Hide Tags: The Return. Starring Wanderer and Maxim

[Maxim]

Meanwhile at the hotel

"Blast it, where is Sovereign? I really need to stop the maniac, but I can't find him anywhere in this hotel---oh sorry, wrong room!

"Anyways, I need a more pinpoint way to find Sovereign instead of going room by room. Well, as stupid as Sovereign is, he's going to eventually find Ben. So if I find it first...yeah that'll work!

"Hey Attendant, where is Ben Lad's Room? I need to find him immediately!"

"Now why would I tell you that?!"

*Death Glare*

"Yipe! Okay okay he's in room 403!"

"Thank you."

At this point, she ran up to the room Ben Lad was and waited outside the door...

"Pah! I can't find this Ben Lad's room anywhere...wait a minute, is that him I see over there?"

At this point, Sovereign saw somebody that looked like Tower Tycoon Palmer. Seeing his opportunity, he sneaked behind the guy and fired a Shadow Ball right at him.

It probably would've worked if his target wasn't the Tower Tycoon himself.

"What the...who the blazes is this guy!? No matter, Heatran! Show him the door!"

*Roars, then readies a huge Fire Blast*

"Hahaha, that thing is no match for...wait...did you say Heatran?!"

*O.O*

On a completely unrelated note, there were some people who recalled seeing a shooting star coming out of the hotel around this time.

"Excellent, things are going exactly as planned! Finish this one off Chevy!"

Chevrolet (Feraligatr): Ice Fang~Superpower~Ice Fang
If Protective/Evasive move, then Chill and push actions back, but never twice in a row.

 

[The Wanderer]

Huh? Was that a shooting star over there?

No matter. More importantly, this is looking really bad. At this rate, I'm gonna end up losing to my own teammates!

Dammit...what would the boss do?

The hotel

HOAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!

Dammit...not again...

...Okay, what would Giga Woman do?

Tokyo

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-

*KABOOM!*

...Close enough.

Headbutt -> Headbutt -> Hidden Power​

 

[Matezoide]

Ivan

8 HP l 58 EN
4/2/6/3/113
Size: 4 l Weight: 5
Abilites: Levitate
Other: Secretly wants to see the world burn. Rare Candy. + 15% Accuracy

Bench

Wanderer can give 1 KOC to any of his pokemon.

Eruca

HP: KO l EN: KO
1/4/5/4/65
Size: 2 l Weight: 3
Abilites: Ice Body, Snow Cloak
Other: Haxy. Quick Claw.

Chevrolet

50 HP l 64 EN
5/4/2/3/78
Size: 4 l Weight: 4
Abilites: Torrent, Sheer Force
Other: Thinks Rico is disguised as Lad. No item. 15% Para

Bench

Ian

HP: KO l EN: KO
4/3/5/3/34
Size: 4 l Weight: 6
Abilites: Magma Armor, Solid Rock, Anger Point
Other: Dislikes having to fight Eruka. Charcoal. -3 Accuracy. 1 KOC.

Calcs

Action 1

Ivan used Headbutt - 5 energy
To crit (177) - Yes
To flinch (5881) - No
(7 + 3) = 10 damage

Chevro tries to use Ice Fang...
To move (9182) - Yes
To hit (1762) - Yes
Ivan fainted!
-5 energy

Ivan

KO HP l KO EN
4/2/6/3/113
Size: 4 l Weight: 5
Abilites: Levitate
Other: Secretly wants to see the world burn. Rare Candy. + 15% Accuracy

Bench

Wanderer can give 1 KOC to any of his pokemon.

Eruca

HP: KO l EN: KO
1/4/5/4/65
Size: 2 l Weight: 3
Abilites: Ice Body, Snow Cloak
Other: Haxy. Quick Claw.

Chevrolet

40 HP l 79 EN
5/4/2/3/78
Size: 4 l Weight: 4
Abilites: Torrent, Sheer Force
Other: Thinks Rico is disguised as Lad. No item. 10% Para

Bench

Maxim can give 1 KOC to any of his pokemon.

Ian

HP: KO l EN: KO
4/3/5/3/34
Size: 4 l Weight: 6
Abilites: Magma Armor, Solid Rock, Anger Point
Other: Dislikes having to fight Eruka. Charcoal. -3 Accuracy. 1 KOC.

Wanderer sends out, equips and orders.

 

[The Wanderer]

Well, shit. That leaves Alex as the only one left. I'm sure he'd handle Chevy just fine, but there's also Charles to contend with...

...that, and Alex is batshit insane.

<Where is the carnage I was promised?!>

I'm starting to think masquerading as the boss was a really bad idea.

<Now look here son, don't go starin' at me like tha->

<BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!!!>

...In more ways than one.

Going with an expert belt here...
Thunder Fang -> Spark -> Thunder Fang
*If Chevy uses a protective/evasive move, use charge and push actions down, but only once​

 

[Maxim]

The beginning of the end

After getting launched out of a hotel with force, the logical thing one would do is to abandon the mission and report failure for a mission not even the supervisor is fond of. Sovereign, of course, didn't do this, and went back to the hotel.

"Grr! Why can't I find this guy's room, there's only 20 floors to this place!

"Hey wait a minute...do I hear puking over in that restroom?"

At this point, he peeked his head through the door of the Wanderer's restroom, and found that he was in fact puking his brains out. Unfortunately, that only served to give Sovereign an idea.

"Hmm, well Maxim said to report back with the results, but if he wants to assassinate Ben Lad, I may as well do it right now! Oh Maxim will be so proud of my evil initiative."

No, no I won't. At this point, he charged up with energy, summoning two Shadow Balls in his hands, and glowing with a dark energy. At his highest peak of energy...

"I'LL SWALLOW YOUR SOUL!"

No sooner had he said that that Skyla barged through the hotel room door and Crunched Sovereign, throwing off his aim and causing his attack to collapse the ceiling, including the room directly above right on top of them.

"Whu....." BAM! *Sovereign gets crushed by the debris*

"Take that you spawn of evil! Ben, are you all right?"

Before Ben could answer or Skyla could see that he was puking his brains out, Sovereign flung debris around the room, getting up and looking furious.

"SKYLA!!!!!! YOU'VE BEEN A THORN IN MY SIDE FOR FAR TOO LONG, PREPARE TO PERISH ALONG WITH YOUR HUMAN FRIEND!"

"Crap! Ben you need to get out of here, I'll hold him off!"

And so everything I planned started falling apart.

"Good work Chevy, let's get rid of this loser Luxray and head home!"

"Uh, I thought Rico said this was just a temporary arrangement..."

"Oh right, sorry. Force of habit!"

Counter~Earthquake~Counter

 

[Matezoide]

Alexander

100 HP l 100 EN
5/3/2/3/81
Size: 4 l Weight: 3
Abilites: Rivalry, Intimidate, Guts
Other: Likes the taste of blood. Expert Belt. +8% Accuracy

Bench

Wanderer can give 1 KOC to any of his pokemon.

Eruca

HP: KO l EN: KO
1/4/5/4/65
Size: 2 l Weight: 3
Abilites: Ice Body, Snow Cloak
Other: Haxy. Quick Claw.

Ivan

KO HP l KO EN
4/2/6/3/113
Size: 4 l Weight: 5
Abilites: Levitate
Other: Secretly wants to see the world burn. Rare Candy. + 15% Accuracy

Chevrolet

40 HP l 79 EN
5/4/2/3/78
Size: 4 l Weight: 4
Abilites: Torrent, Sheer Force
Other: Thinks Rico is disguised as Lad. No item. 10% Para

Bench

Maxim can give 1 KOC to any of his pokemon.

Ian

HP: KO l EN: KO
4/3/5/3/34
Size: 4 l Weight: 6
Abilites: Magma Armor, Solid Rock, Anger Point
Other: Dislikes having to fight Eruka. Charcoal. -3 Accuracy. 1 KOC.

Calcs

Action 1

Intimidate activated!


Alex used Thunder Fang - 4 energy
To crit (7316) - No
To flinch (716) - Yes
(7 + 3 + 1,5 + 2 + 2)*1,5 = 23,25 damage

Action 2

Alex used Spark - 4 energy
(7 + 3 + 1,5 + 2 + 2)*1,5 = 23,25 damage

Chevy fainted!

Alexander

100 HP l 92 EN
5/3/2/3/81
Size: 4 l Weight: 3
Abilites: Rivalry, Intimidate, Guts
Other: Likes the taste of blood. Expert Belt. +8% Accuracy

Bench

Wanderer can give 1 KOC to any of his pokemon.

Eruca

HP: KO l EN: KO
1/4/5/4/65
Size: 2 l Weight: 3
Abilites: Ice Body, Snow Cloak
Other: Haxy. Quick Claw.

Ivan

KO HP l KO EN
4/2/6/3/113
Size: 4 l Weight: 5
Abilites: Levitate
Other: Secretly wants to see the world burn. Rare Candy. + 15% Accuracy

Chevrolet

KO HP l KO EN
5/4/2/3/78
Size: 4 l Weight: 4
Abilites: Torrent, Sheer Force
Other: Thinks Rico is disguised as Lad. No item. 10% Para

Bench

Maxim can give 1 KOC to any of his pokemon.

Ian

HP: KO l EN: KO
4/3/5/3/34
Size: 4 l Weight: 6
Abilites: Magma Armor, Solid Rock, Anger Point
Other: Dislikes having to fight Eruka. Charcoal. -3 Accuracy. 1 KOC.

Maxim sends out Colossoil, equips item and orders

 

[Maxim]

"Blasted hax! This would've been much easier if Thunder Fang didn't flinch. Ugh. Anyways, let's see you fight Charles and his Life Orb!"

@Life Orb
"Well, this is a switch..."

Encore~Earthquake~Earthquake
If Protective/Evasive move, then Stockpile and push actions back, but only do so once.

 

[The Wanderer]

The Hotel

BLEEEEEEEUGH!!!

God, it shouldn't be this bad. Do I even have a stomach anymore?

Bweeyowyow...

...Great, more hallucinations. What next? Some unholy combination of Sonic and Pikachu?

...Nope, a shiny Dusknoir.

Who's charging shadow balls.

BWEEYOWYOW!!!

Okay, don't panic, it's just another hallucination, there isn't really a Dusknoir out to kill me...

*CRASH!*

...or Rico breaking in and tearing up the room...

Take that, you spawn of evil! Ben, are you alright?

...who sounds like a girl, and turned shiny, and lost the scarf...

BWEEYOWYOW!!!

Crap! Ben, you gotta get outta here! I'll hold him off!

Of course I will, hallucination girl-Rico. And while we're at it, let's prance along the strawberry riv-

*BASH!*

One of the Dusknoir's shadow balls smashed into the vanity beside me, sending a shard grazing my cheek.

...this is real, isn't it?

GO, DAMMIT!

And then she chucked me out the door. Yup, this is real, alright.

I ran for wherever, unaware that the dusknoir (and consequently, the chief) being out to kill me was the least of my worries. You know that volcano bakemeat I ate and puked?

Little did I know it was sentient.

<Now hold on there son, I ain't no->

<MAIM! KILL! BURN! MAIM! KILL! BURN!>

Dammit Alex! Stop trying to kill him!

I managed to stop Alex from killing Chevy, but I had to wrest him off pretty hard.

Hey, your mask is over there.

Huh? Oh, thanks...wait, what?
Quick Attack -> Quick Attack -> Quick Attack​

 

[Matezoide]

Alexander

100 HP l 92 EN
5/3/2/3/81
Size: 4 l Weight: 3
Abilites: Rivalry, Intimidate, Guts
Other: Likes the taste of blood. Expert Belt. +8% Accuracy

Bench

Wanderer can give 1 KOC to any of his pokemon.

Eruca

HP: KO l EN: KO
1/4/5/4/65
Size: 2 l Weight: 3
Abilites: Ice Body, Snow Cloak
Other: Haxy. Quick Claw.

Ivan

KO HP l KO EN
4/2/6/3/113
Size: 4 l Weight: 5
Abilites: Levitate
Other: Secretly wants to see the world burn. Rare Candy. + 15% Accuracy

120 HP l 100 EN
5/3/3/2/110
Size: 5 l Weight: 10
Abilites: Pressure, Guts, Rebound
Other: Will probably beat the crap out of Alexander. Life Orb

Bench

Maxim can give 1 KOC to any of his pokemon.

Ian

HP: KO l EN: KO
4/3/5/3/34
Size: 4 l Weight: 6
Abilites: Magma Armor, Solid Rock, Anger Point
Other: Dislikes having to fight Eruka. Charcoal. -3 Accuracy. 1 KOC.

Chevrolet

KO HP l KO EN
5/4/2/3/78
Size: 4 l Weight: 4
Abilites: Torrent, Sheer Force
Other: Thinks Rico is disguised as Lad. No item. 10% Para

LAD WAS RICO?

WHAT?!?!?!?!??!!?!?

Calcs

Action 1

Alex used Quick Attack - 4 energy
To crit (7582) - No
(4 + 3) = 7 damage

Charles used Encore - 10 energy

Action 2


Alex used Quick Attack - 4 energy
To crit (189) - Yes
(4 + 3 + 3) = 10 damage

Charles used Earthquake - 6 energy
To crit (474) - Yes
(10 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3)*1,5 = 33 damage

-2 HP

Action 3


Alex used Quick Attack - 4 energy
To crit (4712) - No
(4 + 3) = 7 damage

Charles used Earthquake - 10 energy
To crit (9656) - No
(10 + 3 + 3 + 3)*1,5 = 28,5 damage

-2 HP

Alexander

38 HP l 80 EN
5/3/2/3/81
Size: 4 l Weight: 3
Abilites: Rivalry, Intimidate, Guts
Other: Likes the taste of blood. Expert Belt. +8% Accuracy

Bench

Wanderer can give 1 KOC to any of his pokemon.

Eruca

HP: KO l EN: KO
1/4/5/4/65
Size: 2 l Weight: 3
Abilites: Ice Body, Snow Cloak
Other: Haxy. Quick Claw.

Ivan

KO HP l KO EN
4/2/6/3/113
Size: 4 l Weight: 5
Abilites: Levitate
Other: Secretly wants to see the world burn. Rare Candy. + 15% Accuracy

86 HP l 74 EN
5/3/3/2/110
Size: 5 l Weight: 10
Abilites: Pressure, Guts, Rebound
Other: Will probably beat the crap out of Alexander. Life Orb

Bench

Maxim can give 1 KOC to any of his pokemon.

Ian

HP: KO l EN: KO
4/3/5/3/34
Size: 4 l Weight: 6
Abilites: Magma Armor, Solid Rock, Anger Point
Other: Dislikes having to fight Eruka. Charcoal. -3 Accuracy. 1 KOC.

Chevrolet

KO HP l KO EN
5/4/2/3/78
Size: 4 l Weight: 4
Abilites: Torrent, Sheer Force
Other: Thinks Rico is disguised as Lad. No item. 10% Para

Lad's turn.

 

[The Wanderer]

Dammit...there goes my cover...

It's not like you had one to begin with!

Great...now everyone knows who I really am, AND I've lost the tournament. Sorry, boss...I really screwed this up, didn't I?

Well, I've already gone this far south, I suppose there's no shame in telling you now...

What, where Lad is?

Yeah. The boss is sick. Food poisoning. I took a few of his pokemon to fill in while he's recuperating back at the hotel.

Well, that explains the mask, but...uh-oh...

Huh?

The Hotel

Hrngh...glkk..akkk...gnaaak....

Ice Fang -> Ice Fang -> Ice Fang
*If Colossoil uses Encore, use Quick Attack and push actions down​

 

[Maxim]

"Wait...so all of this was just food poisoning...and Sovereign hasn't reported back yet? Oh no..."

The Hotel

"GO D*****"

Skyla, still oblivious to Ben's physical condition, chucked him out of the room, but no sooner had she done that Sovereign launched a Dynamicpunch, flinging her across the room into the restroom, and confusing her for about a minute.

"Hah! Take that you fool forces of good, now to fulfill my master's dark wishes!"

And with that, he was off to chase Ben. After recovering from confusion, Skyla got up and tried to find Sovereign in the room, but he wasn't there.

"I just can't believe this, I have to stop Sovereign before anyone else gets hurt."

Then she heard a bubbling noise coming from the toilet...

"Huh?"

"Hrngh...glkk..akkk...gnaaak...."

"...BY AURA'S RADIANCE WHAT IS THAT?!?!"

The strange being, remnants of Ben's Volcano Bakemeat, lunged for Skyla trying to devour her.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

And so the cat and mouse chase began, Ben was being chased by Sovereign, who was being chased by Skyla, who was being chased by the volcano bakemeat, the latter of which stopping for snacks along the way. The bakemeat just devoured anything it could get a hold of, furniture, debris, etc. and got bigger each time. Eventually, some of the police came down to investigate.

"What's going on here! Halt you're under arrest!"

"Hey! Get out of the way! You guys will run too if you know what's good for you!"

Skyla Extreemespeeded past the police, leaving them perplexed...until they saw the bakemeat.

"Oh no...not again."

*Speaking into his radio* "Mayday mayday! We have a rogue volcano bakemeat monster thing attacking the hotel, we request backup!"

"I'll get everyone evacuated, you two stall that monster!"

The police agreed on that strategy, which meant the police had just joined the fun. After some time, everyone in the hotel had evacuated, along with Ben and the others involved in the chase. The monster had grown to huge proportions, and was terrorizing Poketopia while chasing Skyla. Even worse, Sovereign had the "brilliant" idea to lead the whole mess to me so that I could corner Ben and kill him either way...

This was not going to end well

I will have an Epilogue for this after this round of battle, so stay tuned!

Earthquake~Earthquake~Earthquake

 

[Matezoide]

Alexander

38 HP l 80 EN
5/3/2/3/81
Size: 4 l Weight: 3
Abilites: Rivalry, Intimidate, Guts
Other: Likes the taste of blood. Expert Belt. +8% Accuracy

Bench

Wanderer can give 1 KOC to any of his pokemon.

Eruca

HP: KO l EN: KO
1/4/5/4/65
Size: 2 l Weight: 3
Abilites: Ice Body, Snow Cloak
Other: Haxy. Quick Claw.

Ivan

KO HP l KO EN
4/2/6/3/113
Size: 4 l Weight: 5
Abilites: Levitate
Other: Secretly wants to see the world burn. Rare Candy. + 15% Accuracy

86 HP l 74 EN
5/3/3/2/110
Size: 5 l Weight: 10
Abilites: Pressure, Guts, Rebound
Other: Will probably beat the crap out of Alexander. Life Orb

Bench

Maxim can give 1 KOC to any of his pokemon.

Ian

HP: KO l EN: KO
4/3/5/3/34
Size: 4 l Weight: 6
Abilites: Magma Armor, Solid Rock, Anger Point
Other: Dislikes having to fight Eruka. Charcoal. -3 Accuracy. 1 KOC.

Chevrolet

KO HP l KO EN
5/4/2/3/78
Size: 4 l Weight: 4
Abilites: Torrent, Sheer Force
Other: Thinks Rico is disguised as Lad. No item. 10% Para

Calcs

RNG: 4716 - No flinch
9881 - No freeze

Matezoide is lazy as fuck and Luxray faints

Alexander

KO HP l KO EN
5/3/2/3/81
Size: 4 l Weight: 3
Abilites: Rivalry, Intimidate, Guts
Other: Likes the taste of blood. Expert Belt. +8% Accuracy

Bench

Wanderer can give 1 KOC to any of his pokemon.

Eruca

HP: KO l EN: KO
1/4/5/4/65
Size: 2 l Weight: 3
Abilites: Ice Body, Snow Cloak
Other: Haxy. Quick Claw.

Ivan

KO HP l KO EN
4/2/6/3/113
Size: 4 l Weight: 5
Abilites: Levitate
Other: Secretly wants to see the world burn. Rare Candy. + 15% Accuracy

61 HP l 42 EN
5/3/3/2/110
Size: 5 l Weight: 10
Abilites: Pressure, Guts, Rebound
Other: Will probably beat the crap out of Alexander. Life Orb

Bench

Maxim can give 1 KOC to any of his pokemon.

Ian

HP: KO l EN: KO
4/3/5/3/34
Size: 4 l Weight: 6
Abilites: Magma Armor, Solid Rock, Anger Point
Other: Dislikes having to fight Eruka. Charcoal. -3 Accuracy. 1 KOC.

Chevrolet

KO HP l KO EN
5/4/2/3/78
Size: 4 l Weight: 4
Abilites: Torrent, Sheer Force
Other: Thinks Rico is disguised as Lad. No item. 10% Para

Great match, you two. Luxray actually did well considering it's opponent.


I look forward the ending!

Maxim: 2 CC
Camerupt: 3 MC and 1 KOC
Glaceon: 3 MC
Hydreigon: 3 MC
And 2 KOC that can be freely shared amongst his mons.


WandererRico: 2 CC
Colossoil: 3 MC
Feraligatr: 3 MC
Luxray: 3 MC and 1 KOC
1 KOC that can be freely given to a mon.


Matezoide: 7 UC

 

[Maxim]

"Phew, well played Rico. You have some pretty good skills as a Pokemon trainer. Now I just need to find Sovereign before he---"

It was then that I saw what was happening, as Ben ran past the back side of the arena.

"AAAAHHHH! ORAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"

"Don't Worry Lord Maxim! I will kill Ben to fulfill your dark wishes!"

"Get back here Sovereign! And you'd better stay right there Maxim, because once I stop your evil plan I'll thrash you too!"

"Hrngh...glkk..akkk...gnaaak...."

"Halt in the name of the law!"

"I-I-I I CAN EXPLAIN!"

Rico however didn't bother letting me, instead he simply gave me a dirty look and went right after me.

"AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH! SOVEREIGN I WILL KILL YOU FOR THIS!"

The long cat and mouse trail continued to get longer and longer. Eventually, Skyla got a lucky hit on Sovereign which fainted him, which caused her to follow Rico in chasing me down. Eventually though, the bakemeat got to Godzilla size, and all the remaining Pokemon and humans called off their chases to focus on killing the bakemeat. Fortunately, I had just enough time to get over to the Pokemon Center to pick up a new batch of Pokemon, and I joined the fight. To this day I'm not sure what exactly killed off the bakemeat. Whether it simply croaked because we pelted it with enough attacks, or whether somebody had enough leftover Tums to kill it I don't think I'll ever know. Ben might though.

At any case, when it died, it exploded, spreading bakemeat guts though about a fourth of the island of Poketopia. Fortunately the guts were not sentient, so cleanup was merely a matter of getting enough hands to clean up, including my own hands. Eventually, I managed to calm down Rico and Skyla enough to explain everything that had happened, and after some convincing both said they accepted my apology (I think Rico was sincere, but you can never tell on Pokemon that smart). The police questioned me next. Thankfully, Ben didn't decide to press charges, and I hadn't been involved in the bakemeat forming like that myself, so I got out of the more nasty charges. However, I was immediately disqualified from the tournament, causing Rico to win, I had to pay a hefty fine for my Pokemon interfering with a Police operation, and I was casually asked not to come back to Poketopia for the next 2 years. I solemnly said my goodbyes to Poketopia, and headed back on a boat towards Unova.

As for Sovereign...

*At the Resort Area Villa*

"Boss, I finally scrubbed every inch of the floor in this mansion, can I go now?"

"NO! You missed a spot somewhere I'm sure, now when you're done with that go mow the lawn and do 1337 pushups for my amusement!"

"But sir, that Poketopia incident was six months ago! Heck the makeshift prison was bad enough! Can't you just drop it already?"

*Death Glare*

"Y-Y-Yes sir."

He disappeared, off to do the various extreme chores I assigned him. Today, 7 months after the incident, I finally have let it go. However, I will resolve never to let Sovereign handle a mission without a short leash. As I look back on it from my beach chair her, I wonder...nah, I don't think I need to say anything more. I've learned my lesson for sure.

I wonder how the Wanderer has fared?

 

[The Wanderer]

Smogon ASB - Poketopia branch

Well, I may be very well out of a job thanks to this one.

Thanks to that bakemeat and a terrible misunderstanding, I had ended up, long story short, being chased all around Poketopia by a nutcase dusknoir, an angry mob of people I had bumped into during said chase, the chief, and an all-consuming sludge monster born of my own vomit, leaving a trail of carnage in its wake.

Speaking of said sludge monster...Well, you probably heard it exploded. No, I don't know how it went kaboom, only that it went kaboom. As I learned from the cops, the whole volcano bakemeat thing has happened before. They wouldn't go into too much detail about it, but their questions suggested that the restaraunt I ate it at might have some kind of grudge against Poketopia's higher-ups. Since I had been an unwitting pawn in the whole thing, the cops let me off easy.

I doubt the ASB brass will, though.

You okay, Boss?

Of course not. I'm sitting outside the ASB chairman's office, waiting for the chief to come out and tell me I'm fired. Hell, he's probably getting fired himself.

I've fucked this one up hardcore, haven't I?

Yeah, just fine. Don't worry, I'm sure we'll be able to weasel our way out of this one.

You don't sound so sure.

...Heh, there's no fooling you, is there?...

...

You're right. I think we've really screwed the Stoutland this time.

I don't know how long we sat in silence, but it felt like forever had passed before the chief had finally come out.

No excuses, Ben. Time to take it like a man.

Chief...

He decked me. I didn't even bother to dodge; I pretty much deserved it..

Be glad you're getting away with just that!

...Wait, what?

Wait, I'm not fired?

Despite my best efforts. Deck decided to let us both off, given the whole situation.

I...got away with it. Holy shit, I got away with it!

That said, you're still disqualified from the tournament.

What?! I thought Maxim was disqualified!

You don't actually work for us, Rico. Basically, Lad forfeited the moment you showed up in that stupid mask.

Awww...eh, that douche won anyway.

Is Rico still pissed about that? Mind you, Maxim's Dusknoir did try to kill me, but it was all a misunderstanding in the end...

Hey, chief...

...Yeah?

In spite of all that's happened, I did make a hell of a mess last night. For that, I'm sorry.

Hey, the chief did dig me out of a hole. At the very least, he deserves an apolog-

He belted me again. I think I got a black eye from that one.

Apology accepted. And if you EVER make a mess like that again, I will personally feed you your own entrails. Comprende?

An ivory tower in Sumshadagrene

Good news, Mr. Schneider...Poketopia was attacked by what appears to be the volcano bakemeat we planted.

So Operation Pompeii has finally begun...Excellent. How are the damages, Adonis?

Unfortunately, Antigone and her squad neutralized the bakemeat prematurely, so damage to Poketopia is relatively minor. However, not so much that Nardac won't turn down our aid.

Hm...I doubt that will be enough to outright buy them out, but at least this gets the ball rolling.

Indeed. I should be able to sway at least a few of Nardac's lesser execs on our side.

I'll be counting on you, then. Oh, one more thing, Adonis...

Yes, Mr. Schneider?

Mnemonikos. Any luck?

*sigh* Van Houten is as obstinate as ever. That said, his successor has recently returned from France. We might be able to obtain Mnemonikos through her.

I see. Very well then, I'll look into it.

Alright, I'll get started on Nardac. With your leave...

*Adonis leaves Schneider's office*

...Rosethorn.

*Appears out of nowhere* Sir?

You heard what Adonis said, correct?

Yes, Mr. Schneider.

I want you to head over to Poketopia and rendezvous with Antigone. Find out what went wrong.

Sir! *Ninja vanish!*

Well done, Maxim. gg.​