After gradually leaving the polar cyclone's influence, the returning fleet entered relatively calm waters. The sky remained overcast, but the blizzard had stopped, leaving only the piercingly cold sea wind sweeping its salty, damp breath across the steel decks.
Ye Li stood alone near the bow of the flagship, letting the icy sea wind brush his cheeks, trying to dispel the exhaustion and tension that had accumulated in his heart over the past few days. He let out a long breath of white vapor and watched it dissipate in the air.
For him, this trip to the Seafoam Islands had been nothing short of a reckless dance on the edge of hell. First, he had faced the Legendary Pokémon's terrifying, almost tangible aura head-on. Every exchange with it had felt as though an invisible force were crushing his soul. Then he had gone to the front lines of the operation to eliminate the vicious poachers. Although he had not fought directly, the bloody scenes and pungent smells had still dealt him an enormous psychological blow.
He felt as though his nerves had been stretched like a fully drawn bowstring from the moment he set foot on the islands, ready to snap completely at the slightest mishap.
Now, at last, the mission had been completed successfully. He had obtained the Plate's data, handed the troublesome prisoners off to the Pokémon League, and made quite an impression on Boss Giovanni in the process.
His only thought now was to get back as quickly as possible to his safe, comfortable office in the Team Rocket Headquarters building in Viridian City, complete with its full suite of smart home devices. He desperately missed his soft couch and fully automatic coffee machine. All he wanted was to brew a steaming cup of premium Blue Mountain