How to put it? The feeling was as if a commotion had been deliberately created just to drive everyone out of the base.
At this point, the explosions had completely subsided, but the base also seemed to have suddenly lost power and was sinking rapidly.
After all, given the base's volume, the seawater was not enough to support its weight.
Erika turned her head to look out the window. The seawater quickly submerged the window again, the last rays of the setting sun vanished, and the familiar underwater environment came back into view.
She frowned. "It looks like we're heading back to the seabed."
Natsui nodded and looked towards the depths of the base. "Let's go. Let's see what on earth Team Rocket is up to!"
The two moved forward cautiously, but after walking for a while, they found the entire place was empty. The annoying alarm had long since disappeared. At this moment, apart from their own footsteps and breathing, it was completely silent.
Tap, tap, tap, tap...
The sound of their hurried footsteps echoed through the empty base.
The two went deeper. Along the way, they glanced into every room and found that they were all in a state of disarray, but other than that, nothing else had happened.
However, when they reached the most central area, the situation seemed a bit different.
This was clearly the base's research area, and it was extremely well-protected. Not only was it surrounded by thick glass, but the only exit was also a blast door.
Through the glass, they could clearly see figures moving inside the research area!!
The two immediately exchanged a look. At Natsui's signal, Gardevoir directly used Psychic. With a loud 'bang', the powerful force sent the entire door flying!
When they walked inside, the first thing they saw was a short old man in a white coat with his back to them, busy with something at an operating console.
Around him, several other people in protective suits looked at them. Seeing the two intruders, they stood there at a loss, their eyes filled with shock, unease, and panic.
The old man turned around and looked at Natsui with a blank expression.
"You're really persistent. Even after all that, I still couldn't fool you."
Natsui's gaze swept over the old man's red, receding hairline, and he asked in a deep voice, "Who are you?"
The old man smiled faintly. "Let me introduce myself. I am Dr. Namba, the person in charge of this base."
Dr. Namba...
Natsui only had a slight impression of this person. After all, he didn't appear much in the anime, and his storyline was only briefly touched upon.
He looked to his left and right and saw that the research lab was filled with various precision instruments, some of which were still operating. Looking at the rows of test tubes of different colors, the overall feeling was very much like a chemical and biological laboratory.
"You went to such great lengths to hide, with explosions and surfacing, even tricking your own people. What exactly are you researching here?"
Hearing Natsui's question, Dr. Namba took a deep look at him.
"It doesn't matter if I tell you. We are actually researching a Pokémon virus."
"A Pokémon virus!?"
Besides being shocked, Natsui couldn't help but search his memory.
There was indeed such a plot in the anime, but he couldn't remember the specific details. However, he vaguely remembered that in the end, because of this virus research, these Team Rocket members even kidnapped Professor Oak!
Seeing Natsui's brow furrowed, Dr. Namba sneered.
"Viruses, bacteria, vaccines... they are essentially all the same. In people's minds, viruses are often something to be avoided, but in my opinion, viruses can change a Pokémon's genes and greatly enhance their abilities. Although it comes with certain risks, overall, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages!"
Such rhetoric. It seems he's another stubborn old man who's gone off the deep end...
"So, the Pokémon that were locked up below were all for experiments?"
"Naturally," Dr. Namba snorted coldly, saying with some regret, "It's just a pity that the data hasn't been fully compiled and transferred. I originally thought I had plenty of time, but it seems that time has run out."
After speaking, he waved his hand at the people around him, and the research staff, as if granted amnesty, fled into a nearby elevator.
The elevator descended, its destination unknown.
Natsui stood his ground and did not pursue them.
After all, those were just ordinary research personnel. The real source of the problem was the Dr. Namba standing before him.
Even if all those people were captured, as long as Dr. Namba's ideology remained, he could continuously recruit more people to work for him.
Therefore, his target was clear: this old man right here!
Dr. Namba turned back around and casually operated the console a few more times.
Seeing him so calm, Natsui was wary of any tricks and began to walk towards him.
At the same time, he tried to distract the old man with words.
"Aren't you worried?"
"Worried about what?" the old man said without looking up.
"About being captured and handed over to the International Police, of course."
Dr. Namba shook his head. "Don't you understand yet? Once my research is successful, I will be able to create stronger and larger Pokémon through the virus! For humanity, my research is undoubtedly great!! I imagine that as a Pokémon trainer, you also hope to have more powerful Pokémon, right?"
Before Natsui could say anything, Erika, who had been silent all this time, couldn't help but retort sarcastically, "Great!? Are you kidding? Trying to alter genes with something like a virus, you are blaspheming life itself!!"
Glancing at Erika, Dr. Namba snorted coldly. "Little girl, your knowledge is still too shallow. Whether it's us humans or Pokémon, we all evolved by gradually adapting to our environment. We are constantly modifying our own genes."
Perhaps realizing that his ideology was incompatible with these two, Dr. Namba didn't bother to explain further.
He took one last look at Natsui.
"Young man, I know who you are and what you've done before. To be honest, to have achieved so much at your age, your future is bound to be even more limitless. But now... I wish you good luck."
After speaking, he slammed a red button on the console without hesitation.
In the next second, as the ground shook violently, he heard powerful explosions from both sides!
BOOM!!
The walls shattered, and thick smoke and flames instantly burst out!
Natsui immediately dove towards Erika, shielding her beneath him, and Gardevoir instantly put up a barrier, protecting them both!
Smoke filled the air, and machine fragments were scattered everywhere.
When Natsui looked up and searched for Dr. Namba, he saw that he had already entered the elevator, and the elevator doors were slowly closing at that very moment.
Before he had time to chase, a large amount of seawater rushed in from all sides. In just an instant, it had already submerged his feet!
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