The underground assembly room was completely silent except for Luis's inaudible screams, which seemed even louder because of the silence surrounding them.

The muffled, broken sounds echoed off the steel walls in uneven waves.

Botulinum waited several minutes. Not because he enjoyed the noise, but because a lesson needed time to sink in.

He wanted every member present to fully understand what happened to traitors. Only after he felt his point had been made did he speak.

"Okay. That's all for today. All members except the Generals are leaving now."

The moment those words were spoken, a wave of invisible relief spread through the room. but no one showed it. No one dared to.

But nearly every regular member was grateful that the "demonstration" was over.

The Company of Toxin had many advantages compared to other organizations—structure, protection, resources, internal stability.

But it also had one major disadvantage. Its punishments were always absurdly cruel and unforgettable.

Botulinum waited in silence as the regular members filed out in strict order. The heavy doors shut with a dull metallic sound, sealing the chamber.

Only the five Generals remained... and Luis.

Botulinum spoke again. "Oleander. It's too loud."

Oleander, who had been staring at him with open admiration, immediately understood what he meant. Of course she understood. How could she not understand the man she regarded as something close to divine?

Without hesitation, she stepped forward. From her Pokédex-like device, she retrieved a specialized mouthpiece and approached Luis.

Almost no one involved in illegal activities used an official Pokédex. Instead, they relied on modified devices that looked and functioned identically but prevented the Alliance from accessing or tracking them. Even some privacy-conscious non-criminal trainers preferred these altered versions.

Oleander inserted the mouthpiece into Luis's ruined mouth.

His screams continued, but now they were heavily muffled—reduced to strained, vibrating noises that were far less disturbing to the ear.

She returned to Botulinum's side with a spotless smile.

"Master," she asked softly, "did I do well?"

Botulinum looked almost bored when he replied.

"Oleander. Shut up."

There was no anger in his tone. Just indifference.

Oleander did not flinch. If anything, her smile deepened slightly.

She was not only one of his Generals—she was the strongest of them. And unquestionably the most loyal.

Botulinum valued strength and loyalty above all else and Oleander possessed both in abundance.

She completed every mission flawlessly, she never questioned an order, She never hesitated, The only inconvenience Botulinum was her need for occasional… personal reassurance.

To maintain her emotional stability and peak performance, he spent several hours each month with her in private.

Botulinum never had much interest in such activities and was only willing to give up a few hours each month of his time for it.

If Oleander had not been so strong and so absolutely loyal, he would not have allowed even that.

"Oleander" was, of course, only a code name—like all the Generals'. Each chose their own upon reaching that rank.

Her real name was Giulia Tofana and she had selected "Oleander" because she believed it suited her Master perfectly.

Beautiful, Elegant, And lethally toxic.

Now, knowing that only the five Generals, her Master, and a soon-to-be-dead man remained in the room, Oleander slowly lifted her mask from her face.

Oleander slowly lifted her mask from her face. She looked exactly like her chosen name.

Her features were refined and almost unnaturally symmetrical, her skin smooth and pale like delicate petals. Her hair flowed down in soft waves, dark red at its base and blending into a deep lilac toward the ends—like a blossom touched by twilight. The colors were rich but not loud, elegant rather than flashy.

A male General, codenamed Apex, gave a faintly sarcastic smile as he looked at Oleander's dark red and lilac hair.

"You must pay your hairdresser a fortune to dye it that perfectly."

His tone was light, but there was an edge beneath it. He reached up and removed his own mask.

Apex looked exactly like his name implied.

His face was sharply defined, with a strong jawline and high cheekbones marked by several old scars that had long since healed into pale lines. His nose had clearly been broken more than once. Thick, dark brows framed cold, calculating eyes.

Apex hair was short and black, cut close at the sides, practical and military. A faint shadow of stubble covered his jaw, giving him a permanently hardened look.

Oleander chuckled softly, the sound light and melodic—completely at odds with the tension in the room.

"Ah, Apex," she said with a sweet smile, "please don't embarrass yourself."

Her lilac-tinted strands slid over her shoulder as she tilted her head slightly. "You're not only unpleasant to look at, you're also a man who calls himself 'Apex' without understanding the meaning of the word."

Her eyes flicked briefly toward Botulinum before returning to him. "You're weaker than I am. And yet you dare compare yourself to a true apex predator—like my Master?"

She laughed quietly again. "You're fortunate he hasn't allowed me to remove you."

General Sliver let out a low chuckle at her words. Unlike the others, his laughter was subtle—controlled—but clearly amused.

Apex's jaw tightened.

He knew better than to challenge Oleander directly.So instead, his gaze shifted toward Sliver. His expression darkened.

"Hey, sissy boy" he said, irritation bleeding through his voice, "why are you laughing?"

His eyes narrowed. "How dare you, the weakest General among us, act so arrogant towards me?"

Sliver's chuckle faded into a faint smile. Without hurry, he reached up and pulled down his mask as well. At this point, it was little more than decoration. All the Generals knew each other's faces. In this room, the masks were optional.

Sliver revealed a strikingly handsome face.

His features were smooth and refined, almost aristocratic. Clear, pale skin without a single visible scar. Sharp silver hair framed his face and his eyes were a cool gray, calm and observant, always seeming to know more than he revealed.

Unlike Apex's rugged, battle-worn masculinity, Sliver's presence was elegant and controlled. His build was lean rather than bulky, his posture relaxed yet perfectly balanced.

Sliver's faint smile widened just slightly, though his eyes remained cool and measured.

"Apex," he began smoothly, "first of all, I am the second weakest. Not the weakest. Accuracy matters."

He brushed a strand of silver hair back with calm elegance.

"Second, just because you are the least pleasant to look at among us does not make you more of a man than me."

"And lastly," he continued, his gray eyes sharpening, "you are perfectly average in strength—exactly in the middle of the five of us. Yet you are the oldest trainer here."

Sliver finished quietly, "That makes you the least promising trainer long term. So I would advise you, to remain silent."

*******

if the story gets 150 powerstones in 24 hours, I will upload 1 bonus chapter tomorrow.

-----

If you want to see the next chapters (30+ chapters) earlier or just want to support me 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

https://www.--/alex02373