Charizard's speed is very fast.
After this incident, Natsuhiko has decided to obtain a Flying-type Pokémon as soon as possible, otherwise it's too inconvenient.
Compared to riding a car, undoubtedly Flying-type Pokémon are more convenient.
They landed not far from the club.
Looking at the still brightly lit Silver Pokémon Battle Club, Natsuhiko thought, "Wait for me here, I'll go back to get something."
"Should I go with you?" Lance hesitantly asked.
With Lance following, if any troubles arise, it would indeed be a bit safer.
"Alright."
Upon hearing this, Lance put away Charizard, gently brushing his hand across his waist.
Click, click—
Natsuhiko turned his head at the sound and was surprised to see what Lance had in his hand.
"A gun?"
This investigator, does he carry a gun?
It was his first time seeing the cold thing, a gun, in the Pokémon Realm.
"Better to be prepared." Lance calmly replied.
Pressing the chamber, his index finger lightly rested on the edge of the trigger, ready to pull it at any moment.
Although a gun poses little threat to Pokémon, it is still fatal to humans.
In unexpected situations, it can have an unexpected effect.
Clearly, Lance is not just a fool who only knows Pokémon battles; if there's a more convenient and efficient way, Pokémon battles can be avoided.
Natsuhiko lowered his gaze.
Ultimately, in a life-and-death confrontation, capturing the opponent's Pokémon Trainer is the key to solving the problem, and the primary goal.
Victory or defeat in a Pokémon battle?
That's just the beautiful scene portrayed in anime.
Lance followed Natsuhiko as they quietly sneaked into the club.
The club's door was open, but no one was inside, making it very quiet.
It seemed as if everyone inside had vanished into thin air.
Natsuhiko didn't see Anai or Lotto waiting for him at the counter as before.
He felt slightly relieved in his heart.
Quickly returning to his room, he retrieved the Pokémon Egg from the incubator and carefully placed it in his backpack.
"A Pokémon Egg?" Lance was somewhat surprised.
Pokémon are quite common, but Pokémon Eggs are rarer and typically found in breeding houses or specialized alliance nurseries. The Dragon Taming Race also has specialized Pokémon Egg hatching areas, but truly precious Pokémon are naturally hatched in the Dragon Cave.
"Yes." Natsuhiko nodded.
With the Pokémon Egg in hand, he instantly felt much more relaxed.
Should there be any special developments in the future, he can assess the situation and make his escape.
Currently, Goldenrod City is a forming hurricane center.
There are overt alliance influences as well as covert Rocket Team forces here; both sides have maintained momentum and balance over the years. However, the appearance of Tom Rokicki has completely muddied these waters.
Having slightly interacted with the alliance and Rocket Team, Natsuhiko deeply understands how large this storm might become.
With his strength, he shouldn't involve himself, but the truth is, he is already at the edge of the hurricane's center.
Now, the only consolation is that without any restraints, he already has the possibility of leaving.
With Tangela's task completed, his card account already holds fifty thousand alliance currency. Meanwhile, the Water-type Pokémon he caught today in Fengluo River, when sold in the black market of any city, could fetch a good amount of money.
Currently, he no longer needs to stay in Goldenrod City or in the club for some petty cash.
"We should leave. If Tom Rokicki is really here, we'll be in trouble." Lance whispered in a low voice.
So even Dragon Master Lance, the future Champion, has moments of fear.
Great.
Because Natsuhiko is even more afraid than him.
"Go!" Natsuhiko said in a low tone and led Lance back the way they came.
The club was very quiet, quieter than usual. Previously, one could occasionally hear the sounds of training or battles in the training rooms from the hallways, but now it seemed exceptionally quiet.
Quiet to the point of eeriness.
As the club's door was just through another hallway, both Lance and Natsuhiko unconsciously quickened their pace.
The sound of dress shoes clattering on the tiles echoed in the hall, extremely jarring.
The closer they got to the door, the more their hearts climbed into their throats.
Finally!
After running out of the hallway, the club's door appeared before them.
But.
Before they could let out a breath, a figure slowly emerged from outside the club's door and appeared in front of them.
A neatly fitted suit, with a lowered head showing meticulously groomed hair brushing back neatly, one hand in his trouser pocket, the other holding a cigarette halfway burnt, a thin line of smoke gently rising from his cheek, quickly dissipating into the air.
Natsuhiko and Lance's steps suddenly halted, their expressions instantly becoming extremely unpleasant.
Lotto!
Or rather...
Reserve Elite Four, Tom Rokicki!
He slowly lifted his head, his sharp features exuding elegance, narrow black eyes gleaming with amusement as his gaze swept over Natsuhiko and Lance.
Seeing the Weedle on Natsuhiko's shoulder, his smile carried a hint of disdain and scorn.
"0451, where are you going?" Lotto's somewhat deep voice echoed in the empty club hall.
When his words came out, Natsuhiko's heart tightened even more.
At this time, Tom Rokicki should be preparing to summon Zapdos, shouldn't he?
Why does he have time to bother with these two insignificant things in his eyes?
"Natsuhiko! Look at his chest!" Lance's voice resounded in Natsuhiko's ear.
Following his voice, he saw a golden feather stuck in Lotto's suit pocket, shining brilliantly under the club's already bright lights.
Pure Gold Feather!
This feather is the pen Lotto usually uses to sign!
Bang!
Lance suddenly raised his gun, pointing it at Lotto, his eyes serious as he shouted, "Raise your hands!"
"Robbery?"
Lotto saw the gun in Lance's hand and paused in surprise, then his smile became even more unrestrained, "Gun? Hahahahahaha—"
Laughing impulsively.
Boom!
The gun barrel spewed flames, and a silver bullet swiftly shot out of the barrel, the recoil causing Lance's arm to shake slightly.
Facing Lotto, Lance did not hesitate to shoot.
Bam!!
However, the bullet stopped slowly in front of Lotto amidst his laughter, a thin layer of psychic power covering the bullet.
Then a Pokémon slowly walked out from behind Lotto.
A humanoid Pokémon, with a golden yellow body, some white fur around its neck, pointed ears on its head, a large nose, holding a wire, with a loop at the other end used for hypnosis.
The evolved form of Drowzee, Hypno!
Its cunning long eyes radiated a blue glow, the ornament in its hand gently shaking.
It was its psychic power that stopped Lance's shot.
Seeing this Hypno, Natsuhiko frowned, thinking about the Drowzee in the slums and the mother Yujira of the Pokémon Egg in his hand.
But it seems this Hypno is somehow different from them.
Seeing the gun didn't work, Lance decisively abandoned it, bringing out three Pokeballs, and throwing them consecutively.
With the red flash of the Pokeballs, three Pokémon appeared before him.
They were, Dratini, Charizard, and... Gyarados!
The Weedle on Natsuhiko's shoulder also jumped down; compared to the three Pokémon Lance summoned, it wasn't any lesser in size.
But in terms of determination to protect its Trainer, Weedle definitely wasn't losing to them.
Watching this Hypno closely for a long time, Natsuhiko suddenly said, "No! Lance, there's an issue!"
——————
I feel like you guys are messing with me emotionally; when I asked for monthly votes, you didn't give them. When I said I don't want them anymore, you all stuffed them to me...want to cry.