Chapter 77: (Serious Face)
"Interesting."
Dylan's lips curled up slightly. What Archer valued certainly wasn't something ordinary.
Boom~!
A faint explosion echoed from afar. Dylan glanced in that direction, clearly indicating that the main force had already stormed the base and was fighting Team Rocket.
"You guys, leave through the back door. Go surrender and if you're sincere, you probably won't be detained for long."
Having obtained the location of the room from these Team Rocket members, Dylan spoke to the four.
"Don't do bad things anymore. Not every League trainer is as easygoing as I am."
Dylan reminded them, heading in that direction.
He had given the warning and the opportunity. If these four Team Rocket members still insisted on throwing their lives away, it wasn't his fault.
"Thank you, sir!"
"Quick, quick! Let's go."
The four got up, enduring their injuries, and hurriedly left the Team Rocket base, although they still had Pokémon capable of fighting.
But they weren't foolish. With the Pokémon League already storming in, staying there was a death sentence.
"Are we really going to surrender?"
"Are you stupid? Surrendering now means a lighter sentence. This base is doomed. When we get out of jail, we can do whatever we want."
"I've been wanting to leave this lousy Team Rocket for ages. Can't even see the sun all day. My hard-earned tan has faded. Damn it!"
"Let's go, hurry, before the League gets here."
The four helped each other, eagerly heading to surrender to Officer Jenny for the first time in their lives.
Meanwhile, Dylan, following the directions given by the four, turned a corner.
"League lapdog! Your journey ends here!"
A male and female Team Rocket member shouted righteously.
Dylan looked at the female Team Rocket member with interest. Team Rocket's black uniform was quite stylish, showing the designer had a decent sense of aesthetics.
Unlike the bizarre uniforms of later villainous organizations.
"Nidoking."
After a quick glance, Dylan called out to Nidoking.
Nidoking bared its teeth and stepped forward.
And then...
"Damn! How can they be so strong!"
The male Team Rocket member fell to his knees, pounding the ground in frustration.
"Don't come any closer! I don't want to be turned into a puff by Nidoking!"
The female Team Rocket member, pale and trembling, stared in terror at the approaching Nidoking.
"???"
Dylan, walking behind Nidoking, gave the fairly pretty and well-built female Team Rocket member a peculiar look.
What kind of inappropriate stuff does this woman watch?
"You're too weak. Get a proper job. Why join an evil organization?"
Dylan shook his head, continuing with Nidoking and Salazzle.
Along the way, they encountered several more Team Rocket members. However, all were easily defeated by Nidoking and Salazzle.
Most of these Team Rocket members were sensible enough to step aside after losing, letting Dylan pass.
No one wanted to test the power of a Pokémon on their own body.
Although Team Rocket was evil, they weren't stupid. Fighting Pokémon after being defeated would be suicidal.
Some were even accidentally injured by the battle's aftermath, and Dylan could only say they were unlucky.
A famous philosopher once said, "To step over an ant without killing it is a difficult power to master."
Similarly, defeating them while ensuring their safety was also challenging.
"This guy!"
In the control room, a Team Rocket member watched the surveillance footage of the rampaging dark-clad youth, his face red with anger.
This was their base, yet this guy strolled around like it was nothing. Didn't Team Rocket care about their reputation?
And he was mocking them!
Seeing the youth smile at the camera and flash a peace sign made the Team Rocket member grit his teeth in anger.
Are you clocking in? Damn it!!!
"Looks like this is it."
Dylan didn't even glance at the limping Team Rocket members fleeing. He focused on the small, locked room ahead.
The steel door looked sturdy. Dylan took a step back, examining it.
"Nidoking, open the door."
Nidoking roared, lowered its head, and rammed into the door.
With a loud crash, the steel door shattered. Nidoking clawed at the remaining pieces, clearing the way.
"Good job."
Dylan praised Nidoking, entering the room.
The room was small, with a black safe in the corner being the most eye-catching item.
"Nidoking." Dylan hesitated but then asked Nidoking to act again. He didn't know the password.
Nidoking's claws glowed with a dark aura, using a Dark-type move, Hell Thrust.
With a few slashes, the safe broke open.
"It's really a Poké Ball." Dylan glanced inside, seeing only an ordinary red and white Poké Ball.
"What kind of Pokémon is it?"
Dylan curiously took the Poké Ball, turning it around. It looked unremarkable.
But since Archer valued it so much, it had to be extraordinary.
"Come out."
Dylan decided to open the Poké Ball.
A flash of white light revealed a black Pokémon before him.
Seeing this Pokémon, Dylan was shocked. Its appearance was unforgettable, instantly recognizable.
No way, how could this Pokémon be here?
Thoughts raced through Dylan's mind. It didn't make sense. Team Rocket, though the underworld ruler of Kanto, hadn't extended their reach to other regions yet.
Wait...
Dylan suddenly remembered the man he saw in the Vermilion City hotel, and everything became clear.
No way?
Thinking of that possibility, Dylan was stunned. Was that guy so weak that he lost his Pokémon?
The black Pokémon stood silently, head down, its aura weak and spirit low.
"Oh my, young man, sneaking into someone else's base and taking their stuff is quite rude, you know?"
A lazy voice suddenly came from the doorway, carrying a chilling undertone.
Dylan looked up. A green-haired, handsome young man stood there, one of Team Rocket's high-ranking officers, Proton, whom Dylan had met on the S.S. Anne.
The black Pokémon also looked at Proton, blue eyes filled with complex emotions. It was him!
"Young man, that belongs to Team Rocket. Could you return it to me?" Proton smiled, extending his hand to Dylan.
"Oh?"
Dylan raised an eyebrow, pocketing the Poké Ball. Adjusting his collar, he slowly spoke.
"What do you mean, Team Rocket's? This is clearly my Pokémon! If you keep talking nonsense, I won't be polite! (Serious face)"
"???" Proton's expression froze.
Are you kidding me? Am I the one talking nonsense? Can you lie any more blatantly?
Are you in Team Rocket or am I?
(End of the chapter)