Catching Gyarados was merely a simple pretext.
It only made it seem as though the two sides were entering into a transaction.
But in truth...
Even if he did not catch Gyarados, Lance's Grandfather would still teach him.
And even if Lance's Grandfather did not teach him, Xia Yan would still catch this Gyarados.
He had long heard of the red Shiny Gyarados of Lake of Rage.
It was said that this Red Gyarados was the leader that ruled over all the Gyarados in Lake of Rage.
Xia Yan had previously thought that the Red Gyarados had been created entirely by Team Rocket.
The facts proved otherwise.
Team Rocket had merely tried to use this Red Gyarados for their Pokémon enhancement experiments.
But Team Rocket's main focus was now on creating Mewtwo. Only after Mewtwo defected would Team Rocket attempt to approach things from other angles.
Xia Yan had given Steven a Mawile, helped Cynthia evolve her Glaceon, and guided Lorelei in raising her "Dragon-Slayer Cloyster."
Yet he had never given Lance anything good.
On one hand, Lance truly did not need anything.
On the other hand...
Xia Yan did not have anything impressive enough to give him.
He had come to Mahogany Town to find Pryce for some final intensive training ahead of the Masters Tournament.
And Pryce was clearly a very good and capable teacher who could teach him quite a lot.
As for Agatha...
Agatha, who was now carrying the Kanto Region's Elite Four forward, was far busier than Xia Yan.
Besides that...
He had come for this Red Gyarados.
How could a dignified Flying-type Elite Four member not have a signature Red Gyarados to hold down the fort?
As for Xia Yan himself...
He did not need such a Gyarados. His Pokémon were either strengthening the