After parting ways with Moore, Ariel walked slowly through the internal corridors of the Lavaridge Gym.
The sound of Ariel's footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, steady and unhurried.
Moore's final words were still ringing in his ears.
"I'll be careful in the future."
A polite response like that probably meant nothing to a shrewd person like Moore.
But Ariel's mind was as clear as a mirror.
To others, it might have seemed like a senior giving a well-intentioned reminder to a junior.
But Ariel knew that while this old fox spoke words of kind advice and mentioned Team Rockets in every sentence, he was actually testing and warning him.
The more someone deliberately emphasizes something, the more they care about it.
Moore had always maintained a sense of wariness toward him.
Ariel wasn't surprised by this; on the contrary, he felt this was the norm.
If someone could sit firmly in the upper echelons of the League while being a naive simpleton, that would be the biggest joke in the world.
"old fox..."
Ariel muttered under his breath, his lips curling into an unnoticeable arc—part mockery, part interest in having met a worthy opponent.
He wasn't afraid of being suspected; in this world, the saddest thing was to be a pawn that no one even bothered to watch.
Only those with value are guarded against.
Returning to the guest room the Gym had arranged for him, Ariel locked the door behind him.
The room wasn't large, but it had everything he needed.
A single bed, a set of table and chairs, and a private bathroom.
The furnishings were simple, but it was cleaned to a spotless shine.
Outside the window, the beauty of Lavaridge Town was fully visible. Although this unique hot spring town lacked a glitzy nightlife, its year-round warm climate gave it a perpetually cozy atmosphere.
Ariel drew the curtains, isolating himself from the outside world.
He sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze falling on the television in the corner of the room.
Since coming to this world, he had been constantly on the move, struggling for survival and to grow stronger, with almost no moment of rest.
Watching television, an entertainment activity for ordinary people, had long been a luxury for him.
As if possessed, he picked up the remote and pressed the power button.
"Shhh—"
The screen flickered a few times with static before a sweet female voice accompanied by cheerful music filled the room.
"The latest pokémon food! Keep your pokémon full of energy and spirited all day long!"
A fat man in a chef's uniform was holding a round, well-fed Snorlax, his face crinkling with smiles.
Ariel expressionlessly pressed the channel button.
He had no interest in watching such boring advertisements.
He flipped through several channels before stopping on a news program called 'Hoenn Hotspots.'
This was essentially the official mouthpiece of the Hoenn region, where many important news items and official League announcements were released.
At that moment, a female host with exquisite makeup and a serious expression sat upright on the screen, her voice clear and steady.
"...According to news just received by this station, a heinous incident occurred in Fallarbor Town recently. Official investigations have revealed a massive, unscrupulous underground casino hidden beneath the town."
On the screen behind the host, several processed photos were displayed at the appropriate time.
The backgrounds of the photos were dark, with a large iron cage vaguely visible, surrounded by a frenzied crowd. Although key parts were pixelated, the atmosphere of chaos and bloodiness was still palpable.
"The casino used cruel Pokémon battles as a gimmick to attract gamblers. Such behavior seriously violates human ethics and the Pokémon Protection Act. Upon receiving a tip, the highly respected Mr. Wattson, Leader of the Mauville City Electric-type Gym, personally led a team to handle the matter immediately."
The screen switched to a close-up of Wattson.
In the photo, Wattson looked righteous with a sharp gaze, as if he were the embodiment of justice.
"Currently, the underground casino has been completely cleared by Gym Leader Wattson. All involved personnel have been arrested, and the imprisoned Pokémon have received proper medical care. Regrettably, the main mastermind behind the casino, a man named Soro, remains at large. The League has issued a region-wide warrant across Hoenn..."
Ariel looked at that righteous face on the television and couldn't stop sneering in his heart.
Has Team Rockets finally started to make their move?
On the surface, this was a righteous action by the League and an act of great integrity by Gym Leader Wattson.
But only Ariel knew that this was entirely a play staged by Team Rockets for the world to see.
Wattson, the Gym Leader of Mauville City, had long ago submitted to Team Rockets and was one of the deepest moles they had planted within the League.
This operation, though called a casino raid, was actually a long-premeditated seizure by Team Rockets.
It was all to obtain that special Black Charmander and to research its secrets.
They used the League's power to eliminate their own rivals while simultaneously boosting their reputation and gaining a good name.
What a brilliant move to kill two birds with one stone, a perfect example of using someone else's blade to do the killing.
Except... "They actually let Soro escape?"
Ariel stroked his chin, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
According to Team Rockets' style of pulling up weeds by the roots, there was no reason to leave any survivors in such a purge.
Was Soro himself exceptionally capable and managed to fight his way out of the dragnet?
Or did Soro already know he was being watched and fled in advance?
Ariel's thoughts spun rapidly, running through various possibilities in his mind.
Just then, the host's voice on the television pulled his attention back again.
"...That concludes the report on the Fallarbor Town incident. Next, we will broadcast an important announcement to be released to all residents of the Hoenn region. Please pay close attention."
An important announcement?
Ariel raised an eyebrow in interest, leaning forward slightly and waiting patiently for the rest.
The host's expression became increasingly solemn, and the screen behind her switched to show a large electronic map of the Hoenn region in the center.
"Based on tips received by the League in multiple locations recently, we have discovered traces of activity suspected to be from the evil organization, Team Rockets."