"Awoo~!"
The three Houndooms let out a chorus of frustrated howls at the sight of their fallen masters. As Dark-type Pokémon trained by the Hunter Organization, they didn't feel much grief for the men they barely knew; what they felt was the sheer indignity of being outplayed. They were Senior-rank beasts, and they had been outmaneuvered by a mere Elite+ Grass cat and a human who played the role of a shadow.
They turned their burning red eyes toward Li Yuan, baring their fangs. For a moment, they considered turning their rage on the boy. But as their gazes met his, they froze.
Li Yuan's eyes were colder and more predatory than their own. He looked at them not as living beings, but as assets, calculating their market value. He subtly shifted his Aura to mimic the Intimidate ability, projecting a crushing wave of spiritual pressure that made the Houndooms' fur stand on end.
The three demonic dogs whimpered, their aggression vanishing instantly. They crawled onto their bellies, tucking their tails between their legs and refusing to look up. They finally realized that this human's aura was just as terrifying as their own moves—and he had already proven he could fire off Aura Spheres, a Fighting-type move that would turn them into charcoal.
"Not bad. These three should be worth at least three or four million," Li Yuan noted, keeping the pressure on until they were completely submissive. Houndooms had a decent base stat total of 500—almost reaching the tier of the starters. As battle-ready Senior-rank Pokémon, they were easy to flip for a profit, especially to collectors who didn't mind the "re-education" required for Dark-types.
"Meow~ (Everything is here.)" Huanhuan finished scouring the area. she brought over the goons' belongings, including three Desert Eagles and their Poké Balls.
Li Yuan casually recalled the terrified Houndooms into their balls, planning to sell them later. Finally, he reached into the leader's tactical bag and pulled out the remaining Poké Balls.
He felt a twinge of anxiety. What if the "Shiny Gardevoir" was just a lie—bait for a double-cross? If he missed out on his dream Pokémon today, he didn't know how many years it would take to find another lead.
He pressed the release button on the most ornate ball. "Come out, Gardevoir."
Fortune was on his side. A burst of red light materialized into a slender, elegant "woman" standing about 1.7 meters tall. Her skin was porcelain white, but instead of the usual green "dress" and hair, she sported a bob of vibrant, icy blue hair and a black gown. Her eyes were wide and intelligent, appearing as though they could pierce through a person's very soul.
Li Yuan stopped breathing for a second. He stared at her, his heart hammering against his ribs.
It was real. A genuine Shiny Gardevoir.
His Aura scan confirmed her gender as female and her rank as Senior. Hunter J hadn't lied to him; she had genuinely intended to trade. It was just her subordinates who were too greedy for their own good.
"Gardevoir? (Where is this?)" The Pokémon looked around in a daze. She had been trapped in that dark sphere for so long she had begun to lose hope. Suddenly, the prison had opened.
She immediately took a defensive stance, her psychic energy humming. She realized she wasn't in her forest home, and more importantly, her daughter was nowhere to be seen.
"Mrs. Gardevoir, please don't be alarmed. The people who hurt you have been... taken care of," Li Yuan said. He suppressed his excitement and projected a wave of calming, benevolent Aura toward her. He was terrified she would Teleport away before he could explain; finding a Teleporting Pokémon in the wilderness was a nightmare he didn't want to live.
"Who are you?" A beautiful, melodic female voice rang directly in Li Yuan's mind. She was using Telepathy to bridge the language gap.
"My name is Li Yuan. You can think of me as your savior," Li Yuan lied smoothly, beginning to craft a narrative to win her over.
"I don't care about your name. Where is my daughter? Give her back!" Gardevoir scanned the clearing, her worry for her child overriding any gratitude. She had zero interest in chatting with a stranger while her baby was missing.
"Relax. She's safe in her ball. But let's change the location first. You wouldn't want your daughter to see... this," Li Yuan said, gesturing to the headless corpses nearby.
Gardevoir finally noticed the carnage. The scent of fresh blood was thick in the air. She recognized the uniforms—the same men who had invaded her home and snatched her daughter. She had surrendered her own freedom just to stay close to the child.
She had no love for humans. Even if this boy claimed to have saved her, she didn't trust him. But he was right; this was no place for a child.
"Fine. We move," she projected, nodding curtly.
"Follow me." Li Yuan pointed in a direction and teleported away with Huanhuan.
Gardevoir was slightly surprised to see the human's Pokémon use psychic moves, but she didn't hesitate. She vanished and reappeared in a series of blinks, following the Aura signature. They arrived at a quiet clearing a few miles away.
There, she saw the boy holding a small, shivering figure. It was her daughter, Ralts.
Gardevoir panicked. She Teleported directly in front of Li Yuan and practically snatched the Ralts from his arms.
The little Ralts, who had just been released from her ball, was terrified and confused. But the moment she felt the familiar, warm embrace and the scent of her mother, her little face crumpled. She buried her head in Gardevoir's chest and began to sob uncontrollably.
"My baby... it's okay. Mommy's here," Gardevoir whispered, her face softening into an expression of pure, maternal tenderness. The cold, fierce warrior vanished, replaced by a mother desperate to soothe her child's trauma.
"So, you just call her 'baby'? Does she not have a name?" Li Yuan asked, completely ruining the touching moment with his blunt interruption.
"Shut up. This is none of your business," Gardevoir snapped, glaring at him. Even though they were free, she felt no warmth for him.
To her, humans were the cause of all her suffering. If they hadn't attacked, her daughter wouldn't be crying. She was being polite by not attacking him.
"I did save you both, you know. You don't have to be so hostile," Li Yuan sighed, spreading his hands.
"Hmph. I will remember your deed. I will repay you when the time is right," Gardevoir said coldly. Her hatred for humanity was deep-seated. While she acknowledged he wasn't the kidnapper, he was still a human. And what good was an apology or a rescue after the damage was done?
Without another word, Gardevoir gripped her daughter tight and vanished in a burst of psychic energy, leaving Li Yuan standing alone in the clearing.
Well, shit, he thought. No good deed goes unpunished. I should have used the daughter to blackmail her into my bed. Being a 'good guy' gets you nowhere.