Magnet Bombs -like the move-: one of the most popular linked explosive devices in the Underground Market.
When two Magnet Bombs are kept together, they're harmless. But once separated, they explode, with a blast radius of five meters.
Sato and his team had all used Protect, so naturally they were completely unharmed. But Aida clearly hadn't told Rapidash to defend. He had taken the chance to escape at full speed!
But despair was unavoidable…
The window of escape he created at the risk of Rapidash's life was now completely sealed off by an invisible wall.
"Rapidash, use Megahorn! Just once… JUST GIVE ME ONE MORE HIT!"
Aida knelt beside Rapidash, shouting desperately. But Rapidash could no longer stand.
Its flames… sigh… from its rear to its entire thigh, wounds were layered densely; blood still gushing out continuously.
Aida ran straight at the invisible wall, only to be thrown back by the rebound, crashing hard beside Rapidash again.
"Rap… Dash…"
Rapidash stretched its neck, trying to get closer to its Trainer. But Aida didn't even notice… he just kept getting up, charging again, and bouncing back!
"R-Rapi…"
Rapidash looked at the stubborn Aida and tried to stand once more!
But its hind legs had already gone numb…
No matter how hard it tried, it could only barely lift its head!
Suddenly, its ears twitched. Rapidash struggled to look behind and soon saw the enemy of its Trainer… and that white beast it just couldn't seem to defeat.
"…So I never had a chance of escaping, huh? T-This is all your doing… ISN'T IT!?"
Aida stumbled to his feet and growled out a question at Sato.
Sato stared expressionlessly at the crazed Aida, his heart just as unmoved.
"Stop struggling. If you end this now, your Rapidash might still be saved."
Aida froze. He hadn't expected Sato to suddenly bring up Rapidash.
Reflexively, he turned to look…
Rapidash was even weaker now, but still tried to get up, its wide pupils locked firmly on Absol.
Though Aida had lost all hope, he was still stunned by Rapidash's resolve. It wasn't his Starter Pokémon. His original Caterpie had died long ago.
But Rapidash was the Pokémon that had been with him the longest. Every time he had to flee for his life, he relied on Rapidash.
If Rapidash lived, he lived!
Now Rapidash was barely clinging to life, and it felt like he couldn't survive either…
Aida knew he'd committed enough serious crimes to be executed several times over, he had no hopes of surviving.
But Rapidash could still live!
If he couldn't run anymore, letting this old friend who had saved him countless times live on… might not be such a bad ending.
Aida came to terms with it quickly. Rapidash's condition didn't leave him much time to hesitate anyway.
He gently stroked Rapidash's horn, then turned and raised his hands toward Sato.
"P-Please… You have to save it!"
Sato didn't say anything. He simply cuffed Aida first, then tossed out a Poké Ball.
"Umbreon. Wish, Heal Bell."
"Umbre~"
A soft chime rang out as starlight and gentle sound waves fell onto Rapidash's body. Its wounds were soon sealed temporarily, and the bleeding stopped.
But Sato didn't give it any more chances to resist. He used Aida's own Poké Ball to recall Rapidash and locked it.
"Investigator, sir… w-what's going to happen to Rapidash?"
Aida seemed to have come to terms with his own fate, but he was still worried about his old partner.
Sato glanced at Aida's anxious face, then thought back to how hard Rapidash had fought to protect him earlier.
"It'll probably be released back into the wild."
Sato gave a kinder version of the truth; after all, this was just an Elite Rapidash.
If it had been Ace level or higher, it would almost certainly have been sent to a Breeding Base as a seed stock, forced to reproduce generation after generation of high-quality offspring, until there was nothing left to give…
Upon hearing Sato's answer, Aida looked satisfied. He turned to glance at the factory behind him, as if he'd already forgotten how he ended up walking this irreversible path.
But in the end, there's no medicine for regret…
"Ariados, go help Gengar bring everyone here."
Sato sent out his "utility Bug," Ariados, to handle cleanup, and simultaneously called Officer Jenny of Vermilion City.
"…Yes, the abandoned factory on the northwest side. My Pikachu will meet you at the entrance, just follow it in."
After hanging up, Sato noticed Aida watching Ariados leave with a complicated expression.
A Pokémon that strong only used for cleanup… And yet, Aida had actually believed he could escape from this guy.
Turns out, Sato had never even been serious…
"Let me ask you something. Who were you selling those counterfeit items to?"
Sato suddenly remembered how both Renji and Aida were connected, and figured, 'Why not keep going? Let's see how deep this trail of rotten fruit really goes.'
The next moment, Aida's face turned visibly tense. According to Underworld rules, if you were doomed either way, you weren't supposed to drag others down with you!
But Sato saving Rapidash had clearly touched him…
Aida Saki hadn't chosen this path willingly. His bond with Rapidash showed he still had some shred of conscience left.
And Sato, seeing him hesitate, didn't push. If he wouldn't talk, he could just have Ralts use Hypnosis.
But after a few minutes, Aida Saki ended up confessing everything, which honestly surprised Sato a little.
Seeing Sato's expression of surprise, Aida let out a calm, relieved smile. "It's not like I don't know justice and peace are beautiful things. If the world could have a little less darkness, that would be a good thing. Maybe then… I'd get to enjoy that kind of life in my next one.
Yeah… honestly, this is just my way of saying thanks for saving Rapidash."
Sato stared seriously at Aida and said nothing.
Human nature was always complicated; good and evil often came down to a single thought.
Another moment of silence passed between them.
"What you just said won't exempt you from punishment."
"…I know. But if possible, please… give Rapidash a free life."
"…I'll do my best."
Soon after, Ariados returned, dragging dozens of massive "cocoons" behind it with joy~ None of the factory workers had escaped.
…And once Ariados saw Aida, its little eyes couldn't help but dart up and down, scanning him with interest.
'Mmh… can I tie up this one too?'
A few minutes later, the wailing of sirens approached from afar. Sato led Aida Saki to the factory entrance and waited quietly for Officer Jenny to arrive.
"Sorry to trouble you again."
"No trouble at all! Mr. Sato, you've only been in Vermilion City for less than half a month, and already taken down two major threats. If anything, we should be thanking you!"
Sato smiled lightly and completed the handover. Then, under the awed and reverent gazes of the entire police team, he mounted Hydreigon and took off!
Turns out… nothing beats a pseudo-legendary when it comes to making an exit in style!
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150 PS - CH