By the time the word "Zapdos" left her mouth, a sharp popping squeak burst from Bumiao's lips.
"Y-you— you!"
Bumiao couldn't get a full sentence out.
She pointed at the Zapdos standing there, giving her a sidelong look, then glanced at Grey's unconcerned face.
All at once, it felt like the world had changed too much.
"This is Zapdos! One of Kanto's three Legendary birds—the kind of totem you see hanging in Battle Clubs and Pokémon Centers!"
Envy all over her face, Bumiao wanted to reach out and touch Zapdos.
But when she saw the look on its face, her hand hovered in midair; for a moment she didn't know whether to advance or retreat.
"Isn't it just Zapdos? What's so shocking about that?"
Grey shrugged, casual as ever. "I already caught Articuno. Catching another Zapdos—would that really be surprising? Come on."
Where there's one, there's two—he'd already captured Articuno; getting Zapdos felt normal.
At least, that's how Grey saw it.
"?"
Bumiao's gaze flicked between man and bird. She wanted to crack open Grey's skull and see what on earth he was thinking day after day.
This is a Legendary Pokémon!
Don't make it sound as common as a Pikachu by the roadside in Viridian Forest!
"Alright, we're all in the same gym anyway. It'll be out every day. You should start getting used to it."
"You mean there'll be more of these legends in the future?"
Bumiao blinked wide, clearly rattled by Grey's words.
Most people go a whole lifetime without ever seeing a legend. How was Grey talking like you could just scoop them up like chicks?
"Hard to say, but barring surprises, Zapdos definitely isn't the endpoint."
Grey stroked Zapdos's head, tone plain as ever.
Obviously, he didn't think he'd stop at just two legendaries.
"Amazing…"
Green stared at Grey. The fact that he'd captured two Legendary birds in a row left her awestruck.
If even legendaries fell to Grey one after another—just how strong was he now…
"Oh, please. What's 'amazing' or not? I'm just an ordinary trainer."
Grey chuckled, then led the Pokémon inside for a welcome ceremony for the newcomers.
——
Lavender Town, inside the police station, where three arrested Team Rocket executives were being held temporarily.
"Tch… when's the Boss getting here?"
In the cell, Petrel spat on the floor and called over to his comrades shackled at either side.
"Soon, I'd think. I smashed the alarm before I got turned into a doll. The Boss should be preparing something."
Ariana lowered her voice, eyes fixed on the door, eager for their chief to come get them out.
"Damn that Grey! If I ever see him again, I'll grind him under my heel!"
Archer's hatred for Grey had sunk to the bone.
Not long ago Grey and Sabrina had turned the tables and intimidated him, and in the end he'd been turned into a doll…
The humiliation was unforgettable!
Once the Boss pulled them out, he'd make Grey pay dearly!
While the three chatted, the outskirts of Lavender Town were on full alert.
After all, they were holding three Team Rocket executive-level figures here—three of the four executives.
Barring surprises, Team Rocket's Boss would surely try to spring them.
"Officer Jenny, about when will Lorelei arrive?"
A policeman looked to Officer Jenny.
One reason they were waiting here was that Lorelei of the Elite Four would personally handle the escort.
With a Champion-level Elite Four member leading, they shouldn't get intercepted en route, right?
"Th-then… what if Team Rocket's Boss gets here before Lorelei and hijacks the station? If a fight breaks out in Lavender Town, the residents won't be able to evacuate easily, will they?"
The officer pressed, uneasy.
Given Lavender's living situation, a rolling transfer to rendezvous with Lorelei on the road seemed optimal to him.
Even if a battle started, they wouldn't risk civilian harm as much.
"No—we need to be in Lavender Town."
Officer Jenny shook her head and patted the Arcanine crouched at her side.
"Why?"
The officer didn't get it.
"If the Boss really shows up, you'll understand why it has to be here. And this Arcanine is very strong."
A smile tugged at Jenny's lips.
To escort Team Rocket, she'd specially borrowed this Arcanine from her seniors.
Its strength rivaled a typical Elite Four-level Pokémon; stalling for a while would be no problem.
"Oh? Is that so? How strong, exactly?"
The low voice, tinged with mockery, drifted in. Officer Jenny's head snapped up to see a middle-aged man in a black suit with a scarlet R on his chest.
His features were hard to make out. A stranger.
"W-who are you?"
Jenny's hand went to her belt; her other hand clenched a Poké Ball, ready to throw.
"Who am I? Haven't you been talking about me all this time? What, planning to play dumb now?"
It was Giovanni, Team Rocket's Boss—but he'd disguised himself just enough that no one would link this domineering kingpin of Kanto's underworld with the kindly uncle at Viridian Gym.
"Arcanine!"
Officer Jenny shouted.
"Arr-woof!"
Arcanine threw its chest out, flames surging between its fangs. Sparks sprayed from its mouth—only to be shredded by a sudden gusting shockwave!
"Bzzzz…"
Wings thrummed.
Jenny started to throw—but a needle touched the side of her neck.
A chill shot through her; it happened so fast even Arcanine didn't react.
"Arf!"
Arcanine glanced aside to see a yellow-and-black giant wasp hovering in the air.
Beedrill!
It could be said that the instant Beedrill appeared, every gaze locked in place.
For a Pokémon reputedly so "weak" in single combat to explode with that kind of force—
It flew in the face of the public's impression of Beedrill.
"Guh…"
With a lance-like stinger pressed at her throat, Officer Jenny didn't dare move a muscle.
"Heh. This is the strength you're so proud of?"
Giovanni shook his head, thumbed the brim of his hat, and sighed.
Weak. Far too weak.
And with power like this you think you can keep Team Rocket's four executives locked up?
What a delusion.
"Oh? So that's why you dared to sit tight inside the town."
"If you stayed because of it, you'd better behave yourselves and surrender."
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