Traitors

Blackback found tough looking vines to tie up the subdued invaders and then turned to Pixel. "While your attack just now was very effective, try not to rely too much on such attacks. You need a strong body and lots of fighting experience to be able to overcome tricker opponents. Those that have faced our kind before will have come up with ways to avoid being effected by our Electro."

Pixel thought for a while and said. "What you have said makes sense."

She remembered that back in her previous world, there were many electric pokemon that had relied on their powerful electric type attacks but when confronted with sneaky humans, they were very powerless and were captured.

The most sinister opponents were members of Team Rocket who often had many machines or tools that worked well against their intended target.

Some were resistant to strong elemental attacks and could even absorb the energy while it traps the Pokémon within a tight space which cannot be broken by a normal attack.

It would be exactly the same whether tools, modifications, protective clothing or machines were used, the Electro would be ineffective and she would have to deal with that opponent in another way.

Being inexperienced in single or group combat and wasting such a valuable opportunity would only hurt her later so she did not feel so proud of herself.

Blackback saw that she was feeling down so he patted her shoulder and reassured her. "You are still young, everyone can make mistakes. It is good that you are willing to listen to my advice, not everyone would be accepting to receiving criticism."

Pixel nodded quietly. "Un."

Blackback crossed his arms and said. "The forest should be surrounded and carefully controlled by now so long as they both arrived on time. There is no chance to escape, while it was smart to use a place that we would at least expect for a meeting as it is right under our noses… they also put themselves in a dangerous position once discovered."

Pixel agreed. "They probably would have gone unnoticed if we had missed that small mistake they made. I guess luck was on our side."

Blackback nodded. "While having good detection, stealth and fighting abilities is good, having some luck can also be a good strength to have. Luck was on our side since it was us who discovered it and decided to check. Had it been someone else then they may have dismissed it and continued with their patrol. Either we were lucky or the enemy was just too unlucky but their carelessness also played a big part in them being discovered in the first place."

Pixel looked over and pointed to the humans that were tied up. "It seems that some have woken up already."

Blackback cracked his knuckles with a pleased look on his face. "Time to get to work."

Blackback then went forward and started to beat them up one after another as the interrogation began. "Who sent you? What is your goal? How many are with you in total? Is there another group nearby or off the island?"

"Aah!"

"Stop!"

"It hurts!"

"Save me.."

"Wait please.. not me!"

"I will tell you. Just stop.. please.."

Blackback let out a snort. "You are far too weak and soft. You broke so soon."

The one who had given in to the torture let out a sigh as they leaned over and tried to catch their breathe after the beatings. "We can just be considered as messengers or scouts. We barely know the greater details besides attending the meeting and discussing the future plans."

Blackback nodded. "But you must know something to be able to be able to handle the discussion. One of you must know more than enough for that task and will have to report the results back to someone."

Blackback cracked his knuckles again and looked very threatening as he stood over them.

The man spoke again as he said hurriedly. "I know.. it is just that this was just to test to see if the other party was still working with those we work for. Do not ask who we work for exactly, we are too low level to gain access to that information. We are just considered grunts or footmen to them that can be discarded. You understand right?"

Blackback put his hand in his chin and looked thoughtful. "But there is not much that humans could want from our homeland and judging from what you have said… you are part of a criminal organisation. Your motives cannot be good and those that you are contacting is involved too."

The man went pale and then cowered. "We… we would never do anything to harm the Mink tribe! How could we dream of doing such a thing! Haha… ha.. If we make an enemy of the Mink tribe then it is like making an enemy with the whole of Zou. It is not something we can afford to do."

Pixel then spoke coldly. "You would not dare? Would your bosses dare? If you could get away with it then would you still dare? Tell us what you are here for or prepare yourself for more shocks!"

The electro danced on her palms in front of them and flickered about which caused many to become fearful.

Blackback looked over in approval. "She is right, if you had not been caught then you would have collected the reward for your task and then taken on the next one. Whatever this is about, you can only tell us or you will suffer more."

The man finally broke under the pressure. "All I know is that I must meet in this location and feel out the intentions of those we are meeting. I believe that they or those they speak for have worked with our organisation in the past. As for whether it is providing materials, slaves or having some kind of secret deal… I am not certain since this is my first time here. The only thing I know for sure is that those higher up are nervous since no contact has been established between both sides for a long time. Our side will be in need of whatever had been provided by the other party and the lack of contact and trade has caused many problems on our side."

Blackback thought back to past events within Zou and his face turned increasingly cold. "So it is like that.. so that means that you work for them.."

The man became confused and asked hesitantly. "Them?"

Blackback frowned as he said. "Them as in those involved with previous attacks on Zou… the same tactics are used and they refuse to show themselves. They only ever send people like you who do not know that much. They should also be working with a group of Minks within Zou who have betrayed our race. I kind of feel sorry for you since you are used this way but then again…"

He then stood up straight and coldly said. "You came to Zou willingly and followed their orders without question. If they asked you to kill, harm or capture our people and you had the opportunity then would you?"

The man froze. "Of course not.. I would not dare."

Pixel then interrupted him and stated. "You do not even need to speak. We already know the answer, now you are just making a fool of yourself."

Within a black organisation, there were always going to be those that went against the orders given to them but those people did not last long as they were often eliminated.

To survive they needed to be capable, have good survival instincts and follow the higher ups orders so they had no choice in the end.

To survive and earn merits, they would accept any mission given to them and they would not care about the harm they have done.

The people on Zou who had been captured were no different as everything was nothing but a task to them to earn berries and merit within their organisation.

The only reason why they were in a pitiful situation and not the ones doing the evil deeds as they had been told to was because they had been defeated first.

As they heard the words of Pixel, many became pale and then a giant fist came down and hit them all in the face which turned their world dark once again.

A little oater, many Minks came to take away the intruders and informed Blackback about the capture of the traitor of Zou.

The captured traitor and the intruders had been locked up and were then put through more pain as information was extracted from them.

The revelation of traitors being within Zou and them working with a criminal organisation was something that had been suspected for years but the capture of those who met up in the forest had helped to confirm many previous suspicions.

The ship that was waiting beside Zunesha was also attacked by Cat Viper and many others after they found its location so more merits were earned that night within the Night Guards.

Although Blackback played a big part and was the superior while Pixel was still a trainee or apprentice, Blackback had gained more recognition but he was generous as he let Pixel receive a couple of minor rewards that were worth a fair amount once sold.

She much preferred things that could earn money over the reputation and the achievements since others could easily say that she did not really earn those achievements herself.

She would rather wait until she has the right power and reputation to have such achievements known otherwise it would only become another reason for others to taunt or target her.