As the smoke cleared, the three Team Rocket members had long vanished, and that legendary "Madame Boss" hadn't even shown her face.
Sato and Lance made eye contact, both silently deciding not to pursue.
With fewer people, weaker overall strength, and the situation stacked against them, the reason they were able to force a retreat in a two-on-three was mostly thanks to Gengar's unexpected Spatial Barrier tactics.
If the battle had continued, who knew what cards Team Rocket might still have been hiding?
Fwoosh~
A flash of white light, and Gardevoir appeared beside Sato.
"Toto, there are a lot of Rocket hideouts. See for yourself."
As she spoke, Gardevoir transmitted a 3D simulation of Violet City to Sato through Telepathy, densely packed with red dots, undoubtedly all Team Rocket hideouts.
Sato frowned, realizing that Violet City was rotten to its core.
"…There are a lot of hideouts. When will the support teams arrive?" There was no time to dwell on it. Sato decided the top priority was rescuing people.
"Phew… The main force has already entered the city and is heading toward the Pokémon Center. It's the only place in Violet City that hasn't been overrun yet!"
Lance seemed to have just received this news as well, a flicker of relief on his face.
With the Pokémon Center still holding, the rescue operation would be significantly easier.
The two didn't waste any more time. After confirming there were no survivors left in Violet Gym, they immediately made their way toward the Pokémon Center.
---◓---
"EVERYONE, don't panic! The League's rescue team will be here soon!
Even if they don't come… I, Hayate Wayne, will stand at the front line and never let Team Rocket take the Pokémon Center!"
---◓---
When Sato and Lance arrived at the Pokémon Center, they could already hear the voice coming from inside.
The two exchanged another look, surprised that Gym Leader Wayne was in the Pokémon Center.
"Heh. The Gym was taken, the city was overrun, and this Wayne still has the mood to give speeches…?"
Lance scoffed coldly. Clearly, he wasn't impressed. After all, just moments ago they had been lamenting the situation; Violet City had fallen completely, and the Gym Leader was nowhere to be found, likely dead.
But now, hearing that full-voiced speech, it was obvious he hadn't suffered even a Scratch!
With that thought, Lance strode straight toward the Pokémon Center, not bothering to hide his presence.
"SOMEONE'S COMING!"
"Is it backup? They're finally here?"
"Wait, it's just two people…"
"Yeah, WAIT… h-he… they're-"
"The Elite Four are here… two of them!"
"THE ELITE FOUR IS HERE! WE'RE SAVED! VIOLET CITY IS SAVED!"
The moment Sato and Lance walked into the Pokémon Center, everyone forgot about Wayne's rousing speech.
After all, they were from Johto, who wasn't keeping up with the latest red-hot Elite Four Tournament?
Not to mention, Sato and Lance were both outrageously handsome. Their faces were impossible to miss.
A while later, the crowd finally began to calm down from their excitement and cheering, though everyone's eyes still sparkled with awe.
Two Elite Four were here to rescue them. What was there to fear?
Maybe, some of them might even gain merit from this situation!
"AHHH! I've been praying day and night, and you've finally arrived! Violet City's crisis is over!"
At that moment, Gym Leader Wayne finally stepped forward, speaking righteously in the name of his position. "I, Hayate Wayne, LEADER OF VIOLET GYM, am willing to be the vanguard of this counteroffensive and lead everyone in fighting back against Team Rocket! I ASK THE TWO ELITE FOUR TO GRANT YOUR APPROVAL!"
His voice was loud, his words impassioned, completely like a man ready to die for the cause!
And then… no one replied.
Everyone blinked and looked toward Lance and Sato, only to see the former seething with anger, a mocking sneer plainly visible on his face.
Sato also wore a blank expression, even casting a cold glance across the room.
Everyone instinctively lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.
"Violet Gym Leader… Hayate Wayne?"
"T-That's me. As for the position of Gym Leader, I'm truly unworthy… inherited it mostly thanks to my elders' influence…"
"Hn. You really aren't worthy!" Lance interrupted coldly. The heavy atmosphere instantly swept over the room, the previous excitement about charging into battle evaporating.
"I-…" Wayne flushed bright red, wanting to retort, but Lance spoke again.
"Tell me, where were you when Violet City was taken?"
"I was…"
"And when the Gym's gates were breached?"
"I…"
"ANSWER[1]!"
"…"
Sato watched quietly from the side, thinking, 'You could at least let him finish a sentence.'
After a few seconds, Wayne took a deep breath and finally said, his face full of sorrow, "…When Team Rocket attacked the city, I-"
"Never mind, it's not important."
Lance waved his hand and cut him off again. That sorrowful expression only made him sick.
"The city fell. The Gym was captured. And yet you, who were supposed to defend this city, don't even have a speck of dust on your clothes.
If you'd just holed up in the Pokémon Center because you couldn't win, that'd be one thing. But you also rallied the last bit of fighting strength to launch a "counterattack".
Let me ask you… does this so-called counterattack have a plan? Do you have logistics? DO YOU HAVE ANY RESERVE FORCE TO PROTECT THIS PLACE?"
Wayne turned pale. The others around him were also struck dumb.
They wanted to speak up, but then realized, after all that shouting and rallying, they hadn't actually come up with any concrete plans.
If it weren't for the fact that the Pokémon Center still had some supplies and was the only safe zone left, everyone might have already scattered or been overrun by Team Rocket!
As for organizing a real counterattack…
Among ordinary Trainers, who really knew how to run a full-scale city defense operation?
The Gym Leader was supposed to know, but clearly, Hayate Wayne wasn't that kind of Gym Leader!
"Nurse Joy is here!"
Just then, a pale-faced Nurse Joy stepped through the crowd. The people on either side immediately made way for her, behaving unusually well.
"This isn't the time for infighting. Elite Four Lance, Sato… Elite Four. From this moment on, the full command of Violet City is in your hands. I beg you… PLEASE SAVE VIOLET CITY FROM DESTRUCTION!"
Nurse Joy's sorrow was painfully real. At that moment, everyone around them fell silent.
They had all been yelling about fighting back, but none of them had made a single real plan.
Were they really that foolish?
No. They had used Wayne's impassioned speech to cover their own retreat, pretending they were brave when really, they had just run and hid in the Pokémon Center.
Were they really ready to go out and fight?
Would Wayne even dare?
"…Don't worry. That's why we came. To save Violet City. But how come the city's Officer Jenny isn't here?"
Lance gave his promise seriously. Everyone in the room finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Only to choke up again at the next question.
"O-Officer Jenny… has already died in battle," Nurse Joy said through gritted teeth, her voice barely audible.
"…"
"HMPH…"
Lance turned his eyes toward Wayne, who instinctively looked back at him.
"I-I…" Hayate Wayne opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word, his shame leaving him nowhere to hide.
"Cacturne, get to work."
In the silence, it was Sato who broke it first. At some point, a golden Cacturne had appeared beside him.
All around it, countless Cotton Spores floated silently, swirling in the air.
"Cact~"
[1] WHERE IS SHEEEEE!!!!!!! in fact, batman says "WHEEEERE ARE THEY!" but yo' know…