Pokemon: Master of tactics

The next day, Alex, his subordinates and the rookies had gathered in the underground hall just like the first day.

Of the initial 100 participants, only 40 were there remaining.

Usually, more than two-thirds of the 100 Rookies would be alive on the last day. But because of Alex, that was not the case anymore.

The rookies, who took the Pokéball with A-rank talent Pokémon from Alex, had to conquer their Pokémon within three days or that they would otherwise "die".

As a result, an unbelievably large number of rookies died desperately trying to control their Pokémon.

But what they didn't know is that Alex never planned to kill the participants who failed to control their A-rank Pokémon after 3 days. Instead, he would send them to a different base so that all other rookies would think that they had died.

But out of 55 rookies who chose an A-rank Pokémon, only 12 survived after 3 days.. And of those 12, 11 managed to control their Pokémon.

So, Alex only had to send one of these 55 rookies to another base.

More than half of the participants had chosen to conquer an A-rank Pokémon, which is generally more difficult—especially if you don't have any other Pokémon.

Although the number of dead is much higher, the number of trainers who managed to control their Pokémon is also higher.

Of the 100 participants, 21 trainers managed to conquer their Pokémon, more than when Alex had participated in the rookie test.

Alex looked at the 40 participants in the room and said with a stern voice, "The rookies—who did not manage to conquer their Pokémon—will follow the subordinate to my right. He will explain to you everything regarding your future."

A subordinate led the 19 rookies, and soon, the crowd had been halved.

These rookies would soon become Team Rocket Lackeys—the lowest rank in Team Rocket.

Alex didn't want to explain the situation of these useless participants to them personally, obviously. That's why he gave his subordinate this task.

He didn't want to waste his time with trash, who would rather take a safe route and be a Lackey instead of risking their lives to become a trainer.

Alex looked at the remaining 21 rookies and began speaking again. "Now that the garbage has been taken away, I will explain the rules of the tournament to you."

"It's quite simple, actually. I've made a list where I have estimated how strong you are compared to other rookies. But because that's just an estimation, everyone gets a chance to challenge someone from the top 10 and steal their rank. If the challenger is successful, he will swap rank with the person he has defeated. But should the challenger lose, we will automatically deduct 100 TR points from him or her. After each fight, both participants have the right to go to the Team Rocket Pokémon Centre to heal their Pokémon for free."

Alex paused for a moment and said with a deep voice, "This quasi tournament also has rules, so you better be careful not to break them if you don't want me to break some part of your body too. There are only two simple rules that even the stupidest of you can understand."

"1: It is forbidden to attack a trainer in any way.

2: it is also forbidden to attack a Pokémon that's already passed out."

"Simple, isn't it? Now, the list of top 10 rookies is as follows."

1: Elise

2: Arthur

3: Jasper

4: Simon

5: Baris

.....

Alex had only changed the top 3. He didn't know much about other members, so it didn't make sense for him to interfere with them.

Most of the 11 participants who received the A-Rank Pokémon from Alex showed serious faces.

One of Alex's prerequisites was that they had to be, at least, in the top 10 after two weeks. Or else, they would also be killed by Alex's Crobat.

After hearing how one person—who didn't manage to conquer his Pokémon within three days—had suddenly disappeared, others were sure that he had become the food of this cruel Instructor's bloodthirsty Crobat.

Only the top 4 did not have any worry. All of the top 4 had chosen the A-rank Pokémon from Alex, and it was almost impossible that they would lose their place in the top 10.

Participants with A-rank Pokémon, who are not in the top 10, would not waste their single chance by challenging the strongest trainers in their group.

Of 11 rookies with A-rank Pokémon, 8 are in the top 10. So that means 3, who are outside the top 10, would lose their lives if they don't manage to enter the top 10.

Alex had the feeling that ranks 10, 9 and 8 would see the most fights.

He showed an emotionless expression as he said, "Participants—not in the top 10—now have the chance to make a challenge. If nobody in the top 10 wants to make a challenge now, you will not get another chance later on."

Although it was not a rule, Alex didn't plan to waste a lot of time with weak trainers, so he added this rule.

A smart trainer would always like to be the last one to make a challenge. Alex wanted to force them to sooner to not waste much time.

Maybe only trainers who were much stronger than the rest of them won't need such assurance in their test, like Alex and Maria.

Of the 11 participants outside the top 10, only the 3 rookies, who have A-rank Pokémon, wanted to challenge one of the top 10.

For the other 8, the risk of losing TRP 100 is not small, and the reward of a 9th or 10th rank is not worth taking this risk.

Only the 3 A-rank Pokémon Rookie needed to enter the top 10 list.

After Alex said his last statement, for a few seconds, silence had taken its place.

It seemed that none of these 3 A-rank Pokémon rookies wanted to fight first.

Alex looked at the hesitant faces as if he was looking at garbage as he said, "Hmm... I see. If nobody gives a challenge in 5 seconds, I will continue with the top 10 fights. 5..4..3..2-"

A rookie with an A-rank Pokémon couldn't help and said out loud, "STOP. I'm challenging number 10."

Soon, the rookie and the number 10 began a very close fight.

The number 10 was a rookie who hadn't taken an A-rank Pokémon from Alex, so he wasn't as desperate as the challenger rookie and his Pokémon.

In the end, the challenger rookie defeated the number 10 with a very close call.

The rookie looked like he saw the light out of the tunnel as he celebrated his victory.

Unfortunately, two other A-rank participants also wanted his position.

In the end, these two A-rank participants found themselves in a desperate fight for the low places of the top 10.

Two fights later, Alex looked at the two lifeless trainers sitting on the floor.

He said with an evil smirk, "You know, it doesn't seem that you have bad strength. It would really be a waste if you had to die so early, don't you think?"

The two rookies sitting lifeless on the floor seem to have heard Alex's words and started looking at Alex with a pleading expression.

Alex smiled deeply as he said, "Ok, I'll let you live but not for free. 70,000 Pokédollars in 1 year was one of the prerequisites for rookies who got an A-rank Pokémon from me.

I'll let you live and even make you a Team Rocket member. But you have to get me 140,000 Pokédollars in 1 year, or it would mean that you have betrayed the Team Rocket."

Although Alex's smile seemed like a devil's smile to the two rookies, they were still relieved.

Although they might have to do many dangerous missions or need good luck in the wilderness to gather 140,000 Pokédollars in 1 year, it was better than dying.

Alex doubled the amount because these two rookies had wasted his time, And also because he didn't want to show any kindness in Team Rocket.

Though reason 1 was the main reason why he did that.

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