Chapter 164: Damn, System, You Did That on Purpose

Huo La followed the direction he pointed, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he let out a hoarse cry: "Chakra!"

"Chakra?" Xiao Gang was startled for a moment, instinctively looking at the Black Windcoat Man, "Do you know the one in the coat?"

"Not him, it's that short blond kid!" Huo La waved his hand hurriedly, his eyes full of shock, "Don't be fooled by his appearance—if I recall correctly, he's almost 30 years old, but due to a bodily condition he retains a child's form; he's a dwarf."

"30 years? A dwarf?" Xiao Gang was completely stunned, and when he looked again at the blond boy, a hint of wariness entered his gaze—someone near 30 masquerading as a child within the Rocket Team is no simple matter.

"He's no ordinary character." Huo La's voice dropped even lower, his tone heavy, "He's one of the Rocket Team Nine Captains, extremely powerful. I never expected someone of that rank to come personally for a mission like this."

"Rocket Team Nine Captains?!" Xiao Gang inhaled sharply, though he didn't know exactly what rank "Nine Captains" denoted, Huo La's reaction made it clear they were a serious threat; if even Huo La was this solemn, the two of them certainly couldn't win.

Xiao Gang instinctively reached for the Pokeball at his waist, his fingers tightening, "What do we do now? The League hasn't arrived yet; if they spot us, we stand no chance! Should we retreat first? Wait for the League and then come together?"

Huo La fell silent; the last time on the Saint Tenu, he and Bilan teamed up, and with luck they barely escaped Chen Si's subordinates. If now it's just him and Xiao Gang against Chakra, also a Nine Captain, they have no chance at all.

"Retreat is definitely out." Huo La shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the iron crates filled with Wild Pokemon, "If we pull back, those captured Pokemon will be taken away, and we won't be able to rescue them later."

Huo La furrowed his brows, his mind racing, "Now we can only wait for the League. We hide first, stay as quiet as possible, don't move recklessly, and must not be discovered."

Huo La was about to say more when Chakra at the tent entrance suddenly stopped sliding his tablet, looked up, and stared toward the bushes where they were hiding, a strange grin curling his lips.

"Bad, we've been spotted!" Huo La's heart shot up to his throat.

Chakra pulled the lollipop from his mouth, pointed a finger at the Black Windcoat Man, his voice sharp and grating, "Go check what little mouse is hidden in the bushes, don't let them ruin my plan."

"Yes!" The Black Windcoat Man immediately, with the Abak Monster spitting its poison, sprinted toward the bushes at astonishing speed.

Xiao Gang instantly drew a Pokeball, looking at Huo La anxiously, "Huo La, what do we do? Do we act now?"

Huo La took a deep breath, turned his body, "Run!"

"Run?" Xiao Gang hadn't reacted yet when he turned his head and saw Huo La already several meters away, his steps swift as a gust.

He muttered under his breath, "That kid runs really fast," then scrambled to his feet, stumbling along the mountain path he came from in pursuit.

The Black Windcoat Man behind, seeing the two trying to flee, didn't hesitate, quickened his steps and kept up.

The Abak Monster slithered close to the ground, its serpentine body lifting as it spat poison, staying beside the man, keeping about ten meters from Huo La and Xiao Gang—neither too far nor too close, like an unshakable plaster.

"Damn! After running so far, they still won't let go!" Huo La shouted while running, glancing back at the relentless man and snake behind him, a bitter feeling rising inside.

The mountain trail was rugged, covered with shattered stones and tree roots; he ran out of breath, but the Black Windcoat Man kept his pace as if nothing, his speed unchanged.

"Huo La, how about we turn and fight?" Xiao Gang, beside him, gasped, "Running like this won't work; our stamina will run out soon, and we'll become even more vulnerable!"

Huo La clenched his teeth, yet didn't stop, "Wait a bit longer! I really don't want to clash with them now—my current identity is too sensitive; if I collide with Rocket Team members and get recognized, it'll be trouble."

He's still posing as a Rocket Team Undercover; if he fights Chakra's people here and the news gets back, who knows what will happen.

Xiao Gang fell silent, probably guessing Huo La's concerns, but seeing the Abak Monster drawing nearer, he couldn't help speaking, "Then we split up! I'll run toward the left Valley to draw their attention, you slip back and see if you can rescue those captured Pokemon."

"No! Too dangerous!" Huo La immediately vetoed, lowering his voice, "I've already called for help; Officer Jenny and her team are definitely on the way. If we hold out a bit longer until reinforcements arrive, we can take them down together! No need to throw ourselves in now!"

Xiao Gang shook his head, his gaze firm, "Those Pokemon can't wait; if we wait for Officer Jenny and she arrives, the Pokemon will be taken away, and our effort will be for nothing!"

"But that Abak Monster is anything but simple!" Huo La was so anxious he almost stopped.

He had already scanned the Abak Monster's data; the one chasing from behind not only has the "Molting" trait but also is level 53.

Even if he sent out all his Pokemon, they'd only be able to swarm together, let alone the Black Windcoat Man might have other Pokemon in hand!

Xiao Gang was about to say something when a cold voice from the Black Windcoat Man behind cut in, "Run, why have you stopped? Keep running, or I'll have the Abak Monster use Poison Needle on you!"

Huo La and Xiao Gang both turned back, seeing the Abak Monster's serpentine fang already tinged purple, clearly ready to strike.

"Ding!" A crisp System Prompt Sound rang in Huo La's ear.

Huo La instinctively muttered "damn", his complexion turning even worse—whether released early or late, it pops up now; this system is literally adding fuel to the fire.

【Publish Task:】

- Task Type: Temporary Task

- Task Content: Rescue Wild Pokemon (ensure all Wild Pokemon captured by the Rocket Team safely break free from machine restraints)

- Task Time Limit: 2 hours

- Task Reward: Giant Claw Crab Upgrade Condition

"Damn, this reward is really… System, you did this on purpose!" Huo La couldn't help venting in his mind, his fingertips instinctively clenching.

He had long guessed that the Giant Claw Crab's upgrade might require evolution with a Water Stone, but "guessing" and "system's explicit hint" are entirely different—who knows what tricks this damned system might pull?

Now the reward explicitly states "Giant Claw Crab Upgrade Condition", putting the thing he cares about right in front of him, leaving him no choice but to be swayed.