"But your luck ends here."
As Lance spoke, the Team Rocket members released their Pokémon one after another, filling the corridor to the brim.
Xia You and Sabrina stood back-to-back, pressed tightly together, not daring to relax for a moment.
"What now? Should we run?" Sabrina asked softly.
"Of course not." Xia You shook his head, then took a Poké Ball from his waist and tossed it into the air. "Since we're already here, how could we give up halfway?!"
With a flash of blue light, a Pokémon with a wingspan of nearly three meters, a golden body, and electricity radiating from it appeared before everyone.
"It's Zapdos!?"
"Wow, I've never seen one before!"
The Team Rocket members exclaimed, and even Sabrina couldn't help but turn her head, her eyes filled with surprise as she looked at Zapdos.
One must know that such Legendary Pokémon are extremely rare; ordinary people would be hard-pressed to see one in their entire lives, let alone capture or battle one!
"Don't panic!" Seeing the commotion among his members, Lance shouted, reassuring them. "What if he has Zapdos? Everyone attack together!"
Xia You also ordered, "Zapdos! Use Thunderbolt!!"
Zapdos originally didn't want to obey Xia You's command, but seeing attacks coming from both front and back, for self-preservation, it roared in anger and could only launch an indiscriminate attack on its surroundings.
A fierce electric light burst forth from Zapdos, instantly neutralizing the other Pokémon's moves and continuing to spread until it covered most of the corridor.
At the moment Zapdos unleashed Thunderbolt, Kirlia grabbed Xia You's and Sabrina's hands and used Teleport to the other side of the corridor, dodging the attack.
The electric light was dazzling, and amidst the crackling, the screams and wails of the Team Rocket members could be heard.
When the light finally disappeared, the corridor was filled with fallen Team Rocket members and their Pokémon.
"Damn it!"
Lance turned to Xia You, his face grim.
Because he was far behind the crowd, he had luckily not been hit by Thunderbolt just now. Gritting his teeth, he released his Pokémon.
"Unless you defeat me, you won't be able to leave here!"
His Pokémon, like Lambda, another Rocket ExecutiveXia You encountered on the St. Anne, were Zubat and Weezing.
Footsteps continuously sounded as many more Team Rocket members ran in from the stairs, standing behind Lance.
"Tsk." Xia You sighed. "Coming one after another—it's really troublesome."
At this moment, Sabrina stepped forward, standing in front of Xia You, leaving him only an alluring back.
"Alright, I'll handle this here. Now, go quickly and do what you need to do."
"This…" Xia You hesitated slightly, but knowing the urgency of the situation, it was not a time for modesty or delay. Moreover, Sabrina's abilities were outstanding, so there was no need to worry too much.
"Alright. I'll leave Zapdos and Gastly to help you. You must be extra careful!"
After speaking, without waiting for Sabrina's agreement, he took Kirlia and ran unimpeded toward the CEO's office.
"Damn it! Stop right there!"
Seeing Xia You leave, Lance wanted to go forward and stop him, but after only a few steps, he saw Sabrina calmly throw out her Poké Ball, blocking his path.
…
Xia You pushed open the office door and saw an old man slumped on the sofa. Other than him, there was no one else in the entire office.
Huh? Giovanni isn't here?
Recalling the helicopter that had just left, Xia You already had an answer in his mind.
Without time to think carefully, seeing the old man's demeanor and attire, he was clearly not a member of Team Rocket. Xia You quickly walked over and helped him up.
"Are you alright?"
The old man opened his eyes, looked at Xia You, and let out a sigh of relief.
"You police officers are too slow…"
"Sorry." Xia You shook his head. "I'm not a police officer. I was just entrusted by someone to come here and check the situation."
"What!?" The old man's eyes widened in disbelief. "Not a police officer and still able to break in here? That's amazing! What about those Team Rocket members outside…?"
"That's right." Xia You paused, allowing the old man to hear the constant screams coming from the corridor. "They're still outside. We should leave quickly."
However, just as he was helping the old man and about to have Kirlia use Teleport to take them away, a woman's voice suddenly came from within the room.
"I knew that Lance fellow was unreliable. He still let a mouse slip in. It's a waste of the Boss's trust."
Xia You suddenly turned his head and realized that in the corner of the office, at some unknown time, stood a woman in a white Team Rocket uniform with red eyebrows and red hair.
Her appearance was like a ghost—eerie and traceless.
"Who are you?" Xia You asked.
"Allow me to introduce myself." The woman's expression was unruly and fierce. "My name is Athena. I am a researcher, and like that useless fellow outside, I am also one of Team Rocket's Rocket Executives."
"Another Rocket Executive?" Xia You sized her up. "And a researcher?"
Athena smiled and nodded. "My main focus is researching the strange sound waves that force Pokémon to evolve. I came here today originally hoping to see the legendary Master Ball, but I didn't expect this old man's mouth to be so stubborn."
Seeing the woman's clearly ill-intentioned demeanor, Xia You secretly prepared himself while smiling.
"Since you're a researcher, fighting would be beneath you. How about this—let's pretend we've never met, and you let us leave safely?"
"You're quite the smooth talker, aren't you?" The woman said with a fake smile. "I wonder if you could tell me your identity?"
"How can I do that?" Xia You shrugged. "My mother once warned me never to tell my name to fierce-looking, annoying big sisters."
The two appeared to be joking, but in reality, they were at loggerheads, neither willing to back down.
"…" Athena's face darkened, clearly angered. "Is that so? Then I certainly can't let you leave."
Saying that, she took out two Poké Balls and released her Pokémon.
The two Pokémon were Arbok, a Pokémon coiled like a giant cobra—
and Murkrow, another Pokémon resembling a large crow, entirely black, with feathers on its head like a witch's hat and a tail like a broom.
By now, Xia You also stopped wasting words and simultaneously threw out his Poké Balls.
With flashes of blue light, Ivysaur, Squirtle, Charmander, and Jolteon all appeared in the office.
Immediately, the atmosphere grew tense, and a chaotic battle seemed inevitable!