After agreeing on a plan, Xia You, Shelly, and Misty left the lakeside and slipped onto a nearby hill, moving to a safer position to monitor developments in the lake.
This spot offered the best view and lay well beyond Team Aqua's area of activity. It could be considered the best observation point on the island, allowing them to conserve their strength and wait for events to unfold.
Naturally, Team Aqua would send patrols around during an operation like this to prevent interference. Unfortunately for them, Shelly had already obtained their routes and personnel assignments from her inside contact. With that forewarning, discovering the trio's whereabouts would not be so easy.
At the summit, Shelly concealed half her body behind a tree, holding a monocular as she constantly monitored the lake.
Beside her, Misty released her Horsea, sending it and Xia You's Gengar to gather intelligence at close range through two routes, underground and underwater.
One of these Pokémon could hide underground without being seen, while the other's kind populated the seas. As a common Water-type Pokémon, its appearance on an island like this was perfectly reasonable and would arouse no suspicion whatsoever.
Most importantly, whether Team Aqua or Team Magma, all their attention was focused on Xia You and Shelly. They knew exactly what Pokémon those two possessed, naturally overlooking the inconspicuous Misty beside them and lacking sufficient knowledge of what Pokémon she owned.
That gave Misty an opportunity to slip hers in unnoticed.
With both of them occupied, Xia You alone leaned against a large tree to conserve his strength.
His turn to fight would come later. There was no need for him to waste energy yet.
But as he leaned there, the trees and bushes ahead blocked his view of the lake. Unable to send any more