Chapter 72: She Must Be Jealous

No, the fact that you managed to crawl out from there in one piece is already a miracle…

Dylan looked at the disheveled figure in black, or rather, Gym Leader Erika, and couldn't help but feel a bit exasperated.

That so-called Gym Leaders' group chat was more like a place for leaders to be critiqued. It also had another nickname, the Team Rocket Senior Executives' Spy Group.

Loudly plotting in front of the Team Rocket boss and three senior executives, isn't it normal to run into some trouble?

"Who are you?"

Despite his inner thoughts, Dylan appropriately showed a bit of caution, looking at the limping figure in black approaching.

"Erika! It's me, Erika, Gym Leader Dylan."

The figure in black hesitated, then quickly pulled down the black mask, revealing a pale but very delicate and beautiful face.

"Gym Leader Erika? You… be careful."

Dylan was about to say something when he saw a large purple cobra climbing out of the manhole behind Erika, its cold eyes fixed on her back.

Erika also felt the terrifying chill from behind, her body instantly stiffening.

Damn!

"Arti… Meowscarada."

Dylan's fingers expanded two minimized Poké Balls, intending to release Articuno, but remembering that Leah was with him, he instead released his Meowscarada.

Due to her childhood experiences, Leah had a severe fear of birds. Seeing a bird Pokémon would trigger her phobia.

"Meow~"

In a flash of white light, Meowscarada landed gracefully in front of Dylan, standing tall and haughtily gazing at the Arbok ahead.

The Arbok seemed to sense Meowscarada's hostility and pressure, hesitating with its tongue flicking.

"Gym Leader Erika, come here."

Seizing the opportunity, Dylan quickly pulled Erika behind him.

"Thank you, Gym Leader Dylan, I… ouch…"

Erika was extremely grateful, glad to have encountered Gym Leader Dylan!

But before she could finish, Erika gasped, biting her lip as cold sweat covered her pale face, unable to speak clearly due to the pain.

"She's poisoned."

Leah helped Erika sit down, and with her experience, she quickly lifted Erika's pant leg, having noticed earlier that Erika's leg seemed injured.

On inspection, she found four darkened, small puncture wounds, clearly from a snake bite.

"Yes, I'm sorry. I got bitten by an Arbok while escaping." Erika spoke weakly, enduring the pain.

"Gym Leader Erika, stop talking and use this."

Dylan took out a Full Heal from his backpack, one of the best medicines that could cure any abnormal status.

"Wow, such extravagance," Leah remarked, taking the antidote from Dylan and spraying it on Erika's wound.

Before their eyes, the dark purple around the wound began to recede noticeably, and soon the poison would be completely removed.

"So you have two companions, huh?"

A chilling female voice suddenly interrupted.

Dylan looked over to see a gloomy red-haired woman emerging from a back door, with two Team Rocket members behind her.

"Gnawing at wood, biting through bags, invading others' homes. Truly ill-mannered rats."

Ariana approached the Arbok, her sinister gaze fixed on Erika, mercilessly mocking her.

She was in a foul mood!

This base in Celadon was her responsibility, and now because of this intruder, they had to abandon it. How could she not be angry?

Erika's face changed, showing anger in her eyes, but she was too weak to respond.

"Is this a self-introduction, Team Rocket's Ariana?"

Leah gestured for Erika to rest and turned to Ariana with a taunting smile.

"If anyone resembles rats, it's you lot in Team Rocket, always hiding underground, away from the sun."

"Look at your complexion! You could star in a zombie movie without makeup~"

Leah spoke quickly but clearly.

The scene fell silent.

Erika looked at the seemingly ordinary girl in surprise. She… she was amazing!

The two Team Rocket members were shocked. How dare this girl insult Ariana, who had a terrible temper!

Ariana's face darkened, becoming almost twisted with rage. Was she being compared to a zombie?

"Hohoho… such a sharp-tongued little girl."

After a moment, Ariana laughed angrily, but her smile was terrifying.

"Once I tear that mouth off, I wonder if it will still be able to talk."

The malice in Ariana's eyes was chilling.

"Oh no, I'm so scared~"

Leah mockingly hugged herself, hiding behind Dylan, pretending to be frightened. Her exaggerated tone and performance made Ariana's face twitch with anger.

"Dylan, this zombie woman is so fierce. She wants to bully your cute little sister!"

"She must be jealous of my beauty, and because she can't have it, she wants to destroy me!"

Leah declared with a righteous fury.

Ariana was even more infuriated. Jealous? Of you? Have you seen your plain face? Why would I be jealous?

"How outrageous! Doesn't she know I'm Dylan's beloved? Too wicked! Right, Dylan?"

Leah clung to Dylan's sleeve, acting all delicate and vulnerable.

In other words, protect me!

Erika, the patient: Wow!

Dylan: "..."

Dylan looked speechlessly at Leah peeking from behind him, blinking her big eyes innocently.

Ariana's face was contorted with rage.

"Arbok!"

She couldn't take it anymore and wanted to capture this annoying girl!

At her command, the fierce Arbok opened its bloodthirsty mouth, revealing its fangs, and lunged at Dylan and Leah with alarming speed.

This was a Dark-type move, Crunch!

"Quick Attack." Dylan's brow furrowed.

A ghostly green shadow flashed by, and the Arbok, initially lunging, was suddenly hit as if struck by a truck, flying back at even greater speed, slamming into the wall heavily.

Ariana's pupils contracted.

"Meow~"

Meowscarada stood elegantly, slightly tilting its head, its sinister expression exuding a palpable malice.

It was Meowscarada who had knocked Arbok away.

"…"

Ariana looked at the Pokémon with an uncertain expression. This should be a Meowscarada from the Paldea region.

But as a senior executive of Team Rocket, Ariana was strong too! For her main Arbok to be knocked back without reacting…

Something wasn't right…

Ariana's anger began to cool. As one of Team Rocket's Four Generals, she wasn't foolish.

The Arbok slid down the wall, but its condition was visibly worse.

"What's wrong? Not attacking? I can give you another chance."

Seeing Ariana hesitate, Dylan spoke with his usual gentle tone, as if he were talking about something trivial.

"Don't be afraid. If you don't attack, I will. As a senior executive of Team Rocket, Ariana, handing you over to the League might earn me another pseudo-legendary Dragon-type Pokémon."

The gentlest voice, saying the most terrifying things.

"???"

Question marks floated above Ariana's head.

Ariana felt uneasy. Had she kicked a steel board?

(Chapter End)