Nozomi led Officer Jenny to the site where Team Rocket was excavating the Moon Stones. The sight before her eyes left Jenny completely stunned.
"How many Moon Stones are here… exactly?"
From what she could see, the digging tools were tossed aside carelessly, and several crates meant for holding Moon Stones were scattered across the ground.
"I don't know… but there are a lot, that's for sure."
Nozomi could perfectly understand Jenny's astonishment—he himself had been shocked the first time he saw this scene.
Apparently, the League had never before encountered a case where so many Moon Stones were excavated at once. This time, Team Rocket had managed to beat the League to it.
Jenny, as the head of the Pewter City Police Department, was no stranger to unusual situations. After a brief moment of stupefaction, she quickly regained her composure.
She took a deep breath. "Thank you, Mr. Nozomi. If it weren't for you, all these Moon Stones falling into Team Rocket's hands would have caused a massive blow to the League."
Jenny's gratitude was genuine—it was not a mere formality.
Anyone with a basic understanding of Pokémon knew the significance of Moon Stones.
In Kanto, Moon Stones could evolve Clefairy and Jigglypuff into Clefable and Wigglytuff, as well as Nidorina and Nidorino into Nidoqueen and Nidoking.
The first effect held little value for Team Rocket, but the evolution of Nidorina and Nidorino was extremely significant.
Nidoking and Nidoqueen were heavy-hitter Pokémon on the battlefield—one Nidoking could easily take out five or six unevolved Nidorinos. And the difference between them? Just a single Moon Stone.
It was clear that if Team Rocket obtained this batch of Moon Stones, they would soon assemble an army of Nidokings and Nidoqueens—a threat to the League that could not be underestimated.
"It's nothing. After all, I used to be a Pokémon Prosecutor," Nozomi smiled, echoing the explanation he had given Jenny back in Viridian City.
"You were a Pokémon Prosecutor?" Jenny's gaze softened, a bit more friendly than before.
"Yes, but with this many Moon Stones, I must report them as soon as possible!"
After instructing her subordinates to secure the bound Team Rocket members more tightly—just in case reinforcements arrived—Jenny called the Cerulean City branch while shouting at her team: "Immediately inventory the Moon Stones and hand over one-third to Mr. Nozomi as per regulations!"
"Yes, Officer Jenny!"
Nozomi paid no attention to the police officers eyeing him curiously or the trainers anxiously watching the Moon Stone inventory process. Instead, he walked over to Scar and Hikoji.
"Heard you wanted me to witness Team Rocket's power?" Nozomi grinned at Scar. "I'm right here. If you've got any tricks left, now's the time. Once you're in the League's prison, it won't be so easy to act again."
Scar scowled but said nothing.
Hikoji looked utterly defeated.
The League's punishment for Team Rocket executives was far harsher than for regular members.
Perhaps to give wayward Team Rocket members a chance at redemption—or to recover some losses from their activities—regular Team Rocket members could post bail and be free quickly, except in severe cases.
Executives, however, were treated differently. As die-hard loyalists, once their identities were confirmed, they faced a minimum of three years in prison, regardless of the severity of their offenses.
"Kid, don't get cocky! Our boss will get revenge!"
Knowing he had lost this round, Scar threw caution to the wind and threatened Nozomi.
"Boss?" Nozomi chuckled. He knew Giovanni was far too obsessed with Mewtwo experiments to care about a few lackeys.
"Do as you like," he said lightly.
With that, Nozomi left Scar seething and took his well-earned reward. This capture of Team Rocket had earned him thirty Moon Stones for his decisive role in the battle.
The remaining trainers received one to two Moon Stones each, depending on their contribution. Everyone was pleased with the haul.
As they exited the Mt. Moon tunnel, the group waved at Nozomi in unison.
"Goodbye, Boss Nozomi!"
Nozomi's twitching mouth betrayed a mix of amusement and disbelief—he felt like the leader of some rogue gang being bid farewell.
…But it wasn't a bad feeling.
He waved back and set off for Cerulean City.
However…
"Hey, you…"
Nozomi glanced at Yuuji, who had followed him. "I'm heading to challenge the gym. Why aren't you going home?"
Yuuji, the first to acknowledge Nozomi as his leader, hadn't left with the other trainers.
Embarrassed, Yuuji admitted, "Boss Nozomi… I'm going to challenge the gym too!"
"Challenge the gym?"
Hmm…
Nozomi didn't look down on him—he had noticed Yuuji during the tunnel battle—but to put it mildly, Yuuji wasn't strong.
Yuuji knew his own limitations, yet he said proudly, "Yes! I'm going to challenge the gym. I may be weak, but the Cerulean Gym is even weaker!"
His words were confidently justified.
Nozomi had wanted to say something, but after a moment's thought, he had to admit—Yuuji wasn't wrong.
The Cerulean Gym's reputation as the 'weakest gym in the League' was widespread, considered a shame among Kanto gyms.
The Cerulean City gym trainers were Misty's three older sisters, the renowned Cerulean Sisters, who excelled in ballet performances but had nothing to do with being skilled Pokémon trainers…
Thinking of the trainers traveling in groups from Pewter City to Cerulean City, Nozomi asked, "You're not here scheming to take the Cerulean Badge while the Pewter Gym is closed, are you?"
Yuuji looked astonished. "You figured that out, Boss?"
"…Indeed."
Nozomi's mood at that moment was indescribable.