Chapter 33: Cynthia Is Speechless
Hala was treating this with the utmost seriousness.
After all, his opponent was a senior Team Rocket executive. No matter how young she looked, Hala intended to face her with everything he had.
He absolutely had to bring her in!
"Crabominable! Bewear!"
Hala opened his two Poké Balls, and the powerfully built Crabominable and Bewear materialized in front of him.
These were Hala's true main forces — not the freshly trained Pokémon he'd used for Mitsuki's Grand Trial.
"Fighting/Ice Crabominable, and Normal/Fighting Bewear." Caitlin's lips curved upward at the sight.
"Senior Hala — what an unfortunate coincidence. The type I specialize in happens to be super-effective against yours."
Caitlin telekinetically sent a Poké Ball flying open. The massive Metagross dropped heavily to the ground in front of her.
The blade-sharp Gallade also stepped slowly forward, fixing Bewear with a cold gaze like a honed edge.
What an amusing coincidence, wasn't it?
Hala was a Fighting-type specialist. And Caitlin — was a Psychic-type specialist.
"In all my years, I've faced type disadvantage in countless battles. But those who could actually defeat me — far fewer." Hala said.
But his eyes had gone heavy. Old as he was, his sharp instincts told him immediately:
This Metagross and this Gallade were exceptionally powerful!
This delicate, beautiful young woman was actually Elite-Four-tier?!
Why? Why would such a young child with such limitless potential ever join an evil organization like Team Rocket?
"Young lady — what exactly is your Team Rocket doing in our Alola region?"
Hala's voice was low. He'd sensed it too — this girl didn't seem to have a truly malicious nature.
"The organization is expanding as the situation allows. Kanto has reached saturation." Caitlin replied with a faint smile. There was nothing to hide here.
"And Alola is rich in talent and natural gifts. Quite suitable, wouldn't you say?"
"Alola does not welcome you!"
"Senior Hala, you are a man of considerable life experience. Such childish, hot-tempered words — I truly cannot believe they would come from your mouth."
Caitlin regarded Hala with a curious expression, her tone still maintaining its refined politeness.
"..." Hala fell silent.
Yes. He of course knew that saying that kind of thing to Team Rocket was indeed naïve.
"I spoke without thinking. But, young lady—" Hala's gaze sharpened like a sword, fixed directly on the beautiful young woman before him.
"A child like you — your life should not be spent inside an evil organization like Team Rocket. That is wrong. It will destroy you!"
"Destroy me… is it?"
The smile faded slowly from Caitlin's exquisite face. The blue light in her eyes flickered between bright and dim.
"I see. Without ever having lived another's life, you so arrogantly and self-righteously presume to define it. It seems Senior Hala — Island Kahuna — is no different from anyone else after all."
Caitlin replied calmly. From the moment she had decided to join Team Rocket, she had known she would face this kind of judgment.
But Caitlin knew — she had done nothing wrong.
"This is not arrogance! I do not know what you have been through, but no matter what — Team Rocket is an evil organization! It is no place for young people like you!"
Hala countered firmly. But looking at Caitlin's expressionless face, he sighed inwardly.
"Words alone are useless. Young lady — allow this old man to guide you back to the right path!"
Hala had already made up his mind. After defeating this girl, he would absolutely set her misguided thinking straight.
So young, so talented — how could her future be allowed to be destroyed by Team Rocket?!
Hala's commanding aura swelled — surged — exploded outward!
Psychic-type or not — in front of Alola's strongest Fighting-type trainer, type effectiveness counted for nothing.
"I stake the name of Island Kahuna Hala upon this!"
Come! Battle!
And then…
"I see. So the one who defeated you was a senior Team Rocket executive."
In the hospital, Kukui — there to visit Hala — wore a deeply unhappy expression, his brow knitted tight. A senior executive capable of defeating Island Kahuna Hala?
Hala, who had only been hospitalized due to accidentally throwing out his back, nodded with mild embarrassment.
"That's right. Her name is Caitlin. I underestimated her — I never imagined her power would be this formidable."
Hala sighed.
"She is exceptionally proficient in Psychic-types, and she is a powerful Psychic herself. She is even capable of channeling psychic power into her Metagross and Gallade to enhance their abilities." Hala described gravely.
"An ability-user as well?" Kukui pressed a hand to his forehead. His headache was getting worse.
Psychics were the most numerous category among ability-users — but Psychics powerful enough to channel their abilities into their Pokémon as combat enhancement were extraordinarily rare.
As far as Kukui knew, the only such Psychic he was aware of was Sabrina, the Saffron City Gym Leader in Kanto.
He hadn't expected Team Rocket to have produced another one.
"Senior Hala. I recall the conclusion of our discussion the other day was that, upon encountering senior Team Rocket members, we were not to act rashly."
Kukui felt mentally exhausted, looking at the bandage-wrapped Hala in front of him.
The two sides hadn't even officially "exchanged fire" yet, and they'd already given up a free piece on their end.
Hala fell silent.
"This old man also did not expect this young woman to be so powerful. The recklessness was mine."
Hala didn't try to save face — he openly admitted his mistake.
"But rest assured — the doctor told me the sprain is minor. A few days of rest and I'll be discharged."
"Mm. Senior — do you remember the Caitlin girl's appearance?" Kukui mused.
"Of course. My subordinates even took photographs of her. Kukui, are you thinking of issuing a wanted notice? I do not believe that would be a wise decision."
Hala voiced his thoughts, picking up his phone and pulling up the photo his subordinate had taken.
"No. Issuing a notice now would be premature." Kukui shook his head.
"I'll start by investigating this Caitlin's identity. If I can dig something up, all the better."
Kukui examined the photo of Caitlin. The image quality wasn't great, but you could still clearly make out the girl's exquisite features.
He couldn't help but inwardly marvel: Are senior executives of evil organizations these days really this beautiful AND this strong?
Kukui glanced at Hala's somewhat pale, weakened face. Yeah. Hala got beaten into the hospital.
Though, according to Hala himself, he'd merely thrown out his back accidentally while dodging the residual force of an attack.
Kukui forwarded the photo to his own phone and went to investigate.
With a name and a photo, Kukui was able to pull up Caitlin's basic information very quickly. She was from the Sinnoh region.
And then…
Name: Caitlin (image.jpg)Age: 17Known active battle team: Metagross, GalladeAffiliated organization: Team RocketCombat record: Defeated Alola Island Kahuna Hala in direct combat and hospitalized him.Threat level: ☆☆☆☆Bounty: None at this timeNotes: Psychic young woman from the Sinnoh region. Elite-Four-tier trainer. Extremely dangerous!
Inside the Champion's office in the Sinnoh League building on Lily of the Valley Island, looking at the file that had just been forwarded over from Alola on her computer screen—
Cynthia was speechless.