Under everyone's very noses, Team Rocket's enormous fleet completed its turn as silently as ghosts in the night. On the surface, the ships still maintained their course toward the Kanto mainland, using several unmanned reconnaissance vessels emitting powerful signals to draw the Pokémon League fleet's attention. Meanwhile, under cover of darkness and a sudden thick fog at sea, the fleet's main force sailed in the opposite direction.
Their destination, Shamouti Island, was a beautiful island isolated from the world. It fell under no Pokémon League's jurisdiction, and its residents believed in ancient legends, living self-sufficient lives at peace with the world. They believed that a great deity slumbered in the sea, and that it was this Sea God's protection that kept their island far from the outside world's conflicts and disasters.
Every year, when the world's climate was at its most unstable, the island held a grand festival, using music and song to pray for the Sea God's protection and appease nature's fury.
When Ye Li's fleet arrived in the waters near Shamouti Island as silently as ghosts, it happened to coincide with the island's grandest annual festival.
Viewed from the flagship's deck, the entire island was festively decorated, with colorful wind chimes and ribbons hanging everywhere. Melodious music and the islanders' joyful singing could still be heard clearly across the distant stretch of sea. The whole island was immersed in an atmosphere of joy and peace.
"Order all ships to anchor in Bay Three," Ye Li instructed over the Communicator. "Shut down all active radar and activate the optical cloaking systems. Until I give the order, no one is to take so much as a step out of their cabins."
He had to ensure absolute secrecy for this operation.
Then he, Apollo, and several other elite members selected from