Chapter 184: I’ve Been Wronged!
"Everyone—destroy this platform. If you find any wild Pokémon still inside, give them time to escape," Rio commanded.
The legendary Pokémon nodded and began demolishing Sea Mauville. "Gyarados, Greninja—you two head to the beach and keep watch. No one gets close. If any Flying-types approach, shoot them down."
"Gren~"
"ROAR!!!"
Greninja climbed onto the Red Gyarados, and they headed toward the beach. About ten minutes later, the already-ruined Sea Mauville platform was even more devastated—scorched by flames, scarred by electricity, pounded by fists, and littered with fallen rocks.
"Perfect—this should be enough to report to Rayquaza," Rio muttered, surveying the wreckage. Of the four targets, Greater Mauville Holdings was the only one truly gone. He could use this to score a favor from Rayquaza.
"Alright, everyone—stop."
He called off Charizard, Articuno, and the three Regis. After they ceased their assault, he recalled the Regis to keep Rayquaza from noticing his growing strength and pressuring him to take down the other three sooner.
"Articuno—drop a Blizzard on this place. Make it look even worse."
"Fuu~"
Articuno cried out, and a Blizzard descended over the area. Once the snow had piled up a bit, Rio pulled out the emerald fragment Rayquaza had given him.
"Lord Rayquaza—I’ve completed the task you gave me. Greater Mauville Holdings has been destroyed today!" Rio called out to the fragment.
A few minutes later, the sky churned with storm clouds. Articuno’s Blizzard suddenly dissipated, and Rayquaza burst through the clouds, its expression a mix of surprise and disbelief.
"Human—you destroyed Greater Mauville Holdings?" Rayquaza’s voice echoed in Rio’s mind.
"Yes, Lord Rayquaza—look. This was their workplace." Rio pointed at the ruined Sea Mauville platform.
Rayquaza gazed at the shattered, half-submerged platform, then back at Rio. It remembered how Rio had insisted on needing at least a year—yet he’d taken down one of the four in just a week.
"Didn’t you say I gave you too little time? And you’ve only—" Rayquaza looked at him with a strange expression. Was this human deliberately surprising it?
"Serving Lord Rayquaza is my highest honor! Especially after learning what the Pokémon Association did to you—it broke my heart. The very day I heard they’d imprisoned you, the savior of humanity, in Goldenrod City for their selfish experiments, I was filled with rage. I hated that I wasn’t there to free you. How utterly despicable!"
Rio clutched his chest, his face twisted with anguish. Rayquaza, reminded of its own suffering, nodded in agreement.
"You’re right—they are despicable. I’m glad you see it that way."
Articuno and Charizard, flanking Rio, exchanged side-eyed glances.
←←
→→
Rio continued: "Unfortunately, I only had the strength to handle one of them. So I spent days investigating Greater Mauville Holdings, and today, when their defenses were weakest, I launched a surprise attack and destroyed Sea Mauville."
"Sigh—you’ve worked hard," Rayquaza said, its eyes showing approval.
It turned back to examine the burning, ruined platform. After a moment, something felt off. It circled the platform a few times before fixing its gaze on Rio.
"Why are there no bodies—human or Pokémon? If you destroyed this place, shouldn’t there be casualties?"
Rio froze. His mind went blank. Damn it—I forgot about that! He’d planned everything, but missed the most critical detail.
What do I do now? I’m dead. I’m so dead.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He went into overdrive, desperately searching for a way out.
"Answer me—why is there no one here? No people, no Pokémon? Are you lying to me? I hate liars above all else!"
Rayquaza pressed, its voice thundering in Rio’s mind.
Rio looked at Rayquaza. Then, suddenly, he burst into tears—like a maiden weeping, tears streaming down his face.
"If that’s what you believe, then there’s nothing I can say. We humans have a saying: once suspicion takes root, the verdict is already guilty. If you insist I’m lying, then I must be a liar. Go ahead—kill me."
Sobbing, Rio looked utterly wronged. Rayquaza was stunned—it had never encountered this before.
"Human—I think you’ve misunderstood. I’m not trying to kill you. I just want to know why there are no bodies."
"Can’t you figure it out? They ran! They saw Articuno—one of the three legendary birds—and a Charizard that can use Sacred Fire! Anyone with a brain would flee the moment they saw that!"
Articuno lifted its head proudly. Charizard spat a puff of purple flame. Rayquaza shot a surprised glance at Charizard.
"If you attacked this place, wouldn’t ordinary people run the moment they saw you?" Rio pressed.
Rayquaza paused—that made a strange kind of sense, though something still felt off.
"Answer me! Answer me! Wouldn’t ordinary people run when they saw you coming?!" Rio’s voice suddenly rose to a fever pitch.