On the deck, Walt was still sobbing in a low voice.
It irritated Red Devil. He stepped forward and kicked him a few times, forcing the pain to choke the sound back down his throat.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Footsteps echoed clearly from the cabin in the quiet night.
Red Devil turned his head and saw, under the pale deck lights that had just come on, his subordinate Arne bringing a young man wrapped tightly in a black cloak onto the deck.
"Hah. This is the Pokémon researcher from your ship?"
He looked at Walt and kicked him again.
Grimacing in pain, Walt barely managed to open his eyes. When he saw Shiro, he nodded frantically.
Red Devil openly looked Shiro up and down. He did not notice Arne, who was standing slightly in front of Shiro and was far too tense.
In a situation like this, Arne did not dare explain anything. He could only stand stiffly like a post and pretend to be a low level lackey.
"Hey! Kid, what's your name?" Red Devil barked.
Shiro did not answer. His gaze was fixed on the giant Octillery behind the pirate leader.
This Octillery was very strange. It was far larger than a normal Octillery, and its size was not natural.
Someone had raised it later and forced it into a giant form. But what kind of resource could make a Water-type Pokémon grow this large?
Shiro frowned slightly and sent probing psychic power toward the pirate leader.
Unfortunately, there was nothing special about him. No unusual items. No strange abilities.
"Hey, Kid!" Red Devil growled. "I'm asking you a question!"
Shiro looked at the giant Octillery a few more times, then withdrew his gaze and waved his hand.
Haunter understood at once. It emerged from the shadows, knocked out all the Octillery restraining Walt, and tossed them aside.
"Ah..."
Only then did Walt begin groaning again. His bruised and bound arms clutched his severed leg. His body writhed like a twisted worm.
Red Devil's expression changed slightly. Watching Haunter drift slowly back to Shiro's side, he immediately noticed Arne's strange reaction and realized something was wrong.
He examined Shiro's black cloak once more, then retreated several steps toward the giant Octillery and spoke in a low voice, "Friend, may I ask where you're from? This ship is already the prey of the Red Devil Pirate Crew..."
"Me?" Shiro chuckled softly and finally spoke. "I'm the Pokémon researcher. Aren't you looking for me?"
Hearing this, Red Devil moved his hand to his waist and made sure he could release at least two Poké Balls at any time. Only then did he relax a little.
"A normal Pokémon researcher wouldn't have a Gym-level Haunter."
Shiro ignored the small movement and went on casually, "I thought pirates would negotiate properly with the S.S. Anne. At least you could have safely exchanged for League resources."
"Hmph." Red Devil's tone darkened at once. "Only those with equal strength are qualified to negotiate. Besides, robbing first doesn't stop us from trading resources later. The League really values those hostages if they sent a Ghost-type Gym-level trainer like you."
He paused briefly, then continued, "So. Those twelve people. What's the League offering?"
"What's the League offering..." Shiro chuckled softly, finding it a little funny.
"What are you laughing at?" A bad feeling rose in Red Devil's chest. He was ready to have his giant Octillery take him and retreat at any moment.
Shiro shook his head and sighed. "I think you're right. Only equal strength qualifies one to negotiate."
And robbing first really doesn't stop the exchange of resources.
"Mesprit…" Shiro muttered and snapped his fingers lightly.
Before the snap even finished, an overwhelming psychic force spread across the entire deck and the whole ship. Everyone and every Pokémon was wrapped inside it, including Red Devil and his giant Octillery.
It was as if time had stopped. Everything felt frozen and sealed in place, unable to move at all. Yet everyone's thoughts and awareness continued.
Red Devil's eyes could not move. He could only stare at Shiro in front of him.
An indescribable fear spread through his mind.
He suddenly wanted to jump into the sea, swim to some unknown depth, and bury himself under mud and sand, hidden forever from this ghost like man.
Shiro rubbed his neck and twisted his stiff shoulders. "Too bad the coordination still isn't perfect."
As he spoke, he stepped forward slowly and pointed lightly at Red Devil.
Time suddenly returned for Red Devil.
He collapsed onto the deck, gasping violently, clutching his pounding heart with wide eyes.
He was alive.
He was still alive.
Slowly, he lifted his gaze and looked first toward Walt.
The fat old man clutching his thigh stump was still completely motionless, like a statue of frozen air.
Red Devil lowered his head again and lifted his eyelids, peering between his legs toward the giant Octillery behind him.
His Octillery, which loved rubbing its suction cups against the deck, was also completely still.
His pupils shrank sharply. It felt like an earthquake tearing through his mind.
What kind of Pokémon was this? What kind of power was this?
Controlling everyone and every Pokémon instantly without even showing itself. Even his Gym-level giant Octillery could not move.
Terrifying.
Red Devil pressed his head and face tightly against the deck. He did not dare move at all.
Until Shiro spoke again.
"Stand up. Tell me your name."
"I..." Red Devil trembled as he crawled to his feet. His back was still hunched, and fear filled his remaining eye. "My name is Red Devil..."
"Red Devil?"
Shiro looked doubtful.
People really had names like that?
Strange enough.
What kind of parents would give a child such an... unreserved name.
Red Devil quickly explained, "I never met my parents. An Octillery raised me. So I named myself Red Devil. You can call me Octopus."
Shiro nodded in understanding and asked again, "Octopus. You're the leader of these pirates, right?"
"Yes."
"How did you get the S.S. Anne's exact route?"
"It was..." Red Devil replied with slight confusion. "People from Team Rocket told me."
Team Rocket?
Shiro felt puzzled.
Team Rocket was involved too?
This was the southern sea of the Sinnoh region, far from League control. Team Rocket's reach was this wide?
Pirates attacking the S.S. Anne was expected. But to catch it this early and this precisely in the middle of the night meant there had to be a traitor on board.
And that traitor was connected to Team Rocket.
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