Discovery of the Team Rocket Base!

George took a deep breath and, after forcing himself to steady his emotions, replied softly, "It was breached once, but Team Rocket has already withdrawn. Rescue efforts are currently underway."

After speaking, George turned to look at Shaka, the Elite Four Trainer who had never appeared in Olivine City. The man stared silently at the lake.

Shaka once again pulled up his fishing rod, added more bait, and cast it back out.

Only then did he slowly say, "When a person lives long enough, the shameful things they have done will not be forgotten. They will only torment them more and more, making escape impossible."

George could tell that this was an old man with a story, but he did not feel much of anything.

These days, who did not have a few secrets no one knew about?

"You're the trainer the Pokémon League sent to investigate Team Rocket, aren't you?"

Seeing that George was unmoved, Shaka seemed to lose the desire to keep sharing his story. Even his initial smile faded as he said coldly, "Yes!"

"I'm the only one in the west. You can go back and report."

"?" A flicker of surprise passed through George's eyes, but Shaka keenly caught it.

"Clever indeed. You've guessed something, haven't you? Tell me."

George remained silent. His opponent was old and shrewd, clearly not easy to deal with. Combined with his absolute strength, that was why he had allowed George to remain at his side.

"Even if you don't say it, I know. You suspect that I betrayed the Pokémon League, which is why I hid here instead of going to support Olivine City, right?"

"..." George remained silent. At a time like this, anything he said would be wrong.

"I did betray them. I spent my whole life being