"Oh, my, my~ I really didn't expect to have an opportunity like this one day."
A high-spirited boy with spiky hair gently spun a Poké Ball in his hand. He looked at the Silph Co. headquarters building not far away. His goal was clear. He walked decisively toward the building.
"Blue! If we follow the plan, we're supposed to check the area around the building for top-level Team Rocket Executives first, right?"
Ethan shouted at Blue's back. But looking at Blue's behavior, it was clear he was charging straight for the Silph Co. building.
"It's too dangerous for you to go in alone. There are definitely many top-level Executives inside. What if you get surrounded?"
Ethan's worry made sense. Anyone with a brain understood that the Silph Co. building was the most dangerous part of this "Saffron City Raid."
"Tch~ Yours truly has no interest in playing with small fry. If I'm going to fight, I want the strong ones."
Blue scoffed. He continued to walk toward the Silph building with an arrogant, defiant swagger.
"Top-level Executives? Yours truly wants to see if they can even stand their ground in front of me."
The boy's arrogant words made Ethan's eyelids jump. How should he put it? If anyone else said this, it would be weird, but because it was Blue, it wasn't strange at all. Blue was just that arrogant.
Although he had lost to Red in the semi-finals, it was only the semi-finals. It wasn't the same as the original story where he became Champion only to be immediately defeated by Red, which would have crushed his spirit.
After his loss, Blue's pride had lessened a bit, but the arrogance in his bones remained.
Do you even know who I am? Blue Oak!
If Team Rocket's top-level Executives were Champion-level, then he would fight them!
"You guys go play with the regular Team Rocket members. Watch how yours truly hunts those top-level Executives."
Blue casually opened a Poké Ball, and a majestic, strong Arcanine appeared at his side.
He was going to catch the top-level ones!!
As for whether he would be jumped after entering the building, Blue had indeed thought about that, but he was very confident.
He had Pidgeot, Arcanine, and Alakazam. Pidgeot flew very fast, Arcanine had Extreme Speed, and Alakazam could use Teleport instantly.
If the Team Rocket Executives tried to surround him unfairly, he could escape immediately.
So, although Blue looked arrogant, he wasn't actually stupid.
"Another thick page is about to be added to the legendary life of yours truly! Hahaha~!"
Watching Blue disappear from sight, Ethan was too tired to even complain. But that was just Blue's personality. Ethan couldn't do anything about it.
"Red, is it really okay to let him go like that? It's far too risky."
Ethan spoke with concern. Who knew how many top-level Executives were in that building?
"…We can't stop Blue."
Red was silent for a moment, then shook his head and spoke softly. As childhood friends, he knew Blue too well. So, he didn't even plan to try and convince him.
Anyway, this final battle with Team Rocket wasn't a life-or-death struggle. Even if Blue was captured, he wouldn't be in danger. Let him go and play. If he lost face, it would be his own fault.
"Emm... okay. Then let's go look around and see if there are any top-level Executives nearby." Ethan shrugged.
"I wonder where Silver went. As soon as we arrived, he vanished."
Ethan actually hoped everyone would stick together because it was safer. However, Silver had disappeared at some point, and now Blue was heading to the Silph building alone.
"And what about Ash? Red, didn't Ash say he would come too?"
Red went silent again. His brows were tightly knit. This was actually what he was most worried about.
It was strange. He had sent messages to Ash, and Ash replied saying he was already in Saffron City. But since he was already here, why didn't he come to meet up with them?
Ash...
Red felt worried. For some reason, he had a faint, bad feeling in his heart.
"Forget it, Red. Let's go. We'll check out Zone 3."
Ethan looked at the small map provided by the Kanto League. Zone 3 was a name temporarily given to an area to make communication and support easier. Officer Jenny Mio had divided the city into ten zones with the Silph Co. building as the center.
But before moving into the building, they had to take the nine zones outside of it.
Zone 6
"Hahaha~ Weak! You're all too weak! Do League trainers only have this much skill?"
Archie laughed wildly. In front of him, his Guzzlord used its flexible pincers and tongues to knock away another Arcanine with a Dragon Claw.
"How dare you be so arrogant!!"
Officer Jenny's face was red with anger. Seeing this high-ranking Team Rocket Executive mocking them made her chest heave with frustration.
But the people on this side were truly no match for Archie. His strength was among the top even for the Elite Four level.
"Ice Beam."
A swift beam of icy light cut through the air, aimed straight at Archie's Guzzlord.
"Guzzlord!"
Archie reacted immediately and ordered Guzzlord to defend. Its pincers glowed with black light to meet the attack, using Throat Chop.
To everyone's surprise, the Throat Chop could not break through the icy light. Instead, the pincer was quickly frozen.
Archie's expression changed.
"Really, Archie. This isn't our Hoenn region. Showing off like this is so inelegant."
A calm voice spoke. A green-haired young man in a white cape walked over with elegant steps. Beside him was a beautiful Milotic.
"Wallace!" Archie grit his teeth.
"Yes, it seems you are everywhere," Archie said, staring at Wallace with hostility.
"Perhaps it is fate. To a fellow who bullies the weak, I—as the righteous artist of water—shall deliver judgment."
Wallace gave a slight nod to Officer Jenny and the others. He maintained his elegant smile and spoke calmly.
So cool!!
The eyes of Officer Jenny and the other League trainers lit up. There had always been rumors that Wallace was the world's strongest Master-class Coordinator. Seeing him today, the rumors were true!
"Mr. Wallace, you arrived just in time."
Officer Jenny let out a sigh of relief.
"You're welcome. Officer Jenny, please go ahead and capture the other Team Rocket members. Leave this person to me," Wallace replied with a smile.
"Tch~ You sure are arrogant, Wallace."
Archie was extremely annoyed, but he had no way to argue.
"However, hehe~ Consider it your bad luck."
Archie grinned, his expression turning cruel.
"Oh? Do you have an objection? Archie." Wallace looked at him with a half-smile.
"Lady Rosa! There's a Champion-level Trainer here!"
Archie shouted toward the distance.
Wallace felt a chill in his heart. His eyes immediately became serious.
It was a top-level Executive of Team Rocket!
When he saw the top-level Executive arriving, Wallace's eyes instantly lit up.
It was a girl with hair tied into two buns. She wore a black vest with a large red 'R' on the left chest, a black short skirt, and black stockings.
Wallace recognized her immediately. It was Rosa, the Unova Champion.
"Where? Where is the Champion? This is Wallace from Hoenn."
Rosa walked over. Her eyes locked onto Wallace, and her beautiful, innocent face immediately broke into a large, cute smile.
"Not bad, Archie. Good job. After I take this one down, I'll share some merit points with you."
Rosa giggled and praised Archie. The top-level Executives all wore Bluetooth headsets and shared the same channel.
Both Rosa and Wallace thought the exact same thing at the same time.
Archie grinned. He didn't rush to leave. He wanted to watch how Wallace would be defeated.
"If I'm not mistaken, you are Miss Rosa, the Unova Champion, right?"
Wallace straightened his back. His face was very serious.
"As a League Champion, to actually stand on the opposite side of the League... Champion Rosa, do you really know what you are doing?"
"Of course I know." Rosa tilted her head, still smiling.
"I was already a top-level Executive of Team Rocket before I became Champion, Mr. Wallace. Team Rocket is my second home."
The Poké Ball in her hand opened. A noble and cold Serperior landed in front of Rosa.
"Let's stop talking about useless things. I was worried about where to find you League Champions. I didn't expect such good luck."
"Praise be to Damian~"
Rosa cute-ly put her hands together. Her playful tone made Wallace's eyelids jump.
"If I capture you, Mr. Wallace, I can get 20,000 merit points. Hehe~ It's a pity, Mr. Wallace, that you aren't the Hoenn Champion anymore."
"I see."
Wallace narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You've targeted me? Are you serious? You are making Wallace your prey?"
Wallace raised his head with absolute confidence.
"I can only tell you, junior, that you picked the wrong target!"
"Oh? You seem powerful. I wonder how you compare to Senior Alder, Mr. Wallace?"
"To be honest, my battle for the Championship wasn't very hard. Since you are the former Hoenn Champion, let me learn a thing or two from you."
Rosa tilted her head, her arrogant expression softened slightly.
Even though Zinnia said Wallace's strength was average—about the same as Alder, maybe a little stronger, but basically the same—Wallace was still a Water-type Champion.
But seeing Wallace like this, could it be that he had hidden his true strength before?
"Wayward junior, then as your senior, I shall teach you! I will show you what the Phantom Dance of Water is!"
Wallace flicked his white cape, looking full of energy.
Yes, he was confident in himself. He was no longer the man he used to be. Over the past six months, he had made remarkable progress.
Even defeating Alder and reaching the top, Rosa couldn't match Wallace's experience.
After being captured by Team Rocket several times before, Wallace had trained a brand-new, powerful Water-type ace!
The current Wallace was completely different.
A mere junior who defeated Alder thinks she can handle Wallace? Ridiculous.
This time, he would clear his shame! He would capture this top-level Executive of Team Rocket to prove himself!
"Mr. Wallace, should we call for backup?" Officer Jenny asked.
"No need to worry, Officer Jenny." Wallace raised his hand calmly.
Then, Wallace looked at Rosa and spoke four words with calm confidence.
"I will win."
Steven, just watch. Starting today, I will never be a Team Rocket prisoner again!!