Tyranitar looked deeply at Ariel, its massive head slowly bowing, signifying acquiescence and trust.
The agreement was reached.
However, the atmosphere did not relax; instead, it fell into an even stranger state of stagnation.
Ariel stood where he was, motionless.
His gaze remained sharp, as if evaluating a precision weapon about to be in his possession, scrutinizing every detail of Tyranitar while waiting for the transaction to complete.
Time ticked away, second by second.
Tyranitar's massive body shifted somewhat unnaturally, its rock-like skin rubbing against the ground with a rustling sound.
A low rumble emitted from its throat, and it averted its gaze, no longer meeting Ariel's eyes.
Ariel frowned slightly.
"What is going on?"
The deal had been settled; why was there still no movement?
Delaying was meaningless.
In his view, this should have been an efficient and direct process.
He had even mentally prepared the necessary arrangements and initial hatching plans for after he obtained the Pokémon egg.
But now, everything was stuck at this first step.
Tyranitar's breathing became heavy, and its massive claws scratched the ground unconsciously, appearing restless.
Nearby, Yuki already had fine beads of sweat seeping from her forehead.
She looked at her master's perpetually stoic face, then at the Tyranitar that was about to dig a hole in the ground. Finally, unable to hold back, she steeled herself and approached.
"Master Ruth..."
Yuki's voice was extremely low, like the buzzing of a mosquito.
Ariel's gaze shifted from Tyranitar to Yuki's face, a hint of inquiry in his eyes.
"Um... could you please step out for a moment?"
Yuki mustered her courage and suggested in a low voice.
Ariel's brow furrowed even tighter.
"Step out? Why?"
The transaction was not yet complete; as the recipient, he should be present.
Yuki watched Ariel's completely bewildered expression and sighed inwardly.
Her master was an undisputed genius in combat and strategy, but in this regard, he was infuriatingly dense.
She had no choice but to lean into Ariel's ear again, quickly explaining in a whisper that only the two of them could hear.
After hearing this, Ariel's expression went blank for a moment.
"Embarrassed?"
"Pokémon laying eggs, being watched makes them embarrassed?"
"What kind of reasoning is that?"
Countless data points about Pokémon habits flashed through his mind, yet he had never seen such a note in any book.
So, even a powerful Tyranitar could experience such emotions at a moment like this?
Ariel's mouth twitched imperceptibly, and a rare emotion flashed through his mind.
He glanced at the restless behemoth and finally understood the source of its anxiety.
He said nothing, simply turning around and walking out of the place that made Tyranitar feel uneasy.
Not long after, Yuki walked out carefully, holding something heavy.
It was a Pokémon egg.
The shell was not smooth but had a rough, rock-like texture, covered in irregular patterns as if it contained the veins of a mountain range.
Even from a distance, Ariel could feel the wild and powerful life rhythm dormant within it.
Yuki handed the egg over.
Ariel reached out with both hands and took it steadily.
It was extremely heavy, and the temperature was higher than expected, like a piece of warm jade scorched by subterranean fire.
He looked down at the Pokémon egg in his arms, and deep in his eyes, a flame was quietly ignited.
This was one of his future blades.
A Tyranitar that had inherited excellent bloodlines and possessed immeasurable potential!
From this moment on, its destiny, its power, and its future would all be forged by his, Ariel's, own hands.
Next, Ariel asked Yuki about the situation with Team Evil.
Yuki quickly began her report.
Ariel listened to Yuki's report, his knuckles tapping lightly on the table.
The status of Team Evil satisfied him; each member had three to four Superior Pokémon, and their recent mission completion rates and the reputation they had built within Team Rockets exceeded expectations.
Resource supplies were in place, and the training of members and Pokémon had not been neglected, which made him value this team he had personally assembled even more.
"The issue of manpower is not urgent right now."
Ariel waved his hand, signaling Yuki that there was no need to say more.
He understood that a team did not dominate by numbers; quality was the key.
Now that Team Evil was rising in fame and various parties were stirring, it was the perfect time to test their character.
He needed elites, not a rabble.
As for when to expand, he had his own scale for that.
"Are there any special developments in Sootopolis City recently?"
Ariel changed the subject, turning his gaze toward Yuki.
Sootopolis City was his next stop, and the Water-type badge was waiting for him there.
This was his final badge.
Understanding the situation in advance was his usual habit.
Yuki quickly flipped through the information in her hand, skipping over some trivial gossip; that content certainly held no interest for Ariel.
Until she mentioned one piece of information:
"In the waters south of Sootopolis City, a powerful Sharpedo has appeared, with an estimated strength around Gym Leader Level."
Ariel's eyes brightened, and almost subconsciously, he slapped his thigh.
"Let's go see it!"
His tone carried undeniable excitement.
A Gym Leader Level Sharpedo was no ordinary catch.
If its aptitude was good enough, capturing it would undoubtedly greatly enhance his combat power.
He knew that Team Rockets possessed quite a few mega stones for Sharpedo.
Once captured, and after finding a way to obtain the ite, he would possess two major combat forces: Mega Gyarados and Mega Sharpedo. At sea, he would truly be unstoppable.
This thought swirled in his mind, making him unable to suppress the urge to go immediately.
"Depart immediately."
Ariel stood up, his voice steady and powerful.
Yuki understood and made arrangements quickly.
A moment later, Ariel was riding on the broad back of Gyarados, its massive body carving trails through the sea surface.
With a body length of over ten meters, this Gyarados appeared exceptionally striking at sea.
Its scales shimmered with a cold luster under the sunlight, and every movement contained astonishing power.
The powerful murderous aura radiating from Gyarados acted like an invisible barrier, intimidating all the wild Pokémon in the surrounding waters.
The Tentacool, Shellder, and even some larger Wailmer that had been playing and hunting on the sea surface seemed to sense the aura of an apex predator and fled in panic, not daring to approach a single step.
The sea surface left a brief silence in the wake of Gyarados, as if even the sea breeze had stilled.
Ariel sat on Gyarados's back, feeling the surging power beneath him, and felt a wave of satisfaction.
This was the true hegemon of the sea; he was proud to possess such a Pokémon.
Upon arriving near the coordinates provided by Yuki, Ariel took an oxygen mask from his space ring. This mask had a simple design and lightweight material; it was a new product from the Team Rockets Technology Department and possessed high performance for underwater operations.
He put on the mask and adjusted his breathing; the cold oxygen instantly filled his lungs.
"Let's go, Gyarados; we're going down to meet it."
He gently patted Gyarados's neck.
Gyarados let out a low Roar, its massive body slowly sinking into the sea, carrying Ariel down into the depths of the ocean.
The seawater was cold, but Ariel was wrapped in a specialized diving suit and felt no discomfort.
He looked around, the light gradually dimming, and the scene of the deep sea unfolded before his eyes.
Various unknown marine plants swayed with the waves, and colorful schools of fish darted between them, only to vanish into the darkness as Gyarados approached.
Ariel rode on Gyarados's back, his thoughts racing at high speed.
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