Yuli slipped into a demure, doting air the moment she faced the "injured" Grey, all tender concern on display.
Grey forced down his discomfort and spoke softly. "Cerulean City's forces teamed up with Grey from Saffron City to ambush us. If I hadn't been the better fighter and scraped out alive, we would've been wiped out."
"Grey? I remember he's the new leader of the Fighting Dojo, right? The organization has his file."
In Yuli's view, he was just some ordinary rookie Gym Leader.
At best, he'd picked up a few Pokémon off grunts.
Not worth mentioning.
"His Primeape was even stronger than in the club. Even my Houndoom got flattened in one punch."
Grey's nose twitched as he put on a sob.
"It's fine. We mined a lot of Moon Stones in Mt. Moon this time—Nidorina and Nidorino both evolved. A mere Primeape—when the time comes, we'll bury its Trainer along with it!"
She clenched two Poké Balls in her hand, a cold gleam crossing her face.
Right now, she just wanted to bury Grey alive as an offering to soothe the "Daisuke" before her!
"Yeah? That's great. Then I'll be counting on you to protect me for a while."
Grey smiled and glanced at the two balls in Yuli's hand.
[Pokémon: Nidoking]
[Level: 38]
[Pokémon: Nidoqueen]
[Level: 36]
Grey: (;一_一)
That's it?
Primeape wouldn't need ten punches to send them both packing.
But he still didn't know whether any Pokémon here needed rescuing.
Act after confirming their safety.
"Mhm. With Nidoqueen and Nidoking here, the moment that brat sets foot in camp, I'll feed him to Sharpedo!"
Yuli waved, sweeping a proud look over the ring of tense Rocket members.
Grey? So what.
Let it be said here and now: even Lt. Surge from Vermilion City would catch a few slaps before walking out!
"Cough, cough. I want to lie down for a bit…"
Grey clutched his chest and hacked a couple of times.
"Then get inside and rest. Once you're better, we'll head for Cerulean City. No point staying in this dump that'd make even a Growlithe shake its head!"
Yuli helped him into the tent.
Inside, Grey didn't snoop around. He kept up the act of a frailer constitution and lay down to rest.
"Baby, stay here. I'll look for something to treat those scrapes."
Yuli hurried out.
As for Grey—he was more interested in what expression she'd make when she learned this "Daisuke" was him in disguise.
…
Once Yuli's aura signature drifted far enough and showed no sign of returning,
Grey rose and curled his lip.
"Raaalts~"
Ralts poked its head out of his pocket, hopped to the ground, and started rummaging through boxes.
Grey picked up his phone and click-clicked quietly over the documents on the table.
Of course—mute mode on.
There were plenty.
"Local Development Strategy: Battle Club—From Trainers to a Landmark"
"World Tour Luxury Liner: S.S. Anne Hijack Plan"
Grey flipped one open at random, his relaxed brow knitting tight.
Team Rocket was scheming a lot behind the scenes.
One plan even stretched claws toward other regions—
First on the list: the Alola region.
Pages and pages, treating it like easy prey.
"This is getting more ridiculous than I thought…"
After a full five minutes, Grey photographed every plan that could seriously impact the Kanto region.
Credit to Riolu for being handier with a phone.
Two phones working in tandem doubled the speed.
Otherwise, doing this solo in one go would've been tough.
Photos done.
Ralts slipped back into his pocket.
At the same time, Grey sensed Yuli's aura drawing close again.
He recalled Riolu and lay right back down—
As if nothing had happened.
"Baby, there's no ointment here. I'm sorry…"
Yuli sank to her knees, dabbing away nonexistent tears, lips pressed pale with grief.
"It's fine. I'll be okay after a little rest."
Grey shook his head and forced himself up. "Shouldn't we worry about Officer Jenny from Pewter City? If they catch up, I'm afraid we'll get pincered…"
"Don't worry about that. Those idiots in Pewter City— we've been running them in circles. They're probably still getting walked around Mt. Moon like dogs."
She sighed. "Shame not many made it out. Everyone left is here in camp."
"We had a clear shot at making me a section chief after this job, and these trash managed to lose every Pokémon we captured!"
Anger flushed Yuli's pretty face; she all but ground her teeth.
"Oh? So, there aren't any wild Pokémon in camp now?"
Grey dropped the line out of nowhere.
"Right, baby. And they almost got me caught! I'm furious!"
Which is when Grey said, lightly:
"In that case… game over."
He stood. Ralts popped from his pocket—
And planted a stinging slap right across Yuli's cool cheek.
"???"
Yuli stared up, dazed, palm to her reddening face, eyes disbelieving as she looked at Grey.
"Nido!"
Nidoking and Nidoqueen burst from their balls at once in response to their Trainer being hurt.
Venom beaded on their horns and dripped to the ground, rotting the soil with an oily sizzle—downright unsettling.
"That's your level?"
Grey slapped his belt. Every Poké Ball he carried burst open.
Primeape took point, aura surging like a stormfront.
A cold gleam gathered on its fists, swelling into the phantom of an even larger fist that settled over its body.
That eerie pressure rolled out.
Nidoking's face hardened; power raced to the horn on its head—
Arcs of electricity crisscrossed the air with a sharp crackle!
A straight shot at Primeape!
Primeape didn't even flinch. It drove a wrath-laced punch forward.
Ghostly power erupted—and shattered the Thunderbolt in one blow!
As the sparks died, Primeape lunged in with long, devouring strides and hammered a fist into Nidoking's chest!
Boom!
Nidoking flew, tumbled across the ground, and was out cold on impact.
The rest of Grey's team executed as planned, each slotting into their role and unleashing the matching moves.
Combusken threw its head back and loosed a Flamethrower skyward.
FOOOOM!!!
Flames roared up, licking the clouds!
The tent ripped open with a blazing hole!
Yuli stared, eyes wide, fixed on the "Daisuke" who had just attacked her—
She couldn't believe he'd turn on her.
Which meant…
The man in front of her was not Daisuke at all!
Yuli ground her molars. "Who are you?!"
"I'm the rookie Gym Leader who arrested your precious Daisuke."
Grey stepped forward a few paces, firelight cutting his profile into something cold and severe.
"Now it's time to reunite you with the rest."
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