If they successfully take out the two elites, great but if they failed, all it would accomplish is to expose Team Rocket's terrifying fangs, truly rousing the vigilance of the Kanto League.
"For the time being, we'll let them go. Lucas, this time I'll have to trouble you with more of the burden."
After a long pause of contemplation, Gionvanni abandoned that alluring thought. The risk was simply too great.
After all, it was still unclear whether only Lance and Lorelei had arrived. There would be other chances in the future.
His Mewtwo had not yet fully matured either—once it did, then he could consider ways of eliminating Lance for good!
"Boss, you're really being too polite."
Lucas wasn't surprised at all. He had only said it casually. To truly take out Lance now? Then how would he enjoy the spectacle to come later?
"Oh, right—what about the matter with Dr. Fuji?"
Gionvanni gave a faint smile before asking Lucas that one question.
"Back in Cinnabar, I picked up intel that Dr. Fuji was on the S.S. Anne, and indeed I found him there."
Lucas shrugged, his face calm without the slightest ripple of unease. He had already guessed Gionvanni would bring this up.
Gionvanni's brow furrowed. The S.S. Anne incident…
"But Lorelei appeared later, and just as Archer and the others were retreating, Lance showed up as well. I didn't linger in battle, so I withdrew too, leaving Fuji behind on the S.S. Anne."
"Still, you don't need to worry, Boss. I already had my Gardevoir hypnotize Dr. Fuji's memories. Though I didn't manage to obtain Mewtwo's research data for you, at the very least he should have forgotten it himself. As for whether his mind is completely intact afterward—well, that I cannot be sure of." Lucas rubbed his chin thoughtfully as if recalling.
"I see… You've worked hard, Lucas."
Gionvanni narrowed his eyes slightly. What Lucas said was largely consistent with what Archer had reported.
Archer had also mentioned that, early in the plan, Lucas had captured some old man.
But then Lorelei's appearance had thrown everything into disarray.
"Handle the Celadon situation, Lucas. As long as Archer and the others survive, it'll be enough." Gionvanni finally instructed. He asked for no more.
The fates of the common Rocket grunts didn't matter; live or die, that was up to chance. So long as Archer and the executive cadre weren't slain in the chaos by Lance, that was sufficient.
As long as Archer lived, Gionvanni would have ways to eventually bring them back into play.
"I'll do what I can. But Boss, you know I'll probably have to have a long-awaited reunion with my cousin." Lucas raised an eyebrow, neither fully agreeing nor refusing.
After all, this time he would finally get to properly catch up with his cousin.
Where would he find the spare energy to babysit Archer and the others? Besides, hadn't he already blocked the greatest threat for them?
Surely Archer and his group weren't so useless that they couldn't even escape now.
Gionvanni nodded—he understood well. If not for the concern of exposing his own identity, he would have gone to Celadon personally.
The genetic fusion research stored at the Celadon base concerned the entire Three Legendary Birds Project—it was of immense importance.
"It should be no later than tomorrow."
Once the call ended, Lucas lit a cigarette, gazing out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the glittering night skyline of Celadon City.
With the personalities of Lance and Lorelei, they would never waste time; they would arrive as quickly as possible.
"Cousin Lance… I'm truly looking forward to it—our first official clash."
-------------------
Celadon's night seemed tranquil on the surface, but those who watched closely could see it: layer upon layer of police cordons had already surrounded the shopping district!
Dozens of Officer Jennys, acting as squad leaders, had arranged an extensive surveillance network with hidden cameras, ensuring that no Rocket member could slip away early.
The flames of war—it was no exaggeration—were ready to ignite at the slightest spark.
For any reason whatsoever, the League would not allow the Team Rocket to maintain a base within Celadon City!
Team Rocket was infamous across Indigo, a name synonymous with evil. Celadon, however, was one of Kanto's grandest and most prosperous cities.
To let the Team Rocket exist here?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible!
Kanto was the headquarters region of the Pokémon League. Each year it saw some of the highest numbers of travelers and population flow in the world.
In other words, as one of Kanto's great cities, Celadon bustled with enormous human traffic.
What if one day the Team Rocket struck here? The consequences would be catastrophic.
Thus, the moment Chairman Logi confirmed the intel about the Celadon Rocket base, he issued a death order: this base must be destroyed at all costs!
"Champion Lance, the evacuation order has been issued. By tomorrow morning, we can launch the assault."
The Celadon Police Chief Jenny entered the office, reporting to the red-haired young man in a sweeping black cloak.
The game corner sat right on the busiest street of the commercial district. They could not recklessly begin an assault without preparations.
Otherwise, once battle broke out, the number of civilians caught in the crossfire would be unthinkable.
Thus, they had to first evacuate residents, delaying the timing of the attack.
"Good. Keep your men sharp—none of those Rocket scum can be allowed to escape."
Without even turning his head, Lance gazed coldly upon the nightscape of Celadon, his voice low and indifferent.
Within that tone was a chill so bitter it sent shivers crawling over the Police Chief's skin.
"Y-yes," she answered quickly, bowing her head.
-----------------
Inside the Team Rocket base beneath Celadon.
"Damn it… we're completely surrounded."
Archer's expression was dark as night. He knew the League would move quickly, but he hadn't expected them to arrive this fast.
"Lance himself has come too. This is going to be troublesome."
Ariana's eyes glittered with malice as she cast a cold glance at Erika, tied tightly to a chair.
If not for that woman, they would never have fallen into such dire straits.
"Let the men rest tonight. Tomorrow morning, we strike and break out."
Karen polished her nails, a wicked curve rising at her lips. She and Will were present in the base as well.
Since Lucas wasn't planning to leave, neither would they.
Opportunities to face the League head-on didn't come often.
After all, as newly promoted executives, they needed to prove themselves. Their last bases had already been destroyed by the League—this was their chance for payback.
"The research data will be split into four backups. Each of us keeps one. Whoever escapes—it'll be up to fate."
Karen licked her crimson lips, her eyes brimming with eagerness.
She had never been one to sit quietly. With her twisted nature, she relished this kind of battle.
"Lucas will handle Lance. Lorelei… I'll take her. You three focus on breaking through. As long as no other Elites are present, escaping shouldn't be too difficult."
Her sharp eyes swept across Archer, Ariana, and Will one by one.
Archer and Ariana—both senior executives, trainers at Elite Four level.
Will her colleague, a psychic specialist, whose strength is definitely one of the best among the elites.
Though he had once been captured by Bruno—was Bruno truly a "normal" Elite?
"So, it's settled. At dawn, we break through."
Archer's voice was firm. To sit and wait would be death.
And at this moment, he couldn't help but feel grateful that Karen and Will had joined recently.
Though at first the veteran cadres had been skeptical—never having heard their names before—once they saw their strength, they had to admit it.
Karen was a true Champion-level trainer.
Outside of the Boss and Lucas, she was the only one of that caliber within Team Rocket.
With Lucas holding Lance and Karen containing Lorelei, they had a genuine chance of breaking out.
If even then they couldn't escape, what right did they have to call themselves Rocket executives? They might as well smash their heads against the wall.
The only uncertainty left—was it really only Lance and Lorelei the League had dispatched?
Neither Archer nor Ariana could know. They could only pray.
-------------------
A quiet night slipped away. The blazing sun rose at the horizon, its light scattering across the world.
The secret passage beneath the game corner began to stir. One by one, Rocket members emerged into the morning air.
"So, the rats finally crawl from their holes."
Across the street, high upon a rooftop, Lance's lips curved into an icy grin. His eyes gleamed with cold light, enough to freeze the marrow.
"Tighten the perimeter! The Rockets have surfaced."
Chief Jenny, at his side, immediately issued the order through her communicator.
"Not a single one is to escape!"
The officers and League trainers tightening the encirclement advanced step by step, closing the trap.
"Champion Lance, some civilians haven't completed evacuation yet. If we start the battle now, many may be caught in the crossfire."
Lowering her communicator, Chief Jenny frowned.
Since last night, they had gone door to door urging evacuation. But some residents still refused, unwilling to abandon possessions or still scrambling to pack.
"That was their choice. Our duty is to put every last Team Rocket criminal behind bars."
Lance's face was expressionless, his crimson hair flowing coldly in the morning breeze. His voice was flat, but within it lay a merciless chill.
They had been given a chance. If they refused to leave—then their fates were sealed.
"But—"
Chief Jenny began to protest, but Lance ignored her entirely.
Two Poké Balls arced from his hand. Two Dragonairs unfurled their long bodies into the sky above.
"This rat hole is deeper than I thought. Let me help flush them out."
A feral grin crept over his cold face. He had grown impatient.
"Dragonair—Hyper Beam."
His command fell calm as ice.
The two Dragonair raised their slender heads in unison, destructive dark energy swirling in their maws.
"Wait! Champion Lance—if you fire now you'll harm countless innocents! Gym Leader Erika is still their hostage as well!"
Chief Jenny's pupils shrank in alarm as she tried frantically to stop him.
She had no doubt of his power. At this range, two Hyper Beams would obliterate the massive game corner, reducing it to rubble.
Every Team Rocket still inside would be buried alive beneath the collapse.
And who knew if Erika had even been removed from the underground base yet?
But Lance didn't respond at all. His eyes remained fixed, cold and merciless, upon the game corner.
Jenny's heart sank like ice. She had long known that Kanto's Champion detested Team Rocket with an unquenchable hatred, often acting with extreme severity.
But knowing was one thing. To witness it now, in person—it chilled her blood.
The Dragonair's Hyper Beams reached their climax. In the next second, two dark pillars of light tore across the street, striking the game corner with devastating force.
BOOM!
The colossal building crumbled like paper before that apocalyptic blast.
The earth-shaking roar drowned out the Team Rockets' desperate screams from within.
The entire structure collapsed in an instant, shattering into rubble and dust, smoke billowing high into the sky.
Chief Jenny pressed her lips together, brows furrowed tight.
Such merciless, ruthless force…
(End of Chapter)