fugitives are barely surviving. No resources, no time to gather energy crystals.
Their leader broke through in the middle of battle—with a Hitmonlee—just to escape."
⸻
Realizing his mistake, Icarus quickly nodded.
"Of course. Captain Sam is far stronger."
"Good. Now go back. Don't stand at the front—it won't look good."
⸻
Meanwhile, deep in the forest—
Inside a hollow tree, a group of fugitives tended to their wounded Pokémon.
At the center, a Hitmonlee devoured Pokémon meat, while its Trainer—Hirano—sat beside it.
"Boss… are you sure there's a Team Rocket base here?"
A nervous subordinate asked.
They were running out of supplies. Morale was collapsing.
⸻
"Are you questioning me?"
Hirano turned, his gaze cold.
"No… but we're running out of options…"
Others began speaking up.
"Give us the truth!"
"Life or death—just tell us!"
⸻
"Bang!"
Hirano slammed his fist into the ground, cracking it instantly.
Silence fell.
Even the injured Pokémon stopped making noise.
⸻
"Listen carefully."
"The reason we escaped before… was because someone from Team Rocket helped me."
He pulled out a letter and a black badge marked with an "R".
"Otherwise, do you think we could have broken through alive?"