Pokémon: Chronicles of Freedom

"Is there anything else?" Cain continued to ask.

Next, Paul explained to Cain his main combat techniques and the tactics he might employ in various situations.

Additionally, to win Cain's favor, he even revealed Vexor's interests and little-known habits.

Paul told everything he knew without leaving out any details.

As a follower, it must be said that he really had deep knowledge and had "sold out" Vexor without any reservation.

"That's about it. I know some of his escape methods; it's likely a one-time use enhancement item, but I don't have specific details—he never mentioned them."

"Don't worry, Lord Cain, there are many things I can't tell all at once, but if you allow me to stay by your side, you'll have a great advantage when you face him next time."

Paul talked until his mouth went dry.

Although much of what Paul said was useful to Cain.

Cain nodded to indicate he understood.

When Paul thought he might survive, Cain said, "Alright, thank you. Arbok, take care of him!"

"Wait, wait, wait, why? Why? I've told you everything, I swear I haven't lied at all. Besides, compared to Miyamoto, I think I'm a bit stronger. Even though my Pokémon have died, there are many Bug-type Pokémon in the forest. If you let me capture one or two, I'll recover quickly! I'm more useful than Miyamoto!"

Miyamoto's face darkened.

However, Paul was telling the truth. If both were at their peak, he, with a certain advantage in Flying types, would be slightly superior to Miyamoto.

Moreover, Miyamoto specialized in Fighting-type Pokémon, which were hard to find on this island, while Bug-types, which he excelled in, were abundant on the island.

This way, his strength would recover quickly.

And since he knew Vexor so well, Paul would be the best ally for Cain to face Vexor, wouldn't he?

But Cain showed no interest whatsoever.

"What you say is true, and it's true you would recover faster than Miyamoto," Cain said.

"Yes, so if the lord accepts my submission, no matter how you wish to control me, I can definitely do better than Miyamoto," Paul continued.

Cain nodded, acknowledging his point. "But there's something I can't accept."

Without waiting for Paul to ask, Cain continued, "You're truly repulsive; being so close to you makes me feel very uncomfortable."

"Repulsive? But didn't you say you'd let me go if I gave you information about Vexor?"

"Did I say that? I don't remember saying it. I'm sorry, you really give me the creeps. Arbok, take care of him." Cain gestured as if he were looking at something disgusting.

"Shaah!" Arbok nodded and, without giving Paul a chance to speak, tensed all its muscles and quickly immobilized him.

The air in Paul's chest was immediately forced out; unable to breathe, his face turned red, and his eyes opened wide.

He stared at Cain and Miyamoto, as if wanting to remember them both.

But he no longer had the ability to speak; with Arbok's strength, it took no more than a second to end him.

With the sound of bones cracking, when Arbok relaxed its muscles, Paul's body, lying on the ground, was completely twisted.

Cain, with a look of disgust, told Miyamoto, "Take everything he has. His storage space might contain some valuable items, although there will probably be many repulsive things. Don't show them to me, just take what has value."

Seeing Cain's look of disgust, Miyamoto breathed a sigh of relief. He was genuinely afraid Cain might want to keep Paul to face Vexor.

After all, someone so disturbing both psychologically and physically was really infectious to be around.

Who knows how Vexor put up with him?

Cain approached the woman sitting on the rock, with a somewhat complicated expression.

Jasmine, one of the strong people among the participants on Trial Island, hadn't had much interaction with Cain, and they had avoided interfering with each other's affairs.

But Cain genuinely admired Jasmine for gathering the women on Trial Island and protecting their interests and physical and mental safety.

If it weren't for Jasmine's presence, most women and girls without strength on Trial Island could only have survived by selling their bodies in exchange for protection from the stronger ones.

But were the truly strong so easily enticed by women's bodies?

In the end, they would only become unfortunate people.

Jasmine had prevented this for three months, but in the final trial, someone had done it anyway, and the result was disastrous.

"I helped you kill him, so I don't think you'll object to giving me that map fragment," Cain said, looking her in the eyes.

In the woman's eyes, Cain saw gratitude, regret, hatred, and a desire for death. Without her Pokémon and her body useless, she no longer had any desire to live.

"I understand; I won't say anything about it. You can go in peace," Cain said after a brief silence.

Hearing his words, a trace of relief appeared in the woman's eyes, after which her expression showed no emotion, as if she were a plant.

"Haunter, hypnotize her," Cain said to the air.

Haunter, who had been hiding in his shadow, slowly emerged and used the move Hypnosis on the woman, who immediately fell asleep.

"Retrieve the map from her body and then inject the poison. Ursaring, dig a grave and bury her," Cain ordered.

Although Ursaring was now Miyamoto's Pokémon, it didn't dare disobey Cain's orders. It quickly ran over and began digging a hole in the ground, one of its specialties.

Quickly, Haunter, after finishing its task, approached Cain with a map fragment in hand, while the woman's body, after being injected with poison, began to show a purple hue and stopped breathing.

"She's an unfortunate person. In your next life, make sure to have your own strength," Cain murmured as he watched Ursaring bury her in the ground.

Cain took the map fragment Haunter handed him. His points device vibrated briefly before stopping completely.

(End of chapter)