Preemptive Strike

The Game Corner was as bustling as ever. Sato calmly entered with Zoroark, who had disguised itself as a young man.

After evolving, Zoroark had become calmer and showed no nervousness at all. It walked even more like a human than humans did. Sato did not play the Lucky Big Wheel from yesterday, worried that his luck would draw attention again.

After casually playing a few games with little gambling involved, One Person One Pet kept their attention on the security personnel around them.

Since the venue was quite large and the personnel were constantly moving about on patrol, it was difficult to count them. Still, compared to yesterday, today's patrol frequency was more than twice as high!

Loose on the outside, tight on the inside!

After playing for several hours and making a full circuit of the Game Corner, Sato taught Zoroark a few simple games before finishing today's reconnaissance.

Before Leaving, Sato detoured to the Lucky Big Wheel. Only after confirming that the painting on the wall had not changed at all did he leave at an unhurried pace.

On the third day, Sato did not enter the Game Corner. Instead, he waited outside for Zoroark, which entered alone. Everything was normal, except that A Group Of People had begun wandering back and forth outside the Game Corner without leaving.

On the fourth day, Zoroark was inside for only three minutes before coming out with a Long-Awaited message. The painting on the wall had been replaced! "Hide. Follow the plan!"

"Kuu~"

Zoroark was still under its Illusion, so its cry sounded rather strange. However, no one nearby paid attention to that.

Zoroark returned to the Game Corner. After watching it enter, Sato Turned Around and Left, Went To the Pokemon Center!

At 8:45, Sato Arrived At the Pokemon Center. He first booked a room with Nurse Joy, but did not go inside. Instead, he headed straight to the Training Ground in the Back Yard.

"Haunter, Spinarak, you two practice your moves." After casually giving them a few instructions, he looked up at the Endless Stream of people entering and leaving the Pokemon Center as the time gradually reached 8:58.

"Haunter, Spinarak, come over and rest." The two Pokemon, who had not been training seriously at all, were called back by Sato's pretentious act.

At 8:59, Sato immediately fed Haunter and Spinarak High-Grade Energy Cubes. They happily gobbled them down.

Though they did not understand why Sato had suddenly gone crazy, the benefits that reached their mouths were real enough.

"Here It Comes!"

At exactly nine, Sato felt the surrounding sounds vanish for an instant. As his lips formed the words "Protect," the more alert Haunter was the first to raise a green protective barrier.

"—Boom!"

Every window shattered in an instant. Flames engulfed the entire Pokemon Center, and the fiery cloud of the explosion dyed half of Goldenrod City red. Those nearby felt as though the ground had Trembled Slightly.

The detonated Pokemon Center flung blazing debris in every direction. Haunter's Protect blocked most of the shockwave and wreckage.

Then Spinarak reacted as well, activating Protect. Their barriers merged together, allowing Sato and his two Pokemon to safely endure the most dangerous phase of the explosion.

Dark Power surged rapidly. The ringing and stabbing pain caused by the Explosion Sound vanished completely. Without wasting a moment, Sato rushed straight into the Pokemon Center with Haunter and Spinarak.

"Haunter, take me to Nurse Joy!"

With the situation so urgent, Haunter did not fool around. Through a Ghost-type Pokemon's special perception of Life Energy, it quickly searched for clues.

"Spinarak, String Shot!"

Sato pointed at a trainer who had already fallen unconscious, though blood continued pouring from his arm. White, tough silk wrapped around the wound, stopping the bleeding. There was nothing else Sato could do.

"Jiejie!"

"Move!"

Sato's eyes turned black as Dark Power activated. Basic Night Vision Ability allowed him to Ignore the thick smoke around him as he followed closely behind Haunter.

After going only a short distance farther in, Sato vaguely made out the Front Stage reception desk ahead. Under normal Circumstances, Nurse Joy would be there.

However, faint, high-frequency Footsteps did not escape Sato's ears.

"Haunter, rapid-fire Shadow Ball!"

Without hesitation, more than ten small Shadow Balls spread outward in all directions. Two dazzling Air Cutters shot in from the upper right, slicing apart two of the Shadow Balls.

Footsteps approached. Three trainers dressed in black Team Rocket uniforms emerged one after another and Appeared In Front Of Sato.

Within the thick smoke, a Golbat lurked silently. The Air Cutters just now had been its handiwork.

"You actually survived the explosion?" one Team Rocket member said in surprise.

"Quit talking. Find Nurse Joy first!" A muffled voice came from another Team Rocket member. "Arbok, Bind!"

The Other Two People stepped back slightly, clearly intending to search for the Nurse Joy whose fate was unknown first. Sato's target was Joy as well, so he Directly Use one Haunter to block all three of them!

"You don't know your place. Arbok, Acid! Golbat, Wing Attack! Kill them!"

The hidden Golbat, the powerful Arbok, and the Other Two People each sent out Pokemon as well—two Houndour! "Haunter, Shadow Ball! Carvanha, Aqua Jet—stop the Houndour!"

They were both Shadow Balls, but this time only two appeared, larger and darker! "Boom! Boom!"

Whether it was Golbat or Arbok, both were sent flying directly by the Shadow Balls. Haunter fought two opponents alone and suppressed them!

Carvanha's performance was just as dazzling. Even in a place without water, the moment it appeared, it had already gathered water molecules from the air to form a weakened Aqua Jet, continuously Repelled the two Houndour!

The advantages of high-talent Pokemon became apparent. Even though they had Has Not Yet fully matured, they could still suppress Pokemon of the Same Level!

"Screech!"

String Shot abruptly appeared behind the three Team Rocket members, wrapping around their Battle Belts in the First Time and preventing them from sending out more Pokemon.

"Jiejie!"

"Coolshark!"

Haunter and Carvanha pressed forward aggressively. The Four Pokemon had no chance to return to their Poké Balls and could only Watch Helplessly as Spinarak completely wrapped their trainers in silk.

Three minutes later, without any commands, the Four Pokemon were swiftly defeated. Haunter remained full of vigor, while Carvanha was Seriously Injured and recalled into its Poké Ball.

Until Carvanha's Movement Method in waterless environments was resolved, its Combat Power could never be fully unleashed.

Soon, Sato found the unconscious Nurse Joy at the reception desk. A Chansey, already mangled beyond recognition, was pressed beneath her body.

Around Silph Co., Pokemon League trainers had long since formed an encirclement. The original plan had been to launch the full assault at 9:30, seize control of the entire lobby at the Fastest speed, and minimize the impact.

But they had not expected Team Rocket, which had noticed them long ago, to blow up the Pokemon Center ahead of schedule! Inside an inconspicuous single-story house, a massive projector displayed footage of the Pokemon Center being destroyed.

Most of the people in the house were uniformed police officers. Goldenrod City's police chief, Officer Jenny, sat second in command, while an Elite Four member from the Johto Region sat in the seat of honor.

The chief commander of this Goldenrod City Team Rocket elimination operation—the Fighting Elite Four, Shiba! Before release, one chapter a day, with random Extra Chapter releases. After release, two chapters a day. Those of you urging for more, please stop. You're making me nervous.

Still, thank you all for your support!!