Ash didn't need to say anything further. Lugia already understood what he meant. Still, there was no denying the shock and envy in Lugia's heart toward Ash's psychic abilities.
Even as a Legendary Pokémon, Lugia couldn't project his mental power outward in the same way. He had tried countless times since their last encounter, yet every attempt ended in failure.
Although Lugia wanted to learn those abilities, his pride wouldn't allow him to ask. Legendary Pokémon were not bound by limited intelligence. Like Ho-Oh, they possessed thoughts and emotions no different from humans.
"Mi~ Mi~"
Seeing his father unable to argue back, Silver let out a playful cry, clearly amused. A vein immediately bulged on Lugia's forehead.
"How long are you planning to laugh? You've only just reached the peak of the novice stage. At your age, I was already at the elite level."
"Mi…"
Frightened by Lugia's sudden anger, Silver quickly hid behind his mother. Lugia's temper was never mild, and patience was not his strong suit.
"Hey, don't scare the kid," Ash said, stepping in. "Silver has just been born and is already at the peak of the novice stage. His talent is already monstrous. If he were at elite peak already, that would be absurd."
"Exactly," the female Lugia added, clearly displeased with her mate's behavior. At the same time, her impression of Ash improved further.
"Tch."
Lugia clicked his tongue awkwardly, unable to keep his composure after being exposed. Only then did he notice Oliver and Sam nearby. His gaze lingered on Sam for quite a while.
"Is this the pressure of a Legendary Pokémon… My whole body is trembling. Even moving a finger feels impossible. And yet… my brother-in-law can speak to it as an equal."
Under Lugia's gaze, Sam felt an overwhelming pressure pinning him in place. It was as if the air itself had solidified around him. This was the first time he had ever experienced something like this.
"This kid isn't bad," Lugia said, instantly seeing through Sam's strength. Reaching the quasi-champion level at such a young age was no small feat. Only those from powerful families or exceptionally talented trainers could achieve that.
"Thank you… for the compliment," Sam replied, forcing a smile. Even under Lugia's pressure, he managed to speak, which was already impressive.
"Alright, enough of this," Ash said, leaning casually against a rock. "You head to Fantasy Island first and find Mewtwo. Once I finish things here, I'll return and expand the island further."
With the mystery of the Whirl Islands resolved, there was no reason for Ash to stay any longer.
"Silver… you're leaving?"
Oliver looked at the young Lugia with reluctance. He knew this separation was inevitable. Staying here was no longer safe for them.
Soon after, Lugia took his mate and Silver and dived into the sea, heading toward Fantasy Island.
The moment they left, Sam finally exhaled and dropped to the ground, the pressure vanishing instantly.
"So, how was it, the pressure of a Legendary Pokémon?" Ash asked with a faint smile. "Not everyone gets to experience that."
"It was terrifying," Sam admitted. "It felt suffocating… but it was worth it. At least now I understand that aiming only for the Champion level is far from enough."
Ash nodded slightly at those words.
Meanwhile, after parting with Silver, Oliver had already left with his Lanturn. He and Ash were not traveling the same path, and since Oliver's home was nearby, there was no need to worry.
"Ash, are you alright? There was a huge disturbance earlier."
As soon as they returned to the hotel, Sabrina rushed over, checking him over with concern.
"I'm fine. I just ran into some Team Rocket members. Unfortunately, they got away," Ash said. "But one thing is certain… Team Rocket definitely has a presence in Jhoto."
He paused slightly before adding,
"And it's possible their main base isn't in Kanto at all… it might be here in Jhoto."
"Team Rocket? Operating right under Kanto's nose… aren't they afraid of being discovered?"
Ash's words made Sabrina frown slightly. She found it hard to understand why Team Rocket would choose such a dangerous place to operate.
"They're not idiots," Ash replied calmly. "As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is often the safest. I've considered this possibility before, but honestly, it was just a passing thought."
Now that he had confirmed Team Rocket's presence in Jhoto, things became much simpler. Since they were already moving in the open, he might as well deal with them one by one.
Besides, he was already at odds with the Jhoto League. Adding Team Rocket to the list didn't change much, especially now that he had awakened his Rinnegan. His confidence was more than enough.
"Go take a bath first. You're completely soaked."
Sabrina glanced at Ash's damp clothes and spoke without hesitation. Compared to Team Rocket, she had absolute confidence in Ash's strength, so she didn't dwell on it any further.
Ash sniffed his clothes and gave a small nod.
"Alright. Go prepare a change of clothes for me. Sam, wait for me, we'll have lunch together. It's about noon."
"Got it. I'll freshen up too and come over," Sam replied, nodding as he headed back to his room.
Meanwhile, Sabrina returned to their room to prepare clean clothes for Ash, quietly fulfilling her role.
Soon, the room fell silent.