Kahuna Hala was being exceptionally serious right now.
His opponent was a Team Rocket High-Level Executive. Even if she looked young, Hala was fully prepared to meet her head-on with everything he had.
He had to take her down.
"Crabominable! Bewear!"
Hala snapped open two Poké Balls. A powerful-looking Crabominable and a Bewear landed in front of him with heavy thuds.
These were Hala's true main Pokémon—not the newer ones he'd used during the Grand Trial battle against Selene.
"A Fighting/Ice Crabominable… and a Normal/Fighting Bewear." Caitlin's lips curved slightly when she saw them.
"Kahuna Hala," Caitlin said evenly, "that's unfortunate for you. The types I specialize in line up perfectly against yours."
A Poké Ball floated forward under her psychic control and clicked open. Metagross hit the ground with a solid, metallic impact.
Gallade stepped up beside it, posture calm, gaze sharp and cold as it locked onto Bewear.
What a coincidence.
Hala was a Fighting-type specialist, and Caitlin specialized in Psychic.
"I've fought through type disadvantages my whole life," Hala said, steady and firm. "Not many people can truly bring me down."
But his gaze darkened as he assessed her field.
That Metagross and that Gallade… were monsters.
How could someone this young already be Elite Four-level?
And why would a kid with that much talent—and that much future—choose to stand inside an organization like Team Rocket?
"Young lady," Hala asked, voice deep, "why has Team Rocket come to Alola?"
Caitlin's expression didn't change. "Expansion. Kanto is saturated."
She gave a faint, polite smile, like she was stating a simple fact.
"And Alola is a land of heroes and legends. It's a good fit, isn't it?"
"Alola doesn't welcome you."
"Kahuna Hala," Caitlin replied, her tone still calm, "you're an elder with more life experience than most. I'm honestly surprised to hear something that emotional come out of your mouth."
"…."
Hala fell silent.
He knew it too. Saying that to Team Rocket was naive.
"Then I was foolish," Hala said at last, voice tightening. His eyes sharpened, fixed directly on Caitlin. "But listen carefully—someone your age shouldn't spend their life in Team Rocket. That path is wrong. It will ruin you."
"Ruin me…?" Caitlin repeated.
The smile faded from her face. A cool blue light flickered in her eyes.
"I see," she said quietly. "So you get to define someone else's life—so confidently—without living it yourself."
She looked at him, calm and cold.
"It seems being a kahuna doesn't make you much more than that."
"This isn't arrogance," Hala snapped back, voice heavy. "I don't know what you've been through—but Team Rocket is an evil organization. It is not a place for someone like you."
Even as he spoke, Hala sighed inwardly.
Her face was blank. Words weren't landing at all.
"Fine." Hala steadied his stance. "Then words are pointless. Young lady—let me bring you back to the right path."
He'd made up his mind: defeat her first, then correct whatever had led her here.
She was too young. Too talented.
He refused to let Team Rocket swallow her future.
Hala's aura rose—surging, swelling, pressing down like a wave.
Psychic type or not… in front of Alola's strongest Fighting specialist, type advantage would not be enough.
"I stake my name as Kahuna Hala!"
Come.
Fight!
And then…
…
"I see. So the one who beat you was a Team Rocket High-Level Executive?"
Inside the hospital, Kukui—who'd come to visit—didn't look good. His brows were drawn tight.
A High-Level Executive strong enough to defeat Kahuna Hala?
Hala, who had sprained his back and ended up in a hospital bed, nodded with visible awkwardness.
"Yes. Her name is Caitlin." He exhaled. "I underestimated her. I didn't expect her to be that strong."
He spoke more slowly now, expression serious.
"She's extremely skilled with Psychic types—and she's a powerful psychic herself. She can even use her psychic ability to reinforce her Metagross and Gallade."
"She's an ability user too?" Kukui rubbed his forehead, the headache immediately getting worse.
Psychics were the most common type of ability users—but someone strong enough to actively boost their Pokémon like that was rare.
As far as Kukui knew, the only person in Kanto with a reputation for that kind of thing was Sabrina, the Gym Leader of Saffron City.
And now there was another one—inside Team Rocket.
"Kahuna Hala," Kukui said, sounding tired, "didn't we agree a few days ago that if we encountered a high-ranking Team Rocket member, we wouldn't act rashly?"
Kukui looked at Hala's bandaged waist and couldn't help feeling exasperated.
They hadn't even officially started trading blows with Team Rocket yet—and they'd already lost a key person to an injury.
Hala went quiet.
"I didn't expect her to be that strong," he admitted. "It was my own recklessness."
Then he added, as if trying to salvage it, "But the doctor said it's minor. I'll be discharged after a few days of rest."
"Mm." Kukui's eyes narrowed slightly in thought. "Do you remember what Caitlin looked like?"
"Of course. My people even took a photo." Hala reached for his phone. "Kukui—are you planning to put a bounty on her? I don't think that's wise."
"No," Kukui said, shaking his head. "Not yet."
He looked at the photo as it came up.
"I'm going to investigate her identity first. If I can learn anything useful, that's better."
The photo wasn't high-definition, but it was clear enough to make out Caitlin's face and posture.
Kukui couldn't help thinking: Team Rocket's high-level executives are like this now? Strong enough to send Hala to the hospital, and young enough to make you doubt your own eyes.
Hala, meanwhile, looked pale and worn out on the bed.
And according to Hala, the injury happened because he'd twisted his back dodging the aftershock of a move.
Kukui sent the photo to his own phone and started digging.
With a name and an image, it didn't take long to pull basic information. She was from the Sinnoh region.
And then—
'Name: Caitlin (Image.jpg)
Age: 17
Known Main Pokémon: Metagross, Gallade
Affiliation: Team Rocket
Record: Defeated Alola Kahuna Hala in a direct confrontation and caused his hospitalization.
Danger Level: ☆☆☆☆
Bounty Amount: None
Notes: A psychic girl from the Sinnoh region. Elite Four-level trainer. Extremely dangerous!'
Inside the Champion's office at the Sinnoh League building on Lily of the Valley Island, Cynthia stared at the data that had just been transmitted from Alola on her computer screen—
And froze.