Just then.
A somewhat noisy commotion from a corner of the hall broke the relaxed atmosphere.
Everyone looked towards the sound.
They saw the mayor of Vermilion City, a well-dressed middle-aged man with a slightly anxious expression.
He was currently escorting a lavishly dressed old woman with an exquisite cane toward them.
The old woman's hair was impeccably styled, a large pearl necklace adorned her neck, and her face held an arrogant expression, accustomed to giving orders.
"Gym Leader Surge, good evening. Apologies for interrupting everyone's pleasant evening."
The mayor wore a somewhat strained smile. He first greeted Lt. Surge and Professor Cerise, then stepped aside to make an introduction:
"Allow me to introduce Old Lady Kin, the person who wants to build the super-luxurious seaside hotel, the Paradise Grand Hotel. She is also an important investor in our Vermilion City."
While Lt. Surge, Professor Cerise, Officer Jenny, and Nurse Joy were the four responsible for League affairs,
the seemingly inconspicuous mayor, with no great authority, was in charge of the entire city's economic planning and development.
It might not seem important, but it was, in fact, very important.
Old Lady Kin lifted her chin slightly, her gaze sweeping over Lt. Surge with the air of someone appraising a business partner.
She got straight to the point, her tone less of a request and more of a demand: "Gym Leader Surge, I've heard much about you."
"The construction site for my Paradise Grand Hotel has recently been frequently disturbed by a group of Tentacruel in the coastal area, severely affecting the construction progress."
"I want you to use the power of your Gym Trainers to drive them away as soon as possible, or 'deal with' them."
"Of course, compensation is not an issue."
Her tone was matter-of-fact, as if driving away a group of Pokémon was a simple matter, like making a phone call.
In fact, that was exactly how Old Lady Kin saw it.
A Gym Leader's duty is to protect the city's residents and its development.
Her construction site is on the coast, not in the middle of nowhere. In theory, it should also be under Vermilion City's protection.
"..." Lt. Surge's smile vanished instantly.
His sharp eyes, accustomed to surveying battlefields, narrowed, and the relaxed feeling from the party evaporated completely.
His tall frame leaned forward slightly, and the pressure he exuded made the mayor next to him subconsciously take half a step back.
"Drive away? Deal with them?" Lt. Surge's voice was low, carrying a thunderous hum.
He didn't even bother to look Old Lady Kin in the eye, instead glancing at the mayor.
"Mr. Mayor, the duty of the Vermilion Gym is to test trainers, maintain the region's battle standards, and protect the city from harm by malevolent Pokémon."
"Not to act as private security for some rich old lady's fancy hotel, to clean up what she considers a 'nuisance'."
He abruptly turned his head, his gaze shooting toward Old Lady Kin like a bolt of lightning. He looked her up and down without courtesy, his booming voice filled with unconcealed mockery:
"Who the hell are you?"
"What gives you the right to come here and order me around, to make me do such bullshit?"
His words exploded like a clap of thunder in the ears of Old Lady Kin and the mayor.
Old Lady Kin's well-maintained face instantly flushed red, and the hand holding her cane trembled with anger.
She had clearly never been so bluntly humiliated.
Especially not at a gathering of what she considered 'barbarian' trainers.
"You... How dare you!" Old Lady Kin's voice became shrill with anger. "I am..."
"I don't care who you are!" Lt. Surge cut her off rudely, his voice even louder, reaching nearly every corner of the suddenly quiet hall.
"My power is for protecting Vermilion City and the trainers I recognize, not for wiping your damn hotel's ass!"
"Got it?"
"Old hag!"
Lt. Surge was a smart man who had survived the battlefield.
And he had successfully transitioned from a retired soldier to a Gym Leader.
At this moment, regardless of his status as the Vermilion City Gym Leader or as a Team Rocket Admin, there was no way he would go to the coast and drive away a group of Water-type Pokémon.
What a joke.
The Giant Dragonite made such a scene when it came over, and it's barely been any time since it left. And you want to make a move against the Water-type Pokémon in the sea?
That's just asking for a death wish!
"Outrageous! Crude! Ignorant!" Old Lady Kin struck the ground hard with her cane, her whole body shaking with rage. "Mr. Mayor! Is this the attitude of your Vermilion City Gym Leader?!"
The mayor, looking embarrassed and flustered, tried to mediate: "Gym Leader Surge, Old Lady Kin is also considering the city's economy. That hotel could attract many tourists and boost Vermilion City's economy..."
"Like I give a damn!" Lt. Surge showed him no respect, waving his hand as if shooing away a fly.
"My answer is—No! Get lost!"
He spoke the last two words with absolute finality.
Old Lady Kin's face went from red to pale. She shot a fierce glare at Lt. Surge, then glanced at the silently observing Professor Cerise, Joy, and Officer Jenny, as if seeking their support, only to find no one speaking up.
She finally suppressed her anger into a cold snort.
"Fine... Very well! Gym Leader Surge, I'll remember this!" She threw down this ultimatum, spun around abruptly, and walked towards the main doors, her cane thudding dully on the carpet without a single look back.
The mayor looked at the resolutely departing Old Lady Kin, then at Lt. Surge's 'what-can-you-do-about-it' expression, and could only sigh in the end.
He gave a hasty nod to Lt. Surge and Professor Cerise, then hurried after Old Lady Kin.
The Pokémon Trainers could afford not to care about the city's development, but he couldn't.
An economy only moves up or down; it never stands still.
Once problems arise with economic development, it affects every aspect of the entire city, and the issues become immense.
An attempted negotiation among the 'upper class' ended in complete discord due to Lt. Surge's mercilessly blunt refusal.
The hall fell silent for a moment, then a low buzz of discussion arose.
Many of the trainers now looked at Lt. Surge with a newfound sense of approval and admiration.
Lt. Surge grunted, tugged at his crooked tie, regaining some of his casual demeanor, and snorted at Ash and Professor Cerise beside him:
"I can't stand these old geezers who think a little bit of stinking money lets them order everyone around."
"Can you just 'deal with' the Pokémon ecosystem whenever you feel like it?"
"Ridiculous!"
Lt. Surge didn't need to spell it out for everyone to understand what he meant.
Ordinary people might not know, but how could they not be aware of how strong the Giant Dragonite was?
Once the Sea King is angered.
...Vermilion City is a city built by the sea.
If that Giant Dragonite were to send a tsunami this way... who knows how much damage it would cause?
Ash watched silently from the side, committing Lt. Surge's firm attitude and Old Lady Kin's fury to memory.
"I don't think that old lady will let this go."
Ash remembered this was a bit different from the plot of the original anime.
But he remembered that a giant Tentacruel was supposed to appear.
"Pika?" Pikachu was a little confused.
"If she dares to try anything funny, she shouldn't blame me for getting rough... right? Officer Jenny," Lt. Surge said to Officer Jenny beside him.
"That's right... A city's development must never come at the cost of destroying nature and harming the lives of Pokémon," Officer Jenny said sternly.
This was a lesson learned from the experience of human society as a whole.
Once humans cause massive destruction to nature and incite the wrath of a Totem Pokémon... the trouble will be immense.
____
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