The night was as dark as ink.
In the pokémon Center's luxury single room, Jiang Han threw himself onto the soft sofa. The faint, elegant scent of advanced fragrance still lingered in the air.
This was a world apart from the smoke and fire of moments ago.
He closed his eyes, the last image in his mind being the house collapsing in the explosion, and Yuta's face, a mix of emotion and horror.
Poor kid.
But that had nothing to do with him.
A mission only required results.
If anyone was to blame, it was his father for not being content as a good League official and instead getting involved with Team Rockets.
Jiang Han's heart was calm as he saw the 400 points credited for completing the mission.
Saki's intelligence was valuable, but to him, Saki's son, Yuta, was even more valuable.
That naive young man was the perfect chess piece in his plan, precisely opening the door to death.
As for the death-warranting letter and the gleaming Luxury Ball, they had long since turned to ash in the explosion.
Even if the League's investigators turned the ruins inside out, they would only conclude it was an accident.
A perfect closed loop.
Jiang Han put away his device, rose, and walked to the window, overlooking the city's night view.
Now, he needed to resume his righteous League identity to wash away the faint smell of gunpowder on him.
Challenge the Gym, obtain a badge.
A perfectly normal daily routine for an ordinary Trainer... The next morning, sunlight streamed through Rustboro City's ancient stone buildings, casting a warm glow.
There were already whispers on the streets about last night's explosion, but they were quickly drowned out by the city's reawakening hustle and bustle.
Jiang Han walked steadily through the crowd, his destination clear.
The Rock Gym.
Jiang Han pushed the door open, and Gym Leader Roxanne was already waiting inside.
She wore a sensible researcher's uniform, and the look in her eyes behind her black-rimmed glasses held the unique rigor of a scholar.
Seeing Jiang Han, she nodded, a polite smile on her face.
"Jiang Han, you've arrived."
There was a hint of imperceptible fatigue in her eyes, seemingly troubled by last night's incident in the city.
"I hope those kids didn't cause you too much trouble yesterday."
Roxanne said softly.
"They were very energetic."
Jiang Han's answer was flawless.
"Gym Leader Roxanne, I'm here today to challenge the Gym and win a badge."
Upon hearing the word 'challenge,' Roxanne's scholarly aura instantly receded, replaced by the sharpness and focus of a Gym Leader.
"I heard about the unfortunate incident in the city last night. I hope it hasn't affected your condition."
She said as she walked towards the battle arena.
"What misfortune?"
Jiang Han's eyes were full of questions.
When it came to feigning ignorance, Jiang Han was a master.
Seeing Jiang Han's puzzled expression, Roxanne secretly cursed herself.
Ah, Mr. Jiang Han helped me train those kids yesterday, and today I'm here doubting and testing him.
Roxanne, Roxanne, I think you haven't slept all night and your mind isn't clear!
Shaking her head, Roxanne spoke.
"It's nothing, Mr. Jiang Han, let's begin."
The two stood at opposite ends of the arena.
On the rock-formed field, scattered stones of various sizes simulated a rugged wilderness environment.
"Then, as the Gym Leader of the Rustboro Gym, I accept your challenge! A Gym challenge uses three pokémon until one side loses all fighting capability!"
Roxanne's voice echoed through the empty Gym, full of power.
"No problem."
"Then, my first pokémon, go, Geodude!"
Roxanne decisively threw a Poké Ball, and a sturdy gray pokémon appeared on the field, arms crossed, with a serious expression.
Geodude, Level 16.
Jiang Han's gaze swept over it, already having a plan in mind.
He also threw a Poké Ball.
"Go, Inkay."
The blue and white little creature floated unsteadily in mid-air, its head tentacles gently swaying, looking harmless.
Seeing Inkay, Roxanne's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise at Jiang Han's choice.
Using a Psychic and Dark-type pokémon against a Rock-type was not a conventional strategy.
"An interesting tactical choice," Roxanne murmured, then immediately issued a command, "Geodude, use Rock Tomb!"
Geodude shook its arms, and several sharp rocks instantly materialized, whistling as they smashed towards Inkay in mid-air.
"Dodge, then use Psycho Cut," Jiang Han's command was unhurried.
Inkay deftly sidestepped, dodging most of the rocks like a fish. But one Rock Tomb accurately hit its afterimage.
Bang!
What was hit was not a physical body, but a faintly glowing phantom that shattered upon impact, dissipating into specks of light.
At the same time, Inkay's head tentacles glowed with an eerie purple light, and a solid psychic blade appeared out of nowhere, precisely striking Geodude!
"Ouch!"
Geodude cried out in pain, stepping back half a pace.
Roxanne's face showed surprise for the first time: "That's... Substitute?"
Jiang Han's mouth curved slightly upward, his voice not loud, but clearly audible throughout the arena:
"Gym Leader Roxanne's good intentions from last night, I have put them to full use."
With that one sentence, Roxanne instantly understood that the tm she had given as a thank-you gift had been completely mastered by the challenger before her in just one night.
This man was not only strong but also had astonishingly fast learning abilities.
"I see, I underestimated you." Roxanne's expression became extremely solemn. "Geodude, don't give it a chance, Rollout!"
Geodude curled its body into a stone ball and rushed out, spinning at high speed, leaving a clear trail on the rock field.
"Hypnosis!" Jiang Han's command was once again unexpected.
Inkay did not dodge or evade; the organ on its head emitted a disorienting light wave that enveloped the charging Geodude.
The rolling Geodude's movements paused, and the speed and power that had been continuously building due to Rollout seemed to drain away instantly, becoming sluggish and weak.
"Now, Psycho Cut!"
Seizing this fleeting opportunity, another purple blade struck down. Geodude let out a muffled groan, fell out of its rolling state, and its eyes had turned into spirals.
"Geodude is unable to battle!" the referee announced.
Roxanne silently recalled Geodude, her gaze towards Jiang Han completely changed.
This man completely disregarded the usual type advantages, instead using intricate tactics and precise timing to easily win the first round.
"You are better at using tactics beyond type advantages than I imagined," she praised sincerely. "However, from now on, skill alone won't be enough!"
She took out her second Poké Ball and threw it forcefully.
"Roar—!"
Accompanied by a deafening roar, a colossal creature made of giant rocks crashed down, shaking the entire Gym.
Onix!
Onix, Level 20!
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