The moment Lt. Surge recognized him, Volkner burst out laughing.
"Correct answer. Unfortunately, there's no prize."
"Luxray, Iron Tail!"
"You bastard!"
"Raichu, use Iron Tail too!"
In terms of strength, although Lt. Surge had already reached the Elite Four tier, he was still far inferior to Volkner, who possessed Champion-level power.
When Luxray and Raichu collided, their steel-like tails slammed into each other violently.
The clash lasted only a moment.
Then Raichu was blasted backward.
"Luxray, use Thunderbolt!"
Crackling blue lightning erupted across the battlefield.
A moment later, Raichu's body was covered in wounds and scorch marks.
Lt. Surge was certainly not weak.
An Elite Four-level Trainer was already considered a powerhouse.
But he had only recently stepped into that realm.
Compared to Volkner—a man who could potentially battle the strongest Elite Four members on equal footing—the gap remained enormous.
Seeing their leader being overwhelmed, the Team Rocket members finally sprang into action.
They launched a full assault against the Pokémon League forces.
Some even threw explosives into the battlefield.
Fortunately, Officer Jenny had come prepared.
She released a Slowbro.
Using its Psychic powers, the Pokémon either hurled the bombs away or submerged them in water, rendering them completely harmless before they could detonate.
"Lt. Surge!"
Volkner stepped forward.
"I am speaking as the newly appointed Elite Four member of the Sinnoh Pokémon League."
"You are under arrest."
"You are suspected of collaborating with Team Rocket and leaking confidential information belonging to the Kanto Pokémon League."
"Surrender now."
In truth, after being awakened by Aiden Flint's words, Volkner had genuinely taken his advice to heart.
He had challenged the Sinnoh Elite Four and Champion.
Aaron and Bertha, whose strength was comparatively weaker, were defeated by him directly.
Even his close friend Flint had lost.
As for Lucian, both sides had exhausted themselves completely and ended in a draw.
As a result, Volkner had proven that he possessed the qualifications to challenge Sinnoh's strongest Elite Four member.
Meanwhile, Bertha had already reached an advanced age and voluntarily stepped down.
Thus, Volkner successfully entered the Sinnoh Elite Four.
Of course, his official appointment had not yet received final approval from Pokémon League Headquarters.
However, since he had arrived under Champion Lance's request as allied reinforcement, using his status to pressure Lt. Surge was perfectly justified.
"Damn it!"
"I'm not letting you capture me that easily!"
With a roar, Lt. Surge threw out a Poké Ball.
A massive Golem appeared instantly.
"Golem!"
"Use Explosion!"
Boom!!!
A deafening explosion shook the entire Vermilion Gym.
The devastating blast spread in all directions.
Walls cracked.
The ceiling collapsed.
The entire Gym began crumbling apart.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Lt. Surge immediately escaped through a hidden underground passage.
Unfortunately for him—
The moment he emerged from the tunnel, a massive figure was already waiting.
Electivire.
"Thunder Punch!"
Volkner's voice rang out.
Electivire roared and drove its fist directly into Lt. Surge's chest.
Crackling lightning erupted.
The former soldier's eyes rolled back instantly.
He collapsed to the ground unconscious.
Watching the scene, Volkner immediately gave orders.
"Confiscate all personnel and assets belonging to Vermilion Gym."
"Lt. Surge has been successfully captured."
"Report the news to Champion Lance immediately."
With that, the operation between Cerulean City and Vermilion City was officially completed.
…
At the same time—
When Elite Four Bruno and Sabrina arrived near Cinnabar Island, Bruno spoke in a serious tone.
"Although Blaine has already left Team Rocket…"
"There's no guarantee he won't suddenly interfere."
"We need to stay alert."
Sabrina nodded coldly.
At this moment, her hatred toward Team Rocket had reached an extreme level.
The organization had used Mewtwo to control her mind and turn her into their puppet.
The humiliation was unbearable.
Right now, she wanted nothing more than to brutally crush a few Team Rocket executives and vent her anger.
Very quickly, Sabrina's Psychic powers spread across the island.
Soon, she located Team Rocket's hidden base.
Without hesitation, she and Bruno moved in immediately.
However—
Someone had already been waiting for them.
One of Team Rocket's Four Generals.
Lance.
Surrounded by numerous Team Rocket operatives, the green-haired executive blocked their path.
"Hahahaha!"
"Bruno!"
"I've been waiting here for a long time!"
When Bruno heard those words, his expression changed slightly.
Two Poké Balls appeared in his hands.
The next second—
Machamp and Hitmonchan emerged.
If Aiden Flint had been present, he would have immediately recognized their strength.
Champion Peak Tier.
The original Kanto Elite Four truly had no weak members.
Lance.
Lorelei.
Bruno.
Bertha.
Each possessed terrifying strength.
Their specialties countered one another, preventing any single Trainer from completely dominating the others.
That was one of the reasons why Kanto had never produced a true regional Champion for so many years.
Bruno himself possessed Champion Peak-level power.
In many other regions, he would have easily qualified as the strongest Elite Four member.
Only after Kanto and Johto merged—and Lorelei became Vice Champion—did Bruno officially rise to become the Head Elite Four member.
"Hmph."
"A mere Team Rocket General."
"If Apollo were standing here, he might be qualified to say those words."
"But you, Lance?"
"You're still lacking."
The moment his voice fell, Machamp and Hitmonchan charged forward under Bruno's command.
Yet instead of panicking—
Lance revealed a smug grin.
"Bruno."
"You still haven't figured out the situation."
"The entire Kanto Pokémon League is already under Team Rocket's control."
"Sabrina."
"It's your turn."
The moment those words left his mouth, Sabrina's eyes erupted with overwhelming Psychic power.
Then—
A terrifying wave of psychic energy descended.
In an instant.
Lance.
Hundreds of Team Rocket members.
Every single one of them—
Was transformed into dolls.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
After receiving support from Aiden Flint's Psychic abilities, Sabrina's power had advanced even further.
Although she still couldn't compete directly with Mewtwo, she was no longer someone who could be casually controlled again.
Against a mere Team Rocket executive?
The battle was effortless.
Watching himself transformed into a doll, Lance screamed internally.
What the hell?!
What kind of situation is this?!
Why have I become a doll?!
Did Sabrina betray the Boss?!
Unfortunately for him—
Without Sabrina willingly releasing her Psychic control, he might spend the rest of his life trapped in doll form.
Even Bruno could only rub his forehead helplessly.
"..."
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