Li Qingfeng then told Xiao Zhi how to proceed, like the route they should take.
As Li Qingfeng spoke, Xiao Zhi quietly took note, then went to sleep to conserve energy for the next day.
That night, Xiao Zhi and Team Rocket Trio slept soundly. However, Gengar emerged from Xiao Zhi's shadow, silently watching him, wondering what he was thinking.
'I wonder if Gengar can sense my presence...'
Li Qingfeng also had to open his mouth when speaking, but when he was thinking like this, Xiao Zhi couldn't hear him, and he didn't know why.
The night passed without incident, and morning arrived.
...
...
"Ah, that was a good sleep! We're getting out today."
Xiao Zhi stretched; it was his first time sleeping in the deep sea. He had to admit, with Li Qingfeng and Gengar around, he slept very soundly that night.
Team Rocket Trio also got up, asking Xiao Zhi how they were going to get out.
Xiao Zhi pointed at the ceiling and said, "We need to go up there. After we make a hole, we'll just tie ourselves and the water-type Pokémon together with rope."
"Speaking of rope, I happen to have some here. I'll give you a piece."
Kojiro touched his waist, pulled out a very sturdy rope, and as he handed it to Xiao Zhi, he added, "This was originally for tying you guys up..."
Xiao Zhi: ?
Musashi immediately hit Kojiro on the head and said exasperatedly, "You talk too much."
Kojiro awkwardly rubbed his hair, embarrassed that he had subconsciously blurted out what he was thinking.
"Honestly, I never thought we'd have a day where we cooperated, Meowth." Meowth looked full of emotion; he never even dreamed of this situation.
Xiao Zhi walked at the very front, with Team Rocket Trio following him in a single file, like a human formation.
After walking for a while, they saw a staircase entrance directly above them.
Kojiro stopped when he saw it, pointing and saying, "We should go in from up there, right? How do we get up?"
The staircase entrance was pitch black, and without the Flash move or a flashlight, it would be difficult to proceed.
Xiao Zhi already had a choice for lighting, but the most important thing right now was to get to the staircase entrance first.
He bent down and said to Gengar, who was in the shadows, "Gengar, I'm counting on you!"
"Gengar ~" (Okay ~)
Gengar's figure slowly appeared, with Xiao Zhi still on his back as usual.
Gengar waved a hand, and purplish-pink light appeared around him. Then, Team Rocket Trio felt a powerful force surround their entire bodies, and their feet lifted off the ground, bringing them into the air.
Within a few seconds, Gengar flew to the staircase entrance with agile speed, putting Xiao Zhi and the others down.
"It's really dark, I can't quite see the way."
Xiao Zhi sighed, then released Charmander, letting him serve as a temporary light source.
"Indeed, it's good to have a fire-type Pokémon..." Kojiro muttered to himself, quite emotional. Li Qingfeng guessed that he was thinking of his Growlithe at home.
Musashi looked at the long corridor and asked curiously, "Little brat, where does this path lead?"
Xiao Zhi felt speechless about being called "Little brat." No matter how many times he corrected them, Team Rocket Trio would always subconsciously call him "Little brat."
Putting that aside, Xiao Zhi still answered Musashi's question: "Keep going straight, it's probably near the engine room."
Meowth was a little confused: "Why go there, Meowth?"
"That's because the deck there is thinner, and with Charmander, it'll be easy to burn a big hole in the hull, making it easier to escape then."
Xiao Zhi replied without hesitation. This was all told to him by Li Qingfeng, and it was 100% reliable.
Upon hearing that it would be easy to escape, Meowth nodded repeatedly. Since it was easy to escape, it was naturally a good thing.
After a while, they arrived at a room located deep within this level. As long as they could go up the stairs there, reaching the engine room would not be a problem.
Xiao Zhi opened the door, and the scene before him gave him a fright.
The room was pitch black, with only the intense burning flames providing a faint light.
The flames danced high, emitting a pungent, smoky smell. The heat of the flames permeated the room, making the air dry and stuffy.
The furnishings on the walls and floor had been consumed by the flames, leaving only charred remains. Firelight poured into every corner of the room, casting terrifying shadows.
And the staircase connecting to the engine room was broken off for a large section. The middle part of the stairs had been burned away by the fierce fire, leaving only the remaining handrails and some steps.
The broken section of the staircase left a huge, deep, and dangerous crack. The air in the room was filled with thick smoke, and the pungent smell made it difficult to breathe.
Team Rocket Trio walked in and, seeing the scene before them, immediately burst into tears:
"Are we really going to meet our end here, Meowth?"
"Musashi, 'Beauty's short life' was truly written for us..."
"Kojiro..."
Xiao Zhi looked at the three of them and rolled his eyes. Didn't he have his Gengar here? Why were they saying such disheartening things?
Xiao Zhi continued to have Gengar help carry them to the other side. With Gengar's help, everyone safely reached the engine room.
"Squirtle, if seawater pours down later, you must swim against the current." Xiao Zhi tied the rope to Squirtle, then tied himself and Pikachu.
Squirtle turned around and gave Xiao Zhi a thumbs up, signaling him to rest assured. With Squirtle there, there would definitely be no problems!
Kojiro also pulled out his Magikarp, which he had bought with a lot of money, and said in a very chuunibyou manner, "Then, come forth, King of Carp—Magikarp!"
As soon as Magikarp came out, it flopped onto the ground, looking particularly energetic. Kojiro also tied the rope to himself, Musashi, and Meowth, then tied it tightly to Magikarp.
Xiao Zhi then sent out Charmander and commanded, "Charmander, burn a large hole in the ceiling."
Charmander nodded slightly and unleashed a scorching Flamethrower. The Flamethrower, like a joyous fire, accurately aimed at the ceiling as if cutting, burning the metal structure.
The powerful energy of the Flamethrower consumed the metal, forming a perfectly square hole. The metal residue around the opening dissolved under the action of the flames, emitting a peculiar metallic burnt smell.