Chapter 162 – The Contractor’s Guild, Rotten to the Core!

The profession of a Contractor didn't grant much in terms of physical enhancement.

So when chunks of concrete rained from above like a hailstorm, most of them had only two options: command their Death Beasts to intercept the debris—or simply run for their lives.

But as everyone knew, Death Beasts weren't exactly cooperative. Not like Pokémon.

Telling one to attack was one thing.

Telling one to stop attacking? Good luck.

Let alone trying to get them to do something as precise as swatting falling rubble…

In an instant, the Contractors were screaming and scrambling—utter chaos filled the hall.

It wasn't until the S-rank Contractor sensed the situation spiraling out of control that he ordered his beast to smash through one side of the wall, creating an escape route.

Only then did things finally settle down.

The other Contractors followed suit, commanding their Death Beasts to tear down walls as well.

In mere minutes, the once-grand Contractor's Guild had been reduced to a pile of rubble, torn apart by Gyarados and the very Death Beasts meant to protect it.

Dust choked the air.

Su Bai waved a hand to clear the settling cloud and took a long, deep breath.

So many Death Beasts packed in one room… that putrid, rotting stench had been worse than a sewer.

"Much better now," Su Bai muttered, taking in the open sky.

He turned to the stunned Contractors, a relaxed smile on his face.

"A little sunlight never hurt anyone, right?"

The S-rank Contractor who had reacted first was glaring daggers, as if ready to devour him alive.

To Contractors—outcasts clinging to the guild for protection—the Guild was a sacred refuge.

Rebuilding might not be a big deal financially (they were filthy rich), but Su Bai's actions had struck something far deeper.

He had humiliated them.

"Do you even realize what you've done?!"

"You dare challenge the Contractor's Guild?! Not even the city lord can save you now!"

"You'll end up ripped apart and swallowed whole by Death Beasts!"

"But before that… tell me your name. I want to make sure your gravestone reads:

'Died Because He Was an Idiot.'"

Then, the Contractor narrowed his eyes.

"Also… that thing. What is it?"

"Where did you get such a unique Death Beast? I've never seen that species before…"

He raised a hand to stop the other angry Contractors from advancing.

Clearly, this man held considerable authority.

But he wasn't stopping them out of mercy.

He was eyeing Gyarados.

There was no doubt in his gaze—it was greed.

He had mistaken Gyarados for some rare, savage-type Death Beast.

Surprisingly, Meloetta and Diancie, despite being Mythical Pokémon, didn't attract as much attention.

It made sense. Their elegant appearances were easy to overlook compared to Gyarados's brutal, imposing form.

Originally, the Contractors had been ready to rip Su Bai to shreds…

But now? They all paused.

Contractors were intimately familiar with Death Beasts—but this one?

Gyarados didn't resemble anything they'd ever seen.

And more importantly—there was no trace of death aura coming from it.

Was it possible that the types of Death Beasts that could be contracted had… expanded?

One by one, the Contractors stared at Gyarados with unconcealed hunger, as if they already owned it.

Gyarados might not be the brightest beast (not like Corviknight), but it definitely knew something was off.

These things around it… reeked.

It wasn't one of them.

And it was angry.

If Su Bai hadn't stopped it, Gyarados would've already rampaged through the entire guild.

Su Bai pressed a hand to Gyarados's side, holding it back.

Despite his calm appearance, he knew the true strength of the Contractor's Guild.

Two S-rank beasts. Over a dozen A-ranks and B-ranks.

A force like that… no wonder Boulder City's Lord had been willing to stomach the consequences just to keep the guild stationed in the city.

At Gyarados's current level, charging in would be suicide.

"That creature?" Su Bai smirked. "You should know it well."

"The name 'Li Jian' rings a bell, doesn't it?"

"I'm Su Bai. From Haicheng. The guy running the Pokémon Center."

"And I'm here to settle some scores."

The moment he mentioned that name, the S-rank Contractor's eyes lit up in realization.

Then he chuckled coldly.

"If it's Li Jian you're after, go find Li Jian."

"Oh, wait… you don't dare, do you?"

"Makes sense. Who'd want to cross a man with three S-rank Death Beasts."

"So this is a Pokémon, huh? No wonder he was so desperate…"

"I don't know why you came here to die instead of finding him, but hey—since you're here, don't expect to leave."

"Your death will be a blessing for our entire profession."

News of Li Jian's downfall hadn't yet reached Boulder City.

And this S-rank Contractor didn't seem to care about hiding their collusion with him.

In his eyes, Su Bai was already a dead man.

In fact, Su Bai walking into the lion's den had been a pleasant surprise.

If Li Jian was right, then Su Bai posed a threat to Contractors as a whole.

With a flick of his wrist, the S-rank Contractor gave the signal.

Death Beasts howled, led by two towering S-rank monsters.

Dozens of beasts lunged straight for Su Bai, eyes glowing with murder.

The thick death aura surged up, blotting out the sky.

They didn't hold back—not even in the middle of the city.

"Nice. At least you guys are quick to admit guilt," Su Bai said coldly.

"I guess you're more united than I gave you credit for…"

He stood his ground, completely still, as the beasts barreled toward him.

Truthfully, things weren't going the way he expected.

Su Bai had no deep-seated grudge against the profession itself.

This visit was simply to flush out the real instigators.

But to his surprise, the Contractor's Guild didn't even try to deny it.

They just went straight to open, homicidal intent.

Su Bai's voice now carried a hint of genuine disappointment.

Before Li Jian died, he'd used his last moments to give two children a fighting chance—that had earned Su Bai's compassion.

But now?

That faint goodwill… was gone.

"I thought that even if Contractors were tainted by death, they still had their hearts set on helping humanity."

"Turns out… you're just a bunch of greedy, violent thugs."

"You band together for power, destroy anyone over business, and use your strength for gain instead of protection."

"The Contractor's Guild… is rotten to the core."

Su Bai's expression darkened as he gave a subtle nod.

Diancie raised her hand.

Dozens of pink diamonds formed and hovered in the air.

Then Su Bai's final words echoed through the battlefield.

"As for Li Jian… he's already dead."

"Killed by the very Death Beasts you all worship!"