"That thing that followed me out of the Spirit Realm, could it be Marshadow?"
Looking at Marshadow waving goodbye to him, Natsuhiko fell into deep thought.
It's not impossible.
Otherwise, Agatha wouldn't have deliberately reminded him.
But soon, Natsuhiko didn't have the heart to ponder this question because Agatha and Uncle Liu's gazes coincidentally landed on him.
"Natsuhiko, is that the Pokémon you brought out from the Spirit Realm?" Agatha asked.
"Maybe... it is." Natsuhiko hesitated in reply.
"It seems you've gotten along very well."
Uncle Liu smiled warmly, nothing like the cold, stern Ice-type Elite from earlier.
Uncle Liu, despite looking a bit frosty like ice, actually treats people well, especially the younger Trainers of the Alliance.
Gotten along?
Natsuhiko wanted to ask.
He could only smile awkwardly.
The preconceived notions of these two weren't something he could change with just a few words.
"Alright, let's head back, has the wild Pokémon riot stopped?"
"Yes." Uncle Liu nodded.
Looking at the ravaged forest and the interconnected underground tunnels, these things would have to be handled by Goldenrod City itself.
Their task was complete.
This also marked the end of Uncle Liu's career as one of the Elite Four.
"Natsuhiko." Agatha raised an eyebrow, her gaze shifting between him and Abra.
"Okay."
Natsuhiko didn't refuse.
"Do you have Instant Movement? That would save a lot of time."
Saying this, Uncle Liu and Agatha quickly retracted their respective Pokémon, and under Abra's psychic power, teleported back to Goldenrod City, outside of Kenji's villa.
...
...
As Marshadow left with the Shining Charizard, quite a few people were actually watching.
On a hill outside Goldenrod City.
Tom Rokicki withdrew his gaze, but his flickering eyes clearly showed he was not calm inside.
Beside him, Kenta's face turned red, both shocked and exhilarated by the power exhibited by that Shining Charizard.
Is this one of the top forces in this world?
Tom Rokicki glanced at him and didn't speak.
He turned and walked toward the dense forest behind him.
"It's time to go, that thing Tamechi tinkered with is not too bad."
Soon, the two quickly left this place, leaving the vicinity of Goldenrod City, perhaps soon they would leave the Kanto Region as well.
As Old Bill said, Tom Rokicki defected from the Kanto Alliance, and after utilizing the Rocket Team, staying in the Kanto Region wasn't a good move.
'The second core is confirmed... next is the lineup coordination.'
In Tom Rokicki's mind, the image of Zapdos flashed, and the corners of his mouth slightly upturned.
However, before he could bask in happiness, he recalled what Old Bill said to him when leaving.
Don't attempt disguises in front of true experts...
'Did that guy know from the very beginning?'
It seemed that what appeared to be a perfect plan was cloaked in a shadow.
...
...
On the top floor of the Silver Mansion.
Standing before the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, Giovanni had virtually witnessed the whole process.
Uncle Liu's strength, Agatha's Ghost Legion, and that Shining Charizard, including Marshadow soothing the riot of the Shining Charizard.
However, his expression remained unchanged.
He just stared dazedly at the snow accumulating on the building outside the window.
After a long time.
He finally came to, a smile emerging on his face, and he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Messed around for so long just to produce such a failure? I'm somewhat disappointed..."
"Meow—"
Persian came to Giovanni's feet, gently rubbing against his ankle.
"Still can't make it to the stage, dare not show up in their place, and in Goldenrod City, only managed to create such a Pokémon."
Swish, swish, swish—
Three figures appeared behind Giovanni, each holding two Pokeballs in their hands, heads lowered without speaking.
"They're yours," Giovanni said indifferently.
"Yes!" Joy flashed in the eyes of the three.
"Pass it down, although our Rocket Team's actions have been inclined due to resources and overall layout, it doesn't mean anyone can run rampant on our turf. Inform those outside, whoever enters Kanto and Johto, be prepared."
"Yes!"
"Also, destroy a few of their research bases as a warning."
"Understood!"
The three quickly left.
The Rocket Team is not a place for some to exploit casually for refuge, nor for others to use at will.
Tom Rokicki is like this, and so is Tamechi and the organization behind him.
Not wanting to manage doesn't mean it can't be managed.
...
...
In an old mansion on the outskirts of Goldenrod City.
An elderly man wearing a white coat, with gray and somewhat disheveled hair, walked out.
He casually placed some glassware on a stand at the door.
In the expansive courtyard of this old mansion, various types of tree fruits and materials were planted.
If Natsuhiko were here, he would surely be surprised.
Because the tree fruits here are from trees with different habits and requirements—some require a hot environment, some extremely cold, some need moist fertile soil, some dry and rough, and so on...
It's hard enough to plant just one, let alone so many.
This showed that the elder had unique insights and capabilities in cultivating and growing tree fruits.
The elder shook his head as he watched the Shining Charizard rampage outside Goldenrod City in the drifting snow.
"Extreme thoughts only lead to more extreme outcomes. In the end, you took the wrong path, Kilboy."
The elder gently brushed off the dust from his clothes and tidied his messy hair.
"But since such a thing happened, a report should be made, and I should see if a complete set of data can be obtained."
After he smoothed out the wrinkles and dusted off his clothing, two words engraved on his chest were revealed.
Suzuki.
...
...
Returning to Goldenrod City with Uncle Liu and Agatha, Natsuhiko looked at Agatha, showing a slightly awkward smile, opening his mouth as if to speak.
Agatha rolled her eyes in exasperation.
Taking a pale yellow crystal block with a streak of crimson inside like a flame from the pocket of her apron, she tossed it to Natsuhiko.
His eyes lit up upon catching the crystal block.
The payment is in!
Feeling the slight warmth emanating from the crystal block in his hand.
Fire Stone!
With previous experience with the Dark Stone, Natsuhiko also judged the quality of this Fire Stone.
Intermediate level.
Not too high, but not without value.
After all, Agatha hadn't specified what quality of Evolution Stone the payment would be, even if she gave a low-quality Evolution Stone, Natsuhiko would have accepted it.
Low expectations made for a slight surprise.
Agatha, seeing Natsuhiko's look like he'd never seen the world, curled her lips, "Not much to bring on the trip, just one piece, the rest..."
She immediately turned to Uncle Liu, "Do you have any Evolution Stones on you? Lend me one, I'll repay you next time."
Upon hearing this, Uncle Liu pondered for a moment, taking something out from his pocket, asking curiously, "Why? Do you owe someone something?"
"Three Evolution Stones." Agatha was straightforward.
"Oh?"
Uncle Liu took out a deep blue stone with lighter colored bubbles inside.
Water Stone!
Also an intermediate quality Evolution Stone.
Agatha directly "snatched" it from Uncle Liu's hand, stuffing it into Natsuhiko's hand, "I'll give you the remaining one next time."
Then she turned to Uncle Liu and said, "This kid used my Haunter to defeat a Pokémon with about Elite Candidate Level top strength."
"Elite Candidate? Top level?" Uncle Liu looked at Natsuhiko in astonishment.