Chapter 76: Mamon! What Are You Doing!

In a narrow alley.

Under the control of Armored Mewtwo, Rika, dressed in a tight black outfit, hung her legs in the air and slowly turned around.

And at this moment she finally saw the person behind her; Rika's pupils shrank sharply.

"Hm?"

Mamon raised an eyebrow.

"Honestly, what a small world, Gym Leader Rika. I didn't expect our reunion to happen under these circumstances."

Mamon strolled unhurriedly up to Rika, clicking his tongue as he sized up the Rainbow Gym Leader before him.

He hadn't expected the intruder to be Rika — that was genuinely a bit of a surprise.

"Oh, right, Mewtwo, ease up on Gym Leader Rika a little."

Seeing that Rika still showed no intention of speaking, Mamon suddenly understood.

"Right, put this Vileplume to sleep."

Mamon glanced again at the Vileplume baring its fangs at him. Though it was immobilized under Armored Mewtwo's control, it was obvious the Vileplume was fiercely protective of its Trainer.

Armored Mewtwo said nothing, raising its right arm and giving a light, airy wave to the left.

Bang!

The Vileplume slammed into the wall like a bolt of lightning, the hard wall even cracking open a gap; half of the Vileplume's body was embedded in it, and it fell straight into an infant-like slumber.

"Vileplume!"

Armored Mewtwo loosened its psychic hold, and Rika cried out in worry the very first moment.

"Don't worry, Gym Leader Rika, I just took away its ability to fight."

Mamon paced a circle around Rika — you really couldn't tell at all.

As the Gym Trainer of the Rainbow Gym in Rainbow City, Rika was a young lady who loved nature, her bearing and demeanor like that of a Yamato nadeshiko, usually wearing a kimono most of the time, elegant and reserved.

Mhm, in a kimono it's really hard to tell what her figure is like, unless she's the very voluptuous type.

"Mr. Mamon, are you Mr. Mamon?"

Rika bit her lip, gazing at this youth whose behavior and manner were unfamiliar to her.

This wasn't her first time seeing Mamon — she remembered clearly that Mamon had come to Rainbow City last year to challenge her Gym.

The Mamon of that time had left an extremely Deep Mark on her — powerful strength, a gentle temperament, and a good upbringing and refined speech shown in his conversation.

"It seems Gym Leader Rika still remembers me — what an honor."

Mamon chuckled lightly, his hand reaching unceremoniously toward Rika's waist.

Eek!

Rika instinctively cried out, her pretty face instantly flushing red.

"Mr. Mamon! Wh-what are you doing?!"

The young lady, who loved flower arrangement, was blushing beautifully, her faint voice carrying a barely concealed mix of shame and anger.

"Don't get the wrong idea, I'm not taking advantage of you — I just want to find Vileplume's Poké Ball."

Mamon felt along the young lady's slender waist, not feeling the slightest bit embarrassed.

Rika bit her lip with her pearly teeth, lowered her head feeling the warmth of the youth's palm through her clothes, blushing so hard even her ears turned red.

"But Gym Leader Rika, your waist is really soft, and very slim."

Damn it! And you still say you're not taking advantage of me?

Hearing the youth's words, Rika felt her head go dizzy. As a quiet, gentle, and virtuous young lady, when had she ever experienced a scene like this?

"It's… it's in the back…"

"Hm? What did you say, Gym Leader Rika?"

"The Poké Ball… Vileplume's Poké Ball is in the back."

Rika's voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz — if Mamon hadn't leaned in closer, he really wouldn't have heard it clearly.

Hearing this, Mamon moved his hand to Rika's lower back, and sure enough felt a few shrunken Poké Balls.

Sigh～

Rika, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, heard Mamon sigh and felt both embarrassed and annoyed — you're sighing too?!

Wait, no, that's not right!

"Mr. Mamon, you're actually a member of Team Rocket?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Mamon used Rika's Poké Ball to recall Vileplume, and took Rika's phone from her hand, discovering she had been about to call Officer Jenny.

Hearing this, Rika's face went a little pale. She glanced at that Pokémon she had never seen before — clad in armor, and terrifyingly strong.

"Why…"

"'Why' again — that kind of question."

Mamon rolled his eyes and headed toward the base's entrance. Armored Mewtwo silently followed, and controlled Rika to float along as well.

"So many people have asked Gym Leader Rika the very question you just asked — how dull."

Mamon answered casually — why does everyone have to ask that one line?

"I had thought, Mr. Mamon, that you would soon become one of the Kanto Elite Four. You clearly didn't need to take this path."

Rika pressed her lips together. She knew that as a captive now, she had no standing to say such things, but she couldn't help it.

And… she also didn't want Mamon to fall like this.

"Please leave this place with me, Mr. Mamon. It's not too late for you to turn back now — I won't reveal the matter of you joining Team Rocket."

Rika earnestly tried to persuade Mamon.

"Gym Leader Rika, are you joking with me?"

Mamon's steps halted; he turned, looking at this Young Lady with a half-smile.

"Please stop saying such naive things. You must know you are my captive now; if I wished to do anything to you, you could not resist."

Mamon's palm gently brushed Li Jia's white, clean, and tender cheek, like the most gentle lover, all the way to her Bai Xi neck.

Yet, combined with Mamon's words, it made Li Jia's skin break out in quite a few goosebumps.

"..." Li Jia pressed her lips together, but she sensibly kept silent; otherwise, if Mamon's hand continued downward... it would touch that place!

"That's good. I am not someone easily swayed by words; if you truly wish to persuade me, you must at least show some skill."

Mamon stopped his movements with a smile; he hated people who could not distinguish the situation.

Hearing this, Li Jia's eyes dimmed somewhat.

He brought Li Jia back to the underground base's main control room.

"My lord Mamon, this person?"

Seeing Li Jia, Gladio's expression was somewhat strange; this person in all-black attire was very familiar.

"This is the intruder from just now. Athena, what is your situation?"

Mamon replied, looking strangely at Athena, who was limping over; it was clear that Athena must have injured her leg.

"Apologies, My lord Mamon; this subordinate is incompetent and allowed the intruder to escape." Athena, her face somewhat pale, apologized to Mamon.

"What did you say?"

Mamon raised an eyebrow; there were two intruders?

Hearing Athena's words, Li Jia breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed that unidentified girl had successfully escaped.

"Just now, this subordinate went to pursue the other intruder, but encountered a very strong Trainer on the way; this subordinate fought with all might but was no match for him."

Athena's face looked very grim and gloomy, yet she forced herself to report the truth.

She never expected that the boy wearing a baseball cap would be so strong; how old did he look?

But the fact was, she could not defeat him...

And if she had not run fast, she herself would have been left there.

"Tsk~"

Mamon made a tsk sound; a passerby capable of defeating Athena could not be an ordinary person; Athena was at least a high-ranking executive; who could it be?

No, that is not the point now; the intruders escaped, which means this base is exposed.

In that case, the Kanto League will likely send people here very soon.

Mamon slowly grinned; his first clash with the Kanto League was about to begin!

He had been waiting for this day for a long time!

(End of this chapter)