After safely returning the three children to the Rock Gym, the sky had completely darkened.
The interior of the Gym was brightly lit, casting a warm hue upon the solid rock walls.
Gym Leader Roxanne had been waiting for a long time. Seeing that the three children were safe, though a bit disheveled, she visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Mr. Jiang Han, you've really worked hard this time."
"I'll take these children back to the Trainer School now."
Roxanne stepped forward and handed over a thin, square disc.
"This is the agreed-upon reward, a Substitute tm. I hope these children didn't cause you too much trouble."
"It was fine."
Jiang Han took the disc and casually slipped it into his pocket, a hint of fatigue appropriately showing on his face.
"They're rookies, after all; they're all like that. It's getting late, so I'll head back to the pokémon Center to rest."
His posture was so natural that not a single flaw could be found, as if he truly were an exhausted instructor who had been worn out by rowdy kids all day.
Roxanne didn't suspect a thing and politely saw him out of the Gym.
After bidding farewell to the three children, who were still chattering away about their internship experiences, Jiang Han walked alone through the nighttime streets of Rustboro City.
The streetlights stretched his shadow long, and the night breeze carried a hint of chill.
Upon returning to the pokémon Center, Jiang Han headed up to the second floor with a weary look and entered his luxury private room.
After some preparation, a dark figure darted out from the second-floor window.
He had changed into a set of black tactical gear suitable for movement, and a mask now covered his entire face.
His previous fatigue had vanished, replaced by a wolf-like calmness and sharpness.
Like a crow blending into the night, he moved silently between the buildings.
His toes tapped lightly on the roof tiles, making no sound at all.
The intelligence map provided by Team Rockets was clear in his mind; every corner and every shortcut was etched into his memory.
Soon, a two-story residence with a private yard appeared before him.
This was the home of the League Investigator, Saki.
Jiang Han lurked in the shadows of the opposite rooftop, quietly observing.
The lights inside were bright. The curtains of the second-floor study were not drawn, clearly showing a Middle-aged Man hunched over his desk, writing furiously.
That was Saki.
Jiang Han placed a Luxury Ball on an envelope and waited for the fish to take the bait... Meanwhile, the internship summary meeting at the Trainer School had finally ended.
The children walked out of the school gates in small groups, excitedly discussing the new partners they had captured today.
"My Lotad! It can use Water Gun!"
Xiao Tian boasted about his new catch.
"I... My Skitty and Spinarak became friends, and I successfully caught it."
Misato also quietly shared her joy.
Only Yuta followed silently behind, head down, without saying a word.
At the fork in the road, he stopped and forced a smile at his two companions that looked more painful than crying: "Goodbye, Misato. Goodbye, Xiao Tian."
"Yuta..." Misato looked at him with some concern.
"I'm fine." Yuta shook his head and turned to walk home alone.
The streetlights were dim, and the streets were empty.
His shadow stretched long, then shortened by the next light, over and over, looking exceptionally lonely. He kicked a small pebble by the roadside, his heart filled with grievance and loss.
Why was I the only one who didn't catch a pokémon?
Will Father be even more disappointed in me?
The more he thought, the sadder he became, and his eyes began to sting.
Dragging his feet to the front door, he habitually reached out to open it, but his gaze was inadvertently drawn to something on the mailbox.
It was a Poké Ball.
A jet-black Luxury Ball decorated with red and yellow stripes, polished to a brilliant shine!
Yuta had only seen this kind of ball in the pokédex and magazines. It was said to help captured pokémon bond with their Trainers faster; it was expensive and not something a typical rookie could afford.
Who left it here?
He curiously picked up the Luxury Ball; it felt cool and smooth in his hand.
Underneath the ball, there was also a folded note.
Yuta unfolded the note, which had a single line of text:
"Son, don't be sad. Your pokémon—your old man got it for you. Come to the study quickly and share the joy with me!"
In an instant, Yuta's nose twitched sharply.
So... so Father has been caring about me all along! He knew I didn't catch a pokémon, so he specially prepared a surprise for me!
All the grievance, loss, and frustration from the day transformed into hot tears in this moment, surging uncontrollably from his eyes.
He tightly gripped that Luxury Ball as if holding the most precious treasure in the world.
Is it a Shroomish? Or some other even more powerful pokémon?
Father... he isn't disappointed in me!
Overwhelmed by a massive sense of happiness, Yuta wiped away his tears, took the Poké Ball, and excitedly rushed into the house, heading straight for the second-floor study.
Inside the study at that moment, Saki was frowning as he wrote the final line on a document.
"...In summary, some of the materials seized during this Black Market Sweep carry a unique 'R' mark, which highly matches the symbols of Team Rockets that are rampant in the Kanto and Johto regions. I seriously suspect that Team Rockets' influence has secretly infiltrated the Hoenn region for unknown purposes. This matter is of great importance; we must immediately report to the League Headquarters and request higher-level intervention!"
Having finished writing, he let out a long breath, leaned back in his chair, and rubbed his aching temples.
"These damn underground rats are everywhere! It wasn't enough to ruin two regions; now they're reaching their black hands into Hoenn! We absolutely cannot let them succeed!"
Just then, with a 'bang,' the study door was thrown open.
"Father!"
Yuta's voice, flushed with excitement, carried into the room.
Saki was startled. Seeing it was his son, his brow relaxed slightly, but his tone still carried a hint of reproach:
"Yuta? Why so reckless? You should knock before entering."
"Sorry, Father! But I'm just too excited!"
Yuta didn't care about his father's criticism at all. He held the Luxury Ball high in his hand, his face beaming with pure joy.
"Thank you!"
Saki looked at him, his face full of confusion: "Thank me? For what?"
"Thank you for the pokémon you prepared for me!" Yuta's voice was filled with gratitude and admiration.
"pokémon?" Saki was even more bewildered. "I didn't prepare any pokémon for you?"
He looked at the exceptionally exquisite Luxury Ball in his son's hand. An ominous premonition suddenly rose from his heart, instantly spreading through his entire body, making the hair on his back stand on end.
That ball... wasn't his! That note... he hadn't written it!
It was a trap!
"Yuta!"
Saki's face turned deathly pale in a second. He sprang from his chair and let out a roar with all his might,
"Don't open that Poké Ball! Throw it away, quickly!"
Unfortunately, it was all too late.
Surrounded by immense joy, Yuta didn't even hear what his father was shouting.
He only wanted to see what kind of powerful partner his father had prepared for him at the first possible moment.
A second before he heard his father's shout, his thumb had already pressed the button in the center of the Poké Ball with great anticipation.
"Come out! My partn—"
A blinding white light burst forth from the ball.
A red-and-white, spherical pokémon with a pair of angry eyes appeared in mid-air.
It was a Voltorb!
The moment it appeared, the electrical currents over its body began to flicker wildly, and its entire body expanded rapidly at a visible rate!
A brilliant and lethal white light instantly swallowed the entire room!
BOOM!!!
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