"Suicune, your senses are the sharpest. Can you still detect it?" Entei turned to Suicune.
"Hmm… It's very faint." Suicune's ruby-like eyes revealed a hint of embarrassment.
"What should we do then? We've lost the trail…" Raikou's golden fur crackled with tiny sparks of electricity. Its dignified expression made it hard to tell that it was feeling frustrated.
A few days ago, a Celebi from another timeline had borrowed Ho-Oh's sacred power in the city ahead.
Although this amount of energy was insignificant to Ho-Oh, it had vaguely sensed an ominous presence in response.
If left unchecked, this malevolent force could grow into something far worse than the destruction wrought by AZ's ultimate weapon three thousand years ago.
Thus, the Honor Guard of Ho-Oh received its divine will: they were to locate the source of this ominous energy and eradicate it completely.
Using the mark Ho-Oh had left on the energy, the three Legendary Beasts had traveled from across the land, converging at this very spot under the night sky.
However, they now realized that the ominous presence… had become blurred.
"Suicune, is that sinister energy still lingering in this city?" Entei asked.
"There are only a few faint traces, and the energy feels somewhat different from the mark Ho-Oh left us." Suicune focused intently, but couldn't be entirely certain.
"Then we'll search one area at a time." Raikou's eyes flashed with electricity, as if a thunderstorm was brewing within them.
...
"Sham, prepare the aircraft. We're heading to Nanyl Island."
"Understood, Mr. Archer."
The woman with short, pale-red hair, dressed in a dark business suit and skirt, nodded steadily.
She was Archer's assistant. Despite being only 20 years old, her exquisite makeup and mature style gave her an air of sophistication. She had started as an ordinary grunt in Team Rocket, steadily rising through the ranks until she became an executive. Most of Archer's orders were relayed through her.
Lucius could see from Archer's memories that he highly valued Sham.
Before long, the helicopter had landed smoothly in front of him.
"Let's go." Lucius boarded the aircraft without hesitation.
Sham hesitated for a second, surprised that Archer had chosen to bring only her on this mission. However, the doubt passed quickly, and she followed him aboard.
Archer was not only handsome and charismatic but also possessed near-Elite Four-level strength. He commanded immense popularity and respect within Team Rocket.
Any order he gave was executed without question.
As the helicopter took off, three figures appeared like lightning outside an auto repair shop in Cerulean City's southern district.
"This seems to be the place," Entei said, looking at the garage's entrance. Faint traces of toxic gas lingered on the ground.
"There's a similar energy here, but it's not exactly the same," Suicune said, shaking its head.
"Even so, I can smell the scent of death." Raikou was the first to step inside.
Despite being Pokémon, they possessed intelligence far beyond that of most humans. Upon arriving in Cerulean City, they had quickly suppressed their Pressure ability to move discreetly toward this site, where the ominous energy had been drifting.
"This place is filled with death and suffering." Suicune stood in the ruins of the auto shop, closing its eyes as it sensed the lingering emotions in the air—burning, resentment, and fear.
"Many lives were burned to death here." The storm clouds on Raikou's back sparked violently, a clear sign of its rising fury.
Having once perished in a raging inferno themselves, they were acutely sensitive to such auras. Something horrific had taken place here not long ago.
"The source is no longer here," Suicune said, shaking its head. "I will purify this place."
Suicune let out a cry, reminiscent of a whale's song. The large crystal atop its head glowed with a soft green light, and a spiraling wave of water surged outward from beneath its paws, quickly spreading to cover the entire repair shop.
The pure waters shimmered with specks of white light. Soon, these glowing particles began to rise like fireflies, illuminating the air.
The remnants of rage, madness, and fear dissolved under the cleansing glow, and the air once again became fresh and pure.
As the embodiment of the North Wind, Suicune not only purified water and neutralized toxins—it also had the power to soothe madness itself.
"Let's go. On to the next location."
...
At the break of dawn, Ophelia arrived at the Houston storage district. According to Tyler Jorron's promise, by the end of the day, all equipment—except for the five thousand Rattata—would be delivered in full.
The job had been completed flawlessly, which was supposed to be a good thing. Yet, for some reason, Ophelia couldn't shake off an odd feeling today.
It wasn't about the job itself, but something deeper—something gnawing at her mind.
Her gaze drifted toward the entrance of the storage warehouse, where a man was unloading cargo. He looked utterly ordinary—nothing about his appearance stood out. Though he had some strength, he carried himself with a dull, almost sluggish air.
Under normal circumstances, there was no reason for her to pay attention to such a man, the kind one could see on any street corner. But for reasons unknown, she felt a strange connection to him.
It was as if there was an invisible thread linking the two of them…
"Next, he's going to wipe his sweat," the thought suddenly surfaced in Ophelia's mind.
To her shock, after setting down the box in his hands, the man indeed wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.
She remained composed. As a professionally trained undercover agent, she made no expression and took no action that might arouse suspicion. She simply continued her quiet observation.
A moment later, another thought inexplicably emerged:
"Now, he's going to take a drink."
Sure enough, after loading another box onto the truck, the man turned around, picked up a water cup, and took a few sips.
Ophelia's heart pounded violently.
In that instant, she felt as if she had grasped something…
South of Kanto and Johto lies the Orange Archipelago—a land of scorching heat, passionate culture, endless beaches, and a vast ocean. With its delicious cuisine and breathtaking scenery, it draws travelers from all over the world.
The region's unique Orange League also attracts many Pokémon Trainers eager to test their skills.
Amid the vast, open sea, a rocky island barely 40 to 50 square kilometers in size sat inconspicuously among the hundreds of islands in the archipelago.
A Flying-type Pokémon soaring high above would be able to spot a hidden airstrip wedged between the cracks of the island's jagged cliffs. At this moment, a plane was descending onto the landing pad.
Few knew that this island was home to one of Team Rocket's secret bases in the Orange Archipelago. Five years ago, Archer had personally chosen this location and oversaw its construction—excavating half a mountain to create a fully enclosed underground facility.
"Lord Archer?"
The moment Lucius stepped off the plane, he saw a small squad approaching.
"Hmm." Lucius nodded. He hadn't sent prior notice, so it was no surprise that the personnel stationed here were unaware of his arrival.
"What?!"
Nanli leaped out of bed with a loud bang, startling the two completely naked women beside him.
"Are you sure it's Lord Archer? You didn't mistake him for someone else?" He glared at the Team Rocket grunt.
"How could I possibly be mistaken? He even brought Miss Sham with him!" The grunt was frantic. "Sir, please hurry and get dressed—they've already entered the base!"
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