Chapter 134: Sabrina’s Speechlessness
Gengar’s telepathic broadcast radiated across the square. The trainers waiting in line all turned to look.
"Are you crazy?! Why should I apologize? As a Pokémon, you attacked your own trainer! I was kind enough not to sell you to the underground arena!" Munchlax’s former trainer shot back, seeing the eyes on him.
Before Munchlax could respond, Gengar cut in furiously: "You shameless bastard! You told the little fatty that if it won, you’d reward it with a big meal—and then you broke your promise multiple times! And you have the nerve to blame it for attacking you? If it were me, you’d have been dead from fright the first time you screwed me over!"
Rio shot Gengar a glance. "Don’t add your own commentary. Just translate Munchlax’s words."
The former trainer snapped: "None of your business! It was my Pokémon back then. I’ll reward it if I want to, and I won’t if I don’t. I was the one feeding it. If it attacks its trainer, it deserves to be abandoned!"
He turned and glared at Munchlax. "You useless glutton—get lost! I don’t care how you’ve been doing since I ditched you! Keep bothering me, and I’ll have Pikachu attack you!"
"Pika~" The Pikachu on his shoulder crackled with electricity.
Munchlax stared at its former trainer’s ugly, contemptuous face. A wave of disgust and revulsion washed over it. It no longer wanted to express its feelings or describe the pain it had suffered. It only had one thought now: show its strength—overwhelming strength—and make this bastard regret everything. Regret so deeply that he’d kneel and beg—and then Munchlax would kick him away.
"Ka~" Munchlax tugged at Rio’s hand.
"Little fatty—you don’t want to talk anymore?" Gengar asked.
"Ka~" Munchlax shook its head, its eyes burning with anger and disappointment.
Rio understood. He led Munchlax away without another word.
"What were they arguing about?"
On the other side, Sabrina had come out after hearing about a commotion involving Rio. She arrived just in time to see Rio turning away with Munchlax.
"Gym Leader—it seems that Munchlax was abandoned by its former trainer," one of the Gym trainees assigned to manage the queue explained, having witnessed the entire exchange.
Sabrina was stunned. She looked at Munchlax’s former trainer in utter disbelief. She had witnessed that Munchlax’s power firsthand—twice. The first time, its Metronome had knocked out her entire Rocket team. The second time, it had rolled Kyogre’s signature move and one-shot General Archer’s ace. She couldn’t fathom how anyone could abandon such a Pokémon—and for something as trivial as not being able to afford its appetite.
You’re either a genius or a saint—because this is insane. Sabrina thought. If I had a Munchlax that strong, I’d sell my own blood to keep it fed and happy. If you’re such a saint, next time you abandon a Pokémon, please do it in front of my Gym. I’ll raise it like royalty and never let it suffer.
Suddenly, it clicked. She understood why Rio had asked her to broadcast today’s battles. It was obviously to let Munchlax show off its strength—to make its former trainer regret everything.
"How interesting." Sabrina’s normally cold face cracked into a faint smile. She was genuinely looking forward to seeing that shortsighted fool’s expression when he realized what he’d thrown away. Unless—of course—he was somehow stronger than Rio. But that was impossible.
"Don’t keep the challengers waiting outside. Bring them all in to spectate from the stands," Sabrina ordered the trainees.
Since Rio wanted Munchlax to show off to the world, she would help—by giving it a stage in front of all the challengers, right in front of that shortsighted bastard.
Ten minutes later, the queue outside filed into the Saffron Gym. Using a lottery system, Sabrina rearranged the battle order. She placed Munchlax’s former trainer at the front—and Rio near the back.
"Would you like to challenge my ace Pokémon?" Sabrina asked when the former trainer stood on the battlefield.
"Ace Pokémon? No, no—I don’t want to challenge your ace!" The man looked shocked and quickly shook his head.
Case closed—this guy is nothing but a shortsighted fool. He just couldn’t handle a Pokémon with that much potential. Sabrina thought, her brow furrowing slightly. He’s going to regret this so badly.
"Come out, Kadabra." With a flash of light, Sabrina sent out a Level 37 Kadabra—her standard Pokémon for ordinary challengers.
"Blastoise—I’m counting on you!" The man sent out his Level 37 Blastoise.
The battle was over in under thirty seconds. Kadabra won.
Sabrina looked disappointed. She couldn’t understand how someone this weak could have the audacity to abandon such a powerful Munchlax—and on top of that, act so arrogant about it just minutes ago.
You’re truly a one-of-a-kind wonder. How can anyone be this stupid? When you abandoned that Munchlax, why didn’t you do it in front of my Gym? You’re a real piece of work—you’ve practically made me, the unflappable Sabrina, want to laugh out loud.