"Silph Building?!"
"Isn't this the company's building that Team Rocket took over in the Pokémon games?!"
Natsui stared more closely. Although the first floor looked completely normal, with security guards patrolling and a bored receptionist yawning behind her desk, something about it felt off.
Just then, a police car sped past Natsui with its siren blaring—but it didn't stop at the Silph Building. Instead, it continued on toward a more distant part of town.
Natsui sharpened his eyes and ears. It sounded like there was a disturbance several blocks away.
How strange—how could the whole city seem different after stepping out of a gym battle?
It was as if something big was about to happen!
He slipped into a deserted alley, climbed onto a higher ledge, pulled binoculars from his backpack, and peered up at the upper floors of the Silph Building.
The smoke had already cleared, and he could see several people in black uniforms with a large "R" on their chests, escorting a group of researchers elsewhere and dousing the remaining flames with fire extinguishers.
It was Team Rocket!
He thought for a moment, located a public phone booth, and dialed the police.
The line rang for a long time before someone answered, but when Natsui finished explaining the situation, the response left him speechless!
"What? You're saying you've already sent people to the Silph Building and found nothing unusual?"
"Correct!" said the voice on the other end. "We've checked twice, but everything's in order—no sign of anything! Right now there are too many Team Rocket incidents across the city. We're overwhelmed and simply don't have the manpower for pranks like this."
"Huh?" Natsui blurted. "This isn't a prank, I—"
Halfway through his sentence, Natsui sighed and hung up.
Now he understood Team Rocket's plan.
First, they called the police themselves to lure them to the Silph Building. When officers arrived and found nothing amiss, they dismissed it as a prank and went back to the station.
Meanwhile, Team Rocket's low-ranking members stirred up trouble citywide to draw the police away while the main team began seizing the building.
And even if a researcher called the police again, the officers would be met by Team Rocket grunts disguised in the first-floor lobby—so they'd assume it was another prank and skip a thorough inspection.
That way, Team Rocket could take over all of Silph Co. without interference!
What a devious strategy!
But as a villainous organization, and since Natsui had witnessed it firsthand, he naturally couldn't ignore it.
With that in mind, he snapped a few photos on his phone and sent them to Looker.
However, the pictures were a bit late. They showed only wisps of black smoke and fading sparks—no Team Rocket or captured researchers.
It wasn't long before Looker called back.
"Is this really a major Team Rocket operation?" Looker's tone blended excitement with guilt. "Damn, I'm in Cerulean City right now, investigating a Team Rocket base. Even if I head straight over, I'm afraid I won't make it in time."
"It definitely is a major operation," Natsui said slowly. "And from what I can tell, they've already taken control of the entire building."
Looker asked, "Did you call the police?"
"Of course."
"And what did they say? Did they send anyone?"
Natsui laughed bitterly and relayed everything he'd heard, along with his own deductions.
"I see…" Looker grasped the key point. "They must have planned it from the start. But why attack that place?"
Silph Co. is Pokémon's most famous manufacturer and retailer. Many items, including Poké Balls, are produced by that company.
Given Team Rocket's financial resources, they shouldn't need those Poké Balls. And once the takeover became public, it would surely provoke a massive police response. No matter how he thought about it, Looker couldn't understand the logic.
"Who cares about the motive," Natsui said indifferently. "Even if Team Rocket were just there to celebrate the Silph president's birthday, we can't let them get away with it!"
"You're right," Looker laughed, then changed the subject. "But these photos you sent don't show Team Rocket. Even if I present them at headquarters to lobby the police, I doubt anyone will believe us."
Natsui was stunned. "Is your rank in the International Police really that low? Don't you have any authority?"
"Ahem… let's not talk about that now," Looker coughed, embarrassed. "Our priority is figuring out what they're up to. Could I ask you a favor?"
Though Natsui intended to help, he couldn't resist saying, "Hey, it doesn't seem right for you—a member of the International Police—to ask me, an ordinary person, to get involved in something so dangerous, does it?"
"You're not ordinary!" Looker flattered him. "After S.S. Anne, it's clear you're an Elite Trainer with a good heart. And I'm not letting you go in alone. I'll use my personal contacts in the Pokémon League to send someone to help you!"
People from the Pokémon League?
They handle this too?
After hanging up, Natsui stayed in the shadows, watching the Silph Building carefully. After a moment, a woman his age approached from behind.
Natsui turned—and saw… Sabrina?!
"How are you here?"
Sabrina, equally surprised to see Natsui, said with mild astonishment, "The Pokémon League just contacted me, saying an International Police agent needed help. I didn't expect it to be you."
"I'm not with the International Police," Natsui waved his hands. "I'm just helping with a matter. Have you heard what's going on?"
Sabrina shook her head.
"They only said it was urgent, that I should come and follow orders, so I rushed over."
Having Sabrina's help was undoubtedly a huge boost. Natsui recounted the entire story from the beginning.
"So we just have to get inside the building and find out what's happening?" Sabrina turned to look at the Silph Building and asked, "But how do we get in?"
"It's impossible to sneak in through the front," Natsui said, already forming a plan. "I was going to have Kirlia lift me up with Psychic, then send Gastly to scout. But since you're here—let's go in together!"
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