The four of them moved forward.
The shrill electronic ringtone, like a sharp knife, pierced the suffocating silence of the forest.
Sen abruptly raised his hand, signaling the three subordinates behind him to be quiet.
He pulled his phone from an inner pocket. The name "Honey" flashing on the screen instantly softened the tense lines of his face.
He cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound as relaxed and even a bit lazy as it was at home.
"Hello, Honey."
"Daddy! Where did you go again? You promised to help me make energy cubes for Froakie today!"
His daughter's crisp, slightly complaining voice came from the other end of the line, like the clearest spring water in a mountain stream.
Sen leaned against the trunk of a giant, moss-covered tree, his eyes warily scanning the purple mist drifting around them.
"Daddy is on a business trip for a very important mission."
He lowered his voice, adopting a mysterious tone.
"I'm... fighting evil."
"Wow! Really? Daddy, you're so amazing!"
His daughter's admiration was unreserved; her pure joy was palpable even through her voice.
"Then when are you coming back? Remember to bring something delicious for me and Froakie! Froakie says it wants something sweet!"
"Okay, I definitely will."
The corners of Sen's mouth curled up unconsciously, and the coldness in his eyes thawed slightly.
"Once Daddy has chased all the bad guys away, I'll bring back the most delicious energy cubes in the world."
Hanging up the phone, the small amount of warmth drawn from his family was quickly swallowed by the cold, damp air around him.
The smile faded from Sen's face, turning hard once more. He stuffed the phone back into his pocket, as if carefully hiding his only weakness.
"Continue forward."
He commanded tersely.
The four continued trekking deep into the forest, their footsteps making dull thuds against the decaying leaves.
Passing through a dense patch of ferns, the sight before them caused Sen's pupils to contract sharply.
Several massive trees had been snapped in half, with blue smoke still rising from the breaks.
In the clearing, several figures wearing red uniforms and horned hoods were busy.
They were skillfully loading unconscious Pokémon into specialized capture nets, while a metal instrument nearby "buzzed" loudly, continuously spewing out pale purple gas.
Every Pokémon touched by the gas became manic and restless, their eyes turning blood-red before they eventually collapsed from exhaustion.
Team Magma!
Sen's heart sank abruptly.
As a League official, he naturally possessed intelligence on the Team Magma.
He recognized the iconic uniforms, and even more so, the bloated, cold-faced man standing in the center of the crowd.
Team Magma Executive, Tabitha.
The other party had clearly discovered them as well.
Tabitha slowly turned around, his eyes hidden in the shadows of his hood locking onto Sen like a hawk.
He didn't attack immediately; he merely raised his hand. The Team Magma members behind him stopped what they were doing and surrounded them in unison, the Poké Balls at their waists glowing with ill intent.
The air seemed to freeze.
Sen could feel cold sweat on his back.
He and his subordinates were only four people, while the other side had at least seven or eight, not to mention that Tabitha's own strength far exceeded theirs.
Going head-to-head would be like striking a stone with an egg.
"So, it's people from the League."
Tabitha's voice was low and raspy, carrying a condescending scrutiny.
"To meet in such a godforsaken place, what a coincidence."
Sen forced himself to calm down, his mind racing.
He took two steps forward and spread his hands to show he had no hostile intent.
"Mr. Tabitha, a pleasure to meet you."
He squeezed out a smile that looked worse than crying.
"We're just passing through; we didn't expect to disturb your activities here."
"Passing through?"
Tabitha sneered.
"Would the League's lapdogs just 'pass through' a place where our Team Magma is operating? Do you take me for a three-year-old?"
"A misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding."
Sen lowered his posture even further.
"To be honest, I personally quite... admire the Team Magma's philosophy. Expanding the land to create more living space for humans and land-dwelling Pokémon—there's nothing wrong with that idea. Those old fogies in the League are just too rigid in their thinking."
As he spoke, he observed Tabitha's expression.
This was a massive gamble—betting on the other's arrogance, betting that they would be willing to listen to a defector's flattery.
Tabitha's eyes flickered, appearing to have a bit of interest in Sen's words.
He paced over to Sen, getting so close that Sen could smell the scent of sulfur emanating from him.
"Oh? So you're saying you don't want to be our enemy?"
"Of course,"
Sen nodded like a woodpecker.
"We errand runners are essentially doing the same thing as you all; we're all working toward a goal. There's no need for fighting and killing. Harmony brings wealth, right?"
Tabitha stared intently into Sen's eyes, as if trying to discern the truth in his words.
The surrounding Team Magma members let out a chorus of suppressed, mocking chuckles.
Sen felt like his heart was about to leap out of his throat.
After a long while, Tabitha suddenly laughed.
There was no warmth in that smile, only bone-chilling coldness.
"Very well."
He said.
"Since you're so sincere, I'll give you a chance."
He paused, then said word by word:
"Join us, the Team Magma."
Sen was stunned.
"Now, right here, show your sincerity."
Tabitha's gaze shifted downward, landing on Sen's hands.
"Cut off your left hand's—no, both your hands' ring fingers as your pledge of loyalty."
Sen's head buzzed, and his mind went blank.
As if not seeing his pale face, Tabitha continued to speak the cruelest words in a flat tone:
"From now on, this is the rule. Anyone defecting from the League to our Team Magma must cut off their ring fingers. This represents a clean break from the past and... discarding those pointless bonds. You will be the first."
As an Executive of the Team Magma, how could Tabitha be fooled by a few casual words of flattery from Sen?
His plan was covert; he clearly didn't want to cause a scene here.
But Sen's appearance was an accident—an accident that had to be dealt with.
Either die, or... survive in a more extreme way.
These words pinned Sen to the spot.
It wasn't that he had thought about resisting, but the gap in their strength was overwhelming.
It didn't matter if his subordinates died, but he didn't want to die himself, especially... considering Honey and Froakie at home.
He had promised to bring back the most delicious energy cubes.
How could a father's promise be broken?
But right now, if he didn't defect to the Team Magma, there was no way out!
But if he joined the Team Magma, he would never be able to turn back!
Sen's breathing became heavy, and large beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.
He looked at his hands—hands that had once held his daughter as she learned to walk, hands that had signed countless League documents.
Now, he had to personally destroy a part of them.
"What?"
A hint of impatience entered Tabitha's voice.
"Don't dare to? Was everything you just said nothing but bullshit?"
Sen snapped his head up, his eyes bloodshot.
He gritted his teeth hard and pulled a sharp tactical short knife from the tool kit at his waist.
His three subordinates were horrified and tried to step forward, but their path was blocked by the Team Magma members' Pokémon.
Sen didn't look at them; in his eyes, there was only the knife and his left hand.
The ring finger... that was where the wedding ring belonged.
Although his wife had been gone for many years, he always felt her warmth still lingered there.
Goodbye.
He whispered in his heart.
Honey, Daddy's coming home!
The next second, he swung the short knife down without hesitation!
"Squelch!"
A dull thud, accompanied by an uncontrollable grunt of pain.
A severed finger flew out, landing on the wet mud, and blood instantly stained the surrounding moss red.
Intense pain coursed through his body like an electric current. Sen's body swayed, but he remained standing through sheer willpower.
He didn't even have time to tend to the wound on his left hand before switching the short knife to his bloody left hand and aiming it at his right ring finger.
Without the slightest pause, another strike!
"Squelch!"
Two severed fingers, clean and even.
Sen threw away the short knife, letting his hands bleed profusely. He looked up, his face as pale as paper, but his eyes were exceptionally calm—or rather, numb.
He looked at Tabitha and asked, emphasizing every word:
"Now, is this enough?"