As a human, there was no way Green's delicate body could withstand Gabite's brutal force. Had Gabite not deliberately held back, her slender neck might've snapped then and there.

"You—come here…"

Logan ignored the astonished stares and pointing fingers of the surrounding crowd. Instead, he crooked a finger at the dazed, confused Wartortle that had crashed in the water.

Wartortle scrambled nervously onto the shore and hurried over to Logan's side. It looked at the unconscious Green lying there and forced a very human-like, fawning smile.

"Hah, really... like trainer, like Pokémon. Your Wartortle truly has some wits," Logan chuckled and shook his head.

Most Pokémon, while they could understand human language, didn't truly think like humans. Just as Sabrina had once been surprised that his Gabite understood something as abstract as 'deception.'

This Wartortle, probably after spending so long with Green, had grown just as clever and slippery as its trainer.

"Stay right where you are. If you so much as twitch, I'll cut your trainer's head off first—then yours," Logan warned coldly.

Gabite, at Logan's side, flexed its blade-like claws menacingly. Wartortle immediately nodded over and over like a bobblehead.

At that moment, Dratini also wriggled up onto the bank, let out a soft "Draa~," and coiled affectionately around Logan's neck.

Logan crouched down. He hesitated briefly, then—ignoring the stares and murmurs from onlookers—gritted his teeth and began patting down the unconscious Green's body.

Her clothes were thin; through the light fabric, he could feel the soft, smooth skin beneath. His heart skipped despite himself, but he kept searching.

After all, his reputation was probably ruined already. One more scandal wouldn't matter; let others think what they wanted.

Soon, he found her wallet tucked at her waist—a delicate pink wallet with her name stitched on it in fine embroidery, hinting that this sly girl had once had the air of a sweet, next-door neighbor type.

He opened it and counted: a dozen large bills, each worth ten thousand yen. Logan took a neat stack and slipped it into his pocket. Then, closing the wallet, he tossed it back onto Green's chest.

"...Illegal gains, confiscated. You used my fame to scam people, so I'll call this your 'copyright and likeness fee.'"

Logan figured he was still being pretty kind—he hadn't even taken everything, after all.

Groping a girl on the street and openly robbing her... There was guilt, but also a certain wild thrill. Maybe this was the human pleasure that came from breaking rules and crossing lines.

What Logan couldn't see, though, was Green—lying face down and supposedly unconscious—showing a sly, sinister smile.

Her hand, which should've been limp, twitched subtly.

At the same time, Wartortle, who had been trembling and afraid, suddenly flashed a vicious grin. It opened its mouth, aiming directly at Logan, and began charging up a Hydro Pump!

At such close range, even with Gabite and Dratini's protective aura, Logan would likely end up with broken bones if hit by that powerful blast.

Just as the surge of energy gathered, about to erupt, Logan shot Wartortle a sidelong glance, the cold smirk never leaving his lips. Dratini had been ready all along; as the Hydro Pump was about to fire, a crackle of electricity flared from its forehead.

Zap—!

The Thunder Wave struck faster than the Hydro Pump, electrocuting Wartortle in place. Its gathered energy scattered instantly, and its whole body convulsed as it collapsed, limbs twitching uncontrollably.

"You really shouldn't underestimate me," Logan said softly. "Faking unconsciousness, then using secret hand signals to order your Pokémon to ambush me... If I'd let my guard down, I'd probably have a few broken ribs right now."

He looked down at Green, who still lay motionless. She gave no response, playing dead flawlessly.

"Oh? Silent now?" Logan sneered. "Gabite, if she won't speak, don't bother being gentle. Use Dragon Claw and slice her head off. Dratini, get ready to freeze the blood with Ice Beam right after—I'd rather not make too much of a mess here."

Gabite raised its massive claw, savage bloodlust rolling off it like a storm. The air itself seemed to grow colder.

Green panicked instantly. She knew full well that Logan really had killed before.

"W-wait! I surrender! I give up!" she blurted out in terror. "I still have an elderly mother to care for, and a baby brother, and I'm pregnant—"

"Hm?" Logan grunted skeptically.

Green immediately shut her mouth, then forced a dry laugh: "...Okay, fine, I'm not pregnant, and there's no elderly mother. But I really do have a baby brother!"

"And how did I catch you?" Logan asked, tilting his head.

Green stayed prone, ignoring the dust sticking to her clothes, too scared to rise. After hesitating, she asked softly, "...How?"

"Gabite told me," Logan said. "It felt wrong when it struck your neck. That told me you weren't actually unconscious."

"You can understand your Pokémon? Or their thoughts?" Green gasped, astonished.

"You're overthinking it," Logan replied calmly. "I can only understand my dragons' thoughts."

"Guess I was just unlucky this time…" Green sighed bitterly. Who would've thought Logan could communicate so deeply with his Pokémon—even subtle things like 'the feel was off'?

"And what's that on your neck?" Logan asked, suddenly narrowing his eyes.

Before his eyes, the skin of Green's delicate neck rippled strangely, turning from fair white to pink.

A Ditto, looking thoroughly panicked, emerged.

"So that's it... You had Ditto fused to your skin. That way, you could always borrow its protective aura to guard against sneak attacks. And if struck, Ditto could change its shape to cushion the blow—even physical attacks wouldn't hurt much. Truly cunning. If I'd slipped for a moment, you'd have caught me."

Logan sounded half-admiring, but Green heard only mockery. Her lips pouted in aggrieved frustration: no matter how many tricks she played, he'd still seen through her.

She opened her mouth to say something else—but at that moment, Gabite struck again.

The flat back of its claw slammed into her neck, this time without Ditto's protection.

Green's vision went black, and she completely lost consciousness.

Oh no... my chastity might really be in danger now... was the last thought flickering through her mind before she fainted.

Logan caught her limp body before she fell, his hand pressing against the smooth, bare skin of her thigh. Feeling that tight softness, he tamped down any wandering thoughts.

He glanced around; people had already begun calling the police.

Quickly, he turned to the recovering Wartortle and barked, "...This time, behave yourself. Carry me somewhere else—and if you so much as twitch, your trainer really will die. And you won't live to see tomorrow either."

Dratini shot Wartortle a vicious glare. Its slender body coiled around Green's neck, silently warning: if you dare defy us, I'll snap her neck in an instant.

Wartortle, thoroughly terrified, nodded stiffly.

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