Baker finally realized how reckless his as had been and that he had undoubtedly offended Julian.

  As he thought about Julian's strength and his background, a look of fear instantly appeared on his face.

  He was about to apologize wheiced Taylor's angry expression and the disapproving looks from everyone around him.

  His gaze shifted to Chase, hoping for some support, but he was met with a look of disgust from her.

  In an instant, his initial fear was repced by anger.

  "He isn't even pnning to capture the Golem. I'm a Rock-type trainer—capturing it would put it to good use and help ehe safety of this railway!"

  Baker's shameless justificatio his panions in disbelief, as if they were seeing a pletely different person.

  Taylor walked up to him and spped him hard across the face.

  "Golem was defeated by Julian. It's up to him to decide what happens to it," she said firmly.

  Then, she turo Julian and said, "King Julian, Baker just lost his senses for a moment. He's not usually like this. Baker, e here and apologize to him immediately."

  Although Taylor disapproved of Baker's as, they were cssmates and had always gotten along well. She felt obliged to help him out this time.

  "Just call me Julian"

  Julian said, waving off the title of "King Julian." Hearing it over and over was awkward and far too pretentious for his taste.

  Baker also realized that Taylor was trying to help him. His earlier jealousy and anger had clouded his judgment, but her sp had snapped him back to reality. Cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.

  He stepped forward nervously and said, "Young Master Julian, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking straight when I did that."

  As he spoke, he gnced subtly at Chase, who was standing close to Juliae his anger and jealousy, he hoped she would speak up for him.

  Given her retionship with Julian, she could likely smooth things over if she wao.

  But it was clear that Chase didn't feel as strongly about Baker as he imagined. In fact, she seemed increasingly annoyed by his persistent advances.

  Baker, still bowing his head, grew more anxious with each passing moment of silence from Julian. The lo sted, the deeper his heart sank. He khat if Julian chose not tive him, there was nothing he could do to resist.

  "Do you want the Golem?"

  Julian finally broke the silence, addressing Chase. Her proximity to him had made him a little unfortable, prompting him to shift slightly away.

  "No, I specialize iypes, and besides, it wasn't me who defeated it. It wouldn't obey my ands," Chase replied, feeling a tinge of disappoi at Julian's subtle distang.

  Most Pokémon naturally respect the trainer who defeats them. However, if someone else captures them after their defeat, things bee plicated.

  If the rainer is signifitly strohan the Pokémon, they might accept it relutly. But if the trainer's strength is inferior, that's when the rebellion begins.

  A Pokémon's disobedieends to escate when its level surpasses its trainer's and their bond remains weak.

  In severe cases, the Pokémon may not only refuse ands but even harm the trainer or ht escape.

  Since Chase didn't want the Golem, Julian decided not to ask anyone else.

  This left some of the group staring longingly, their hopes dashed.

  'Why not ask me? I want it!' they thought.

  Even the security team captain couldn't help feeling disappoihough he was aric-type trainer, adding a Rock-type as a sedary option would've been a great asset.

  ---

  Above the forest, a Pidgeot soared through the sky, its sharp eyes sing the ndscape below. Its feathers were ruffled and uneven, evidence of a ret battle.

  The Pidgeot was very hungry and desperately needed food.

  Its gaze swept over the dense forest below, the opy hiding much of the ground from view. Occasionally, it spotted wild Pokémon, but noo its taste.

  After some time, its attention was caught by a group of human figures.

  'Humans'

  The Pidgeot quickly firmed its suspi. Anger flickered in its eyes as it recalled its disheveled state—caused by humans. Hunger and rage bined, its eyes glinting with a faint red light.

  'I'm going to them'

  The red glow in its eyes intensified as it folded its wings tightly and dove down like a fighter jet, its sharp beak splitting the air into two streams.

  "Luca!~"

  Lucario was the first to sehe disturban the sky. It looked up, spotting the diving Pidgeot, which had locked onto one of the security team members as its target.

  The guard, oblivious to the danger, only noticed a shadow overhead before the Pidgeot's talons pierced his skull. In an instant, the bird carried his lifeless body into the sky.

  The Pidgeot's dive was so fast that even Lucario couldn't rea time to save him.

  "Ahhh!"

  The sudden attack elicited screams from Taylor and Chase.

  Mid-air, the Pidgeot tore into its prey, dev the security guard in just a few gulps. However, instead of satiating its huhe small meal seemed to only deepen its craving.

  Cirg above, Pidgeot eyed the panicked "food" below with a hint of mockery.

  The shog turn of events had Julian frozen for a moment, his face slightly stiff. He wasn't scared, but the sight had clearly rattled him.

  If that Pidgeot had targeted him, he probably wouldn't have died.

  After all, Lucario and Aggron were both by his side. The main reason Lucario couldn't save the guard earlier was the distaween them.

  Julian activated his Probing Eyes to analyze the Pidgeot cirg above. What he saw made him pause slightly.

  Pokémon: Pidgeot (Normal/Flying)

  Level: 77

  Potential:

  Ability: Keen Eye

  Held Item: None

  Gender: Female

  Moves: Hurrie, Quick Attack, Sand Attack, Tackle, Gust, Whirlwind, Twister, Feather Dance, Agility, Wing Attack, Roost, Tailwind, Aerial Ace, Air Ssh

  TMs: None

  Egg Moves: Steel Wing, Brave Bird, Air Cutter, Substitute

  ---

  This Pidgeot was ae-tier Pokémon. No wos speed was so overwhelming that even Lucario couldn't catch up. If it had been pseudo-Elite instead, Lucario's speed would've allowed it to save the fallen security member.

  Ae-tier wild Pidgeot.

  Pieg these details together, Julian's mind drifted to the reports of ae-tier Pidgeot sighted near Lake City Airport.

  It was the same Pidgeot that had caused the airport to suspend operations, prompting Julian to take the train baperial Uy instead.

  "Piiii!~"

  Pidgeot let out a pierg cry from above, its voice eg across the sky.

  With its call came the imposing aura uo Elite-tier Pokémon, spreading like a wave across the area.

  Everyone except Julian immediately felt an immense pressure bear down on them, as if the air itself had turned as heavy as mercury.

  The suffog sensation made their faces pale as they struggled to breathe.

  "Luca!~"

  Lucario suddenly unleashed its Aura, expanding it outward in a protective wave.

  As the group was enveloped within Lucario's Aura field, the oppressive pressure finally subsided, allowing them to breathe freely again.