Disguise

As soon as Yuga finished speaking, screams erupted from within the escort team.

The escort team was outnumbered by Team Rocket, and they were already struggling. However, Team Rocket primarily used Poison-type Pokémon, causing more and more members of the escort team and their Pokémon to become poisoned.

Hayate, who was battling with Pierce, saw that the situation was deteriorating rapidly among his subordinates. He felt a deep sense of urgency, but Pierce, like a bone maggot, clung to him, preventing him from assisting others.

"Florges! Use Aromatherapy!"

At this moment, Yuga instructed Florges.

"Florges!"

Florges nodded, and with a wave of her hands, she released pink mist that spread throughout the area. Soon, the air was filled with a soothing aroma.

Under the effects of Aromatherapy, the poisoned members of the escort team and their Pokémon quickly recovered and launched a counterattack against Team Rocket.

Hayate, who had been closely monitoring the situation, was relieved that the crisis was averted and could now focus on dealing with Pierce.

"I didn't expect Gym Leader Shimizu to be so preoccupied with our battle that he neglected others. Quite arrogant!" Ariana sneered and took out another Poké Ball.

Yuga replied with confidence, "Arrogance is not the right word, Miss Ariana. After all you can'f make me go all out."

In a battle of wits, words played their part too.

"Then I'll see how many people Gym Leader Shimizu can protect."

After saying this, Yuga watched as Ariana tossed several more Poké Balls onto the field. Once released, four new Pokémon appeared: Seviper, Vileplume, Victreebel, and Muk.

Judging by the aura exuded by these four Pokémon, they were all of the Elite level.

Yuga couldn't help but sigh in admiration. She was really worth the tittle as the Team Rocket Executives, along with their previous Pokémon, Arbok, Weavile, and Honchkrow, gave Ariana a total of seven Elite level Pokémon.

These were genuine Elite level Trainers. Unlike those pheasant Elite level Trainers Yuga had encountered before, who only had one or two Elite level Pokémon, Ariana's strength was unquestionable.

The fact that Team Rocket had been able to contend with the League for so long was no empty boast. Each of their Executives was likely on par with Ariana.

No wonder the Joy family had repeatedly emphasized that Pidgey Express needed extra help and even proposed seeking assistance from Yuga himself. If he weren't present, the members of Pidgey Express would probably not be able to stand up against Ariana.

However, Yuga was surprised that Team Rocket attached so much importance to this batch of Pokémon eggs from the Joy family. They had even deployed their highest combat power—the Executives. Yuga wondered if there was something special about these Pokémon eggs.

The four Elite level Pokémon paid no attention to Yuga and headed straight for the escort team.

"I wonder how many people Gym Leader Shimizu can save this time," Ariana said with a malicious smile. Yuga could sense the malevolence in her words.

The members of the escort team were not even close to being pseudo-Elite Trainers, let alone four Elite level Pokémon, Even one Elite level Pokémon could easily wipe them out.

Yuga gave Ariana a cold glance but didn't say a word. Instead, he took out his own Poké Balls and released Dragonite, Lapras, and Mismagius from the Shadow Space.

Yuga had six Elite level Pokémon, the same number as Ariana remaining Pokémon.

Ariana hadn't anticipated that Yuga's strength exceeded her knowledge.

"I underestimated you."

"Go save them."

Yuga instructed Dragonite, Lapras, and Florges.

The three Pokémon nodded and rushed towards the escort team.

Yuga activated his Insight ability, scanning the information of Ariana's Pokémon. However, when he saw Seviper's information, his brows furrowed, and he seemed to recall something unbelievable.

...

<<Seviper >>

Type: Poison

Ability: Infiltrator

Gender: Female

Potential: Blue

Level: 77

Moves: Wrap, Swagger, Bite, Lick, Poison Tail, Feint Attack, Smog, Glare, Sucker Punch, Poison Jab, Crunch, Wrap, Wring Out, Sludge Wave, Dark Pulse, Iron Tail.

...

Ability, Potential, and Level, all the same. Thinking about it, and then looking at its body shape and patterns, everything seemed incredibly familiar.

Coincidences did happen, but not to this extent.

"Are you Brodie?" Yuga asked, although his tone was incredibly certain.

That Seviper before him was almost identical to the one he had battled against as Brodie.

Brodie and Ariana, one male, one female. One renowned in Hoenn, the other in Kanto. But Yuga had never imagined that they were the same person.

Ariana paused for a moment upon hearing Yuga's words, then her expression shifted slightly before returning to normal.

"How did you figure it out?" Ariana didn't deny it, but she was genuinely puzzled. Her true identity was a well-guarded secret, known only to her Boss, Giovanni, and not even her fellow Executive —Proton, Petral, or Archer—were aware of it.

But now, this person before her had confidently revealed another layer of her identity. Where had her disguise faltered? Transformation and disguise were her specialties, and even Boss Giovanni himself would have a hard time recognizing her if he were unaware.

She was Ariana, and Brodie was just a false identity she had used to infiltrate Team Magma. Since she had to remain in Kanto most of the time, rumors of her in Hoenn were scarce.

Ariana couldn't have imagined that Yuga possessed the Insight ability.

Most Seviper in the world looked similar, and humans would have a hard time distinguishing them from each other without careful observation and attention to detail.

However, if their ability, level, potential, and even the moves they knew were all identical, then the matter became quite simple.

Yuga merely stared at Ariana without answering her question.

Seeing Yuga's silence, Ariana became slightly irritated.

"Now that your Pokémon aren't by your side, I wonder if you have any tricks left to protect yourself."

After a moment's thought, Ariana smiled, and a pink Ditto crawled onto her shoulder.

Ariana had two Dittos, one for transformation and one for personal protection. Both of her Dittos were exceptionally strong.

As Yuga looked at the Ditto on Ariana's shoulder, he couldn't help but wonder if her current appearance was her true one. However, he could at least be certain that her gender was female..

"Want to find out? Come and try."

Yuga said with a smile, completely unconcerned about Ariana's threat.

"If you won't accept a friendly offer, then don't blame me for not holding back."

After speaking, the Ditto on Ariana's shoulder transformed into an Ariados. Swift and agile, it leaped from the roof of a car and pounced toward Yuga.

One of Ariana's Dittos had a Elite level strength, and the other was pseudo-Elite level.

When she was Brodie, the Ditto on her face was the pseudo-Elite level one, and the one used for personal protection was the Ditto with Elite level.

But when she became Ariana, the one on her face was the Elite level one, and the personal protection one was the pseudo-Elite level.

To hide her identity from the cunning foxes like Proton, Petrel, and the others, she had to employ even more rigorous methods to conceal her true self. After all, there were power struggles even within Team Rocket, and she trusted no one except Boss Giovanni.

As for Team Magma, she had always looked down on those people.