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"Team Rocket? Weren't they scared away by you just now?" Green asked in confusion.
Team Rocket had just been frightened off by Eddie alone, so why was Eddie saying that Team Rocket would come looking for them again later?
"First, you only used a fake disk to deceive them. When they return and discover that the disk is counterfeit, they'll definitely come searching for you again, even with me by your side, because this disk is extremely important to their operations," Eddie explained while recalling his Pokemon.
He mounted Charizard once more and extended his hand to help Green climb onto Charizard's back before taking off into the sky.
His Charizard was exceptionally well-trained, and its body was significantly larger than typical Charizard, making it perfectly capable of carrying two people comfortably.
As for the Team Rocket operatives they had captured, Eddie had frozen them in place. Erika's forces would arrive to collect them soon enough - Eddie didn't need to waste time guarding such minor threats.
Consequently, Eddie and Green found themselves riding on Charizard's back in close proximity, flying together through the evening sky.
This intimate arrangement made Green blush involuntarily as she wondered why she had chosen to share Charizard's back with Eddie.
"Second, I encountered Erika, Rainbow City's Gym Leader, in Team Rocket's underground base. She's mobilizing forces for a full-scale assault against Team Rocket, and the operation should be beginning right about now," Eddie continued his explanation.
Having reached sufficient altitude, he gestured for Green to observe the area beyond Rainbow City's outskirts.
Green looked in the indicated direction and, despite the considerable distance, could clearly see numerous trainers accompanied by their Pokemon rushing rapidly toward Rainbow City.
"Team Rocket won't engage them directly at this time because their mission remains incomplete. Their objective is the disk in your possession, so when they spot Erika's approaching forces, they'll simply avoid confrontation and continue pursuing you instead," Eddie explained further.
Even though Green's close contact behind him felt wonderfully warm and pleasant, Eddie maintained his composed expression while providing his analysis.
Green retrieved the disk and equipped a peculiar telescope-like device to read the data, then began directing Charizard's flight path accordingly.
"The third and most crucial point is that their retreat was largely due to standing orders from the three Executives. When encountering me, standard protocol requires them to report my presence and withdraw immediately. This doesn't mean they can't return with overwhelming numbers later," Eddie continued his strategic assessment.
"Their withdrawal just now was primarily because they believed their mission was complete. Knowing they would soon face Erika, Rainbow City's Gym Leader, in battle, the division captain didn't want to engage a formidable opponent like me under such circumstances, so he simply departed."
Eddie understood the division captain's tactical thinking perfectly. In similar circumstances, he would have made identical decisions.
"Well, according to your explanation, he retreated directly while several Team Rocket members were still captured by us. Isn't that also a significant loss for them?" Green inquired while continuing to guide Charizard's direction.
Indeed, if Team Rocket wanted to avoid any casualties, the division captain should have remained to lead the elite trainers in covering the retreat, allowing weaker Team Rocket operatives to escape first before withdrawing himself. That would have been the optimal strategic choice.
"Hehe, that's because he correctly assessed that attempting such a maneuver would have resulted in all of them being frozen in place by me right now," Eddie replied with a confident smile.
"What do you mean by that?" Green asked, removing the strange telescope and turning to face Eddie, who was sitting very close to her.
Although she seemed to anticipate what Eddie was about to say, she genuinely wanted to hear his explanation.
"Because I possess the strength to back up that claim!" Eddie responded with the same confident smile.
This simple statement carried such overwhelming presence that Green felt an oppressive momentum washing over her, creating an almost suffocating sensation.
"A few Peak trainers couldn't stop me. They would only be defeated quickly, and then I would capture the weaker operatives. In that scenario, they would face complete annihilation! Instead, by retreating as they did, all the strong operatives escaped successfully, with only the weaker ones who couldn't flee in time being captured," Eddie explained matter-of-factly.
Eddie possessed such confidence and ability as established fact - there was no need for false modesty.
He could defeat even Gym Leader level opponents in direct confrontation when fighting at full strength.
Even without using his complete power, he could overwhelm Gym Leader level opponents thoroughly.
(Koga: Damn it! Are you specifically targeting me with these references?!)
Given Eddie's impressive track record, division captains at his level lacked the courage to engage him in battle.
While Eddie couldn't claim invincibility among peers of his rank, aside from trainers like Ash and Gary, very few others at his level could match him effectively.
Several elite trainers attempting to overwhelm Eddie would only result in their complete defeat.
The division captain must have either witnessed Eddie's capabilities personally or received specific intelligence about him; otherwise, he wouldn't have fled in such obvious panic.
Green observed Eddie's confident and even domineering attitude, feeling her heart begin racing wildly as her face grew considerably redder.
However, she quickly recovered her composure and hastily repositioned the telescope device to conceal her current blushing.
"Is... is that so? Then you really are incredibly strong," Green managed to say, then stopped looking at Eddie and concentrated intensely on searching for Mew.
If she didn't focus on something else, she feared she might become completely captivated by Eddie again.
Yes, she admitted that she had indeed been thoroughly enchanted by Eddie just moments before.
She needed to redirect her attention now, or she worried she might gradually fall deeper under his influence.
She didn't have time for romantic entanglements currently - too many important matters required her attention.
Perhaps, after resolving all her pressing concerns, she would return to Eddie to explore the experience of love...
"Ding! Due to your words and behavior, Green's favorability toward you has significantly increased! Current relationship status: 'More than friends, but less than lovers'!"
Eddie: "???"