"Team Rocket?"
Cynthia frowned slightly.
The sphere of influence of Team Rocket had never extended into the Sinnoh Region. As the Champion of the Sinnoh League, Cynthia had little contact with criminal organizations from other regions, and she had never even heard that name before today.
"They're a villain organization from the Kanto Region," Gary explained calmly. "They specialize in poaching Pokémon, stealing Trainers' partners, and carrying out all kinds of illegal activities. You could say they're involved in almost every kind of evil you can imagine. The three you see here are just low-level members."
"So that's how it is…" Cynthia said softly, her expression turning serious.
Judging from Gary's description, Team Rocket's actions sounded even worse than Team Galactic's current behavior. Team Galactic, at least for now, was focused on seizing Sinnoh's national treasures. They had not yet descended to openly robbing Trainers of their Pokémon.
"Heh! That's right!" Jessie suddenly straightened her posture proudly.
"We are the famous Team Rocket!"
James raised the Lustrous Orb high, his face twisted into a nervous grin.
"This Lustrous Orb belongs to Team Rocket now!"
Meowth tightened his grip on the orb and shouted loudly, "If any of ya make a wrong move, I'll smash it right here! Then nobody gets it, meow!"
For once, Team Rocket skipped their usual long-winded opening speech and went straight to threats.
The atmosphere instantly became extremely tense.
Neither side dared to act recklessly.
If the Lustrous Orb were destroyed, it would be a disaster for everyone present—Team Galactic, the Sinnoh League, and even Team Rocket themselves.
"You'd better not move," Meowth continued nervously. "My hands could slip at any time, meow! If it breaks, don't blame me!"
Holding the Lustrous Orb like a hostage, the Team Rocket trio slowly backed toward the exit.
Ash, Dawn, Cynthia, and even the members of Team Galactic stood still, watching them retreat. Team Galactic even made space, clearly unwilling to provoke Team Rocket at this moment.
"See you next time!" Jessie shouted.
With that, Team Rocket rushed out and slammed the door shut behind them, locking it from the outside. Their footsteps quickly faded into the distance.
The entire hall fell silent.
Charon snapped his fingers coldly.
The remaining Golbat immediately flapped their wings and flew out through the shattered windows. Without another word, Team Galactic's members retreated just as swiftly.
"They just… left?" Officer Jenny muttered in disbelief.
"They're probably going after Team Rocket," Cynthia said calmly.
After this brief confrontation, Cynthia had already grasped Team Galactic's operational style. They acted with clear objectives and would never waste energy on meaningless battles.
"Miss Cynthia, let's chase them too!" Ash said anxiously.
"What about Chimchar and Croagunk?" Cynthia asked.
Ash froze for a moment.
Only then did he realize that he was still holding Chimchar in his arms.
Earlier, during the chaotic battle, Chimchar had stepped forward to protect Pikachu and was struck head-on by Toxicroak's attack. It had already lost its ability to fight.
Gary glanced at Chimchar as well.
[LV40 Chimchar / Champion]
As Gary had expected, Chimchar's potential was extremely high—no lower than Champion. There was even a high chance that it possessed a dual Ability. It was the kind of Pokémon any Trainer would envy.
"You should go to the Pokémon Center first," Professor Carolina urged. "There's no need for you to get involved further right now."
With that, everyone temporarily withdrew to the Pokémon Center to treat their injured Pokémon.
Gary himself hadn't suffered any injuries. His Pokémon were slightly wounded, but nothing serious. For once, he felt unusually relaxed and sat down in the lobby to rest.
However, not long after—
A middle-aged man in a neat suit slowly approached him.
"Mr. Cyrus," Gary said calmly, without even looking up. "Is there something you need?"
The visitor was Cyrus.
He had not left with Professor Carolina earlier. Instead, he had stayed behind quietly. For now, the Lustrous Orb was still in Team Rocket's hands.
"I just wanted to have a chat with you," Cyrus said.
"What would Mr. Cyrus like to talk about?" Gary asked.
"In the vault earlier, you spoke about the original world and time-space theory," Cyrus said slowly. "I want to ask you something."
Cyrus paused, then asked, "If you were to go to a completely new world—a world without war—what would you do?"
Gary: "???"
What was this?
Was Cyrus trying to recruit him? Or paint him a grand illusion, like he did with his subordinates?
Gary knew very well that Cyrus often spoke of leading people to a brand-new world. Many of Team Galactic's executives had suffered greatly during their childhoods due to war and chaos, and they were drawn to Cyrus's ideology.
Cyrus had saved them—but he also despised them.
In his heart, Cyrus believed that humans were inherently flawed and unworthy of entering the new world. Even his most loyal subordinates were merely tools.
"I don't want to go to such a world," Gary replied directly.
"I mean if you did go," Cyrus pressed. "What would you do there?"
Gary thought for a moment, then answered seriously.
"If I really went to a new world, the first thing I'd do would be to find other humans. Then I'd become the leader of their tribe—and start a war outward."
"…What?" Cyrus was stunned. "Why?"
He couldn't understand Gary's logic. If one had already escaped to a new world, why would they deliberately start conflict?
"It's simple," Gary said. "Humans can't survive alone. Wherever there are people, there will be disputes. Instead of waiting to be attacked, it's better to unify early. Establish a single power structure. That actually reduces unnecessary wars and makes survival safer in the long run."
Cyrus fell silent.
He had never considered this perspective.
In his imagination, the new world was pure and peaceful. He had never thought that conflict might arise there as well.
"What if that world had no humans at all?" Cyrus asked.
"Then what's the point?" Gary replied bluntly. "Living alone with no one to talk to would be suffocating. And… Uncle Cyrus," Gary added casually, "don't you need a partner? A family?"
Cyrus froze.
He clearly hadn't expected such a question.
"I am a believer in absolute peace," Cyrus said stiffly. "I have discarded emotion and desire."
"Then you're a cruel man," Gary said calmly.
A person who could abandon all emotion and desire was ruthless—not just toward others, but toward himself.
Cyrus was silent for a long moment.
"It seems we don't share the same ideals," he finally said. "I won't disturb you further."
He stood up and walked away.
Gary watched Cyrus's retreating back and couldn't help but smile faintly.
Cyrus believed modern humans were corrupted. But he failed to understand one thing—
Ancient humans were no cleaner.
In modern society, even criminals had to wear masks of civility and obey certain rules. In ancient times, there were no such restraints. If someone wanted to kill you, they would do it under cover of darkness without hesitation.
Especially in a primitive world, where survival was brutal.
And this time, Cyrus intended to abandon all his subordinates.
If he truly traveled back to the past alone, his fate would be endless struggle.
He would be seen as an outsider. His clothing alone would provoke suspicion and hostility. Even if he wanted to integrate, it would be incredibly difficult.
Unless…
He brought Pokémon with him.
But history recorded that Poké Balls did not exist a thousand years ago.
That meant—
If Cyrus traveled to another parallel timeline in the past, that world's human civilization would likely be developing ahead of schedule.