As Icarus made his way back, he noticed something immediately—
The sounds of battle had quieted.
"Pidgeot~!"
Pidgeotto swooped down, reporting what it had seen.
"The fight's over? Good. Then we move faster."
No hesitation.
If there was one rule Icarus followed—it was this:
If there's loot, don't be late.
---
He sped through the forest, dragging his captives along.
The area had already been cleared out by the earlier chaos. Wild Pokémon had fled, making his return smooth.
Soon—
He reached the battlefield.
And stopped.
"…Yeah. That's what real power looks like."
The caravan had been completely crushed.
Trainers were bound. Supplies looted. Even defeated Pokémon were being stripped for resources by members of Team Rocket.
Others, like him, were still scanning the battlefield—
Looking for scraps.
Icarus searched carefully.
Nothing.
Not a single energy crystal.
Not even loose cash.
"…Too clean."
He clicked his tongue. No point wasting time.
So he took his three captives and headed straight to his squad leader.
---
"Captain Okamoto, I've captured three—two rookie trainers and one civilian. What's the arrangement?"
Okamoto barely looked up at first, still busy counting spoils.
Then he glanced over.
"Oh? Not bad. You did alright."
He pointed casually.
"Family members go to the left. Civilians to the right. Move."
"Understood."
---
The left side was quiet.
Dozens of captured clan members lay unconscious inside transport containers.
Icarus didn't bother being gentle.
Thud. Thud.
"Done."
---
The right side—
Was chaos.
Screams.
Begging.
Desperation.
Some members of Team Rocket were… entertaining themselves.
Others used captives for cruel "training."
Icarus watched for a moment.
Then looked away.
"…Compared to these guys, I'm practically decent."
Not a compliment.
Just a fact.
---
"Hey, brother!"
A grunt approached, eyeing the driver on Icarus' shoulder.
"You dropping off a civilian? Give him to us. That one's about done anyway."
He pointed.
A man lay half-dissolved nearby, barely alive after being used as a test subject.
Icarus didn't react much.
"…Fine."
He handed the driver over.
No drama. No hesitation.
This wasn't a place for emotions.
---
"Want to join us?" the grunt asked with a grin.
"No."
Too direct?
Maybe.
He adjusted it.
"…Not my thing."
The grunt laughed.
"Then check the women's side. Might find something you like."
"Yeah. I'll take a look."
He played along—
Then circled back from the other side.
No interest.
Not here.
Not like this.
More importantly—
This wasn't the time to let your guard down.
---
He fed Pidgeotto and Weepinbell, restoring their stamina.
Stayed alert.
Because one thing mattered more than anything else:
The elite fight wasn't over yet.
And if that went wrong—
Everyone here dies.
---
Then—
BOOM.
A shadow dropped from the sky.
A black crow Pokémon landed—
And threw down a body.
A middle-aged man.
Unconscious.
"...That's him."
"The head of the Jiang Qi family!"
A wave of realization spread.
Then—
Cheers erupted.
"We won!"
"Lord Luke is invincible!"
"All hail Lord Luke!"
From the distance—
A massive figure approached.
An Aggron stomped forward, carrying its trainer.
Victory was confirmed.
---
"Form up! Now!"
The squad leaders snapped everyone back into line.
Within moments, the chaotic battlefield became orderly again.
As Luke arrived, every member stood straight.
Then, in unison—
"Congratulations, Lord Luke, on your victory!"
---
Icarus stood among them.
Silent.
Watching.
Learning.
Because today wasn't just about profit.
It was a lesson.
This is what real power looks like.
And if he wanted to survive—
He needed to reach that level.
Fast.