Chapter 142:

It wasn't until the two bodies fell that Murkrow and the others reacted, rushing over and adopting aggressive stances against the lifeless figures on the ground. Cain waved them off, signaling the threat was over. Only then did the pain from the fork lodged in his shoulder hit him like a tidal wave.

Gritting his teeth against the agony, he removed the Pokeballs from the attackers' belts, locking them before finally allowing himself to relax. The events unfolded so quickly that he barely had time to strategize, but his actions proved to be the most effective in that moment.

The two intruders were both strong and vigilant. Although he initially deceived them, there were many holes in his story. If they had investigated the alleged sighting of a drenched person in the area, they would have discovered the truth. So he had to eliminate them before they could.

Using Pokemon would have been too conspicuous, and the two were experienced enough to keep a close watch on Murkrow and the others. Thankfully, he appeared harmless and young, with a less intimidating physique, which lowered their guard. If he had been an average adult, it might not have been so easy.

Wincing, he pulled the blood-soaked fork from his shoulder. The assailant had been ruthless, driving the fork with all his might into his flesh. He tossed the bloody utensil into the fire to mask the scent of blood.

Then he took a bottle of antiseptic from his ring and picked up a twig to bite on, preparing to pour the liquid onto his wound. But before he could, Miltank stepped forward, stopping his motion, and gestured that she would take care of it herself.

Cain felt reassured, allowing Miltank to help tend to his wound, as it would be cumbersome for him to do it by himself. Once the wound was disinfected, ointment applied, and bandaged, it was more or less taken care of. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he looked down at the two trainers lying on the ground with their eyes still open. Cain silently thought, "If I hadn't dealt with you two, you'd be dealing with me. So, I had to send you to the afterlife."

Without further ado, Cain took all of their valuable possessions and spatial equipment. With the help of Slowpoke and the others, he buried them in the Foggy Forest. He figured that it wouldn't be long before two new Ghost-type Pokémon would appear here. After clearing all traces and stowing their belongings in his ring, Cain left the area with his Pokémon.

He had paused briefly, only to encounter two Association trainers, and more might be on their way. This time, Cain didn't waste a moment, even eating on the move. However, after injuring his shoulder, he found it difficult to do much else, and the abundance of wild Pokémon in the area kept Murkrow and the others busy.

...

After another three hours of travel and seeping bloodstains on his shoulder, Cain finally chose to rest. He found a large tree and settled in with his Pokémon for a hasty night's sleep. Exhausted after a day of constant alertness, Cain quickly fell asleep, leaving Gastly to keep watch. His Pokémon, however, didn't fall asleep as easily. They were well aware of what had transpired throughout the day, especially Slowpoke who had been with Cain the whole time.

Feeling guilty, they thought they hadn't contributed enough, particularly during the confrontation with the two Association trainers. They were always ready, waiting for Cain's command to attack. However, in the end, Cain had to take action himself, even getting injured in the process. This made his Pokémon feel deeply responsible.

Under Slowpoke's telepathic communication, the Pokémon reassured and held each other accountable. They vowed to train harder, so such a situation would never happen again. Even Sneasel, who had recently joined the team, didn't object to Murkrow's proposal, though it hadn't shared any thoughts on the matter. All this happened unbeknownst to Cain.

...

The next morning, Cain woke up with a headache, struggling to regain consciousness. When he finally awoke, he found that his Pokémon were nowhere to be found. As he stared blankly, he saw Murkrow swiftly flying past him, practicing aerial maneuvers around the tree. Climbing down, he found Slowpoke using Calm Mind, its psychic energy radiating powerfully.

Gastly, who had been on guard duty all night, showed no signs of wanting to rest. Instead, it practiced its moves in the distance. Miltank, too, was engaged in a boxing-like workout, sending a flurry of leaves cascading down from a medium-sized tree with each powerful punch.

Meanwhile, Sneasel, having only recently joined the team and without any assigned training tasks from Cain, was uncertain of its direction. So, it continued the tree-climbing exercises it had practiced alone, honing its agility.

Somehow, Sneasel had learned to tie two massive logs to its feet, making the tree-climbing even more challenging. Cain, watching his Pokémon train so diligently, felt inspired.

Suddenly, as if understanding something, Cain laughed and touched the wound on his shoulder. "Maybe getting hurt isn't all bad," he thought.

Miltank noticed Cain was awake and stopped her training to help him prepare breakfast. Cain occasionally pointed out the shortcomings in his Pokémon's training, particularly Sneasel's, offering targeted guidance.

...

Two days later, riding atop his Onix, Cain led his Pokémon back into Ecruteak City. This time, he had learned his lesson and didn't enter the city looking disheveled.

Dressed in a Pokémon Association Trainer's outfit, Cain recalled Murkrow and Sneasel into their Poké Balls, leaving only Slowpoke at his side as they strolled leisurely into the city. His shoulder injury was still healing, but it wasn't noticeable beneath the clothing.

After another two days of wilderness survival and even more rigorous training, the Pokémon had all experienced various levels of improvement. Murkrow, Gastly, and Miltank each gained a level, reaching 23, 20, and 22, respectively.