"I am Lucas Blackthorn, the strongest executive of Team Rocket. Pleased to meet you."
Lucas smiled lightly, the corners of his mouth curving upward as he gave a slight bow, his expression courteous as though he were a refined gentleman. He introduced himself while facing the solemn-looking Red standing before him.
"Strongest executive…"
Red turned around to face Lucas directly, a look of seriousness flashing through his crimson eyes.
He didn't recognize this person, but there was no doubt that this tall, slender youth, who didn't even appear that old, was incredibly powerful!
It wasn't just the overwhelming pressure radiating from that Rhyperior—it was also Red's innate intuition.
He loved battles and yearned for fights where both sides gave it their all. Red loved Pokémon, and Pokémon battles were what he was most passionate about.
Perhaps it was due to talent, but Red's battle instincts were frighteningly sharp. And at this moment, he could clearly feel the crushing pressure coming from the person in front of him.
Strong. Extremely strong.
This was an opponent unlike any he had ever faced before!
"Lucas." Upon seeing Lucas, Surge's smile grew even wider.
"You go rest for now. Leave this one to me."
Lucas glanced at Surge and smiled.
After all, their opponent was Red. Lt. Surge's crushing defeat had been within expectations.
"Tch… how humiliating. Well, I'll leave this brat to you then."
Surge clutched his chest and stood up. After making a self-deprecating remark, he prepared to leave. Although Red was very powerful, Surge had even more faith in Lucas.
He was the strongest executive in all of Team Rocket!
"Wait!"
Seeing Lt. Surge casually walking away, Red's eyes narrowed.
"Rhyperior, Stonge Edge!"
Lucas's smile curled slightly as he gave an order to his Rhyperior.
The Rhyperior let out a low roar and raised both arms. Sharp stone blades quickly formed and launched toward Charizard.
"Flamethrower!"
Red had no choice but to issue a counter command to Charizard.
Charizard gathered intense flames in its mouth, then unleashed a fierce column of fire that clashed violently with the incoming Rock Slide.
BOOM!
With a loud explosion, the two attacks collided and shattered after a brief moment of deadlock.
And in that brief window, Surge had already stepped into the corridor and left.
"What's your objective?"
Red turned to Lucas, his youthful face calm but serious as he asked in a deep voice.
"What are you referring to?"
"If you were just trying to steal the Pokémon of the passengers aboard the S.S. Anne, there's no way you'd need to send this many people—not to mention three executives." Red stared straight into Lucas's eyes. He didn't believe they had mobilized so many operatives and high-ranking members just for a boatload of trainers' Pokémon.
And three senior executives, no less!
The S.S. Anne simply wasn't worth that kind of effort. The cost and the benefit didn't add up at all.
"You've got sharp instincts. Indeed, I have my own reasons for being here. But Surge and Archer, they're different from me."
Lucas spoke casually, as if it was no big deal to reveal this much. "Lately, the League has been cracking down hard on us, so I suppose they just wanted to strike back a little."
Archer and Surge's intention had always been to send a warning to the League. The greater the impact of the S.S. Anne incident, the better.
"So, you're hurting an entire ship of innocent people just to retaliate against the League?"
Red's expression changed slightly upon hearing this. A hint of anger crept into his voice.
Just to get back at the Pokémon League, they'd deliberately set a trap and lured a large number of people onto the ship, only to steal their Pokémon?
To a trainer, Pokémon are their partners! Red couldn't accept this.
"No need to get so worked up. A trainer like you should understand one truth better than anyone—weaklings being exploited by the strong is simply their fate."
Lucas raised an eyebrow. As expected, this was a boy brimming with a sense of justice.
Just like his younger brother, Ash. No—if anything, it wasn't Red who resembled Ash, but rather Ash who resembled Red.
Only, compared to Red, Ash's temperament was still far too immature and naive.
"Fate? That's nonsense!"
Red's expression darkened even further.
"Power isn't meant to be used for plundering. If gaining strength is only for exploiting the weak, then there can be no such thing as order or happiness in this world."
"I want to become stronger—and I can become stronger—because I enjoy growing together with my partners. We share the same dream of reaching the summit, not whatever you're talking about."
Red spoke solemnly. He couldn't agree with nor accept this twisted ideology. As he had thought, Team Rocket was nothing but an evil organization that brought only destruction to people's happiness and peace.
"What a pure-hearted mindset. So, are you trying to be a savior?"
Lucas didn't refute him outright. He understood all too well—people like Red, who were filled with goodwill, possessed unshakable wills and beliefs.
Trying to change the thoughts of someone like that was nearly impossible… unless they suffered a devastating blow.
"I never thought of myself as a savior. I just do what I can. But I won't stand by and watch you harm innocent people."
Red shook his head. A savior? He'd never entertained such a thought—that was the League's job.
He was just an ordinary person. He couldn't take on such a grand mission.
But since the incident was unfolding right before his eyes, he would do everything he could. He couldn't just stand there and let Team Rocket hurt all the people on this ship.
"Well, that's too bad. If you want to save them, you'll have to defeat me first…"
Lucas grinned. They had talked enough. He was ready to fight now.
"Then I'll defeat you!"
Red's expression became grim and focused.
"A lot of people have said that to me. But unfortunately…"
Lucas let out a soft chuckle. The smile on his lips gradually twisted into something darker and more sinister. In the next moment—
"Rhyperior, Rock Blast!"
Rhyperior let out a mighty roar and raised both arms, aiming directly at Charizard. From the hollow of its palms, a muddy yellow glow began to swell.
Two stone orbs launched out from the hollow and grew larger as they flew at high speed.
Rock-type move: Rock Blast!
"Charizard!"
Red's eyes narrowed as he quickly retreated to a safe distance while calling out to Charizard.
Charizard flapped its wings and shot into the air, narrowly avoiding the oncoming stones.
As a Fire and Flying type, Charizard had a quadruple weakness to Rock-type moves. Taking a direct hit would be no joke!
"You think I'll let you dodge that easily?"
Lucas raised an eyebrow at the sight.
Rhyperior locked its arms onto Charizard once more and began firing a barrage of rocks in rapid succession.
"Hurricane!"
Red gave Charizard an order without hesitation.
Charizard beat its wings powerfully, whipping up a fierce gale. The oncoming rocks were caught in the storm, their trajectory thrown into chaos.
"Fire Blast!"
In the next moment, Charizard puffed out its belly and unleashed a massive, crimson-red flame attack shaped like the kanji for 大, which blasted ferociously toward Rhyperior.
Although Fire-type moves weren't particularly effective against the Ground-type Rhyperior, they weren't completely negated either. Red had complete confidence in Charizard's strongest Fire-type move.
"This level of flame won't do much."
Lucas smirked calmly.
"Rock Tomb!"
Rhyperior stomped the deck hard. Thick stone walls shot up from the ground, forming a sturdy barrier in front of it.
The Fire Blast crashed fiercely into the Rock Tomb walls, the scorching heat surging outward in waves.
From Lucas's perspective, it looked as though the sky itself had been set ablaze. That was the power behind Charizard's Fire-type attacks.
BOOM!
The Fire Blast exploded completely, its terrifying force reducing the rock walls to rubble and cinders.
"Indeed, very strong."
But instead of looking pleased, Red frowned deeply.
Because despite Charizard's swift and fierce counterattack, it had achieved nothing. Even though Fire Blast destroyed the Rock Tomb barriers, the attack had been entirely blocked.
(End of Chapter)