"Damn it, where did this random little squad come from? They've got way too much nerve. I never thought our Third Division's Sacred Flame plan would be ruined by these idiots!"
As the reckless and overbold Team Rocket trio caused chaos while trying to steal the Sacred Flame, the true Team Rocket Third Division hidden in the shadows was currently filled with hatred toward Jessie and the others' actions, because they were simply making a complete mess of things.
They never expected another Team Rocket group would also attempt to steal the League's flame seed. The sudden intrusion of the reckless trio had disrupted the Third Division's original plan to seize Moltres' flame.
As for why they were going through so much trouble to steal the tournament Sacred Flame from the main venue, it was because the owner of this flame was not an ordinary Moltres, but the Moltres who served as the God of Fire in the Orange Archipelago.
Because of that, this flame carried a trace of divinity and might even have developed self-awareness.
If Team Rocket could successfully seize this flame from the League, they might be able to use it for research and clone even more powerful artificial Moltres.
Although Team Rocket did not expect those artificial Moltres to rival the Moltres that served as the God of Fire, they still had high hopes that they could at least surpass ordinary-bloodline Moltres.
By that point, they could extract the most active blood from ordinary Moltres for cultivation and use it to clone even stronger artificial Moltres, eventually creating an entire Moltres army.
"Forget it. We originally intended to take a bit of a risk to steal this flame, but unfortunately the plan has already been exposed ahead of time because of those three idiots. There's no need for you to blame yourselves. Withdraw first so the League officials don't catch any evidence."
Just as the Third Division was still hesitating over whether to assist Jessie and the others, a figure suddenly emerged from the hidden passage behind them. The person wore a white lab coat, a mask, and had messy gray hair. Judging from the physique, he appeared to be a young man.
"We're terribly sorry, Professor Hemlock. We never expected there would be someone so stupid!"
The squad captain leading the team bowed apologetically. He had never imagined the flame-stealing plan would be ruined so easily by the Jessie trio.
"It's fine. I never really expected you people to steal the flame anyway. After all, that guy is also present at the Indigo Plateau main venue..."
The gray-haired young man spoke indifferently, casually waving his hand as if it didn't matter. He completely ignored the gloomy expression on the captain's face as the latter bowed before him. The captain had not expected the gray-haired young man to look down on them so much.
But if the Third Division truly had absolute confidence in stealing the flame, they would not still be hiding in this deserted corner observing the situation. They would have acted long before the Jessie trio.
The gray-haired young man cast a hateful glance toward Red below the stage. The moment he noticed Red turning his head as if to observe the surroundings, he immediately withdrew his killing intent to avoid his presence being detected.
To prevent any accidents, the gray-haired young man extended his right hand and morphed it into Hypno's hand while releasing psychic power to interfere with the surrounding area, using it to evade Red's observation.
The Third Division was visibly horrified by the sight before them. They could not imagine how a human could morph part of their body into a Pokémon's arm.
"You'll all obediently forget everything that just happened!"
The gray-haired young man's eyes gradually turned azure blue. His entire body slowly morphed into Hypno's form as he used Hypnosis on the Third Division, making them forget the fact that he himself was a Pokémon.
(It seems I won't be able to complete the master's plan. None of these Team Rocket trash can be relied upon!)
"We of Team Rocket are taking Moltres' flame!"
Standing atop the main venue stage, Jessie declared smugly.
"In your dreams!" Ash immediately shouted back as he rushed forward with Pikachu, intending to stop Jessie and the others.
"Go, Weezing!"
Seeing Ash trying to interfere, James immediately threw out a Poké Ball. The released Weezing used Smokescreen, obscuring everyone's vision.
"Moltres' flame already belongs to us now."
After speaking, Jessie turned around and ignited the flame seed atop the Sacred Flame altar. Immediately afterward, the Team Rocket trio ran into their self-made grasshopper-shaped mech, controlling it to hoist the entire Sacred Flame altar onto its back, intending to steal Moltres' flame right in front of everyone in the main venue.
"Damn it, can they really steal the Sacred Flame?!"
The gray-haired young man hidden in the shadows said in surprise as he turned to look at the unconscious Third Division members lying on the ground, helplessly shaking his head.
"Forget it..."
"Let's grab whatever Pokémon we can while we're here!" Meowth suggested.
"You don't need to tell me, I'm already doing it. Prepare... go!" James said as he pushed the control lever of the grasshopper mech, causing it to perform a gigantic leap and land in the main stadium.
Because of the grasshopper mech's sudden intrusion, some contestants panicked in fear and temporarily forgot to send out their Pokémon to battle.
However, most rational trainers chose to observe because this was the League's official main venue. There was no way they would allow the Team Rocket trio to act so recklessly.
But Ash's hot-blooded nature could no longer wait. He directly sent out Bulbasaur to battle, only for the Team Rocket trio to use the Sacred Flame atop the platform to burn away Bulbasaur's Razor Leaf attack, forcing Ash into a corner.
"Damn it, that reckless idiot Ash! Why is he being so impulsive?!"
Seeing this scene, Gary anxiously prepared to send out Blastoise.
"I hope you won't disappoint me, Sacred Flame..."
Red murmured softly as his eyes gradually turned azure blue. He used psychic power to ensure Ash would not truly get hurt.
"Run away already, Ash!"
From the audience stands, Brock shouted anxiously, urging Ash to leave quickly.
"I'd rather die than run! This place... this is the Indigo Plateau Conference we've Pokémon trainers dreamed about even in our sleep! This is the battlefield where we wager the dignity of Pokémon trainers! I absolutely will not run away from here!"
Ash shouted passionately. His fiery declaration ignited the flames in the hearts of many trainers present, and all of them looked at Ash with admiration.
But how could the Team Rocket trio possibly be intimidated by Ash's words? They immediately controlled the flames atop the Sacred Flame altar and prepared to attack Ash.
Seeing this, Red also instantly used psychic power, wrapping Ash, Pikachu, and Bulbasaur in protection to prevent them from being harmed by the flames.
Fortunately, Red's worries proved unnecessary. The Sacred Flame rushing toward Ash did not burn him. Instead, it gave birth to consciousness and transformed into the shape of Moltres. The flame-formed Moltres spread its fiery wings and crashed toward the grasshopper mech, turning the Team Rocket trio into shooting stars.
After the grasshopper mech was destroyed, the Sacred Flame altar cleverly fell back into the distance. Moltres also returned to the altar shortly afterward, once more becoming the tournament Sacred Flame of this Indigo Plateau Conference.
"Now then, the opening ceremony will resume. First, President Charles Goodshow will deliver the opening address!" the announcer declared.
Under everyone's gaze, President Charles Goodshow slowly stepped onto the oath platform of the main venue, solemnly looking at the contestants gathered below.
"The Pokémon League is a place where people who truly love Pokémon compete and battle against one another. The Sacred Flame... the flames of Moltres are protecting us."
"All Pokémon trainers, please fight honorably and leave behind no regrets in your battles!"