A gust of wind and water forces him to hold tight and shut up for a moment as her Swanna makes an evasive maneuver. Frankly, he's not used to (or all that comfortable) being the rescued. But his rescuer is a knockout, so he can bear it for a little while longer.

The fact that she curses so openly is a plus.

"Woah!" He awes as they blow the BASCULEGION out of the water. As their ride descends upon the shore, Belial releases her from his arms and slides off the swan's smooth back before effortlessly landing on his feet. "That was one hell of a ride... can we go again?" He smirks.

Meanwhile, nearby, CHAI the MIENSHAO beats the sea monster belly up with a several DRAIN PUNCH.

MISSION + ana fell

☉

Belial's devilish smirk widens, clearly proud of his second-in-command's response. There was certainly more to this. There always was with jobs like this. But what was one more to line their pockets with gold?[break][break]

"It will be," He answers, eyes flicking towards the waiter across the room who brings his food. "And we start tomorrow. I'll fill you in on the details over dinner." The man adds, spreading his table cloth over his lap in preparation. "For now, let's enjoy this."

Training S.P.E.C.T.R.A. was bound to be ANVIL's greatest (albeit hidden) achievement yet. There was a lot riding on this than just his pride or wealth. His reputation as an heir to the Stone fortune was on the line as well. Ever confident, however, Belial was ready to take the challenge once and for all.[break][break]

FIN

[break]

+ ...

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

A SHINY FOMANTIS busies itself nibbling away at a giant monstera plant. Sneaking up to it is easy enough for Circe. When the Spewpa unleashes a STRING SHOT to try and immobilize the opposing bug, however, it is detected almost immediately. The Fomantis spins around and unleashes a defensive X-SCISSOR, shredding the web into pieces before it has a chance to be strung.

Just as it is about to launch itself forward and continue with an attack, however, it is momentarily distracted by Belial's sharp whistle. This gives Circe enough time to close the distance in a single leap, latching itself to the Fomantis with a BUG BITE. Like a dog with a rag doll, it shreds its target violently before Belial produces an empty ball and attempts a capture.

---

✨ catching shiny fomantis
🎟️ using a WARDEN'S TICKET

SAFARI ZONE + CIRCE

☉

It'd been some time since he'd visited the Safari Zone. Even so, as always, ANVIL need restocking. Pokémon were the lifeblood of his business, after all. Soldiers that often needed repair... or replacement.

Purchasing a premium WARDEN'S TICKET, Belial intended to capture only the strongest today. Dressed in a fur-lined coat, black shirt, black trousers, and hiking boots, he explores the wilderness ahead. CIRCE the SHINY SPEWPA, in the meantime, remains clung to his shoulder. Their eyes remain ever vigilant.

---

➼ searching...
🎟️ using a WARDEN'S TICKET

SAFARI ZONE + CIRCE

☉

Ghosts? Well, if Ghost-type Pokémon were any indication, ghosts were real. But human spirits existing in the real world? The spooky ones from campfire stories and childhood sleepovers?

He scoffs.

"No way," The man answers with a smirk. "If spirits were real, I'd probably have an entire cult haunting me by this point. As things are, I sleep sounder than a baby who just had a glass of whiskey."

Leaves crunch beneath his boots as they walk through the forest. He hops up onto a fallen log and walks across it in perfect balance as they continue. "How about you, Summer? Do you think some killer spirit is watching your every move? My hand is yours to hold if you'd like, you know." Belial winks, hopping off the log shortly thereafter and offering it.

MISSION + Summer Atreides

☉

She's playful, and Belial certainly likes that. It's obvious that she's reveling in the attention, too, though he had certainly experience with the dark underbelly of that trait. Even so, it doesn't keep him from his flirtations.

"Ah, that sounds... pleasant." The Stone remarks, casting his gaze back upward and trying not to look too disappointed by the fact. As the head of a security company, who had bodyguards for hire, the idea of one having a 'movie night' with their client was taboo. Though he couldn't say he blamed them, in Amber's case.

Sure enough, almost as if she'd read a piece of his mind, she asks what he does. And, after setting his gaze back upon her, he responds. "I run a security company: ANVIL. Your bodyguard probably knows about us."

AHOGADO + Amber Lenoir

☉

Belial smirks, happy to take the lead. Offering was only the polite thing to do, after all. Much like riding passenger in a car, the idea of being a follower made him feel something akin to being car-sick. He hadn't done so for nearly over a decade. It was uncomfortable pretending.

Thankful, too, for the fiery illumination from Summer's Emboar, Belial turns in the direction they're meant to head and spins a finger in the air with a short whistle. This prompts his Gliscor to snap its gaze in his direction, after which it is directed to scout the area ahead of them with a simple hand gesture.

"So... I heard this cabin we're going to has a pretty bloody past. You wouldn't have happened to hear anything about it, would you?"

MISSION + Summer Atreides

☉

The Stone's trademark toothy smirk cuts across his face sharp. They'd be in tough spots before, hadn't they? Belial had never been one to turn down from a challenge he didn't think they could handle. Especially when the compensation involved was oh so sweet.[break][break]

"About what you'd expect," Belial responds, leaning back into his chair. "Someone in Declan Walsh's high command put up the idea and got it approved. We've been asked to train their little cabal of boy and girl scouts using real world experience and a packet of precisely compiled intel."[break][break]

His choice of wording, of course, carried meaning behind them. Team Rocket wasn't going to tell them everything. ANVIL was, after all, still an outsider. But surely that wouldn't stop the two of them from pulling the curtain back anyway. And, when it came to pulling curtains back, Fix-It was the man.[break][break]

+ ...

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"Go big or go home, right? Going grand runs in my family, apparently." Though he was sure she knew, considering her own familial background. At her next remark, however, the man simply smirks— pausing briefly to admire the view  from up high for a little while longer.

Eventually, he stops being so smug and jumps down from the ledge, his boots landing with dull thuds on the ground below. Straightening in posture, and straightening the cuff of his jacket sleeve, he saunters closer to her. "Would you like to take point tonight? Or shall I? Ladies choice." He adds, a gleam of excited anticipation within the fox-like shape of his eyes.

MISSION + Summer Atreides

☉