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Eddie was grumbling under his breath, but the squad captain had already entered the access code, and the hidden entrance was sliding open before them.
Right beside the promotional poster on the wall, a section suddenly shifted inward, revealing a staircase that descended into darkness below.
"This is exactly the same kind of secret door they used at the SS. Anne base. Couldn't they try a different approach for once?" Eddie thought to himself, rolling his eyes as he recognized the familiar setup. The scene before him was almost identical to what he had encountered at the SS. Anne facility, and he couldn't help but feel annoyed by Team Rocket's lack of creativity in their security systems.
The squad captain remained oblivious to Eddie's internal complaints about their standardized secret entrance design. Seeing that the hidden door had opened completely, he took the lead and began descending the stairs.
Eddie and the other Team Rocket members followed behind him in single file, their footsteps echoing softly in the narrow stairwell as they made their way down into the underground facility.
After several minutes of walking, they emerged into the subterranean level, where an enormous underground biological research laboratory stretched out before them. The facility was massive in scale, and Eddie discreetly surveyed his surroundings, noting that the laboratory's footprint appeared to be even larger than the Game Corner that operated as a front on the surface level above.
It was clear just how much time, effort, and resources Team Rocket had invested in establishing and maintaining this clandestine research facility. The scope of the operation was truly impressive from a logistical standpoint.
However, Eddie's attention wasn't focused on admiring the laboratory's construction at this moment. Instead, he had narrowed his eyes to thin slits, which was something he typically did when engaged in deep contemplation. But this time, he wasn't lost in thought—he was using the gesture to conceal the burning rage that was building in his eyes.
Everything he was witnessing in this laboratory filled him with such fury that he wanted nothing more than to destroy every single member of Team Rocket in this facility immediately.
Throughout the main hall of the laboratory, countless pieces of glassware and experimental apparatus were arranged in organized rows. Within this extensive collection of laboratory equipment, various Pokemon were suspended in preservation tanks, with more than a hundred specimens visible to the naked eye from where Eddie stood.
Despite having access to the Power of Viridian, which normally allowed him to sense the emotions and thoughts of Pokemon, Eddie couldn't detect any mental activity from these creatures. Their consciousness seemed to have gone completely silent, as if their minds had been extinguished entirely.
It was impossible for him to determine whether these Pokemon had become completely unresponsive and entered a vegetative state, or whether they had lost their lives altogether. The uncertainty made the situation even more disturbing.
What made matters worse was that many of the containment vessels weren't filled with complete Pokemon, but rather contained...
"Ha, I'd never been to a place like this before, and what I saw was only from the manga storyline. I never expected this place to be so horrifically realistic," Eddie thought bitterly to himself, though only a cold, calculating gleam was visible in his narrowed eyes.
Everything he was observing had already pushed Eddie beyond the point of anger into pure rage.
Although he wouldn't describe himself as a particularly virtuous person, he certainly wasn't the type of individual who could remain unmoved when confronted with such a grotesque scene. In fact, any person with a normal moral compass would be absolutely furious upon witnessing such atrocities.
The more someone loved Pokemon, the more intense their anger would become in response to this sight.
Eddie might not consider himself a saint, but he was undeniably a trainer who had always harbored deep affection for Pokemon, both before his reincarnation and before he had traveled to this world. Whether dealing with powerful Pokemon, adorable Pokemon, or even those who served as his partners, Eddie had always maintained the greatest enthusiasm and care in his treatment of them.
Perhaps this genuine love for Pokemon was one of the key reasons why the Power of Viridian had manifested within him in the first place.
But Eddie understood that now wasn't the optimal time to take direct action. This restraint wasn't only because there was likely a trainer present who possessed greater strength than the squad captain, but also because the timing simply wasn't right for a confrontation.
"Very soon now. You can continue your arrogant boasting for just a few more minutes, and then you can enjoy the rest of your miserable lives lying in hospital beds within prison walls," Eddie thought to himself, his mind already filled with murderous intent. However, this wasn't the original where he might have more freedom to act.
Since he couldn't be certain that he could successfully eliminate all of them without consequences, he could only choose to beat them so severely that they would be unable to care for themselves in any meaningful way.
"Mewtwo has reached its developmental limit at this stage. It's still missing an arm and a leg, and the Mew cells we extracted from the ancient tablet remain insufficient for completion," came a familiar voice that suddenly captured Eddie's attention, causing him to immediately turn his head toward the source of the conversation.
A bald researcher wearing dark sunglasses, a pristine white laboratory coat, and sporting a distinctive mustache was engaged in discussion with the squad captain.
"So if we can obtain additional Mew cells, we'll be able to complete Mewtwo's development, correct?" the squad captain inquired. As someone who held a position of considerable authority within the organization, he was naturally informed about the Mewtwo project and its current status.
After listening to their exchange, Eddie shifted his attention to the subject of their discussion.
In the central containment column of the laboratory's main hall, suspended by thick black restraining cables, was a humanoid figure. It possessed a pure white body and a dark purple tail, and even at a glance, one could sense the terrifying power that lay dormant within its form.
Even though it appeared to be in a state of deep sleep, and despite the fact that its body was still incomplete—missing its right arm and right leg—it still emanated a profound sense of oppression that affected everyone in its vicinity.
"Mewtwo... the unfinished Mewtwo," Eddie observed silently, having infiltrated this facility in disguise not merely to go on a rampage and destroy this Team Rocket branch through brute force.
Although he and Team Rocket were already in a state of hostile opposition, Eddie wasn't so idle that he would go out of his way to seek trouble with them without purpose. He had come to this location for two specific objectives, and one of them was undoubtedly related to this very Mewtwo specimen.
But there was no need to rush his plans now. He would wait until these individuals departed from the area, and then he could finally take action.
"Yes, if we can acquire more Mew cells, Mewtwo will definitely reach completion. But where exactly can we locate Mew? And even if we do manage to find it, how can we possibly deal with such a legendary Pokemon when the three executives and our boss aren't present to assist us?" the squad captain pointed out, obviously unaware of the bald researcher's true capabilities. The researcher was simply talking nonsense and attempting to distance himself from any direct combat responsibilities.
"That's precisely why we need to capture that girl! I don't know what method she employed, but she actually managed to steal the tracking device from us. That device is the only thing capable of locating Mew's position. We have to find her before Erika returns to Celadon City!" the researcher explained with urgency.
"As for how to deal with Mew once we find it, we won't be foolish enough to engage it in direct combat. We don't possess the strength necessary to capture it outright, but we should still be capable of obtaining a few cell samples from it before retreating."
The squad captain naturally understood their tactical situation. Asking their current team to capture Mew with their available strength would be equivalent to seeking death in the most dangerous possible circumstances.
Fortunately, Mew's personality was known to be similar to that of a mischievous child. As long as they didn't provoke it excessively and limited themselves to collecting a few cell samples before making a quick escape, they should be able to accomplish their mission successfully.
"This guy actually has quite a bit of talent. It's somewhat wasteful for him to be serving as just a squad captain," both Eddie and the bald researcher thought simultaneously, each recognizing the tactical acumen being displayed.
"But I'm here now, so you won't succeed in your plans!" The bald researcher's eyes behind his sunglasses and Eddie's eyes hidden beneath his cap both flashed with cold determination.
"Ding! Long-term hidden mission 'Crush Team Rocket's Mewtwo Project' Phase 2 conditions have been triggered!" the system notification announced in Eddie's mind.
"Phase 2: Crush Team Rocket's conspiracy and prevent them from obtaining Mew's cells! Successfully ensure Mew's escape to complete Phase 2!"
Upon hearing this mission prompt, Eddie's facial expression remained unchanged, as if he had been expecting this development all along.
He then quietly moved to a concealed corner of the laboratory, secretly released his Haunter from its Poke Ball, and instructed it to help conceal his presence using its supernatural abilities.
Haunter, being a Ghost-type Pokemon, possessed natural stealth capabilities that went beyond mere skill—it was something the Pokemon could accomplish instinctively through its ethereal nature.
Now he needed to remain hidden and wait for the perfect opportunity to strike!