NOVEL NEXT Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Resolving the Problem with Ease
"Should I praise your courage, or mock your ignorance? Don't you know how many trainers die in the forest every year?"
As Ron deliberately walked into a secluded area, Kong appeared behind him with Long, his tone chilling.
"Oh? Are you planning to kill me?"
Ron turned to face them, his expression one of curiosity.
"If you hand over your Machoke and the method you used to train it to move so fast, I might just teach you a lesson today instead of killing you. Consider it my mercy."
Completely missing the sarcasm in Ron's tone, Kong's eyes burned with greed as he stared at Ron's Machoke.
After hearing Long's report, Kong had realized that Ron's Machoke must have undergone specialized training to achieve such speed.
If he could obtain this method—and the Machoke—then all of his Pokémon could consistently defeat opponents above their level. He himself would grow stronger at an unprecedented rate, and fame and power would fall into his hands.
Consumed by this thought, Kong's gaze grew even more fervent, failing to notice how Ron's expression was gradually turning icy.
From the moment he arrived in this world, Ron had resolved that anyone or anything threatening his life or the lives of his Pokémon would not be spared.
Furthermore, his mastery of the Six Powers was a foundation he could not afford to compromise.
Now that Kong and Long had infringed on both counts, Ron saw no reason to let them live.
"If you want my Machoke, then come and take it."
No sooner had Ron finished speaking than Machoke dashed toward the two brothers.
"Foolish! I'll send you to your death!"
Kong, who had planned to kill Ron and cover his tracks after obtaining the Machoke and training method, decided to act immediately.
Before either brother could release their Pokémon, however, Ron's Persian enveloped them in a Hypnosis.
Then, with a piercing Glare from Machoke, the immobilized brothers were unable to move. In one swift motion, Machoke snapped their necks. Roserade didn't even get a chance to join the fight.
"Ending your pain quickly—consider that my mercy."
Ron inspected the lifeless bodies, speaking softly as he searched them for anything valuable. Naturally, the brothers couldn't hear him anymore.
Among their belongings, Ron found their Poké Balls and finally let out a sigh of relief.
Luckily, the brothers had set their Poké Balls to restrict their Pokémon from exiting freely. Otherwise, even after eliminating them, Ron might have had to fight their Pokémon as well.
In truth, Ron's concern was unnecessary.
Most trainers typically disable free movement for their Pokémon to avoid potential accidents at critical moments.
In addition to their Pokémon, Ron discovered a Rare Fire Stone, some mid-grade Pokéblocks, and a stash of Pokémon food.
Items like Pokéblocks and food are classified by quality—low, mid, and high—based on their recipes and crafting techniques.
Currently, Ron used high-grade Pokéblocks and food for his team, a luxury he'd earned through passing Team Rocket's trials.
Once his supply ran out, he would need to purchase more himself.
On top of that, maintaining his Pokémon's growth required resources like TM discs, a Life Orb for Nidoran's evolution, and more—all of which relied on his contribution points.
Simply put, Ron was broke.
Unfortunately, he couldn't touch the brothers' contribution points.
If their deaths were discovered, any sudden transfer of points could lead investigators back to him.
That left the Rare Fire Stone and their Pokémon as the only resources Ron could convert into value.
After disposing of the bodies, Ron gathered his spoils and left the area.
He knew he had to deal with the brothers' Pokémon quickly. Leaving them in their Poké Balls for too long risked starvation.
Reluctantly, Ron sought Shadow's help.
He anticipated this wouldn't be the last time he'd need to handle such matters. This was a good opportunity to establish a reliable channel for future dealings.
While Ron wouldn't actively capture Pokémon for trade, he had no qualms about taking the Pokémon of those who tried to kill him.
After sending a message, Ron ventured deeper into the forest.
Instead of heading to Saffron City's Gym, his next destination was Lavender Town, where he planned to capture a Ghost-type Pokémon.
Unlike Ash, who sought Ghost-types to counter Sabrina, Ron's goal was personal safety.
As Machoke and the others grew stronger, more people would undoubtedly covet them, just like today.
While Ron was confident he could handle threats within a certain power range—or escape if necessary—what he truly feared was being assassinated, leaving his Pokémon vulnerable to capture.
To mitigate this, he aimed to improve his self-defense capabilities, ensuring he wouldn't become a liability to his team.
This was where a Ghost-type Pokémon, particularly Gengar, came into the picture.
Ghost-types like Gengar could hide within shadows, ready to react and protect Ron from ambushes.
Although Gengar's unique physiology might make learning the Six Powers difficult, it didn't matter. Its primary role would be as a bodyguard, buying time for Machoke and the others to intervene.
Before reaching Lavender Town, Ron's immediate priority was to level up Nidoran and complete its evolution, while also boosting the levels of his other Pokémon.
For Pokémon below mid-tier Elite level, consistent battles were usually enough to ensure steady growth.
However, reaching mid-tier Elite level and beyond required not just battles but also energy accumulation.
As for the Champion-tier, there was an additional unknown requirement. Ron wasn't sure if the rumors were true, but he planned to address it when Machoke and the others reached high-tier Elite level.
Setting his goals, Ron released Nidoran from its Poké Ball.
Knowing a battle was imminent, Nidoran's eyes gleamed with determination as it eagerly scanned the surroundings for an opponent.
Without needing instruction, Persian began sniffing the air for nearby threats.
A second later, Persian realized it looked more like a Growlithe than a cat.
With a huff, Persian leapt onto a tree branch and resumed its search in a more feline manner.
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