"Looks like there's no bounty on you."
This pirate is even weaker than the Pates that Natsuhiko dealt with before, probably no bounty at all.
Natsuhiko successfully dealt with the pirate.
He hesitated whether he should go back and erase traces of his activities on the island.
But after thinking it over, he decided to give up.
This deserted island hasn't been visited for a long time. Every place he arrived at would inevitably leave some traces, even if just footprints, even if just the trampled grass.
He had been very restrained, but some things were unavoidable.
Besides, cleaning everything would be too time-consuming, and not necessarily thorough.
"Better to make a quick exit."
Rather than waste time like this, it's better to just leave.
The "Star of Blood" already has people who came here, it's uncertain whether they used some old method that doesn't rely on signals to inform their main ship of this island's location.
But the fact that their people have been out for a long time without returning might make them suspect something.
They might already be on their way here.
Better to make a quick exit.
Since the "Star of Blood" has failed, it means the Saint Anus should be safe for the time being, so find it and continue moving forward.
With that in mind, Natsuhiko summoned Sharpedo.
He stepped onto its back.
"Do you remember how we got here?" Natsuhiko asked.
"Roar—"
Sharpedo blinked honestly.
When it comes to navigating the sea, no one is better than these Water-type Pokémon who live in it.
"Alright, let's go then."
Leave this area where signals are blocked, then look for the position of the Saint Anus.
Sharpedo flicked its fins and darted out immediately.
After leaving the little island a certain distance, the thin mist around them gradually thinned out.
The clear moonlight shone down, casting shadows on the surface of the sea.
"Masha?"
Feeling them leave the island, Marshadow poked its head out from Natsuhiko's shadow.
"Marshadow? Sorry, I kind of forgot about you..." Natsuhiko said somewhat awkwardly.
Ever since Marshadow last communicated briefly with him and took a box of Togetic's Energy Blocks, it hadn't appeared again, so when Natsuhiko decided to leave, he honestly forgot about it.
But now that it emerged, it's good too.
"Masha—"
Marshadow's deep black light swirled in its orange eyes, and the swiftly moving Sharpedo seemed affected, suddenly pausing.
If it weren't for Abra's psychic assistance, Natsuhiko might have flown out due to inertia.
But this behavior by Marshadow made Natsuhiko frown.
Squatting on Sharpedo's back, he looked at Marshadow in the shadow, trying to control his emotions, and gently said, "Marshadow, do you not want to leave this island?"
"Masha."
Marshadow lightly nodded.
'Alright, keeping a Pokémon in the shadow isn't right either,' Natsuhiko thought to himself.
But he wanted to make one last attempt...
To see if he could... abduct Marshadow.
If he could abduct Marshadow, it could stay in the shadow if it wanted, eat Energy Blocks if it liked.
Even if now their relationship wasn't great, with time, couldn't he slowly cultivate it?
Not to mention capturing Marshadow, as long as it could protect him at certain crucial moments, it would be worth the cost.
"Marshadow..."
Natsuhiko just started to speak, when he saw Marshadow turn its head towards the distant sea.
Two large sailing ships were sailing side by side, and if you looked closely, you could see bridges connecting them in the middle.
The constant booming sounds indicated that these two ships were engaged in a boarding battle.
Meanwhile, Natsuhiko saw the flags flying high on these two ships.
One was the "Star of Blood" flag he had seen before, and the other displayed a pink head, looking at first glance like a... Jigglypuff?
Natsuhiko looked at the flag.
His expression was peculiar.
This Jigglypuff seemed kind of cute.
More importantly, he recognized this flag too.
"The captain of Gerwin's ship, 'Charming Binina' from the 'Charming Star'? What are they doing here as well, weren't they supposed to pick up Gerwin?"
The ones currently battling were from the two pirate groups belonging to the "Star of Blood" and the "Charming Star."
Moreover, while they fought, these two ships were heading towards his direction.
And just as Natsuhiko noticed them, they also noticed Natsuhiko's presence.
"Boss Henry, there's someone out there on the sea we don't know."
"Send someone to kill him! Focus on dealing with that group of women first! The materials and wealth they possess can be the nourishment for our recovery, capture them at any cost!"
On the other side.
"Captain Binina, there's a man over there, standing on a Sharpedo."
"Sharpedo? Another of Henry's men? Send a sister to take care of him! Forget about Henry usually, but after taking such a huge hit on the Saint Anus, to still dare come after us, does he not know how to spell death!"
And then.
Natsuhiko saw each ship send one person towards him ready to attack.
Natsuhiko's corner of the lips twitched.
He realized they had some misunderstanding, "Star of Blood" was one thing, but why did "Charming Star" also have the stance of wanting to take him down?
Looking at Marshadow, who was hesitant to leave the shadow, Natsuhiko felt even more helpless.
"Marshadow, let's go back to the island, release your hold on Sharpedo."
"Masha." Marshadow called quietly, hesitated slightly, then let go of Sharpedo.
"Roar?"
Back to its senses, Sharpedo looked confused.
But seeing two ferocious Pokémon charging towards it, Sharpedo also revealed its fierce nature.
Bang.
Natsuhiko lightly kicked it, "Go back."
Sharpedo immediately lost its temper.
It gave a fierce glare at the advancing Pokémon, then swung its fins and turned to swim back to the island.
However, the delay allowed the pirate from the "Star of Blood" who struck first, to catch up.
Natsuhiko's eyes flickered.
"Beedrill." he called lightly.
Bzzz—
Beedrill's wings buzzed, its figure shot out like lightning, arcs of thunder flying, its long needle grazed, then dashed out directly.
Its crimson multifaceted eyes flashed cold light, crossed blades struck out, and the pursuing Sharpedo was directly knocked down by Beedrill.
After succeeding, it did not stop, its figure shot out again, straight towards the pursuing pirate.
In a disbelieving expression, the pirate's body lost consciousness and fell into the sea.
Underneath Natsuhiko, he saw Sharpedo sneering with a bit of schadenfreude.
Too naïve.
Beedrill's strength had grown stronger after days of special training and defeating the Elite Level Druddigon.
In any case, it no longer dared to face Beedrill head-on.
Sharpedo reckoned that the distance to Elite Level was not far off for Beedrill.
Besides, Natsuhiko didn't only have Beedrill as his Pokémon.
With the cooperation of his three Pokémon, the pursuing pirates pose little threat.
Sharpedo once again took pleasure in the suffering of others.
At the same time, after dealing with one pirate, Beedrill attacked again, going straight for the other pursuing pirate, its long needle lifting her Pokémon.
"Leave her." Natsuhiko suddenly said.
"Buzz!"
Beedrill's lightning-fast movement came to an abrupt halt, its sharp long needle just a few centimeters from the neck of the slower female pirate.
Natsuhiko rubbed his temples, somewhat bothered.
Confronting two pirate groups with many people wasn't a good choice, and not conducive to survival.
If Marshadow were willing to help, that would be different, but now Marshadow had retreated again.
Compared to the "Star of Blood," which he had already resolved several members of, at least he had a connection with Gwen.
In the somewhat startled gaze of the female pirate, Natsuhiko calmly said, "Don't get me wrong, I'm friends with Gerwin."
Upon hearing this name, that person gradually reacted.
"So, you're the one Gerwin introduced to the Captain as a date?"
Natsuhiko: "..."