The cold, damp morning fog hung over Gringey City like a gray shroud, tightly wrapping the metropolis in its grasp.
After the encounter with Riyong the previous day and the heavy contemplation deep into the night, the group's mindset had improved significantly.
In the morning, Ash and his two companions received an urgent communication from Officer Jenny at the Pokémon Center.
The content was concise: Important intelligence obtained; need to discuss in person.
Stepping into the temporary security station once again, the atmosphere was even more solemn than yesterday. Officer Jenny even had heavy dark circles under her eyes. The Arcanine beside her seemed to sense its Trainer's mood, emitting a low whine from its throat as its nose twitched incessantly.
"The three of you, please sit," Officer Jenny's voice carried a trace of fatigue, but even more urgency. "To make a long story short, we've pried Riyong's mouth open."
She didn't offer any pleasantries and cut straight to the point: "According to Riyong's confession, and confirmed by our subsequent investigation, the 'Sludge Friends Society' has been abnormally active recently because Team Rocket is indeed providing support behind the scenes."
"Funds, equipment, and even some 'feed additives' with peculiar effects—it all comes from them."
In a sense, this was somewhat expected. It might be possible that Team Rocket hadn't done a specific bad deed, but it was unlikely that Team Rocket wasn't doing any bad deeds. Plus, since this was the Kanto region, if you found a problem, suspecting Team Rocket was usually the right call.
Ash felt a chill in his heart; Meowth's warning had indeed come true. Team Rocket had eventually extended their reach into this chaotic quagmire.
Officer Jenny's finger traced across the city map on the table, finally landing heavily on Pier 3 in the old port district. "They have a batch of key supplies that will arrive via a transport ship at this abandoned warehouse at Pier 3 this evening."
"Riyong was originally one of the personnel scheduled to meet them. Theoretically, Team Rocket should have changed their route, but in reality, changing a shipping route isn't that easy."
Jenny raised her head, her gaze sweeping over the three of them, finally resting on Brock... who was currently considered the strongest individual in the entire city.
"You have seen the situation in Gringey City," she said. "Due to geographical and environmental issues, the number of powerful local Trainers can be counted on one hand, and there are very few passing through. To be honest, before you arrived, the strongest combat forces explicitly available in this city were only my Arcanine and Nurse Joy's Chansey."
There was no need to hide this; the city's defenses were indeed very weak.
"But now, the situation is different. Brock, as a former Gym Leader, you are currently the highest-end combat power in Gringey City. Misty, your level is also on par with mine and Joy's. And Ash, you are also an elite among Trainers, surpassing most of our locals."
A Trainer's power growth inevitably slows down over time; it isn't always smooth sailing. For instance, during a previous chat, Professor Oak had mentioned that among the three who started at the same time as Ash... aside from Ash, only Gary was progressing relatively smoothly, while the other two had already fallen into bitter struggles.
Jenny's words undoubtedly placed a heavy responsibility on their shoulders. When the sky falls, the tall ones have to hold it up... and now, they were the tall ones.
Brock nodded, not declining the duty. Back in Pewter City, he was indeed the one who took the lead in such matters.
Misty clenched her fist... as the acting Gym Leader of the Cerulean Gym, this wasn't her first time encountering this sort of thing.
Ash felt Pikachu on his shoulder tense up as well.
"Mai mai~" Misdreavus was as carefree as ever. Noticing Ash's tension, she rubbed her head against his cheek.
"We must intercept these supplies!" Officer Jenny said sternly. "We cannot let them use these things to incite and strengthen the Grimer population any further, or to destroy the city! I suggest we move out half a day early, set up a secret perimeter around the pier, and catch them off guard!"
The plan was formulated quickly. Utilizing the daylight hours, everyone rested and built up their energy while carefully studying the topographic map of the pier district.
Shortly after noon, a capable squad consisting of Officer Jenny and Ash's trio silently infiltrated the Pier 3 area. As for Nurse Joy? On one hand, she was medical personnel and should stay in the rear. On the other hand, someone always needed to watch the house.
The abandoned warehouses crouched like the skeletons of giant beasts on the shore, covered in rust and oil stains. There were actually quite a few places like this in Gringey City. The city's industry had been abandoned, but the demolition of the city's architecture wasn't nearly as fast.
The salty, fishy sea breeze mixed with the unique rotten moisture of the pier barely diluted the omnipresent stench in the air... surprisingly, this place was actually more comfortable than inside the city.
The group spread out. Using abandoned shipping containers and mechanical equipment as cover, they held their breath and concentrated, waiting for the target to appear.
Time passed, minute by minute.
The setting sun dyed the sky and the sea surface a sickly shade of orange-red. Finally, a seemingly ordinary medium-sized cargo ship, trailing the low hum of a motor, slowly pulled into the designated berth.
"Action!" Officer Jenny shouted in a low voice, rushing out first with Arcanine.
Brock's Onix appeared with a boom like a moving fortress, blocking the warehouse's main exit direction. Misty's Starmie spun, spraying the brilliance of a Water Pulse to illuminate the dim pier. Ash, Pikachu, and Misdreavus flanked from the side, instantly forming an encirclement around the newly docked cargo ship.
Being treated with such seriousness... even a Team Rocket Executive would have to admit defeat, let alone these guys. Gang-beating has always been the only way for the weak to defeat the strong—not to mention that the people present weren't exactly weak.
The few grassroots Team Rocket members on the ship clearly hadn't expected to encounter such a swift raid. They barely put up any decent resistance before surrendering with their hands tied under the pressure of powerful Pokémon.
—Team Rocket Grunt thought process: For that little bit of money a month, why risk my life?
"Where is the stuff?" Officer Jenny sternly questioned the crew leader, who was pinned to the ground by Arcanine.
The leader's face was pale as he tremblingly pointed to the cabin: "In... in the hold... but, but..."
The group rushed into the hold. Inside, some boxes and equipment were neatly stacked, but the quantity clearly didn't match the scale indicated by the intelligence. It looked like a large portion had been moved away in advance.
"Where are the rest of the things?!" Brock felt something was wrong, his voice carrying a sense of oppression.
A Team Rocket member was about to cry: "It... it was Lord Cassidy and Lord Butch... they... they came by speedboat a step ahead and took the most important boxes!"
Upon discovering the intelligence leak, as Team Rocket elites, Cassidy and Butch naturally took action. Since the plan couldn't be fully executed, they wouldn't try to force it all; they would salvage what they could. Their actions were quite decisive.
"Where did they take it? What was it?" The ominous premonition in Ash's heart grew stronger. Aura is a mysterious thing; sometimes it can't tell you exactly what happened, but it will give you a bad feeling.
"It... it's 'Aggregation Toxic Lure'..." the member revealed everything under fear. "That's a... a mixture of special food attractants and pheromones with very intense effects."
"...Once released, it can create an irresistible desire to eat in Grimer and Muk over a large range, and... and they will instinctively attract and draw close to each other, and even... under specific conditions, they will attempt to fuse."
This was a targeted item developed specifically for Pokémon like Grimer and Muk. It fully utilized the nature of Grimer and Muk—their ability to disperse and their ability to aggregate. This experiment was also meant to test the stability after fusion.
"Fuse?!" Misty cried out in shock, a terrifying image instantly surfacing in her mind of multiple Muk sticking together to form a giant monster.
Pokémon like Grimer and Muk were just like that. Dropped pieces of their bodies could give birth to new individuals. And after a large number of individuals piled up, they could also fuse into a new individual.
Just then—
WOOOO—!!!
A shrill alarm sounded abruptly from the direction of downtown Gringey City, piercing the silence of the dusk. Immediately after, the communicator at Officer Jenny's waist began vibrating madly, broadcasting the near-collapsed shouts of frontline personnel:
"Report! Large-scale Pokémon outbreaks have erupted in multiple places in the city! Grimer, Muk, Trubbish... there are too many of them! They are pouring out of the sewers and garbage stations like they're crazy! Extremely aggressive! Requesting backup! Repeat, requesting backup!!"
On the pier, everyone's expression turned incredibly ugly in an instant.
They had fallen for a trap! Team Rocket used the transport ship to attract their main force. The real killing move—those terrifying toxic lures capable of triggering Pokémon rage and aggregation—had long since been deployed by Cassidy and Butch in the city area.
"Do they want to create chaos and drown the city in an ocean of garbage Pokémon, or even... create an artificial 'Aggregate' monster?" Brock instantly saw through Team Rocket's plan.
One could even say this plan was genuinely feasible. Perhaps it could solve the entire city's problem in one go. Brock felt... the situation behind this was a bit complex.
"We must return to support immediately!" Officer Jenny made a prompt decision. "But the pier also needs people to guard and clean up!"
The situation was critical; splitting up was the only choice.
"I will lead some people back to the city center immediately to direct the resistance!" Officer Jenny spoke very fast. "Brock, your Ground and Rock-type Pokémon have the strongest defense. Please take charge of the edge of the industrial zone, where the pressure is highest. It's close to the old dumpsite and might be the source of the shockwave!"
"Understood!" Brock didn't hesitate, vaulting onto his Onix. Now was not the time to hide his skills. He had to strike with a heavy fist.
"Misty!" Officer Jenny looked at her. "The crowd control ability of you and your Water-type Pokémon is crucial. Please go to the residential area in the lower terrain near the river to prevent sewage backflow and Pokémon infiltrating from the waterways!"
"Leave it to me!" Misty nodded forcefully, Starmie and Goldeen already poised for action. But her greatest confidence clearly lay in the other Poké Ball she gripped in her hand—Gyarados.
"Ash!" Officer Jenny looked at him last, her eyes complex. "You have the highest mobility, and Pikachu and Misdreavus have very comprehensive abilities. Please act as mobile support. Patrol the main roads and go wherever the pressure is greatest!"
"At the same time... be vigilant for the Team Rocket Executives that might appear and... that possible 'Aggregate'!"
Although this mission might be a bit heavy for a rookie who had only been out for a year, Officer Jenny felt that Ash had this capability.
"Yes!" Ash felt his heart beating wildly in his chest, but even more than that, he felt the resolve for battle. He touched Pikachu's cheek on his shoulder, and the little guy immediately responded with a firm "Pika!"
Misdreavus floated by his side, eager to try... even though she was still wearing a plastic bag.
"Everyone, take care!" Officer Jenny gave them a deep look, then took the prisoners and some of the police force, rushed to the police car, sounded the siren, and sped towards the smoke-filled city area.
Brock, Misty, and Ash looked at each other. No words were needed; their eyes were filled with trust and encouragement.
"Be careful!"
"You too!"
"Don't force yourself!"
After a simple farewell, the three of them rode three Pokémon in three different directions, rushing into Gringey City, which was now shrouded in ear-piercing alarms and the roars of Pokémon.
Amidst the rumbling sound of their advance, Brock stood atop Onix.
And in the sky, there were two Gyarados, one blue and one gold.
Misty stood atop the blue Gyarados.
Ash stood atop the golden Gyarados.
If this scene were painted, it would surely be quite spectacular, wouldn't it? The young people of the new generation will courageously shoulder the responsibilities of the new generation.
____
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