"Damn it, where did this random little squad come from? They're way too bold! I didn't expect these idiots to ruin our Third Division's Sacred Fire plan!"
While the reckless Team Rocket trio caused chaos by stealing the Sacred Fire, the real Team Rocket Third Division hiding in the shadows was filled with hatred for Jessie and the others' performance, because this was pure sabotage.
They hadn't expected other Team Rocket members to steal the League's flame seed. Due to the sudden intrusion of the reckless trio, the Third Division's original plan to steal Moltres's flame seed was completely disrupted.
The reason they went to such great lengths to steal the competition's Sacred Fire from the main venue was because the owner of this flame seed wasn't an ordinary Moltres, but rather the Moltres who served as the Fire God of the Orange Islands.
For this reason, this flame contained a trace of divinity and might have developed self-awareness.
If Team Rocket could successfully seize this flame seed from the League, they might be able to research it and clone more powerful artificial Moltres.
Although Team Rocket didn't expect these artificial Moltres to match the Moltres who served as Fire God, they had high hopes for dealing with ordinary bloodline Moltres.
When that time came, they would extract the most active blood from ordinary Moltres for experimentation, using it to clone even more powerful artificial Moltres and create a Moltres army.
"Forget it. I had planned to take some risk to steal this flame seed, but unfortunately this plan has been exposed early due to these three idiots. You don't need to blame yourselves. Withdraw immediately to avoid being caught by the League officials."
Just as the Third Division was still hesitating whether to support Jessie and the others, a figure suddenly appeared from a back passage behind them. This person wore a white lab coat and mask, with gray hair, appearing to be a young man based on his build.
"We're very sorry, Dr. Namba. We didn't expect anyone to be so stupid!"
The squad captain bowed apologetically, not expecting the flame seed theft plan to be ruined by Jessie's trio like this.
"It doesn't matter. I never expected you to be able to steal the flame seed anyway, especially since that guy also appeared at the Indigo main venue..."
The gray-haired young man said calmly, casually waving his hand to show he didn't care, ignoring the darkened expression of the captain who was bowing to him. The captain hadn't expected the gray-haired young man to look down on them so much.
But if the Third Division really had complete confidence in stealing the flame seed, they wouldn't have been hiding in this secluded corner observing all along. They would have acted before Jessie's trio.
The gray-haired young man looked hatefully at Red in the arena below. When he noticed Red making a motion to look around, he quickly withdrew his hatred to avoid Red detecting his presence.
To prevent unexpected incidents, the gray-haired young man extended his right hand, morphing it into Alakazam's right hand, and released psychic power to interfere with the surroundings, thus evading Red's observation.
The Third Division were obviously horrified by the scene before them, unable to imagine how a human could morph a Pokémon's right hand.
"You should obediently forget everything that just happened!"
The gray-haired young man's eyes gradually became azure blue, his entire body gradually morphing into Alakazam's form, using Hypnosis on the Third Division before him, making them forget the fact that he was a Pokémon.
'It seems I can't complete the master's assigned plan. None of these Team Rocket scum are reliable!'
"We Team Rocket will take this Moltres fire!"
Jessie said smugly, standing on the main venue platform.
"In your dreams!" Ash immediately retorted, rushing up with Pikachu to try to stop Jessie and the others.
"Go, Weezing!"
Seeing Ash trying to stop them, James immediately threw the Poké Ball in his hand. The released Weezing used Smokescreen, obscuring everyone's vision.
"The Moltres fire is already ours."
With that, Jessie turned and lit the Sacred Fire platform's flame seed, then Team Rocket's trio ran into a self-made grasshopper-shaped mecha, controlling it to carry the entire Sacred Fire platform on its back, attempting to steal Moltres's flame seed in front of everyone at the main venue.
"Damn it, can they really steal the Sacred Fire?!"
The gray-haired young man in the shadows said in surprise, turning to look at the Third Division members who had already fallen unconscious, shaking his head helplessly.
"Oh well..."
"Let's catch all the Pokémon gathered in this place while we're at it!" Meowth suggested.
"You don't need to tell me; I'm already doing it. Burner, prepare... go!" James said, pushing the grasshopper mecha's direction handle and making it leap high, arriving at the main arena.
Due to the grasshopper mecha's intrusion, some contestants were frightened into panic, momentarily forgetting to send out their Pokémon to battle.
But most rational trainers chose to watch, because this was the League's official main venue. How could they allow Team Rocket's trio to act so recklessly?
But hot-blooded Ash couldn't wait any longer and sent out Bulbasaur to battle, only to have Team Rocket's trio use the Sacred Fire on the platform to burn up Bulbasaur's Razor Leaf attack, forcing Ash back into a corner.
"Damn it, that reckless guy Ash, why is he so impulsive!"
Gary saw this scene and anxiously wanted to send out Blastoise to battle.
"I hope you won't disappoint me, Sacred Fire..."
Red murmured, his eyes gradually becoming azure blue as he used psychic power to prevent Ash from actually getting hurt.
"Run quickly, Ash!"
Brock said anxiously from the spectator seats, urging Ash to leave quickly.
"I will never run away! This place—this is the Indigo League that we Pokémon trainers dream about! This is the battlefield where we fight with our dignity as Pokémon trainers at stake! I will absolutely never flee from here!"
Ash shouted with passionate fervor. This passionate oath also ignited the flame in the hearts of most trainers present, and they all looked at Ash with admiration.
But how could Team Rocket's trio be intimidated by Ash's words? They decisively controlled the flames on the Sacred Fire platform, planning to attack Ash.
Seeing this scene, Red immediately used his psychic power to wrap Ash, Pikachu, and Bulbasaur's bodies to avoid injury from the flames.
Fortunately, Red's worry was unnecessary. The approaching Sacred Fire didn't burn Ash's body, but instead gave birth to spiritual intelligence and transformed into the shape of Moltres. The Moltres formed from the Sacred Fire flapped its flame wings and crashed toward the grasshopper mecha, turning Team Rocket's trio into shooting stars.
After the grasshopper mecha was destroyed, the Sacred Fire platform also cleverly fell back to its original position, and Moltres subsequently returned to the Sacred Fire platform, becoming the competition's Sacred Fire for this Indigo League.
"Now, the opening ceremony will restart. First is Mr. Goodshow's opening address!" the announcer explained.
Under everyone's gaze, Mr. Goodshow slowly came to the pledge platform at the main venue, looking solemnly at the contestants gathered below.
"The Pokémon League is a place where people who truly love Pokémon compete with each other in battle. The Sacred Fire... Moltres's flame is protecting us."
"All Pokémon trainers, please fight honorably and leave no regrets!"