Chapter 370: The Dark King Returns

"The usual routine—rest up for a few days. I'll contact you when it's time to regroup."

"And remember—stay alert. If anything happens, reach out to me immediately."

Just like that, a few days passed in the blink of an eye.

Thanks to their astonishing accomplishments, the Internal Affairs team led by Ron had begun making waves across the region. Their growing reputation attracted not just attention, but scrutiny—many had started monitoring the squad's members and operations closely.

With the backing of four Elite Four members, the chances of Beno and the others being ambushed by the Five Great Families were slim. Still, Ron didn't take any chances and issued them a stern reminder.

"Yes, sir!"

"As long as you understand. I'll head out first."

With that, Gardevoir used Teleport and vanished with Ron in a shimmer of light.

Beno and the others chose to unwind, finally able to release the tension that had gripped them for days.

"Present, sir!"

As soon as Ron—cloaked in black—appeared before them, the group dropped to one knee in unison, led by Amon.

"Stand up. I've already told you—once I'm back, we move."

"Our targets aren't wild Pokémon. There's no thrill in hunting prey without challenge. We're after League operatives. That's how we'll gain more resources—and fame."

"Yes, sir!"

Their synchronized response brought a rare flicker of satisfaction to Ron's face.

Part of it was Gardevoir's influence, but Amon's leadership couldn't be discounted either.

"Move out!"

"Yes, sir!"

With a dramatic sweep of his cloak, Ron vanished again—his subordinates close behind.

The intel he'd obtained from Shadow was finally bearing fruit. One after another, every business or faction tied to the Five Great Families came under siege—some subtle, some devastating.

Their Pokémon Trainers, in particular, became targets of Ron's calculated vengeance.

"The usual plan. Wait outside. Don't move in unless you see the signal. If anything goes wrong, I'll contact you right away."

"Yes, sir."

After giving his orders, Ron—draped in shadows—strode openly toward his target.

Not far ahead stood a factory specializing in mass-producing Pokémon food. Once the nutrient ratios were set, it could churn out low- and mid-tier food or Pokéblocks in bulk.

The quality was no match for those crafted by certified Breeders, but the price and volume made it a profitable venture.

Today, however, the factory received an uninvited guest.

"This facility is off-limits to unauthorized personnel. Please leave."

Two security guards stepped forward the moment the Dark King approached.

"Gengar. Netherworld. Ghost Chains."

Without so much as a glance at the guards, Ron gave the command telepathically to his Gengar, then continued forward.

"You—!"

Seeing Ron ignore them completely, the guards instinctively tried to stop him by force.

But the moment they moved, a curtain of darkness rose behind Ron, engulfing them and spreading outward like a living shadow.

Stunned by the sudden change, the guards froze.

By the time they summoned their Pokémon, it was already too late.

Even as High Elites, they were no match for the onslaught—violet-black chains pierced their bodies, dragging both men into death's embrace.

The visible manifestation of the Netherworld didn't go unnoticed.

Alarm lights flared crimson. Sirens blared.

Before confirming the intruder's strength, Factory Chief Kaneda made the cautious choice: alert the nearest police unit and report the incident to upper management.

Once done, he dashed toward the source of the disturbance.

"Tch…"

With a second response team at his side, Kaneda arrived and gasped—he wasn't alone.

A figure in a flowing black robe stood before them, his face and build obscured. At his side floated a Gengar, its eerie laughter echoing.

More horrifying were the chains—dozens, maybe hundreds—snaking through the air. They held the corpses of both humans and Pokémon, suspended like grotesque ornaments. A pool of blood spread beneath them.

Even more unnerving, the blood curved away from the cloaked man, as if avoiding him on instinct.

"Who the hell are you!?"

Kaneda released his Venusaur and stepped forward to confront the intruder—his voice trembled despite himself.

"My name?" The response echoed in his mind. "You may call me… the Dark King."

Kaneda's expression twisted.

"You're a Psychic?!"

The voice hadn't come through his ears—it had invaded his thoughts.

Only one type of person could do that.

Psychics.

"You guessed right. As a reward, I'll make your death... relatively painless."

The moment the words ended, Ron's voice returned—cold, calm, final.

"Don't underestimate me! I'm still an Elite Four-tier Trainer!"

Kaneda's defiance snapped the others out of their stupor. Right—Kaneda was a Low Elite Four-level Trainer. He wouldn't go down so easily.

But just as that thought surfaced—

The ghostly chains surged forward, piercing straight through Kaneda and several nearby Trainers with brutal precision.

Blood dripped audibly in the stunned silence that followed.

"This… this can't be real…"

Someone finally spoke, voice shaking, desperately hoping someone—anyone—would contradict him.

No one did.

The heavy stench of blood and the lifeless stares of the fallen confirmed the truth.

"Vee...nus?"

Venusaur turned to look at its Trainer, uttering a soft, uncertain call.

But the reply never came.

"Gengar. Ghost Chains. Night Parade of a Hundred Demons."

Ron didn't wait for the rest to react.

Venusaur, still waiting for its Trainer's command, was caught off guard. The chains impaled it before it could move.

The combined effects of Netherworld, deep wounds, and dark energy quickly rendered it helpless.

The others didn't stand a chance.

Against Gengar's relentless assault, they couldn't even mount a proper defense.

Within moments, only a handful were left breathing—barely.

The factory still had personnel, yes—but none who could turn the tide.

Ron raised a signal flare.

With Gengar's help, it burst into the sky, painting crimson over the chaos below.

What followed was little more than a cruel game. The survivors were toyed with, left entangled and helpless—just long enough for Amon and the others to move in. Meanwhile, Gengar used Ghost Chains to strip them of every resource they carried, leaving nothing behind.

Over half an hour later, when the police finally arrived, all they found was a blood-soaked factory strewn with corpses.

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