A sudden piece of news disrupted many of Hikoji's plans.
Originally, his intention had been simple: cooperate with Scar to finish excavating the Moon Stone here, then leave.
But now, if someone intruded and discovered him working with Team Rocket, his carefully cultivated reputation as the Kanto Mining Association's Pewter City Branch President could be destroyed in an instant.
"What should we do now?"
Scar, standing nearby, had also heard the voice coming through the communicator. He knew someone had broken in.
"I can't let anyone find out who I really am!"
Hikoji hadn't expected that such a minor operation could put his identity at risk. While he regretted his carelessness, he simultaneously resolved that under no circumstances could his true identity be exposed.
"Don't worry too much. Perhaps… those trainers won't even find us here."
Scar spoke calmly.
He thought Hikoji was overreacting. The tunnels of Mt. Moon branched in countless directions. Besides the main route connecting Cerulean City to Pewter City, there were many secluded paths.
Their current excavation site for the Moon Stone was on a particularly remote branch. Few would ever come here—it wasn't worth worrying over.
Before Scar could finish speaking, a voice interrupted.
"Sorry, you might be disappointed!"
"Who's there?!"
Scar snapped his head up and saw a young man standing not far away, a pale yellow cat-like Pokémon by his side, wearing a faintly teasing smile. Behind him was a large group of trainers, all clutching their Poké Balls.
"Finding you wasn't easy, Team Rocket!" Nozomi smiled. "Oh, and Hikoji—Branch President—how is it that in just one day, you've started hanging out with Team Rocket?"
The atmosphere froze instantly at Nozomi's words.
Hikoji fingered the Poké Balls at his waist, staring at Nozomi.
Scar's expression darkened as well.
He had just claimed this place was hidden and safe; now his words had been proven wrong, and he felt his face flush with embarrassment.
"Tch, eighteen Team Rocket members sneaking into Mt. Moon to dig up Moon Stones—when did Team Rocket start moonlighting as miners?" Nozomi said, eyeing the Moon Stones scattered across the ground.
He had assumed Team Rocket was up to some sinister plot at Mt. Moon, but apparently, they were just mining. He had once considered himself lucky to find a single Moon Stone here; now Team Rocket had unearthed so many.
Seeing Nozomi so audaciously unafraid, both Scar and Hikoji felt a surge of anger.
In Kanto, no one had ever dared mock Team Rocket so openly!
Scar glanced at Hikoji, and without a word, they reached a silent agreement: "Kid, now that you know our secret, you're not leaving!"
To ensure Hikoji's identity remained safe, they had to capture Nozomi and these trainers.
"What a coincidence—that's exactly what I was going to say to you," Nozomi said, then decisively waved to the trainers behind him. "Go! Take down these Team Rocket members! According to League regulations, if we capture these Team Rocket members, we can claim 30% of these Moon Stones!"
The Kanto League had enacted measures to curb the growth of criminal organizations. In addition to ordinary bounty rewards, there was a system for confiscating loot: any trainer who defeated Team Rocket could claim 30% of all spoils except Pokémon.
Nozomi had previously worried that the trainers might lack motivation.
Now, with so many Moon Stones dug up by Team Rocket, there was plenty to spur them into action.
The trainers behind Nozomi could no longer contain themselves. Many had never seen this many Moon Stones in their lives. At the thought that defeating Team Rocket would earn them a share, they were practically buzzing with energy.
"Go! Pidgeotto, Hurricane!"
"Bulbasaur, use Poison Powder!"
"Squirtle, Water Gun!"
The coordinated assault of over thirty trainers was an intimidating sight.
"Just a bunch of underdeveloped kids? Go! Destroy them!" Scar commanded fearlessly. These were rookie trainers; today, he had brought Team Rocket's elite Pokémon.
As expected, under Scar's direction, Team Rocket members sent out their Pokémon:
Magneton
Weezing
Golbat
Though ordinary compared to some Pokémon, they were stronger, higher-level, and far fewer than the trainers' Bulbasaurs and Squirtles. Instantly, the previously overwhelming aura of the trainers was suppressed.
Now, the trainers needed two—or even three—people to contend with a single Team Rocket member.
"It wasn't going to be that simple!" Nozomi, watching, felt no disappointment.
He had never expected these trainers, who needed guides even to challenge gyms, to handle Team Rocket directly. Just being able to restrain them was enough.
Nozomi reached for his Poké Ball—it was his turn to act.
From a distance, Hikoji, who had been watching Nozomi's movements, was alarmed when he saw him grab a Poké Ball. He immediately shouted to Scar, who was casually defeating a rookie trainer nearby:
"Watch out!"
"What?"
Scar was confused. Watch out for what? These trainers were so weak; there was nothing to worry about.
Before he could finish, a massive roar echoed.
A gigantic Onix, several times larger than a normal Onix, appeared on the battlefield where Team Rocket and the League trainers were clashing.
With a sweep of its tail, it sent a perturbed, self-destructing Weezing crashing back toward Team Rocket's side.
Boom!
The explosion left several Team Rocket Pokémon badly injured and unable to continue battling.
"Nozomi captured a very strong Onix at Mt. Moon!"
Only now did Hikoji's voice arrive, belatedly.
"…"
Scar glared at the colossal Onix, his expression sour.
Now he finally understood the strength of the 'powerful Onix' previously mentioned on the communicator.
He mentally scolded Hikoji for not explaining sooner—but there was no time for that now. He drew one or two black Team Rocket-special Poké Balls from his pocket.
"Hitmontop! Crobat! Take down that Onix!"
A Hitmontop, a Fighting-type counter to Onix, and Scar's ace Pokémon Crobat were immediately sent to face Nozomi's Onix.
"Hikoji, let's go together!" Scar called to Hikoji.