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At the moment Scyther defeated the three Zubat, Pikachu and Jigglypuff had already dealt with the remaining Team Rocket members who were reaching for their Poké Balls.
Although these were Team Rocket operatives, they were merely ordinary grunts. Their strength was limited, and their Pokémon were relatively low-level. If they possessed any real skill, they wouldn't have been assigned to mundane transportation duties in the first place.
Seeing the Team Rocket members before them thoroughly defeated, the Silph Company staff present were visibly shocked and relieved.
"You're safe now—get out of here quickly!" Ash addressed them with urgency in his voice.
Upon hearing Ash's words, the employees were amazed. They hadn't expected such a young trainer to be their rescuer. After exchanging glances among themselves, they abandoned their work stations entirely. Following brief expressions of gratitude to Ash, they departed in small groups.
"Excellent! Let's liberate the next workshop!" After watching them leave safely, Ash turned to address Pikachu and his other Pokémon companions.
"Pika!"
"Scy!"
"Puff!"
All three Pokémon responded enthusiastically, and Ash led them toward the next workshop. Whenever he encountered a room containing Team Rocket members, he immediately launched an assault.
He systematically liberated the controlled workshops one by one, and gradually, most of the Team Rocket operatives on the fifth floor were defeated.
The previously captive staff members also escaped successfully. After the rescued employees fled the building, some chose to contact the police while others descended to the lower four floors to help evacuate customers and remaining personnel.
Green, observing this development, realized that Ash had succeeded in his mission. The scene below grew even more chaotic, which she used as cover to slip away and make her way upstairs.
Meanwhile, the escaped staff quickly contacted law enforcement, and the police station received emergency reports immediately.
Erika and her companions had already arrived at the scene. Present were Kyoko, assistant to Silph Company's president, and Erika herself, the president's daughter. Although the police were initially surprised by the situation, they didn't question the validity of the reports that Silph Company had been taken over.
Officer Jenny immediately mobilized available personnel but refrained from acting hastily. The police forces remained on standby until they received direct confirmation calls from Silph Company employees.
Erika, Misty, and their group followed the police response, and soon substantial numbers of officers had blocked various streets and begun evacuating civilian crowds.
After all, Team Rocket was an extremely dangerous criminal organization, and the authorities established a security perimeter around Silph Company's building.
Top Floor of Silph Company
At that moment, on the highest floor of the Silph Company building within the president's office, a solitary figure stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Dusk was gradually approaching, and nightfall loomed on the horizon. Gazing down at the red and blue emergency lights flashing throughout the city streets below, the silhouetted figure seemed to understand the entire situation perfectly, yet showed no signs of panic whatsoever.
Behind him, a man sporting a receding hairline and beard sat positioned behind the executive desk. He regarded the figure at the windows with obvious resentment and fear, though he maintained his composure.
This individual was the president of Silph Company—Erika's father and supreme leader of the entire Silph Corporation.
BANG!
"Boss! This is terrible—someone has broken into the building!" At that moment, the office door burst open as a Team Rocket member rushed inside frantically.
The figure standing before the floor-to-ceiling windows slowly turned around. Upon hearing about the intruder, he displayed no concern whatsoever, maintaining an air of complete confidence. With one hand casually placed in his pocket, he pivoted deliberately.
When President Silph heard about the break-in, his expression shifted slightly behind his desk. The mysterious man seemed to notice this reaction, smiled mockingly, then walked over to sit on the sofa positioned in front of the presidential desk.
"Speak calmly and clearly."
The measured command carried tremendous authority while simultaneously allowing the previously panicked subordinate to regain his composure.
"Yes, sir! The transportation team members on the fifth floor report they were attacked by a single trainer. Nearly everyone stationed on that floor has been eliminated!" The subordinate calmed himself and delivered his report efficiently.
"Just one person?"
"Yes! All the defeated operatives confirmed seeing the same individual!" If the reports weren't verified, he wouldn't want to believe that an entire floor had been conquered by a single trainer.
"Boss, we have another problem!"
At that moment, another figure burst through the office entrance.
"The surrounding streets have been blocked off by police forces!" After entering and sensing the tense atmosphere, the newcomer quickly delivered his intelligence report.
"Interesting. Bring up the surveillance footage from the fifth floor." Upon hearing about police involvement, the man showed no signs of panic. Instead, he seemed even more intrigued by the mysterious intruder.
"Yes, sir!"
His subordinates responded immediately, producing laptops from their equipment. When they had initially occupied Silph Company, they had already seized control of the building's computer systems.
Soon, the operatives accessed various surveillance feeds from the company's fifth floor, immediately displaying images of Silph Company staff members escaping from one of the workshops.
Then a figure emerged accompanied by several Pokémon. Upon seeing that particular individual, the man's expression grew stern and focused.
"It's him!"
Looking at the figure displayed on screen, the man revealed a calculating smile. At this point, his subordinates spoke up urgently.
"Should we dispatch personnel to intercept him?"
"That won't be necessary." The man responded calmly after considering his subordinate's suggestion.
"If this continues, he'll reach us soon!" His operatives replied with obvious unease. According to reports from their defeated comrades, this trainer possessed considerable skill.
"Then let him come."
"What about the police?" Another subordinate asked with concern after hearing his boss's response.
"Don't worry about them—let them maintain their perimeter if they wish. Now get out!" The man remained unconcerned, turning his head slightly to gaze through the floor-to-ceiling windows at another building in the distance.
Although it wasn't as impressive as Silph Company's headquarters, this structure still stood prominently within Celadon City's skyline. Looking at that particular building, the man displayed a meaningful smile.
Shortly afterward, both subordinates departed, leaving only the mysterious man, President Silph, and a single Team Rocket member carrying a metal briefcase in the entire office.
"Aren't you going to flee? When the police arrive, it will be too late to escape." President Silph, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke up.
"Escape? Hardly. President Silph, you'll be keeping me company for quite a while longer." The man responded calmly after hearing the question, his tone suggesting he had everything under complete control.