Feng Che trudged through the muddy, uneven sand of the retreating tide. His pace was slow, and eventually, Ditto couldn't stand the sight of it anymore. It shifted into Arbok, coiled its body around Feng Che, and hoisted him onto its back, slithering forward in a rapid, zig-zag motion.
"Wait, Ditto! Look there!"
Feng Che pointed to a corner of a metallic box glinting in the muck. Ditto lashed out with an Iron Tail, neatly excavating the object. In the harsh sunlight, gold and bronze looked remarkably similar, but once the sand was cleared, Feng Che confirmed it: a Gold Chest.
"Buried out here in the middle of nowhere? Clever. I bet the examiners wanted to see if anyone would bother checking the shoreline during the ebb tide."
He sighed, looking at the heavy lock. "Now I just have to find the specific Pokémon holding the key. What a pain."
Ditto's thoughts drifted into Feng Che's mind.
[Ditto: Oh, he wants a key? He should just ask me!][Ditto: How do you think I snuck around the Rocket ranch for so long without getting caught? I just turn my tail into a key and go wherever I want.][Ditto: Maybe I won't tell him. Let him sweat a little. ()/]**
This little rebel, Feng Che thought. One of these days I'm going to turn him into a rug.
"Man," Feng Che said aloud, feigning a deep disappointment. "If only someone could help me open this lock. I'd happily pay them three bottles of premium berry juice."
Ditto's ears (metaphorically) perked up.
"Sweet, delicious, chilled berry juice... what a waste that no one can earn it," Feng Che added, pulling a bottle from his bracelet and wafting the scent toward the blob.
The single-celled Ditto broke instantly. It shoved its tail into the keyhole, its mass shifting and clicking until—Snap!—the Gold Chest popped open.
"Good grief, Ditto. You're a genius," Feng Che praised, though he was secretly disturbed. Is every Ditto this capable, or is mine a freak of nature produced by Rocket science?
He didn't break his word, handing over five bottles instead of three. "Two extra for the initiative. From now on, we just need to find the boxes; the keys are your department."
Inside the Gold Chest lay a 100-point Credit Plate, four silver Rocket Great Balls (equivalent to Great Balls), and a tattered piece of a map. The back of the map fragment read: 'I buried a treasure somewhere on this island. Only the lucky one who collects all eight pieces shall receive the gift.'
"A scavenger hunt to encourage infighting. Classic Team Rocket," Feng Che muttered.
Team Rocket Operations Office.
Instructor Viper sat in his office, reading a report on Pokémon ecology. Suddenly, his assistant gasped.
"Sir! A Gold Chest was just opened!"
"Identify the recruit's codename," Viper said calmly.
"Based on the GPS pulse from the chest and the nearest recruit's bracelet... it's Kongjian."
"The boy with the Arbok," Viper closed his book, a dark glint in his eyes. "Boss Giovanni has been keeping an eye on him. This batch of elites is destined to infiltrate the League as deep-cover moles. The rewards for the top three are rare, high-potential Starters. We need people this capable if we're going to replace the spies the League recently purged."
The Shipwreck.
Feng Che approached the grounded vessel. A flock of Wingull watched him with predatory intent. Nearby, a massive Wailord was wedged between two jagged reefs, its skin drying out under the sun.
[Wailord: Help... someone help... I've been trapped here for twenty days...]
The Wailord let out a weak spray of water from its blowhole to moisten its parched skin.
Pokémon: Wailord Gender: Female Potential: Elite (Orange) Ability: Oblivious Level: 35 Type: Water Status: Starving, Dehydrated
I can save her, Feng Che thought. He saw that the reef holding her was already fractured. He could have just caught her for the points, but he needed an ally. There are Sharpedo everywhere. To leave this island, I need a powerhouse that can traverse the deep sea.
He fed the Wailord every berry he had until the giant regained a sliver of strength. "Listen to me. My Arbok is going to shatter the eastern reef. When it breaks, jump backward with everything you've got."
CLANG!
Arbok's Iron Tail smashed the rock. On the third strike, the reef crumbled. Wailord gave a mighty heave and slid back into the ocean, creating a massive splash that drenched Feng Che but allowed her to swim free. She breached once, spraying a rainbow of water in gratitude, before diving to hunt.
The resulting wave actually pushed the shipwreck closer to the shore, making Feng Che's return trip easier.
The Wreckage Interior.
Ditto shifted into Golbat and carried Feng Che to the deck. He used a Sweet Scent lure to draw the territorial Wingull away to the beach, clearing his path.
Inside, the ship was a tomb. Skeleton remains in sailor outfits littered the halls—a scene of an ancient mutiny. He reached the lower hold, where sunlight streamed through a hole in the hull, illuminating a scattered pile of gold coins and jewelry.
"Injustice's wealth... I'll take it," he muttered, sweeping the gold into his bracelet. In the hands of a skeleton, he found a piece of parchment that didn't rot.
It was a map of the Death Archipelago. In the dead center of the main island was a bright red dot.
The heart of the island. With my current level, going there is suicide, he admitted. But with this gold, I can buy my way into the top ranks. I'll focus on the outer rim for now.
Suddenly, the sky turned black. A massive thundercloud blotted out the sun, and the ship began to groan and tilt.
"Move! The storm is coming!"
He hopped onto Golbat-Ditto's back and flew out of the hull just as a massive rogue wave smashed the rotting ship into splinters. The tide was turning, and the sea was no longer friendly.
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