At the same time, Togepi's Waving Finger was ready.
"Togepi!"
Togepi sprang from Natsuhiko's arms, with turbulent water swirling around its body, rushing straight towards the round, deep purple Pokémon.
Water-type technique, Turbulent Flow.
And the deep purple Pokémon that appeared like a phantom was naturally Gengar.
"Gengar—"
Facing Togepi's attack, Gengar screeched and constructed a psychic barrier in front of it, intercepting the Turbulent Flow.
Its cunning eyes glanced slightly menacingly at Togepi.
Seeing its signature Waving Finger have no effect on Gengar, Togepi shivered with fright.
It quickly retreated to Natsuhiko's arms, burying its head in his elbow, though its little butt remained sticking out.
"Gengar?"
Natsuhiko looked at this Gengar, amazed at its power, as just a black glance could subdue those three seemingly not weak Mightyena, and at the same time easily block the Turbulent Flow released by Togepi's Waving Finger.
He tensed his body, listening to the gradually approaching sound, not daring to move recklessly.
He was unsure if this Gengar carried any hostility.
If it were hostile, Natsuhiko thought they might really be in trouble, as Abra's current speed couldn't possibly use Instant Movement to escape in front of such a powerful Gengar.
But since the opponent didn't attack after taking a hit from Togepi, Natsuhiko forced himself to calm down.
Thud, thud...
The slow footsteps and the sound of wood hitting the ground were getting closer.
Gradually.
A hunched, small silhouette appeared around the corner, supporting itself with a wooden cane, wearing clothes like a neighborhood grandma, with a white apron tied around the waist.
Upon seeing the elder, Natsuhiko's pupils suddenly constricted.
This is...
Agatha?
The Ghost-type Elite, one of the Elite Four of the Kanto Region?
"In the dark night, beware of what's behind and in the shadows," Agatha's lips curled into a sinister arc.
Upon hearing this, Natsuhiko was startled.
Hurriedly turning around, he saw that a Haunter had somehow appeared behind him, holding a card, laughing mischievously as it flew back to Agatha.
Natsuhiko's expression was grim but wisely kept silent.
Being the Ghost-type Elite, Agatha had a peculiar personality since childhood, and anyone who approached her would be driven away.
Until Professor Oak appeared, leveraging his strong ability to get close to Agatha, attempting to help her, but over time Agatha became enamored with Professor Oak.
However, later on, as Professor Oak devoted all his energy to research, Agatha felt this led to a decline in his battle strength, feeling betrayed by him.
Her temper became increasingly volatile.
This is Natsuhiko's impression of the Elite Four member in front of him, Agatha, who had an unrequited love story with Professor Oak, wasn't someone easy to get along with.
Glancing down at the card passed by Haunter, and then at Natsuhiko, who could only bottle up his anger, Agatha's smile became increasingly eerie.
"Natsuhiko, Junior Trainer... interesting."
Facing three Mightyena without changing expression, just by the performance of his Pokémon, it wasn't as simple as a Junior Trainer.
What Haunter had taken from him was Natsuhiko's League credentials.
Not an important item, just that he didn't like Agatha's way of doing things.
After confirming Natsuhiko's identity, Agatha flicked the card towards him.
Snap.
It was firmly caught in his hand.
Agatha resumed her slow pace, "Find time to qualify as a Newcomer Trainer, tell them I said so."
Qualify as a Newcomer Trainer?
A token of apology for the impoliteness?
"Wait a moment," Natsuhiko suddenly called out to her.
"Hmm?"
Agatha turned her head sinisterly, her narrow, chilling eyes peering through her bangs at Natsuhiko.
Under her gaze, Natsuhiko's heart skipped a beat.
Too creepy.
He quietly swallowed, "I want to know, who are these... people?"
The trio, along with their Pokémon lying on the ground, were being dragged into the shadows one by one by Gengar.
Upon hearing Natsuhiko's question, Agatha chuckled softly, tapping her cane on the ground.
"Those who caused this chaos, some outsiders."
Hearing this, Natsuhiko felt a chill down his spine.
The chaos Agatha referred to was likely the incident around Goldenrod City where the wild Pokémon were overly active.
It also confirmed Natsuhiko's suspicion that the two Elite Four members came to Goldenrod City not just for the so-called Elite exhibition match; perhaps it was just a facade.
"But they are just small fry."
Small fry...
Perhaps in Agatha's eyes, Natsuhiko was also a small fry, but with the League identity exposed, she spoke a few more words to him.
After Gengar had dealt with the three and their Pokémon, it slowly submerged back into the shadows, while Agatha's figure disappeared around the corner.
Leaving behind a light sentence.
"Although the Mid-Level Dark Stone is not expensive, it can easily attract those who covet it. Be thankful, little one, that you don't resemble him..."
Him.
She must be referring to Professor Oak, right?
What a grand drama worthy of a deep-seated grudge... Natsuhiko muttered to himself.
Not daring to linger here any longer, he hurried back to his residence.
"I can't stay here; pack up and leave tonight!"
Having been targeted, staying here was courting death, as those people would definitely find him after confirming the trio's disappearance.
At the same time.
Natsuhiko also realized why he was targeted because of the Dark Stone he possessed.
He had never exposed the Dark Stone.
As for how it could have been discovered, it either happened during the gathering when the Breeder's Duskull detected the subtle fluctuations of the Dark Stone.
Or...
When he sold that Onix, someone from the gathering, who might belong to the same organization as Little Moustache, spotted him.
After all, the only connection to the Dark Stone was that Onix, and if the Dark Ruins' underground tunnel led to Goldenrod City, this might also be related to the unknown organization and the turmoil of wild Pokémon around Goldenrod City.
Assuming the underground tunnel was utilized by the other party, then knowing about the existence of Onix and the Dark Stone wasn't difficult, and determining that he had the Dark Stone based on Onix wouldn't be hard.
Old Bill, who organized the gathering, knew his identity and address.
"In any case, the problem definitely stems from that gathering. Regardless of the reason, I can't attend that gathering anymore in the future."
As he walked, Natsuhiko revisited the events.
"Still not cautious enough, too many assumptions made; selling that Onix in such a short time was a mistake, and the impending events shook my heart, making me eager to obtain resources..."
Examining the mistakes he made.
And from Agatha's words, combined with the trio's behavior and Pokémon types, Natsuhiko made a deeper speculation.
"Outsiders? Maybe it doesn't just mean people outside Goldenrod City, but possibly those from outside the Kanto Region.... so very likely from... the Hoenn Region?"
The matter seemed to become more complicated.
Involving two regions, and even deploying two members of the Elite Four.