The entire venue fell silent instantly.
Everyone watched the scene in stunned silence.
In broad daylight and under the watchful eyes of the public, someone actually dared to assault a police officer?
Officer Jenny reacted incredibly fast; the moment she was kicked, she used a standard grappling move to pin Fumino Alec firmly to the ground.
"You are under arrest! You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law!"
With a sharp 'click,' cold handcuffs locked around Fumino Alec's wrists.
Only then did the sharp pain and the cold sensation snap Fumino Alec out of his hypnotic state.
"Ah? Wait! Officer Jenny! It wasn't me! I... I don't know what happened!" Fumino Alec was completely bewildered. Seeing the way people looked at him like he was a madman and looking at Officer Jenny's face full of stern law enforcement, he was scared out of his wits.
"Save it for the station." Officer Jenny didn't listen to his explanation at all, briskly lifting him off the ground and dragging him toward the exit of the square.
Watching Fumino Alec being dragged away like a dead dog while incoherently shouting about being framed, Ariel took a sip of the juice on the table, feeling exceptionally refreshed.
A fly had been cleaned up just like that.
Moreover, it was personally cleaned up by the League's maintainer of order.
This feeling was truly a bit wonderful.
Looking at the smirking Inkay beside him, Ariel couldn't help but marvel that this little fellow was indeed quite black-bellied.
Ariel had only ordered it to make Fumino Alec act like a hooligan toward Officer Jenny, but Inkay did one better and directly controlled him to deliver a kick!
Ariel and Inkay glanced at each other, feeling a sense of being birds of a feather for some reason.
He turned his gaze back to the "Wenye electric three delicacies noodles" stall in the distance, which was currently in total chaos because their young master had been arrested.
A cold light flashed in Ariel's eyes.
The Fumino Family... the target of this mission happens to be you!
Just then, his gaze locked onto a figure.
In the crowd, that person seemed to carry a vacuum of tranquility around him; the surrounding clamor couldn't disturb him in the slightest.
Dressed in a well-tailored brown suit, his hair meticulously styled with wax, he held a glass of brightly colored juice that looked expensive at a glance.
It was Ariel's superior, Laic.
Ariel walked over inconspicuously. Their eyes met without any redundant pleasantries; Laic simply gave a slight nod, signaling him to follow.
They walked to a relatively secluded corner. Laic took a sip of his juice, his gaze indifferent as he watched the bustling scene on the central stage in the distance.
"Members of the Fumino Family usually keep a low profile and act secretively. They are only easiest to find on days like the Food Festival when they need to make public appearances for promotion." Laic's voice was flat, as if he were stating a matter that had nothing to do with him.
"Is there anything special about those electric three delicacies noodles?" Ariel asked, recalling Fumino Alec's smug, petty face.
Laic glanced at him, seemingly a bit surprised that he would ask in such detail.
"Publicly, they claim it can permanently improve the Electric-type aptitude of Pokémon. It's considered a rare treasure ingredient."
"Really?" Ariel's heart stirred. If it really had such an effect, the value of that secret recipe would be immeasurable.
"Fake." There was a hint of mockery in Laic's voice. "Team Rockets' technical department analyzed it long ago; it has no effect on improving aptitude at all. However, it can indeed quickly replenish the energy consumed by Electric-type Pokémon, and its effect is a few notches better than the pokéblocks on the market."
Ariel understood instantly.
"In other words, the biggest selling point of this thing is actually the taste?"
"Exactly." Laic nodded. "Mauville Corporation invested massive resources to develop dozens of substitutes, but not a single food item could surpass it in taste.
For those Trainers who aren't short on money, giving their Pokémon partners the best taste is a pursuit in itself.
Therefore, we must get our hands on this secret recipe."
While they were talking, the host on the Food Court's central stage shouted the next name in a high-pitched voice:
"Next, let us welcome the representative of the Fumino Family, Mr. Fumino Haku, with warm applause to introduce their signature delicacy—electric three delicacies noodles!"
Ariel and Laic both turned their gazes toward the stage.
A young man wearing a white chef's uniform, looking quite presentable, stepped onto the stage with an arrogant smile exactly like Fumino Alec's.
He picked up the microphone and began to boast incessantly about the miraculous effects and long history of the electric three delicacies noodles, his words filled with disdain for other shops.
Watching the eloquent Fumino Haku on stage and then looking at the audience below who were being incited into a state of longing, Ariel only felt it was ironic.
These people would never know how many dirty deals and how much impending bloodshed were hidden behind this feast.
Fumino Haku's promotion lasted for over ten minutes before he finally bowed and left the stage amidst a round of applause.
"Follow him." Laic casually tossed his juice cup into a trash can, his tone brook no argument.
Like drops of ink blending into water, the two of them noiselessly joined the flow of people, tailing Fumino Haku from a distance.
That guy seemed to still be immersed in the pleasure of being the center of attention, humming a little tune as he walked toward a secluded alley behind the Food Court without any guard.
That area was the temporary rest area for the staff.
The moment Fumino Haku turned into the alley, a dark figure flashed out from the side, accurately striking the back of his neck with a hand-chop.
Fumino Haku didn't even make a sound before his body slumped down limply.
Ariel caught him in stride, dragging him like a sack as he and Laic quickly disappeared into the depths of the alley... "Splash!"
A handful of ice-cold water was splashed onto his face. Fumino Haku shuddered and woke up with a start.
He found himself tied to a tree with a rag stuffed in his mouth. They were in a dim little grove, and the distant clamor of the Food Court made the silence here feel even more eerie.
Two masked dark figures stood before him. The taller one was unhurriedly wiping his fingers.
"Mmph! Mmph-mmph!" Fumino Haku struggled violently, his eyes filled with terror and rage.
Ariel stepped forward and ripped the rag out of his mouth.
"Who are you people! Do you know who I am? I'm telling you, the Fumino Family will never let you off! You're dead!"
Having just woken up, Fumino Haku screamed at the top of his lungs, trying to use his family's name to scare them off.
Laic didn't even seem to want to talk to him; he simply stepped forward and grabbed his left hand.
"Crack!"
The crisp sound of a bone snapping rang out in the silent woods, sounding exceptionally piercing.
"Aah—!"
Fumino Haku's shout instantly turned into a shrill scream. His index finger was twisted at a bizarre angle, and the intense pain caused his entire face to contort, cold sweat instantly drenching his back.
"I'll only ask once." Laic's voice was cold and devoid of any emotion. "Where is the Fumino Family's headquarters? Where is the production factory for the electric three delicacies noodles?"
"I... I'll talk... I'll talk!"
Fumino Haku completely broke down. The fear of death and the unbearable pain left him unable to harbor even a hint of resistance.
"In... in the dense forest to the west of Mauville City. That's the family's private territory, and it's also... also the place where the noodles are produced!"
"Very good." Laic let go of his hand.
Fumino Haku panted heavily, tears and snot streaming down his face. Looking at the two devils before him, he pleaded while trembling:
"I've told you everything... I beg you, let me go... I promise I won't say a word about this..."
Laic didn't answer; he just turned his gaze toward Ariel.
This was a test.
etty well." Laic did a narcissistic turn.
Ariel glanced at him expressionlessly. "Watch your walking posture; don't act like some big shot."
"Don't worry, I'm a professional."
The two of them imitated the lazy posture of the previous servants, swaying as they walked toward the mansion's main gate.
Two guards stood at the gate, their auras steady. The Poké Balls at their waists emitted faint ripples of energy, clearly showing they weren't small fry.
Seeing Ariel and the other approach, one of the guards frowned. "What are you dawdling for? Don't you know the Family Head is in a bad mood today? Get inside and get to work!"
"Yes, yes." Ariel lowered his head and pulled Laic quickly through the gate.
The moment they stepped into the mansion, a rich scent of sandalwood mixed with the fresh fragrance of wood hit them.
Beneath their feet was a wooden floor polished to a mirror-like shine. On both sides of the long corridor were sliding paper doors painted with landscapes, making the place feel quiet and profound.
The space inside was even larger than it appeared from the outside. The corridors branched out in all directions, and for a moment, they didn't know where to go.
"We need to find a way to get to the kitchen or the core area. The recipe for the electric three delicacies noodles must be there," Laic said in a voice only the two of them could hear.
Ariel nodded, preparing to observe the surroundings and find a lone servant to ask for directions.
Just then, a dignified female voice came from the end of the corridor.
"You two, stop right there!"
Ariel and Laic's hearts skipped a beat simultaneously. They stopped in their tracks and slowly turned around.
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