"All Arcanine, use Protect!"
A firm and commanding female voice rang out. All the Arcanine leapt down from the forest canopy, rushing to their respective Trainers and raising protective barriers.
Boom~
BOOM!!!!
Everyone instinctively turned their heads, just in time to see a floating Probopass gathering a massive beam of silver light and blasting it at the Camerupt.
Hyper Beam, fired!
As the battle drew to a close, the surviving League Trainers erupted into wild cheers. Meanwhile, the League's officers began escorting captured Team Aqua and Team Magma members into patrol vehicles, one after another.
What awaited those criminals was harsh interrogation and intense questioning. Whether they'd spill any crucial intel remained uncertain.
Sieg leaned against a jagged reef nearby, just like many of the others, quietly waiting for the League to finish clearing the battlefield before they could officially be dismissed.
In truth, after the battle, many around him were looking at Sieg with a tinge of awe. On the chaotic battlefield, Sieg had definitely stolen the spotlight.
Most of the Trainers had received aid from that ferocious Sharpedo wrapped in blue energy. And not to mention the Crawdaunt, which had single-handedly taken down multiple elite members of both Team Aqua and Team Magma.
Unfortunately, all of the Pokémon they defeated were confiscated by the League. Sieg couldn't help but feel a little regretful. After all, that Crawdaunt had defeated several high-level Pokémon above level 30.
And yet in the end, not a single spoils of war to his name. Everything had gone straight to the League.
"If the League's payout ends up being stingy, then I swear..."
Sieg grumbled silently.
Still, feeling the Pokéball on his belt, Sieg quickly concealed his expression. After all, he was a textbook egoist.
How could someone like Sieg offer his service to the League for nothing? During the chaos of battle, he had stealthily snatched a Pokéball off a fallen Trainer.
It held a high-level Mightyena, likely over level 30. From the looks of it, it had been the main partner of that Team Aqua grunt.
Why it hadn't been used during the fight was a mystery, but Sieg suspected it had been a trump card, reserved for a last-ditch escape.
"Too bad the guy never got the chance. Got roasted to ashes instead!"
Sieg shivered at the memory of the barrage of Flamethrowers unleashed by the Arcanine squad, glancing at a scorched patch of earth that still smoldered.
The charred land looked as if it had been flipped over, its color starkly different from its surroundings.
Casting a sidelong glance at the other battered League Trainers nearby, Sieg couldn't help feeling a surge of contempt. Too naive, all of them.
Most League Trainers, especially the ones who hadn't been traveling long, were far too idealistic. They had yet to see the darker side of this world.
Any veteran Trainer who operated in the gray zones would have done what Sieg did, seize the opportunity to benefit himself.
And among the survivors, Sieg even spotted a few who clearly shared his mindset. The two sides exchanged knowing glances and subtle smiles, saying nothing but fully understanding each other.
Retracting his gaze, Sieg ignored the others and cradled his Sharpedo in his arms. The creature's rough, scale-covered skin rubbed uncomfortably against him.
Even so, Sieg took out a small healing spray from his pocket and began treating his Pokémon one by one. When it came to raising his team, Sieg always preferred a hands-on approach.
"Lucky~~~"
A Chansey waddled over, pulling a creamy-white egg from her pouch and gently offering it to the Crawdaunt.
"Craw?"
The Crawdaunt turned hesitantly to look at Sieg. After getting a subtle nod, it finally accepted the egg with visible reluctance.
Cracking it open, the Crawdaunt stuffed chunks into its mouth.
In an instant, the superficial wounds and scratches on its shell began to vanish. A soft pink-white sheen spread across its injuries.
Moments later, a pristine, polished shell gleamed anew.
"Crawdaunt!"
It raised its proud claws high, the star-shaped mark on its forehead sparkling brilliantly.
-----------
"Officer Jenny, good day!"
"Thank you for everything, Officer Jenny!"
Graceful and composed, Officer Jenny strode into the resting camp where the Trainers had gathered. The moment they saw her, everyone rose to greet her.
Even some injured Trainers pushed themselves upright, a testament to Officer Jenny's revered status.
"You've all worked hard! The League's medical unit is en route. On behalf of the League Police Bureau, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your contributions!"
"The citizens of Rustboro will never forget what you've done. The Police Bureau will never forget. The League will never forget!"
Officer Jenny clearly knew how to win hearts. Coming from a prestigious background, she had likely received elite training in diplomacy from a young age.
With just a few words, she soothed everyone's nerves. The Trainers cheered once again, shouting slogans in praise of the League.
As for the fallen Trainers who had died earlier in the battle, no one brought them up anymore. It was as if they had already been forgotten.
What everyone really cared about now was one thing, when they would receive the promised reward from the League.
Clicking across the field in her heels, Officer Jenny flicked her emerald hair over her shoulder and strode straight toward Sieg.
Everyone cast envious glances in Sieg's direction, silently thinking, Looks like this kid's about to hit it big time.
Having managed the entire battlefield from start to finish, Officer Jenny finally found a moment to breathe now that the League's main force had arrived.
She looked at Sieg, a hint of admiration in her eyes. His performance in battle had fully validated her decision to personally recruit him.
Sieg's connections and his Level 2 clearance had already made her consider him a valuable asset. But his actual contribution? It far exceeded expectations.
Her decision had been the right one.
If not for Sieg's Sharpedo charging through the battlefield and coordinating with key points, their defensive lines might have collapsed long before the Arcanine unit arrived.
"Trainer Sieg, you've worked hard!"
Officer Jenny pressed her snow-white legs together in a perfect salute, standing straight as an arrow. Her curvaceous figure was on full display, drawing the quiet stares of nearby Trainers who didn't dare look away.
Feigning exhaustion, Sieg pushed himself up with a grunt, one hand trembling as he slowly returned the salute.
That small gesture made Officer Jenny's heart ache even more.
"Officer Jenny, this was my duty. As a League Trainer, it is our sacred responsibility to strike down evil and punish injustice!"
Sieg's voice was firm but modest, loud enough for everyone around to hear. His righteous words had the other Trainers, who'd just moments ago gossiped about him, raising their thumbs in admiration.
"A prodigy."
"A true rising star."
"A genius of the League."
Officer Jenny was genuinely impressed. She swiftly took out her notepad and jotted his words down, planning to use them in her speech at the upcoming League commendation ceremony.
When she looked back at Sieg again, her eyes sparkled with open admiration. Initially, she'd thought he was just another sheltered scion with connections and privileges, someone who'd never stepped into the wild.
But now, with both his stirring words and remarkable battle performance, Officer Jenny was convinced that Sieg was a battle-hardened Trainer with real strength.
"Trainer Sieg, having you is the League's greatest fortune," she said, eyes shimmering with sincerity.
Hearing that, Sieg turned toward the League's flag fluttering in the wind nearby. He couldn't stop the smile creeping across his face, but he kept his expression upright and dignified.
"To join the League, is my greatest fortune," he declared solemnly.