Heaving for breaths, Belial had taken a moment to lay down and rest. As he was doing so, however, he noticed a small black blip in the sky. Gradually, it seemed to come closer and closer... until he realized it was encircling him. His sharp eyes could then make out a pair of black wings... and beak diving straight for him!

Thankfully, Chai was able to DETECT the incoming attack and intervene. With a well-timed AURA SPHERE, she sent the Mandibuzz squawking sideways in a burst of feathers. Its loss of balance resulted in it crashing to the ground below, after which Belial produced a timer ball from his pack and cast it.

---

✨ catching mandibuzz

SOLO WILD + FIGHTING/FLYING

☉

Playing kickball with a CHINGLING wasn't, perhaps, the nicest thing to do with a Chingling. But Chai was having great fun with it regardless. Her expertly timed kicks and knee-bounces made a great show of it.

Eventually, however, that raucous ringing that came of it bothered Belial's ears. "Alright! Time to kick it away and move on, Chai, c'mon, let's go." He orders, waving the show off as he proceeds to lead the way.

---

⏭ skipping chingling
➼ looking for: oshawott, cyndaquil, rowlet

SAFARI ZONE + CHAI

☉

Route 110 was as good a place as any to train.

Ever since taking the mantle of ANVIL's CEO, Belial could feel his martial arts prowess slipping. Time had become a rare and valuable commodity. Not that it hadn't been already, of course, but it was certainly more difficult to come by with a plethora of meetings to attend.

Regardless, CHAI the MIENSHAO made sure not to take it easy on him as they begun their practice on a grassy field beneath the cycling bridge. She was nimble and quick, sure. Many wouldn't exactly consider it fair, either. But Belial had more muscle on his bone.

---

➼ searching...

SOLO WILD + FIGHTING/FLYING

☉

It was time to gather more recruits from the cause. Rumours persisted that some new and interesting pokemon had recently entered the Safari Zone as well. Belial's confidence in training any Pokémon to be a killer was high. But training the ones he'd heard about?

Easiest of the peasiest.

So he sets out on his trek with his MIENSHAO, CHAI, walking beside him. The Safari Zone would be hard-pressed to find a better fighter than her. Most professional trainers in the region would, in fact.

---

➼ looking for: oshawott, cyndaquil, rowlet

SAFARI ZONE + CHAI

☉

Belial raises a curious brow at the mention of an admin, unfurling his cloth napkin across his right thigh in preparation for the appetizer to come. "Oh yeah? Which one?" He asks, smoothing out the wrinkles. "... Do you have their trust yet?"[break][break]

The toothy smirk that follows might suggest he was planning something against Rocket. But Felix surely knew better than to immediately take that seriously. Belial Stone, after all, had an... interesting sense of humour.[break][break]

Poking fun at serious matters, such as conflicts of interest, coup d'etats, and other topics some would find sensitive or unfunny, was all fair game for him. And, of course, many were often left wondering why. Perhaps he was fishing for something? Testing strengths or loyalty? [break][break]

Or, perhaps, he was just an asshole.

[break][break]

+ ...

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Belial titters. "Half a year here, building a nest for ANVIL, and you're already talking like one of the locals. You're a cultural Kecleon, Fix-It, never doubt it."[break][break]

Most mercenaries (the good ones, anyway) were. The life had taken them to all sorts of different regions and extraordinary places. To routinely survive, one had to routinely adapt. The black sheep of the Stone family had always prized that aspect of his career, however.[break][break]

Felix, on the other hand, had a shrewd mind he knew was destined for greater things someday.[break][break]

"How has the contract with Rocket been proceeding? Smoothly, I presume?" He inquiries, confident that Fix-It had checked the table for a bugged mic prior. The waiters and waitresses that passed by within earshot didn't bother him either. In a fancy place like this, it was expected not to eavesdrop if you wanted your rich clientele to return and shove more money in your hands.[break][break]

+ ...

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Belial doesn't believe him, and he has a knack for knowing when people are lying. But he finds amusement in the attempt anyway. When sitting across the table from someone as stoic and serious as Felix, one tended to find amusement wherever they could. So poking the lad and seeing if he would ever snap happened to be a regular pastime of his.[break][break]

"A-huh. And I definitely won't be asking for that waitresses number after all this is over."[break][break]

[x][break][break]

He absolutely was.

[break]

Setting his glass of water down, Belial smiles and nods in response to Fix-It's inquiry. "Not bad. I got me a nice little penthouse in Sootopolis to oversee our operations there more closely. My home region's a lot less tropical than I remember, though. That war with the cannibal aliens really fucked things up, didn't it?" He chuckles, shaking his head and checking his phone.[break][break]

"If the League had offered us a higher commission, we would have been here a year sooner. We might have made a real difference. What a shame."[break][break]

+ pay us to fight aliens

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Business casual was his staple these days. A stone-grey jacket, buttoned-up black shirt, slacks, and a pair of fine blucher's didn't compare to the comfort and presentation of his military uniform, if you asked him. But it certainly got his status across with style.[break][break]

Lately, that had become more of an obligation than a desire as he'd steadily began to take over ANVIL in full. Meetings with Felix were a bright window of nostalgia, quite frankly, taking him back to a time when his biggest priorities were teaching his protégé how to run a 10-man squadron of mercenary personnel in a standard assault of four.[break][break]

Ahh... the good old days, right?

[break][break]

"Fix-It!" He calls from the reception with a bold smile, smoothing out a few wrinkles from his jacket's sleeve as he walks past a bowing host. The restaurant's front staff had gotten to know him well over the past couple of weeks. Big spender; big tips.[break][break]

A waiter hurries to their table to pull out his chair and, naturally, he produces a bill from his inner jacket pocket to thank her. "You haven't been here long, have you? There are better ways to spend your time than ensuring our date goes perfectly, you know." He winks at Felix, settling into his chair after.[break][break]

"The usual, sir?"[break][break]

He nods, and the waiter tends to his subordinate next before departing.

[break]

After shifting a look to check her out as she leaves, Belial turns back to Felix and smiles. "How's tricks?" He asks, reaching out for his glass of water.[break][break]

+ pog

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"You're not on the list," Belial says with a stern look in his eyes, staring down a trio of juiceheads in cheesy suits and sunglasses. Behind him, the looming figure of his MACHOKE stands with its arms crossed. It, too, had donned a cheap suit for the pokejob at hand.[break][break]

"Tsk. Don't you know who I am? Do you understand how many followers I have on the Pokegram? I could end your career right now, buddy." The man at the center sneers, reaching forward for the list and clipboard in Belial's hand. "Give me that. I'll point out my name for you."[break][break]

Such a bold and aggressive action, however, only resulted in pain for the man. After Belial had slapped the hand aside with the back of his clipboard and pivoted away, the Machoke seized the man's arm with a single palm and forced him into SUBMISSION.[break][break]

His GUTS were enough to scare the other two from jumping in as well and, when Belial gave him the order, Brontes the Machoke released the main idiot from his grasp and shoved them out of line.[break][break]

+ POKJOB: SLATEPORT CLUBBING

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The Charmander chased after the sight of leaping Finneon from the river nearby. In a desperate attempt to catch one, it took a SLASH at the air. Surprisingly, it succeeded in striking one and casting it towards the muddy bank nearby.[break][break]

Before the reptile had a chance to descend upon its prey with its teeth, however, Belial drew out a heavy ball from his pack and swiftly cast it. "No food until you've finished your training for the day."[break][break]

+ catching finneon[break][break]

〚 captures 〛teddiursa, finneon

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The fog had grown thick in the thriving forests of the Safari Zone. With the flap and hoot of a Hoothoot's wings, however, it cleared up rather quickly (DEFOG). Angus marveled at the sight.[break][break]

Belial, in the meantime, narrowed his eyes suspiciously when he sensed they were being watched. He turned just in time to see the aforementioned Hoothoot fly out of a tree nearby.[break][break]

+ skipping[break][break]

〚 captures 〛teddiursa

[attr="class","pokeclass"]