Before midnight, Ash wiped the sweat from his face and returned to the room where the silver cup was placed.
Brock was still sitting motionless.
"Hey, Brock, are you hungry?" Misty greeted.
"I'm a Rock-type Pokémon!" That was Brock's response!
Brother, you didn't just sit there for 7 hours, did you?
Just then, the midnight chimes rang, and everyone immediately tensed up.
However, nothing happened.
Could it be that the second-generation phantom thief Meowth the Eighth knew there were so many people guarding here and didn't dare to come?
At this, the rich man relaxed and even sent everyone some more delicacies.
"I'm hungry again!" Ash was not at all polite, sitting down and eating.
Everyone else also feasted, except for Brock, who had sat in one position for too long, his legs were numb, and he couldn't stand up.
He could only lie on the ground, watching Ash and the others enjoy the food.
Comparing them like this, Officer Jenny spoke, "That's why I said, this little brother looks the most professional!"
After eating and drinking to his fill, Ash wiped his mouth, looked up at the ceiling, and said, "Team Rocket, it's time to wake up, isn't it?"
"Ash, what Team Rocket are you talking about?" Misty was confused by Ash.
Officer Jenny and Spinarak, however, immediately became alert.
Sure enough, the next second, the lights in the room dimmed, and the Team Rocket trio indeed appeared from the ceiling, landing right in front of the silver cup.
"Damn it, you guys were just having a feast, but we haven't eaten all day!"
Jessie was about to reach for the silver cup when she was blocked by a blue light.
"You brat, is this your doing again?"
The Team Rocket trio was also very confused. Ash and his group, who had been chasing them, had somehow mastered a mysterious ability.
"Since you're here, don't leave!" Ash certainly wouldn't answer her question.
Just a moment ago, Officer Jenny had already ordered Spinarak to weave webs around them. It had to be said that as Officer Jenny's partner, its movements were swift and decisive.
Ash had already witnessed the ability of this little Spinarak when they were in the courtyard earlier.
As soon as Ash finished speaking, a net descended, completely wrapping up the Team Rocket trio.
"History repeats itself. Anyone who claims to be Meowth in this place will be entangled by Spinarak's silk!" Officer Jenny could already declare victory.
Now, the Team Rocket trio was tied up like caterpillars and officially arrested.
Regardless of whether they would break out of jail again in the future, Ash and his group should have some peace for a while.
All the treasures stolen by Team Rocket were carried by them, hidden on the ceiling where they had been hiding.
"That's amazing, little brother, you truly are an expert at fighting thieves!" Officer Jenny did not hesitate to praise Ash.
"Little brother, thank you so much, please stay at my humble abode tonight!" The rich man was very polite.
Ash also had a good impression of him, as he didn't look down on them just because they were children.
The beds in wealthy households are indeed comfortable, and the fatigue accumulated from a long journey was finally relieved.
However, Ash and his companions did not become complacent because of it; they bid farewell early the next morning and embarked on their journey once more.
After traversing Palm hill Town, famous for its upscale residential areas, and Deer Horn Town, which boasts a massive park in the middle of the city, Ash and his group arrived at the foot of a mountain, close to their first destination, Violet City.
"It's starting to feel a bit chilly!"
"Look, there's already snow on the mountaintop!"
The geographical climate of the Pokémon world is peculiar; on the way to Violet City, they had to cross such a high mountain.
"This is also a great place for special training! Pikachu, you need to master Iron Tail as quickly as possible!" Ash now seizes every opportunity to conduct special training, and the progress of both Pikachu and Charizard is evident to all.
"Great, I also want to go skiing!" Misty was naturally happy to stop here for a while.
"That's a good idea, maybe there are many beautiful ladies vacationing at the ski resort!"
Looking at Brock, one could tell that he was lost in fantasy again.
But soon, Ash's eyes lit up; he clearly saw a Pokémon he desired lying not far ahead!
It was a Chikorita!
It was lazily lying on the grass, spreading its large leaf on its head, likely basking in the sun. Because of its special ability, the air was filled with a sweet scent.
Grass-type Pokémon all love to bask in the sun.
Chikorita is the Grass-type starter of the Johto region, and it's actually very difficult to encounter in the wild, but Ash's luck was so good that he actually stumbled upon a wild one!
As Ash approached, this Chikorita woke up, its eyes bright and fixed on Ash.
"It looks like this Chikorita's personality is much stronger than Casey's!" From that gaze, Brock could sense its personality.
"That means its compatibility with me is very high!" Ash smiled slightly, "You're the one, Pikachu!"
"Ash, Grass-type Pokémon have good resistance to Electric-type attacks!" Brock reminded him.
"I know that, which is why I had Pikachu learn that move!" Ash smiled confidently, "Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"
Pikachu charged forward and knocked Chikorita flying.
As a result, Chikorita rolled on the ground and then stood firm again, then two Razor Leaves shot towards Pikachu.
"Thunderbolt!"
The surging electric current burned away the Razor Leaves, but Chikorita bravely charged forward without fear of death, extending two Vine Whips that lashed out, sending Pikachu flying backward.
"What strong battle instincts!" Ash was growing more and more fond of this Chikorita.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack again!"
Pikachu charged again, but this Chikorita seemed to have learned its lesson from the previous battle and blocked with its Vine Whips.
It actually withstood Pikachu's charge and then bound Pikachu, lifting it more than two meters above its head.
"That's not bad! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
The electric current traveled along the Vine Whips and hit Chikorita, causing damage even if the effect wasn't great.
Chikorita involuntarily released Pikachu, and an electric glow flickered around its body, clearly indicating it was paralyzed.
Its Static ability, combined with Thunderbolt, greatly increased the chance of paralysis.
"Now, Pikachu, Iron Tail!"
Pikachu performed a 180-degree mid-air spin, its lightning-shaped tail already gleaming with metallic light.
The power of Iron Tail was very strong, smashing into the grass in front of Chikorita, kicking up sand that covered Chikorita's face.
"Haha, how about it, little one, become my partner!"
Chikorita looked at Pikachu, whose tail was deeply embedded in the grass, and it knew that Ash and Pikachu had held back.
Pikachu: 205 / 255