Chapter Summaries

Sato and Bourgeois arranged to create a spatial passage at the Rainy Day Puddle on the Dark Night Gym grounds, with construction to begin after Sato built a house there. After reuniting Bourgeois with Nicole and Anbo, Sato agreed to build an Indoor Mimicry Space to support the gym and Pupitar.

• Sato used the Ancient Crown near the Rainy Day Puddle and received Bourgeois’s note listing possible locations for a spatial passage.
• Sato chose the puddle, proposed building a house over the site, and learned that the puddle could serve as a passage medium if its features stayed nearly unchanged.
• Bourgeois agreed to return in about a month to establish the passage, and Sato summoned Nicole and Anbo to meet him.
• Nicole and Anbo reunited with Bourgeois, then returned to Sato with the Ancient Crown after an emotional visit.
• Anbo suggested building an Indoor Mimicry Space, and Nicole offered to use Bourgeois’s money to fund it.
• Sato agreed to build the Mimicry Space and decided to build everything needed at the site in one go.

Dark Night Town prospered after Sato opened the Gym, while Anbo restructured the Dark Night Intelligence Agency and the Gym announced an apprentice recruitment plan. Sato then brought Mark and George to the town’s orphanage to provide support and help ensure its children had a better future.

• Sato’s Gym defeated challengers and listed local Registered Trainers, while Sato introduced an apprentice recruitment plan to develop talent from Dark Night Town.
• Mark took on a mission to search for spatial passages to avoid townspeople seeking favors through him.
• Anbo exposed the Intelligence Agency’s parasites, dismissed them, and reorganized the agency with new regulations and raises.
• Construction began beside the Gym, prompting townspeople to seek connections and bring gifts to the families of potential apprentices.
• Sato brought Mark and George to Grandma Jiu'an’s orphanage to provide funding and support its children.

Sato visited the Orphanage to learn about the children’s situation and arrange support, then discussed his plans to resume traveling once his Pokémon reached Elite Peak. He discovered signs that Team Rocket had returned to Dark Night Town to gather intelligence and planned to use the Dark Night Intelligence Agency to respond.

• Sato spoke with Grandma Jiu'an about the Orphanage’s twenty-three children and reviewed its detailed Account Book before leaving after arranging support.
• Sato, Mark, and George walked through Dark Night Town and discussed Sato’s plans to keep training and travel again once his Pokémon reached Elite Peak.
• Sato found a carved Team Rocket “R” in an alley and explained that Team Rocket had sent people to gather intelligence.
• George recognized that Sato had been waiting for Team Rocket to act, and Sato promised a prepared gift and agreed to take Mark along when the time came.

Sato and Mark raided a Team Rocket supply base in Dark Night Town, then Sato learned the location of a nearby research base and set off for Olivine City. He left Mark to handle the captured agents and flew through the night with Giant Honchkrow.

• Sato and Mark surprised Team Rocket members at a restaurant and used Solosis's Psychic to subdue them.
• Sato found a communicator and told Boa that he had destroyed the base, then warned Team Rocket to keep its bases hidden or lose research bases in return.
• Sato told Mark to contact Uncle An and Officer Jenny before leaving with Ralts to find Giant Honchkrow.
• Sato asked Giant Honchkrow to carry him to Olivine City, promising it a Dark-type Energy Crystal when they returned.

Sato attacked Team Rocket’s secret base on the western coast of Olivine City, which he knew held research related to Lugia. As he led his Pokémon through the base, Boa learned that its strongest fighters had been ordered to retreat.

• Sato flew with Giant Honchkrow to the coast near Olivine City and located Team Rocket’s hidden base.
• Sato sent Gengar to smash open the base entrance, then summoned Ralts, Zoroark, and Houndoom to join the assault.
• Sato called the Pokémon League for reinforcements, warning that the base’s research might concern Lugia, while his Pokémon overwhelmed Team Rocket’s guards.
• Boa received news of the attack and realized Sato’s threat against her Dark Night Town stronghold was being carried out.
• Athena told Boa that Poison Spot Star Hunter and Gale Star Hunter had been ordered to retreat because they could not defeat Sato.

Sato raided a Team Rocket secret base and pursued its fleeing Star Hunters toward Olivine City, where Officer Jenny’s police force arrived to support him. He captured the Star Hunters and their researcher, then handed them over to Officer Jenny.

• Sato searched the chaotic base, knocked out its occupants, and chose the escape route leading toward Olivine City.
• Officer Jenny and Tieyi led police and Gym staff to the base, where they found Sato had already defeated its defenders.
• Sato intercepted Poison Spot Star Hunter, Gale Star Hunter, and a researcher in the escape passage and knocked them unconscious with his Pokémon.
• Sato returned to the base with the captives and gave them to Officer Jenny, identifying the researcher as a particularly important Team Rocket member.

After helping capture a Team Rocket base researching ways to capture Lugia, Sato dealt with Gym Leader Tieyi and Officer Jenny before flying back toward Dark Night Town. He reflected that his conflict with Team Rocket had only begun and wondered why the night sky over Dark Night Forest and Dark Night Town showed no stars.

• Tieyi approached Sato outside the captured base and asked how he had discovered it, while Sato explained that he had followed a Team Rocket outpost to the site.
• Officer Jenny reported that the base held 218 researchers and 243 combat personnel and was researching tools to capture Lugia.
• Sato credited Officer Jenny for her assistance, then refused Tieyi's invitation to stay in Olivine City and left on Giant Honchkrow.
• Tieyi complained to Officer Jenny after Sato departed, and she drove away without him.
• As Sato flew back, he told Honchkrow that his clash with Team Rocket would make it harder to avoid them and asked why Dark Night Forest and Dark Night Town had no visible stars.

Sato dealt with the attention after capturing Team Rocket members and continued running Dark Night Gym, while Boa was stripped of her status and sent to Team Rocket’s New Recruit Training Camp. Boa entered the camp grieving for her Pokémon and lashed out when another recruit shoved her.

• Sato received calls and a crowd of visitors praising him for capturing Poison Spot and Gale, then treated the visitors to lunch before they left.
• Sato asked George about the Mimicry Space construction, and George explained that transporting supplies from Goldenrod City was difficult; George declined Sato’s offer to help him obtain a pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
• Sato went to the Training Ground to test the Gym members, and their screams prompted passersby to joke about his brutal training.
• A Team Rocket escort took Boa to the New Recruit Training Camp, explaining that Athena had secured her a chance to start over after the Olivine City research base was destroyed.
• Boa remembered that Team Rocket had taken her powerful Pokémon and feared that the disobedient ones would be turned into fighting machines; when a recruit shoved her, she threatened them.
• The escort reported Boa’s arrival to Athena, who dismissed her as a failed Star Hunter, while he concluded that Athena still cared enough to send him and decided to stay loyal to her.

Sato brought Pupitar back from Joy Town after the Gym completed a desert Mimicry Space for its training. He then decided to take Pupitar to Indigo Plateau to visit Tyranitar before its second molt.

• Sato inspected the completed desert Mimicry Space and contacted Joy Lily to arrange Pupitar's return.
• Sato spoke with Joy Meiqing, who apologized and said she was still working to secure Tyranitar's Mega Evolution Stone for him.
• Joy Lily teleported Pupitar to Sato, and he welcomed it back to the Gym.
• Sato took Pupitar to meet old friends, where Ariados offered it Sweet Milk and Pupitar refused.
• Sato told Pupitar he would take it to Indigo Plateau to visit Tyranitar, and Pupitar became excited.

Sato and Pupitar found Tyranitar trapped and near death in the tunnel, and Sato used his Dark Power and Zoroark’s to revive it briefly. Tyranitar held Pupitar tenderly before its broken body began turning to sand.

• Sato and Pupitar reached Tyranitar, who sat motionless and covered in dust.
• Pupitar repeatedly crashed into Tyranitar until Sato stopped it and tried to revive Tyranitar with Dark Power.
• Sato summoned Gengar to release Zoroark, then guided Zoroark’s Dark Power into Tyranitar.
• Tyranitar opened its eyes and called weakly to Pupitar, who nestled gently in its arms.
• Sato had Zoroark guide Tyranitar’s hand around Pupitar as rocks fell away, and Tyranitar’s body began turning to sand.

Tyranitar sacrificed its remaining energy to reshape Pupitar’s armor, helping it break through to Elite Advanced. After Pupitar learned its new strength, Sato prepared for a promised Gym challenge from an acquaintance whose identity George kept secret.

• Tyranitar turned into yellow sand and used its remaining energy to polish away Pupitar’s old armor and form new armor with a green trace.
• Pupitar emerged with stronger armor and broke through to Elite Advanced, then Sato and Zoroark comforted it and urged it to carry Tyranitar’s legacy.
• George examined Pupitar and advised Sato to use regular battles to help it control its newly gained energy.
• Sato brought Pupitar to the Training Ground to test its strength, then assessed several challengers before asking George when his acquaintance would arrive.
• George smiled and left without answering Sato.

Tsubaki challenged Sato at the Dark Night Gym, hoping to earn a badge as she pursued tournament victories to build her qualifications for becoming Blackthorn Gym Leader. Sato and Tsubaki began a three-on-three match, and Pupitar gained the upper hand against her Kingdra and Rhyhorn.

• George refused to tell Sato who had booked a Gym Challenge Match, and Sato waited at the Gym until Tsubaki arrived.
• Tsubaki explained that Sato's achievements had raised doubts about Blackthorn Gym's standing, so she planned to compete in tournaments across four regions to build her qualifications.
• Sato provoked Tsubaki, and she challenged him; Sian announced the three-Pokémon match rules.
• Sato sent out Pupitar against Tsubaki's Kingdra, and their attacks collided as Pupitar used Dig and Kingdra countered with Hydro Pump.
• Pupitar's Sandstorm suppressed Tsubaki's Rain Dance, prompting her to switch Kingdra for Rhyhorn.
• Pupitar dodged Rhyhorn's Earthquake by launching into the air, struck back with Earthquake, then evaded Aqua Tail as Sato ordered another Dig attack.

Tsubaki’s Gym Challenge Match continued as Pupitar and Kingdra knocked each other out, after which Sato sent Umbreon against Tsubaki’s Charizard. Sato suspected Tsubaki’s Pokémon had followed development paths similar to his own, and the match continued with Umbreon moving in to use Toxic.

• Pupitar defeated Tsubaki’s Rhyhorn with Ground-type attacks, forcing Tsubaki to switch Pokémon.
• Tsubaki used Kingdra’s Whirlpool technique to evade Sand Tomb, but Pupitar absorbed Kingdra’s Surf and then bit down on its mouth tube as it prepared Hydro Pump.
• Kingdra’s Hydro Pump blasted Pupitar away, and referee Sian ruled that both Pokémon had lost combat capability.
• Tsubaki sent out Charizard against Sato’s Umbreon, and Sato remarked that Charizard’s high-temperature fighting style resembled Houndoom’s.
• Tsubaki ordered Charizard to use Heat Wave, while Sato commanded Umbreon to close in with Sucker Punch and release Toxic.

Sato defeated Tsubaki in a Gym battle after Umbreon endured Charizard’s Blast Burn and won. He offered Tsubaki advice, and she left without receiving a Badge, hinting that she wanted him to keep showing his unguarded side.

• Umbreon poisoned Charizard with Fire Toxic, then survived Charizard’s Seismic Toss and recovered with Wish.
• Tsubaki ordered Charizard to use Blast Burn, but Sato had Umbreon protect itself with Substitute and Endure.
• Umbreon jumped out of the blast’s fire pit, and the referee declared Sato the winner after Charizard collapsed.
• Sato advised Tsubaki to make better use of Kingdra, train Rhyhorn, and avoid choosing Charizard impulsively.
• Tsubaki teased Sato, declined a Badge, and left, telling him to keep showing his true face.

Sato’s routine as a Gym Leader had left him restless, so he eagerly took on a task to deal with troublesome adventurers targeting the Dark Night Intelligence Agency. He left the Gym with several Pokémon, while George and Mark realized they should give him more work in the future.

• Sandile evolved, and Sato gave it a new Dual-type Potential Stimulation Stock Solution that put it to sleep.
• Sato tried to find out why George, Sinan, Sian, and Mark had come to see him, but they were actually heading to the kitchen for their Pokémon rations.
• George told Sato that local adventurers were gathering to exploit the Intelligence Agency again and handed him documents detailing their activities.
• Sato accepted the task and left the Gym with Pupitar, Ariados, Zweilous, and other Pokémon.
• George and Mark concluded that Sato was restless from training every day and decided they should find more tasks for him.

Sato infiltrated a warehouse and discovered Yamaguchi and Yamazaki rallying former Intelligence Agency workers to resume their scheme of selling false information. He subdued the group and ordered them taken to the Dark Night Intelligence Agency.

• Sato followed the map to a dilapidated warehouse and slipped inside behind a bearded man.
• Sato overheard Yamaguchi and Yamazaki tell more than twenty people they planned to find a new way to support themselves after the Intelligence Agency reforms.
• Sato used Gengar and Umbreon’s Psychic to immobilize everyone, then revealed himself to Yamaguchi and Yamazaki.
• Yamazaki asked whether Yusheng had been killed, and Sato confirmed that he was dead.
• Sato declared that he made the rules in Dark Night Town and ordered Gengar to bind the group and take them to the Intelligence Agency.

Sato received the Pokémon League’s Purge Operation assignment and organized Dark Night Gym’s team to clear the roads around Dark Night Town. He assigned the easier routes to his team and planned to handle the dangerous sections in Dark Night Forest himself.

• Nagamura explained that Sato’s Purge Operation covered roads connecting Dark Night Town to nearby villages, Olivine City, and Ecruteak City, and warned him that Pokémon had been left uncleared for years.
• Sato accepted the responsibility, recognizing that safe public roads were important for New Trainers and Dark Night Town’s development.
• Two months later, Sato received the official plan, agreed to possible future roads to Goldenrod City and Violet City, and called a meeting to divide the work.
• Sato assigned George, Little Ming, Mark, and Sinan to sections outside Dark Night Forest, while Sian, Ponyo, and Sosuke took the two village roads with Uncle An providing support.
• When Mark asked who would clear Dark Night Forest, Sato implied he would handle it himself and told Sinan to keep Mark from getting lost.

Sato and Murkrow cleared dangerous Pokémon from the road through Dark Night Forest, capturing groups for relocation. When a pack of Houndoom and Houndour attacked, Sato's Houndoom fought them and drove the remaining Houndoom into retreat.

• Sato rode Houndoom along the public road while Murkrow lured out threatening Wild Pokemon for him to capture and relocate.
• Houndoom and Murkrow defeated groups of Ursaring, Victreebel, Ariados, and other dangerous Pokémon, and Sato collected them in Capture Balls.
• More than a dozen Murkrow returned in panic as six wild Houndoom and dozens of Houndour chased them.
• Sato's Houndoom used Parting Shot to make many Houndour submit, then defeated one wild Houndoom and incapacitated another with its attacks.
• Sato's Houndoom used Substitute, Rest, Snore, and Sludge Bomb to fend off the remaining Houndoom, then pursued one and attacked it with Crunch.

Sato's Houndoom led a newly captured pack of Houndour through the purge, easing the burden on Sato's other Pokémon. A wild Steelix ambushed them, and Houndoom protected a Houndour from its Double-Edge as Sato's Capture Ball succeeded.

• Sato captured six Houndoom and assigned the remaining Houndour to his Houndoom's command.
• Under Houndoom's leadership, the Houndour helped defeat wild Pokémon while Sato advanced through Dark Night Forest.
• A sudden earthquake revealed a wild Steelix underground, so Sato ordered Gengar to lure it out and had Murkrow evacuate the Houndour into the trees.
• Gengar, Houndoom, and Murkrow attacked Steelix, but it retaliated wildly and struck at a fallen Houndour.
• Houndoom stepped in front of the Houndour and blocked Steelix's Double-Edge with Protect as Sato's Capture Ball succeeded.

Sato continued the Purge Operation while Mark and Sinan were blocked by two Olivine Gym Trainers who demanded that Sato come in person. Mark recognized that their obstruction was tied to the upcoming Johto Region Eight Great Gym Selection, leaving the conflict between the Gyms unresolved.

• Sato had Wigglytuff treat the injured Murkrow and Houndour before resuming the Purge Operation with their units.
• Two Olivine Gym Trainers stopped Mark and Sinan, mocked Dark Night Gym, and refused to let them continue the Purge Plan without Sato.
• Mark kept Sinan from attacking and fired back at the pair, who admitted they wanted Sato to come to them.
• Mark explained that Olivine Gym might be trying to delay Dark Night Gym ahead of the Johto Region Eight Great Gym Selection, since Olivine Gym feared losing its position.
• Mark and Sinan decided to return and find Sato, and Sinan apologized for doubting Mark before the two started bickering again.