Fifth Elite of the Pokemon World

Oleander and Shiran faced off in the woods.

When encountering Shiran, Oleander was somewhat dazed, but it was Ninetales that reacted first, using Flamethrower in an attempt to disrupt Mantine's escape.

The number of Pokémon was Oleander's disadvantage; she only had three Pokémon and was helpless against Shiran's sacrificial strategy. Even though she knew the abandoned Pokémon were still unhesitatingly buying time for Shiran.

Oleander's ace, Beedrill, displayed formidable combat power in the woods. After using Swords Dance, it defeated Shiran's Pokémon one after another, allowing Oleander to catch up with Shiran.

Mantine's large body became a burden; in open areas, it could quickly shake off Oleander, but in the woods, the dense branches and trees constantly interfered with it. This was also one of the reasons why Oleander, riding Ninetales, had not lost track of Shiran.

Beedrill's X-Scissor hit the beleaguered Mantine, and after scraping against a few trees, Shiran and Mantine fell to the ground together.

"I can smell it; it's this scent... You and he have the same scent. After all these years, I finally found it."

This somewhat prolonged chase did not drain Oleander's energy; instead, it seemed to make her quite excited. She covered her face, grinning widely, laughing somewhat maniacally.

Shiran recalled the incapacitated Mantine and glanced around, confirming his location.

"I think you should know me."

"Impressive, Deputy Director of the International Police Safety Department, our defeated foe."

"I can't sense the composure of a victor in you. Let me see, your pants are tattered, covered in scratches, there are bits of gravel on you, and your head is full of dust. Your suit must be of a good brand, but what a shame, there is such a big tear in it now. However, you won't be needing such nice clothes in the future."

Gastly and Ninetales split to the sides to keep watch. Oleander had fought these people several times and knew very well how cunning they were; she had to remain vigilant at all times.

Despite being in such a precarious situation, Shiran still maintained a smile.

"I think we can make a deal."

"Of course, but only after I throw you in prison."

Oleander's smile was sinister, and her gaze toward Shiran was filled with unabashed hatred.

If she didn't know how important the person in front of her was to understanding the amplification device incident, she would have unhesitatingly beaten Shiran up right here.

Shiran's old age made her suppress her inner impulse.

Not out of kindness, but out of fear that Shiran's body might not withstand the madness and that she would lose control and beat him.

She had too much she wanted to know; Shiran's appearance was the closest she had come to the truth in years.

"Everything has a price." Shiran did not give up on persuasion.

"Even life?"

"Of course."

Shiran's mention of Frillish caused the anger that Oleander had suppressed to surge up again. Struggling to contain it, Oleander asked, "What if I want your Mantine?"

Shiran unhesitatingly threw Mantine's Poké Ball over. This Pokémon, which had used all its strength to help him escape, became the first bargaining chip on the negotiation table.

"This should demonstrate my sincerity."

Oleander bent down and picked up the Poké Ball, which was slightly muddy.

Although it was clearly a pokeball, Oleander felt as if she were holding a lead ball.

"He trusts you; don't you think you'll regret it?"

"Trust and loyalty are just boring literary accessories. Have you read history? How many kings talk about trust and loyalty with their subjects? That's just a self-comforting illusion created by the subjects. The total number of Pokémon in this world is several times that of the human population; humans are the kings of this world."

Oleander stuffed Mantine's Poké Ball into a small pocket in her abdomen and looked expressionlessly at Shiran, who was still expressing his views despite being an old man.

"What kings need is perfect rule; under absolute power, loyalty can be had in abundance. They are not irreplaceable."

"Mantine is not enough." Oleander shook her head.

"I have shown my sincerity; what about yours?"

"I don't think I ever said your sincerity was enough."

"Then how about this sincerity," Shiran pronounced the name word by word, "Evergreen."

Oleander trembled as if electrocuted; that name seemed to open a door, and memories flew out in her mind, covering the reality before her, as if that man had come to her side.

A dull pain began to throb in her abdomen. Oleander's eyes widened, her muscles tensed, and her clenched fists cracked with tension.

The calm facade Oleander had maintained was shattered by that name.

"It seems you are quite pleased with this sincerity." Shiran observed Oleander's reaction closely before he spoke.

"It seems he is doing well."

"In the organization, he has reached a level similar to mine, but this is all thanks to you. Without you, he probably wouldn't have gained such fame."

Shiran clicked his tongue and continued, "When he returned to the organization, he told everyone he had secured a promising girl from the Safety Department. What left the deepest impression on him was the shock and disbelief on that girl's face when she was betrayed. When he heard you had been discharged from hospital and became the Deputy Director of the Safety Department, Evergreen's fame peaked because everyone knew about his remarkable story with you."

"There's nothing to be done; that girl was too foolish. Clearly dealing with various criminals in the International Police every day, yet so naive. She deserved it."

Dark clouds had gathered without notice, turning the sky a leaden gray, ominous and heavy.

Sensitive to moisture, Oleander knew this was the prelude to a downpour. The wind had begun to whip through the woods, and many Pokémon started to run around, seeking shelter from the rain.

"Does he still go by the name Evergreen in your organization?" Oleander shifted her gaze from the clouds.

"The name doesn't hold much significance. I heard that in the International Police, one has three names in a lifetime: the real name before entering, the codename after entering, and a name representing rebirth upon retirement. We don't have such fancy names; a codename is enough, and Evergreen is a symbol of his fame, just like you are called Oleander."

"What about the Pokémon I gave him?"

"They're all doing well; you might encounter them in the future."

Oleander had no lingering feelings for Evergreen, but the three Pokémon she had helped raise during their romance were something she cared about. It was her foolishness that led them to end up in that man's hands.

"I can tell you Evergreen's whereabouts and news."

Without thunder, the torrential rain suddenly poured down from the sky without warning.

Soaked, Ninetales couldn't help but shake its body, flinging droplets of water off, while Beedrill looked on with discomfort, not for any other reason but because the water droplets all landed on him.

The rain intensified, and Beedrill's wings, which had been folded, became drenched, making it difficult for him to move. Ninetales had to raise its tail to provide Beedrill with a temporary shelter from the rain.

Oleander's silence created an eerie atmosphere between the two, with Shiran constantly watching Oleander's movements, worried she might lash out.

"You can't betray him."

"By asking that question, doesn't it imply you think it's possible?"

Shiran glanced at Oleander, the rain flowing down her face obscuring her expression, and continued, "If I go to prison, what can you do about Evergreen? The only way you would get news is during the enforcement process. Is that the revenge you seek?"

"We don't have the death penalty."

Shiran's words made Oleander lift her head, her eyes filled with icy coldness.

Negotiation is about knowing what you have and what the other party wants.

Shiran knew Oleander could not refuse this temptation; she was too obsessed with revenge.

He had studied Oleander's behavior over the years and clearly understood that she was a woman driven by vengeance, and the wounded soul that had been hurt beyond repair craved something that the laws of this world could not provide her.

This was also the reason Diantha did not want Luther to have too much contact with Oleander.

Oleander was gentle with every Pokémon; she would prepare a week's worth of food for Pokémon that roamed near her home, willing to donate her salary to the local Pokémon shelter. She could scrimp and save just to buy the right medicines and equipment for her Pokémon.

However, with people, Oleander seemed very unfamiliar.

It seemed she had forgotten how to love someone.

She could joke with you, interact with you while smiling, but deep down, the word "like" had never taken precedence, as if her laughter and speech were merely normal social instincts.

Shiran was similar; long-term Pokémon experiments had stripped away the best parts of his humanity. He mistakenly believed that his care for Luther was a genuine act of love, but it was merely a form of self-comfort.

He had stepped into the role of a father but had become more like a neighborly elder.

Two people who could not love others shared a moment of spiritual resonance.

"Tell me his whereabouts, and I can let you go." Oleander gritted her teeth and spoke softly.

"How can I trust that your guarantee is genuine?"

"And how can I trust that what you say is true?"

After a long silence, Shiran spoke calmly, "You have no choice; we cannot trust each other. You can only choose to believe that the information I give you is genuine. The only thing I can tell you is that I don't like him. His disappearance is a good thing for me."

Oleander's heart raced, and her breathing quickened. She knew she was making a significant decision.

Taking Shiran back would undoubtedly turn her revenge into a distant dream. Even if the Pokémon League captured Evergreen, they would not allow her to complete her revenge.

Life imprisonment, hahaha, what a joke.

He had ruined countless lives; because of his injuries, people had left the International Police, and innocent bystanders had been caught up in the chaos, not to mention her shattered life.

A life sentence, living comfortably in prison until death, was that really a punishment?

Tears streamed down Oleander's face, mingling with the rain.

Why should it be like this?

"I promise you, if I don't get what I want, believe me..."

"Stop with the threats; you have no choice, do you?" Shiran interrupted her.

Thunder rumbled, and Oleander and Shiran could no longer hear each other clearly through the downpour.

With heavy steps, Oleander moved closer to Shiran. She knew what she was doing; her rational mind told her she could quickly capture Shiran after learning the answer, but Ninetales and Beedrill were soaked, and their ability to chase and fight in the Rainy Weather was severely diminished. Shiran produced another Poké Ball, which contained another Mantine.

Mantine circled in the air under Shiran's command, and Oleander understood what Shiran was trying to convey: that was Mantine's ability, to glide effortlessly.

Speed increases in the rain.

Oleander's three Pokémon were not adept at chasing or battling in Rainy Weather, highlighting the disadvantage of having only three Pokémon.

Oleander smiled bitterly; if she hadn't misjudged people back then, she would have had time to raise more Pokémon.

She had only one chance to act the moment she got the answer.

Face to face, Shiran's voice was drowned out by the violent raindrops, and all she could hear was a buzzing sound.

Soon, Oleander realized that it wasn't just buzzing; the familiar sharp pain returned to her abdomen, and red spots were washed away by the rain, flowing into the soil.

(End of Chapter)

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