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At the critical moment, Sato ultimately chose to intervene. Though Vanna had just cursed him moments ago, he couldn't stand by and watch Tomoki kill her right in front of him.
In truth, from the moment Sato had seen through Tomoki's scheme and threatened him into leaving, he had known that peaceful coexistence between them was impossible. From now on, it was a battle to the death.
Sato understood Tomoki's nature all too well—this guy was a conniving schemer. There was no way he'd simply let things go. A final showdown between them was inevitable.
What's more, Tomoki had lured him to the ruins clearly intending to get rid of him as well. Facing someone who had nearly gotten him killed, how could Sato pretend like nothing had happened?
He didn't care about Tomoki's rank or background—if the guy wanted to eliminate him, then he'd find a way to kill him first.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Though the saying isn't always right, in this case, Sato definitely wanted Tomoki's enemies to survive.
Especially someone like Vanna—powerful, hot-tempered, vengeful, and backed by an extremely influential background. There was no way he could let Tomoki kill her so easily. Sato firmly believed that if Vanna made it through this, Tomoki would be dealing with a massive headache down the line.
That, in turn, would buy Sato time—time to grow stronger without being under Tomoki's constant scrutiny.
And if all went well, he might even use this chance to draw closer to Vanna and gain access to more valuable resources for raising Dragon-type Pokémon.
With the benefits clearly laid out in his mind, Sato didn't hesitate a second longer. Thanks to his pinpoint throwing accuracy and telepathic abilities, Swampert, Bellossom, and the red Gyarados instantly appeared in front of Vanna's Pokémon, shielding them and preparing for battle.
In that moment, Swampert's combination move Icy Hammer clashed head-on with Garchomp's Dragon Claw, and a deep, thunderous shockwave echoed across the battlefield.
What shocked everyone, however, was that it wasn't Swampert who was blown back—but Garchomp, who had previously seemed unstoppable.
(Note: Icy Hammer is a combination of Ice Punch and Hammer Arm.)
Garchomp was already level 70—firmly within the Elite Four level. In contrast, Swampert was only level 60.
But in Sato's judgment, despite that 10-level gap which gave Garchomp a clear advantage, Swampert's raw power and its quadruple-type advantage with Icy Hammer meant it could still go toe-to-toe in a close-quarters fight. Possibly even hold the upper hand.
Now that theory had been confirmed. In physical combat, Swampert could indeed clash with Garchomp—and even slightly overpower it.
Meanwhile, Bellossom struck Feraligatr with a lightning-fast Leaf Blade, carving two deep bloody slashes into its hide and forcing it back. However, with an 8-level gap between them, she couldn't finish the job in one blow. Now, as she spun gracefully mid-air in a rhythmic Swords Dance, she faced Feraligatr in a tense standoff.
On the other side, the red Shiny Gyarados delivered a crushing Aqua Tail, sending Tyrantrum flying. With the added effect of a quadruple-type advantage, he successfully knocked Tyrantrum out of the battle, leaving it badly injured.
Thanks to Sato's sudden intervention, the battle's momentum completely reversed in an instant.
"You're choosing to stand against me too, Sato?!"
Seeing Sato swoop in to rescue Vanna's Pokémon, Tomoki's rage exploded. His face twisted in fury as he bellowed at Sato, voice nearly a roar.
The very next second, before Tomoki even issued a command, the group of subordinates behind him all hurled out their PokeBalls. A flurry of powerful Pokémon burst forth, encircling Sato, Vanna, and their partners.
"Let's keep things peaceful, Tomoki. After all, we've only just returned safely from that island. It wasn't easy. I'm sure the higher-ups have high hopes for all of us survivors. If anyone gets hurt now, they won't be pleased. Vanna may have acted a little recklessly earlier, but she clearly had no intent to kill. On the other hand, you and your subordinates pushed things a little too far, stepping out of line. To avoid a real fallout, I had no choice but to step in. I hope you'll understand my good intentions and won't take it personally. Otherwise, if you push too far…..."
Sato had already prepared this polished excuse beforehand. Now, upon hearing Tomoki's furious outburst, he immediately flashed a carefree smile, acting as though he didn't have a care in the world despite the dangerous situation.
However, the way he clutched Alakazam's PokeBall in his hand betrayed a less composed inner state.
In reality, Sato was a bit worried. He feared that Tomoki might lose all sense of reason and command his men to attack. If that happened, despite what he said, his only option would be to have Alakazam teleport him and his Pokémon away.
Still, Sato was confident Tomoki would stop. He knew the man's calculating nature. As a master manipulator, Tomoki was someone who always weighed the pros and cons before acting.
Tomoki already suspected why Sato had stepped in. But he also understood the cost of killing both Sato and Vanna here—it would mean offending two of Team Rocket's top brass: his uncle and Poseidon.
Offending Poseidon alone might be manageable—he could still hide behind his uncle and let him deal with the fallout. But if he also angered his own uncle, his situation would become precarious.
Would his uncle really hold a grudge over a minor grunt like Sato?
Tomoki's mind was racing as he weighed the likelihood of this scenario. And in the end, as expected of a seasoned schemer, he reached a firm conclusion.
He hadn't been around during his uncle's early days rising through Team Rocket, but he understood the man's ruthless temperament. His uncle would never go easy on him just because they were family.
Tomoki knew all too well—Sato was someone his uncle had taken a personal interest in. And now, after surviving the trial on that mysterious island and proving his strength, Sato shone even brighter. Killing him now would only invite his uncle's suspicion.
And when you're in a position of power within a dark organization like Team Rocket, even a sliver of suspicion is enough to trigger unimaginable consequences.
So Tomoki couldn't afford to gamble. He had only just acquired new strength from the ruins—his foundation was still shaky. Offending two top executives at once would be a death sentence.
"Mr. Sato is absolutely right. Now that we've returned from the island, it's best we keep the peace."
"What are you all standing around for? Return your Pokémon. Now!"
Deciding that killing Sato and offending his uncle wasn't worth it, Tomoki's scowl melted into a mask of polite laughter. He nodded toward Sato, then snapped at his subordinates.
"Well then, see you later, Mr. Sato. I'll be taking my leave first."
With that, he turned and left with his entourage, vanishing without another word.
"If I could help it, I really wouldn't want to make an enemy of a twisted man like him… Life in Team Rocket just got a whole lot more complicated."
Watching Tomoki—smiling like a harmless tiger—as he departed surrounded by his loyal followers, the smile faded from Sato's face. His heart grew frosty.