Chapter Summaries

Kazuki concealed his Team Rocket identity while the League intervened in the battle over Lugia, and he nearly killed the exhausted Xiao Dan before help arrived. Steven fought Lugia with Mega Metagross, but Lugia vanished beneath the sea, leaving the consequences of the cargo ship incident unresolved.

• Yu Hai confronted Kazuki about being a Team Rocket undercover agent, then escaped aboard Golbat as Officer Jenny's team arrived to find the cargo ship deserted and wrecked.
• Kazuki reached the icy battlefield, where Di had escaped and Xiao Dan was badly injured, and considered killing Xiao Dan before the League could arrive.
• Ocean Team's submarine was dragged from the sea, but Lugia attacked the League Trainer restraining it, confusing Xiao Dan and delaying Kazuki's attempt to act against him.
• Officer Jenny, Nurse Joy, and Lorelei arrived and treated Xiao Dan, while Lorelei told Kazuki that Steven had come to capture the pirates.
• Steven Mega Evolved his Shiny Metagross and battled Lugia, which was knocked into the sea and disappeared as the storm ended and dawn broke.

After Ocean Team’s failed capture operation, Di reported the losses to Wataru and returned toward Hoenn. Meanwhile, Kazuki reported Spider’s knowledge of his undercover identity to Team Rocket, where Sakaki suspected Spider knew the future and ordered Kazuki to remain undercover.

• Di reported the failed Orange Islands operation and the destroyed submarine to Wataru, who told him to return and abandon the mission.
• Wataru told Di to ignore the Spider Pirates unless they entered Hoenn, and Di flew toward the region on Pelipper.
• Kazuki sent Manba an encrypted report that Spider had detected his Team Rocket identity and considered possible reasons Spider had kept it secret.
• Manba brought Kazuki’s report to Sakaki, who suggested Spider might be a trainer from the future and knew about Team Rocket’s undercover agents.
• Sakaki ordered Manba to tell Kazuki to keep lying low and not act rashly, declining to send him compensation.

Xiao Dan reported that the Spider organization fielded several powerful Elite-class Trainers, while Lance and the League considered ways to dismantle Black Ship’s influence in the Orange Islands. After Steven departed, Lance and Lorelei discussed the World Championship and the threat of Team Rocket’s local infiltration.

• Xiao Dan told Lorelei, Steven, and Lance that Spider’s Numbers Zero and One commanded powerful Pokémon, prompting the League to raise Spider’s threat level.
• Lance identified the cargo ship’s registrant, A Long, as a murderer who had likely taken the blame for the deeper-hidden Black Ship controller.
• Lance and the League planned to use Gym jurisdictions and alliances to weaken Black Ship, while ordering TrovitaGym to cooperate or lose its operating rights.
• Lance asked Steven about preparations for the World Championship, and Steven said the global tournament would likely take several years to organize.
• Steven returned to Hoenn, and Lance instructed Officer Jenny to return stolen Pokémon and help victims before approving double pay and bonuses for the operation.
• Lance and Lorelei identified Team Rocket’s infiltration and possible alliance with local forces as their top priority, and Lorelei proposed arresting anyone who refused to prove they had no ties to Team Rocket.

Brother Storm returned to the Black Ship Captain after the failed attempt to kill Yu Hai and reported the cargo ship incident. The Captain ordered him to stay in the city and prepare to marry A Yan, then reflected on the Black Ship’s precarious position as he looked at a red R-shaped Badge.

• Brother Storm knelt before the Black Ship Captain and reported that Gym Leader Xiao Dan had found the goods, Ocean Team had targeted Lugia, and Spider had seemed to come after him.
• Brother Storm identified Yu Hai of MikanGym as the likely Spider, but the Black Ship Captain warned him against exposing Yu Hai and ended the discussion.
• The Black Ship Captain told his subordinates to avoid trouble amid the coming chaos and assigned Brother Storm to manage the Black Ship’s legal businesses while waiting to marry A Yan.
• After everyone left, the Black Ship Captain opened his desk drawer, revealing a red R-shaped Badge, and sighed that Boss needed to pull in the net before it was too late.

After returning from the cargo ship operation, Yu Hai discovered Gengar had stolen two Pokémon Eggs, including one he feared belonged to Lugia, and brought the group safely back to Jinggan Island. He gave the other egg and two baby Pokémon to Xiao Yu, then the exhausted group reunited, ate breakfast, and prepared to rest while Yu Hai and Shingo considered their next move.

• Yu Hai found that Gengar had brought back a red-and-black Pokémon Egg and a white-and-blue Pokémon Egg, and he feared the latter was Lugia's after seeing its long hatching period.
• Yu Hai put both eggs in incubators, had Gengar hide Lugia's egg in its dimensional pocket, and planned to give the other egg to Xiao Yu.
• Yu Hai rested aboard the yacht as the group sailed back to Jinggan Island, then everyone flew from the yacht to the villa after the operation ended.
• Yu Hai and Shingo discussed whether to lie low or flee in response to the League's reaction, while the returning group went to rest.
• Yu Hai gave Xiao Yu the red-and-black egg and Poké Balls containing a baby Lapras and a baby Snorlax, intending to bind A Long's family more closely to his business.
• A Long's wife prepared a large breakfast, and the exhausted group woke to eat before settling in to rest.

As the Orange Islands grew more tense and the League intensified its crackdown, Yu Hai prepared to sell his last three Elite-class Pokémon and take A Long’s family to Kanto. Meanwhile, friends and allies left the villa for new journeys, leaving only a few behind as Yu Hai awaited the auction that night.

• Yu Hai learned that the League had publicly classified the cargo ship incident as a pirate attack while secretly investigating, and he planned to sell his remaining three Elite-class Pokémon at an auction with Luo Yan.
• A Ping reported that Team Rocket had assigned him to monitor Spider, while Xiao Ying warned Yu Hai to stay inactive during the League’s investigation and said the League was focused on uncovering Black Ships.
• Xiao Feng returned to Cinnabar Gym, where he broke a superior’s leg, and Xiao Shun left Kumquat Gym to pursue his goal of becoming an Elite Four Trainer.
• Guita and Mei Qi departed for Hoenn, while Shingo prepared to return to Johto and consider traveling to other regions.
• As the villa emptied, Yu Hai arranged identities for A Long’s family and decided they would leave for Kanto the next morning; Xiao Ming, A Man, and Da Shi remained behind.

Yu Hai and Luo Yan attended an auction aboard a Black Ship, where Yu Hai discovered a Dragon-type Pseudo-Legendary was among the lots. After Luo Yan suspected the auction was not as it seemed, Yu Hai had Gengar inspect their private box and uncover surveillance devices.

• Yu Hai and Luo Yan flew to the Black Ship and entered the auction by revealing their Elite Four-level strength.
• A waiter escorted them to Private Box No. 22 and explained that buyers with at least five hundred million in verified assets could also receive private boxes.
• Yu Hai examined the auction list and found Pokémon Cubs, Starters, Elite-class Pokémon remains, and a rare Dragon-type Pseudo-Legendary.
• Luo Yan noticed something was suspicious about the auction as buyers crowded into the hall below.
• Yu Hai ordered Gengar to inspect their private box, and Gengar detected surveillance and listening devices.

Yu Hai realized the Black Ship auction was a League trap designed to capture powerful criminals, but chose to use the opportunity to sell two Elite-class Pokémon and buy what he needed. He arranged for the Pokémon to be auctioned first, while he and Luo Yan waited for the League to make its move.

• Yu Hai used Gengar's Shadow Power to block surveillance and told Luo Yan that the auction was likely a League trap meant to catch Elite-level trainers, with a Dragon-type Pseudo-Legendary as bait for Lance.
• Luo Yan panicked and urged Yu Hai to escape, but Yu Hai said leaving would bring them into the League's ambush and decided to wait.
• Yu Hai summoned an auction official and offered two injured Elite-class Pokémon, including a Swampert, for sale.
• Yu Hai demanded that the Pokémon be the first auction item and that the buyer pay promptly; the official agreed after Yu Hai threatened to leave.
• After the official departed, Yu Hai explained to Luo Yan that he intended to use the auction to buy what they needed before the League closed its net.

A League operation prepared to trap criminals aboard the Black Ship moved forward under Lance’s command as an explosion triggered a passenger evacuation and cut the ship off from communications. Below deck, the auction began with the requested Elite-class Swampert as its first item, while the guests remained unaware of the operation unfolding above them.

• The middle-aged man and the waiter discussed a guest’s suspicions, agreed to keep the auction running normally, and reported the concern to the Captain and Lance.
• Lance ordered the passengers evacuated, the Black Ship’s signals blocked, and the surrounding sea frozen so strangers could not escape.
• The Captain announced a kitchen fire as an explosion ignited the cruise ship’s kitchen, prompting Sailors to guide the passengers toward safety.
• At ten o’clock, the lower-deck auction began while the explosion’s effects and the loss of communications isolated the ships.
• The hostess revealed an information card for an injured male Elite-class Swampert, and the auction hall erupted when guests saw its Elite Four classification.

Yu Hai auctioned his Elite-class Swampert and Gyarados, earning 220 million after commissions and a refunded deposit. After the buyers collected their Pokémon, he turned his attention to the auction and asked Luo Yan how much the gifted Squirtle had sold for.

• The auction host sold Yu Hai's Elite-class Swampert to the buyer in Private Room Nine for 155 million.
• The host sold an injured Elite-class Gyarados for 85 million.
• The host introduced a Squirtle with Elite-class Potential while the Swampert buyer arrived at Yu Hai's room to exchange cash for its Poké Ball.
• Luo Yan counted the buyers' cash, and Yu Hai handed over the Swampert and Gyarados after the buyers verified their condition.
• The waiter returned Yu Hai's 20-million deposit, and Yu Hai calculated that he had earned 220 million in total.
• Yu Hai asked Luo Yan how much the Squirtle had sold for.

Yu Hai watched the auction sell valuable Pokémon materials, then won an Elite-class Beedrill’s Twineedles for fifty million League Coin. The auction next offered an Elite-class Queen Bee’s hive and honey in exchange for an Elite Four item or League Coin, catching Yu Hai’s keen interest.

• Luo Yan told Yu Hai that the Starter hatchling had sold for seventy million, and the auction continued with Elite-class Heracross and Scyther materials selling for around forty million each.
• The host presented an Elite-class Beedrill’s Twineedles, explaining that their Bug- and Poison-type energy could aid Pokémon in breaking through to Elite-class.
• Yu Hai decided the Twineedles could help Accelgor and bid fifty million League Coin, winning the lot when no one raised the offer.
• The host revealed an Elite-class Queen Bee’s body hive containing fragrant honey and announced that the consignor wanted an Elite Four item or League Coin in exchange.
• Yu Hai recognized the hive and honey as exceptional Bug-type breakthrough materials and watched the auction with interest.

Yu Hai traded Elite Four Ekans poison fang material and an Elite-level Sharp Beak for Queen Bee's nest, then received Beedrill's Twineedles. After Gengar stored the materials, Luo Yan won an auction item he had long wanted.

• Yu Hai offered Elite Four Ekans poison fang material for Queen Bee's nest, and the client agreed to the trade if he added an item.
• Yu Hai added an Elite-level Sharp Beak, and the masked client tested the poison fang and inspected the Sharp Beak before completing the exchange for Queen Bee's nest.
• A server delivered Beedrill's Twineedles to Yu Hai, who checked the deceased Pokémon's panel and paid for them.
• Yu Hai checked Queen Bee's panel, confirmed the nest was sound, and completed the trade with the masked old man.
• Yu Hai ordered Gengar to store the Twineedles and Queen Bee's nest without eating any honey, then Luo Yan won an item he had long wanted.

Yu Hai bid on Elite-class Ditto cells and a Psychic Crystal ruby at the Black Ship auction, then used Lucario’s Aura to discover that an auctioned stone contained something powerful. He began bidding for the Aura Stone and intimidated the host after she tried to draw out more bids.

• Luo Yan bought an Elite-class Rhydon’s Rock Core, and Yu Hai confirmed it was genuine.
• Yu Hai won Elite-class Ditto Death Cells for seventy million and stored them with Gengar to delay their fusion.
• Yu Hai bought a ruby made from an Elite-class Starmie’s Psychic Crystal for seventy million, intending it for his Starmie.
• The auction introduced an Aura Stone, and Yu Hai released Lucario to sense it; Lucario detected something inside that strongly attracted it.
• Yu Hai bid five million one hundred thousand for the Aura Stone, then used Gengar’s Elite Four pressure to warn the host against provoking further bids.

Yu Hai’s Elite Four pressure stopped the auction host’s mishandling of a stone, which he suspected was Lucario’s Mega Stone, while Luo Yan bought Champion-class Tyranitar remains. As the auction presented mysterious Champion-class antlers, Yu Hai recognized them as likely Cobalion’s horns and prepared to bid on them for his Pokémon.

• Yu Hai’s pressure halted the auction, and the supervisor gave him the disputed stone as an apology; Yu Hai had Gengar hide it for later inspection.
• The supervisor auctioned a Champion-class Dragon Scale and Tyranitar remains; Yu Hai let Luo Yan buy the remains, then confirmed that a fragment was from a level-80 Tyranitar.
• Luo Yan had Gengar swallow the largest piece and gave Yu Hai a smaller fragment for Rhydon.
• The auction house presented metallic brown antlers containing Champion-class energy, and Yu Hai suspected they were Cobalion’s horns.
• Yu Hai connected the horns to a chance to raise Scizor and Forretress to Champion-class and decided to bid when their price reached 150 million.

Yu Hai and Luo Yan hid inside Mega Gengar’s dimensional space while the League raided the Black Ship auction and fought the masked criminals across the frozen sea. After emerging into the wrecked auction room, Yu Hai was discovered by someone who recognized him.

• Yu Hai bought Cobalion’s shed horns and realized their panel showed that Cobalion was still alive.
• Yu Hai and Luo Yan prepared diving gear and planned to hide in Mega Gengar’s dimensional space when the League launched its operation.
• Yu Hai and Luo Yan feigned a panicked escape as Sleep Powder spread through the auction, then slipped back and hid while the venue descended into chaos.
• The League’s ambush triggered a sprawling battle as masked guests tried to flee the cruise ship and fought League Trainers, Elite Four members, and dragons on the ice.
• After spending an unknown time in Mega Gengar’s dimensional space, Yu Hai emerged in the shattered Private Room Twenty-Two and heard someone ask how he had ended up there.

Yu Hai was discovered hiding aboard the cruise ship after the League’s battle, but Dunmei's Father chose to protect him and helped him avoid suspicion. After parting from Xiao Ying and Shiba, Yu Hai handed Dunmei's Father an Elite-class Tentacruel to sell for the Hot Spring Inn’s construction, then prepared to leave with Luo Yan.

• Dunmei's Father and Slowking forced Gengar to release Yu Hai and Luo Yan from its dimensional space and ordered them to disguise themselves and follow him.
• Dunmei's Father reassured Yu Hai that the League operation was over and led him outside, where they saw the frozen battlefield created by Lorelei.
• Yu Hai greeted Shiba and Xiao Ying, while Dunmei's Father claimed Luo Yan was a Gym apprentice to avoid drawing suspicion.
• Xiao Ying left with Shiba after promising Yu Hai they would meet again at the Elite Four tournament, and Dunmei's Father urged Yu Hai to leave the Orange Islands.
• Yu Hai gave Dunmei's Father an Elite-class Tentacruel to sell toward the Hot Spring Inn’s remaining construction costs, then he and Luo Yan sighed with relief and decided to return.

Yu Hai reviewed his earnings and auction purchases before testing the Aura-bearing stone with Lucario. The stone shattered and revealed a Mega Stone, but its unusual appearance left Yu Hai worried as the chapter ended.

• Yu Hai told A Long and his wife that they would leave for Cinnabar Island in a couple of days, then welcomed their lunch and settled in to rest.
• Yu Hai totaled the trip’s proceeds and auction expenses, recording a remaining cash balance of two hundred and two million.
• Yu Hai summoned his Pokémon for lunch, then asked Gengar to produce the Aura-bearing stone and promised to get it Queen Bee honey.
• Lucario focused its Aura on the stone until it cracked and exploded, while Umbreon shielded Yu Hai from the flying fragments.
• Yu Hai saw a Mega Stone emerge from the broken rock, treated Lucario’s bleeding arm, and carefully reached to touch the strangely colored gem.

Yu Hai discovered that the Mega Stone he found belonged to Medicham, though its Aura helped Lucario’s Potential rise to Elite class. He planned new cultivation methods for his Pokémon and fell asleep, leaving Ditto to merge with Elite-class cells.

• Yu Hai realized Lucario’s Mega Stone was actually Medicham’s, then hung it around Lucario’s neck to help him master the Aura transferred by an elder Medicham.
• Yu Hai released Ditto and placed him in a temperature-controlled container with Elite-class Ditto cells and Energy Cubes, hoping he would break through his limits.
• Yu Hai checked Lucario’s panel and discovered his Potential had reached 60.01% while Lucario meditated, making him eligible to challenge the Elite Four.
• Yu Hai planned to use Cobalion’s horns to strengthen Lucario, Poliwrath, and Toxicroak, and recorded a new idea for adapting cultivation materials.
• Yu Hai gave Starmie a ruby to aid his Confusion, considered future cultivation materials for his Pokémon, and fell asleep while holding Dragonair.

Yu Hai met A Ping at the harbor, received intelligence on the Kanto family allied with Team Rocket, and entrusted Luo Yan with plans to eliminate them. As Yu Hai and A Long’s family boarded the ship for Cinnabar Island, A Long concealed his identity with Ditto and began training; Yu Hai prepared to prioritize Toxicroak’s breakthrough using Cobalion’s horns.

• A Ping gave Yu Hai a USB drive listing the remnants of a Kanto noble family that had defected to Team Rocket, two Ditto for A Long, and an Electabuzz to deliver to Xiao Mai.
• Yu Hai passed the USB drive to Luo Yan and ordered him to send the target information to Shingo so the organization could eliminate the listed Trainers.
• A Long used one Ditto to disguise his face, then boarded the ship with his wife and Xiao Yu; he paid Yu Hai for both Ditto and rented a neighboring training room.
• A Long’s wife brought lunch to the training room, and A Long began training Xiao Yu and her Pokémon in preparation for her studies at Cinnabar Gym.
• Yu Hai decided Toxicroak should use the Fighting-type energy in Cobalion’s horns first, estimating that its toxin refinement could make its Elite Four breakthrough much faster than Poliwrath’s.

He planned how to use the horns’ Fighting- and Steel-type energy to strengthen his Pokémon, prioritizing Poliwrath, Lucario, Scizor, and Toxicroak while seeking suitable materials for Lucario. He also considered the missing Pokémon Egg and decided to wait for it to hatch while focusing on his team’s breakthroughs.

• He let Lucario, Poliwrath, and Toxicroak absorb the horns’ Fighting-type energy and concluded that Lucario needed Steel-attribute, non-Steel materials to balance its energy before breaking through.
• He identified possible sources of those materials and planned to seek them at shipboard trading events, while noting that Magnezone needed electricity and could not use the horns directly.
• He assessed each Pokémon’s breakthrough prospects, put Poliwrath first for using the horns, and postponed Forretress’s advancement in favor of the team’s main Pokémon.
• He worried that Lugia had not searched for the Pokémon Egg, but decided to leave it in Gengar’s dimensional pocket and wait for it to hatch.
• He suppressed his desire to raise a possible Sea God hatchling and refocused on helping his Pokémon reach Elite-class.