Chapter 161: A Cliché Plot Twist

The village chief shook his head."Alright, alright, I won't say anything more. Since you two know each other, you go ahead and talk. I'll take everyone to handle the wild boar."

Akio nodded and watched the chief leave.

Ryo turned to him, frowning slightly."Are the bandits around here really that powerful?"

Akio shook his head."Not at all. They're no match for Weepinbell."

That response only deepened Ryo's confusion."Then why haven't you just dealt with them completely?"

If the bandits were wiped out, the entire problem would be solved.There'd be no more risk to the village when Akio ventured out.And Weepinbell would finally be able to eat properly.

Akio froze for a moment, unable to respond right away.

Seeing this, Ryo frowned again."What is it?"

"I... I don't want to kill anyone," Akio finally whispered.

Ryo was momentarily speechless.

Bo-bo—

Weepinbell, sensing Akio's unease, gently patted his leg with its leafy arms, trying to comfort him.

Ryo's gaze hardened.

"So just because you don't want to kill anyone, you're letting Weepinbell starve every day? Don't you think that's incredibly selfish?"

Akio lowered his head again, unable to meet Ryo's eyes.

Weepinbell waved its leaves in frustration, clearly distressed.

Ryo felt his anger rising. He sighed heavily and turned to leave.

He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he might not be able to hold back.

He never imagined that someone who had bonded with a Pokémon could be like this.

Sure, Akio clearly cared about Weepinbell—a Pokémon doesn't evolve without that connection.But to let it go hungry just because he didn't have the resolve to kill bandits? That was infuriating.

As he walked through the dilapidated village, Ryo's frustration only grew.

He hadn't expected someone with power to be living in such dire straits.

Others who gained strength would gradually improve their lives, rise above hardship.But not Akio. Despite his strength, he hadn't even improved the village's conditions—He couldn't even feed his own Pokémon properly.

"Disappointed in Akio, are you?"

A voice came from beside him. The village chief had returned, appearing without a sound.

Ryo glanced at him and nodded with a sigh.

How could he not be disappointed? He was beyond disappointed.

"Akio... well, he might be a bit timid, but you can't really blame him," the chief began softly."His father was a bandit."

"...What?"

Ryo blinked in shock.Where did that come from?

"You didn't know?" the old man asked, surprised.

Ryo shook his head."He never told me."

The chief sighed again."Akio's mother was a refugee who stumbled into our village.But she was taken by the bandit leader... and escaped only after getting pregnant.

She gave birth to Akio, but died shortly after.

At first, many of us disliked him. He was the son of a bandit, after all.But he was just a baby... and over time, everyone came to care for him."

"A while ago, Akio went to the Hidden Leaf Village, trying to find work—he wanted to change the village's fate.That's when he came back with Weepinbell.

Life here got better, thanks to them. But Akio has always felt guilty that he can't provide enough food for it."

The chief paused for a moment before continuing."He has thought about wiping out the nearby bandits. But he just... can't bring himself to do it.

We should give him some time."

Ryo stood frozen, stunned by everything he'd just heard.

What the hell kind of plot twist is this?This is like one of those overly dramatic movie tropes!Why does this kind of thing always happen to me?

"Sniff sniff... That was so moving... Hoopa wants to cry now..."

The teary voice of Hoopa, who had finally been quiet for a while, drifted from Ryo's arms.

Ryo's lips twitched in exasperation.He was too stunned to even react anymore.

"Just give him a bit more time. I believe Akio will make the right choice," the village chief said again before turning and leaving quietly.

Ryo watched him go, completely dumbfounded.

The way he comes and goes so silently… was this guy really a village chief in his past life? Or something else entirely?

He sighed again.

What is even happening?Wasn't I just passing through? Just planning to take a look and head on my way?

I was headed to Tanzaku Street, wasn't I?

How did it end up like this?

Ryo shook his head."Forget it. I'll stay for a day. If he can't make up his mind, I'll do it for him."

After all, now that he had seen it firsthand, he couldn't just leave Weepinbell to suffer.

He expanded his spiritual sense, probing in the direction of the bandits.

In the next second, his body flickered and he disappeared from the village, reappearing atop a small mountain nearby.

Standing among the trees, Ryo looked down at the mountain stronghold, his expression turning cold.

Through his mental perception, he took in every detail of the hideout.

Women with lifeless eyes and broken spirits.Maimed men, missing limbs, still being ordered around like slaves.

Ryo's eyes narrowed.Killing intent radiated from him.

"These bandits... they all deserve to die."

He clenched his fists. His heart twisted with discomfort.

"It doesn't matter what world you're in... there's always this kind of scum."

He sighed, then nodded to himself."Fine. If he still can't do it by tomorrow, I'll take care of it myself."

Just as he was about to return to the village, he sensed something nearby—Akio and Weepinbell.

He turned, puzzled, and saw Akio slowly approaching, fists clenched tight.

Weepinbell followed silently, not making a sound.

When they reached the outskirts of the bandit camp, Akio stopped.

He bit his lip, his face pale."I... I still can't do it..."

A bitter smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

He wanted to destroy the bandits. But how could he?

Their leader... was his father. His real father.

How could someone who had only survived thanks to the kindness of others… strike down his own blood?

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