These four Pokémon should be enough to pass the evaluation, Feng Che calculated.
The examiners definitely know exactly how many Poké Balls I have on me. These balls, with their tracking and identification chips scrubbed, would be a massive headache if the League found them. They might even use them to trace the location of a Team Rocket base. The best move is to use them all up here.
He had the Poké Balls; now, the method of capture depended entirely on his skill.
Using stones to stun a Pidgey or throwing a shirt over one to pin it down—Feng Che looked down on such amateurish tactics. He wouldn't stoop to that.
His deep, dark pupils swept across the flock. He noticed a subtle detail: every single Pokémon here wore a small collar. On each collar was a tiny, crimson 'R'.
The moment he saw them, he understood. These Pokémon were "livestock" released by Team Rocket specifically for this trial. They would likely be reclaimed once the evaluation ended.
The potential of these Pidgey isn't great. I'll just have to pick the best of a bad bunch, he thought. Since these are just temporary partners to be handed back after the trial, I don't need to be too picky. Team Rocket really went all out, using a massive section of the forest as a screening ground. Giovanni is certainly rolling in resources.
Initially, Feng Che felt a twinge of guilt, fearing the Pokémon he caught might be mistreated after he turned them in. Knowing they already belonged to the organization wiped that burden from his mind.
Pidgey are timid. Even the slightest disturbance will send them spiraling into the sky. I have to be extremely precise.
Feng Che retrieved the secondhand Poké Ball from his spatial bracelet and clicked the button to enlarge it. He plucked two blades of grass and tossed them into the air to judge the wind direction.
The Pidgey is about ten meters away. The wind is currently at my back, so I need to reduce the force of the throw. The energy node for a Pidgey is that cluster of brown plumage on its head. If I hit that, the capture is essentially guaranteed.
But I can't alert the Nidoran. Common sense dictated that adult Nidoking and Nidoqueen were likely nearby, keeping a protective eye on their young. If he was discovered, he might be on the receiving end of a Hyper Beam. Humans didn't have the stamina or durability of Pokémon; if he got caught in their crosshairs, it would be game over.
Wait for the perfect window...
Feng Che took a few deep breaths, centering himself. Hidden in the tall grass, his eyes never left the target. His heart hammered against his ribs. Although he was a veteran of the game, this was his first real capture in the physical Pokémon world.
Suddenly, a gust of wind shifted, blowing back toward the flock. To keep the dust out of its eyes, his target Pidgey squinted and partially unfurled its wings.
"Now!"
The perfect opening. Feng Che snapped his wrist, utilizing a unique curving throw he had spent countless hours perfecting in the game to catch high-difficulty specimens.
The Poké Ball arced through the air and struck the Pidgey's crest plumage with clinical precision. The bird dissolved into a streak of red light and was sucked into the sphere. The ball, carrying the momentum of the capture's recoil, bounced back through the air and landed firmly in Feng Che's hand.
"Success."
Excitement flared in his chest. Now came the wait.
Capturing a Pidgey this way had a 60% success rate. The entire process—from the throw to the retrieval—had taken less than five seconds. The other Pidgey didn't even realize their companion was gone. The Pokémon drinking at the stream continued their activities, undisturbed. The atmosphere remained peaceful.
Only the ball in Feng Che's hand bucked violently. The red indicator light on the button flashed. Feng Che gripped his other Poké Balls tight. If the Pidgey broke free, he was prepared to hurl another ball the instant it emerged, continuing the cycle until it stayed in. A truly elite Trainer could use this "rapid-fire" technique to catch full-health Pokémon without a single scratch.
The ball shook once. Twice.
"Three." "Two." "One."
He counted down the seconds. After the third shake, the ball fell silent. Three small stars clicked onto the indicator.
The Pidgey was caught.
"Come on out, Pidgey."
Feng Che pressed the button, releasing his new partner.
[Pidgey: Who am I? Where am I? What just happened?]
The Pidgey emerged looking utterly dazed.
[Pidgey: Wait... I think I just got caught.][Pidgey: I really just got caught like that?!][Pidgey: Am I seriously that easy? I have no dignity left!]
Feng Che heard every bit of the bird's internal drama. Fortunately, Pidgey are naturally docile. After a brief internal struggle, it accepted Feng Che as its temporary Trainer.
Feng Che checked the metal band on its leg. It was blinking a faint red light at intervals, likely transmitting its real-time coordinates.
Pokémon: Pidgey Gender: Male Potential: Elite (Orange) Ability: Keen Eye Level: 8 Type: Normal / Flying Moves: Growl, Sand Attack, Gust Status: Confused about being caught.
It really does have Keen Eye. My judgment was spot on. And orange potential? That's a one-in-a-hundred find.
He had noticed this specific Pidgey's eyes flickered with a sharp clarity compared to the others, and it seemed to observe its surroundings with more focus. His instinct had been correct.
Team Rocket Underground Base - Monitoring Room.
"Holy... how long has it been? Someone already bagged a Pidgey?"
"And it's one of the high-potential ones we released!" an observer shouted.
"Catching a Pidgey is one thing, finding the base is another. Don't make a big deal out of it," another member replied dismissively.
"No, you don't get it. The preliminary round started less than half an hour ago. Do you know how hard it is to catch a Pokémon barehanded without weakening it first?"
"The record holder for this was Officer Tyron, and it took him forty minutes to bag an Oddish. This kid did it in under thirty. He just shattered Tyron's record."
"Log the time and the Pidgey's ID number. When he finds the base and registers, give him the point bonus. Speed of capture is a hidden metric for the evaluation."
The members in the monitoring room continued to buzz with excitement.