READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 30: Team Meanies
"Thank you very much, Mr. Drowzee! We thought we wouldn't be able to find our Water Float."
"Hahaha, think nothing of it. I can't just let two poor kids like you wander around the Dungeon so cluelessly like that."
Azurill and Marill, the two brothers, were following Drowzee who took the initiative to help after seeing the two of them looking around the town anxiously.
After hearing the description of the item they were looking for, Drowzee was 'surprised' and told the two of them that he may have seen the item. Drowzee enthusiastically told the two of them that he was willing to lead them to the location where the item was last seen.
As the three were exiting the town, they saw a duo on the opposite path. Azurill and Marill enthusiastically greeted them with child-like innocence which the Pikachu on the opposite side responded to.
As the two groups were about to pass by, the fox-like Pokemon of the other group suddenly attacked.
While letting out a roar, he tackled Drowzee who was surprised by the sudden attack.
"Pikachu! He's on the wanted lists we saw posted earlier!"
Pikachu and the Azurill brothers were stunned in place by Dante's suddenly attacking someone at the entrance of Treasure Town. It wasn't until Dante shouted that the three of them came to their senses.
Pikachu hurriedly shot Thunder Wave towards the staggered Drowzee, but the effect only seemed to last for less than a second before he shrugged it off.
"M-Mr. Drowzee?"
"Ugh, I never thought my wanted order would be listed so quickly. Damn it! I was so close…"
When Dante saw Drowzee shrugging off Pikachu's Thunder Wave, he frowned. Pikachu's stats right now are in the mid to late 20s.
According to the textbooks, the Defense stat comprehensively includes physical impact resistance, partial status resistance, and body hardness. Special Defense includes resistance to elemental energy, partial status resistance, and resistance to energy manipulation.
For a Pokemon to be able to instantly shrug off the effects of a status move like poison, burn, or paralysis, both their Defense and Special Defense should at least exceed the attacking Pokemon's Special Attack by 10.
'Drowzee's stats should be nearing the racial limit. Or maybe…he has even already reached it.'
Before entering the PMD world today, Dante specifically memorized Drowzee's racial limit whom he knew they would be facing next. Drowzee's racial limit was not good, with 60 HP, 48 Atk, 45 Def, 43 Sp. Atk, 90 Sp. Def, and 42 Speed.
The problem is, Dante and Pikachu's current stats weren't that great either. Dante's stats are in their mid 30's while Pikachu's is in the late 20's. And with Drowzee having a Special Defense of 90, Pikachu basically can't help in this fight.
The way he just shrugged off the Thunder Wave was basically proof of that.
"Pikachu, take both Azumarill and Marill in the town and call for help. I'll try to hold this guy off."
"W-what? I can also-"
"You can't help now! He's a bad matchup for you. Just urgh-"
In the middle of talking, Dante was interrupted by Drowzee's sudden attack.
The unprepared Dante was blasted away by the blow and rolled before standing up staggeringly.
"Hahaha, are you sure you want to let him leave? I don't think you can last long by yourself."
"GO NOW!"
With Dante's shout, Pikachu could only reluctantly obey. When he saw his Thunder Wave being ineffective, he knew he wouldn't be able to harm Drowzee.
Therefore, he can only run and try to find reinforcements as soon as possible. He also didn't forget to bring the two Azurill siblings, who were still stunned due to Drowzee deceiving them, back into the town.
Dante watched Drowzee closely, preparing for any sudden attack.
"Urgh, you don't have to act like I'm so evil. In reality, I'm just a Treasure Hunter. The only reason I was on the wanted list is because someone discovered me using some…unsavory means."
"So? What's your point?"
"Look, kid. From you and your partner's expressions, I can tell you're both newbies. Why don't you peacefully let me go and let the other more 'experienced' teams catch me?"
Although Drowzee knew he could defeat Dante, seeing him standing up after taking a hit, the battle between the two would take quite a while. Especially since Dante looked like he just wanted to keep him here.
Dante was speechless about Drowzee's proposal. He clearly just wanted to have more time to run away. However, he was also happy to waste time without fighting. The more time he delays, the more likely Pikachu brings reinforcements.
"I have a better proposal, why don't you just surrender? If you run away, your time in prison will just be longer. Surely you don't think you can run away from the other stronger exploration teams?"
Dante's words made Drowzee's face darken. Of course he knew his own strength. If possible, he also wanted to surrender willingly to the Magnezone Enforcers.
However, he just discovered a possibly very amazing treasure.
When he was resting on the top area of Mt. Bristle, the dungeon suddenly shook and a crack was formed on the wall.
Curious, he used Flash to light up the hole and peer through only to see something shiny on the other side. He dug into the wall to reach the item, but even after his efforts, the hole he made was only enough to squeeze his hand through.
He was about to continue digging, when he heard footsteps coming from the entrance. Fearing that the new arrival would also discover the treasure, he stopped them from coming in.
The Pokemon that just arrived were angry at Drowzee from stopping them in their last leg of the dungeon. A battle happened, and Drowzee beat them back through the use of the Blast Seeds he buried in the entrance while he was resting.
The Pokemons left and angrily told him that they would report his behaviour to the Magnezone Force. Drowzee was forced into desperation, and while looking at the small hole, he suddenly had an idea.
'I can't use Blast Seeds or the treasure may be destroyed. Ugh what can I do...Wait! Why don't I force a small Pokemon to pass through and take the treasure for me?'
Therefore, he tried tricking the Azurill brothers which led to his current situation.
Although Drowzee covered up the hole when he left, he was still uneasy, fearing that someone would discover it. Therefore, his plan was to take the treasure and hide it somewhere safer before surrendering himself.
Looking at Dante that was standing in front of him, Drowzee thought for a while before he finally hung his head.
When Pikachu and the Azurill brothers left, he knew that he had no more chances of escaping. Instead of fighting and running away, Drowzee's only hope now is to surrender as soon as possible and hope that the treasure won't be taken away before he gets out of jail.
Soon, the sound of footsteps came from town and Pikachu was seen leading a trio of Pokemon. Dante recognized the three as Gengar, Ekans, and Medicham.
"Hohoho, is this the wanted criminal you were talking about?"
Medicham from the side asked Pikachu when he saw Drowzee.
"Y-yes, he's the one. I'm so glad you're okay, Dante."
Dante shrugged his shoulders after hearing this.
"We didn't even fight. After seeing you escape into the town, this guy just gave up."
"Hisss, give up? That just makes it easy for us. Then let us, Team Meanies, take care of this."
Dante felt reluctant as he watched as Gengar, Ekan, and Medicham took the despondent Drowzee back to the guild. When he asked Pikachu to look for reinforcement, he was already prepared that he would not be able to get Drowzee's bounty.
'It's alright. He's just a low-level criminal. I guess the bounty won't even amount to much. Besides, Pikachu and I can't beat him now. It's already great he wasn't able to kidnap Azurill.'
Just as Dante was comforting himself, Gengar, who didn't speak from beginning to end, suddenly addressed him.
"Hey, your name is Dante, right?"
"Hmm? Yeah. Is something the matter?"
"Kekeke, nothing. I just have a feeling we'll be seeing each other again soon. Kekekekeke."
With that ominous laugh, Gengar led his team and disappeared from Dante and Pikachu's sight.
A/N: I finally got my first Patron today! I would have liked to post a bonus chapter to celebrate, but alas, I was too excited and ended up being only able to write one. However, I promise everyone I'll give a bonus chapter sometime next week as thanks for supporting my work.