Chapter 69

The rewards had been distributed, and the video with the black border resumed playing.

【"Go, Weavile and Scizor."】

【"I really can't figure out why a brat like you is so valued by the Boss."】

【"Three kids who haven't even grown their whiskers yet. I, Byas, really don't understand why Boss Giovanni values them so much. No point wasting brain cells on things I can't figure out; my mission is just to capture the three of them and deliver them to the Boss."】

【"You'll know soon enough." The mere title of Team Rocket's Elite Executive couldn't scare Ash. Since he dared to come to New Island, he was already prepared.】

【"I'm counting on you, Lucario and Charizard."】

【"Byas licked his dry lips and said coldly, "Not sending out that Pikachu? The intel says that's your strongest Pokémon.""】

【"You Team Rocket members know quite a bit," Ash replied with a cold sneer. "Lucario and Charizard are enough to deal with you.""】

【"Arrogant brat!"】

【"Byas grinned savagely and gave a look to Scizor and Weavile; the two Pokémon immediately sprang into action."】

【"The Pokémon under Byas's command had strong execution skills, but their coordination seemed mediocre. Neither of them went for Charizard; instead, both instinctively targeted Lucario."】

Lance: "It might not be a coordination issue. Scizor and Weavile just don't want to face Charizard; they only want to pick on the soft persimmons."】

Siebold: "But Lucario is clearly stronger than Charizard."】

Koga: "Did you ignore type advantages? Both Scizor and Weavile are Pokémon that fear fire."】

【"Damn it, what are you doing?! No one is facing Charizard; are you planning for me to go myself?"】

【"Under Byas's angry shout, Scizor reluctantly walked toward Charizard."】

【"The battles on both sides began simultaneously."】

【"Scizor had its reasons for not wanting to face Charizard. With a fourfold weakness to fire, it struggled even to lift its head before Charizard, doing nothing but cowering and fleeing. On the other side, the battle was fierce; Weavile launched a barrage of Dark-type moves immediately, its claws raking multiple wounds across Lucario's body, seemingly seizing the initiative in the fight."】

Korrina: "Why isn't Ash's Lucario fighting back?"】

Korrina couldn't understand.

Byas's Weavile wasn't without flaws; she had spotted several herself. Flaws of this magnitude were obvious even to her, so Ash had no reason not to notice them.

Why only take hits without fighting back? It was truly baffling.

【"That's enough; time to counterattack. Lucario, Aura Sphere."】

【"Upon hearing Ash's command, Lucario quickly created distance from Weavile. It took a deep breath and began absorbing the residual Dark energy lingering in its wounds."】

【"The dark energy brought Lucario not only pain but also power. With the support of the Justified ability, all the darkness would transform into Lucario's energy."】

【"Under the opponent's gaze, Lucario's aura began to rise steadily."】

【"No good, Weavile, stop it immediately!" Byas cried out in panic."】

【"Weavile charged at Lucario at top speed, but Lucario's reaction was far beyond its expectations."】

【"Standing still, neither dodging nor evading, Lucario seemed to know exactly where Weavile would attack. The moment Weavile struck, Lucario easily blocked it with its forearm. Then, with its other hand, it pressed against Weavile's neck, pinning it firmly to the ground."】

【"Weavile on the ground struggled incessantly, but it was utterly useless. Bolstered by the Justified ability, Lucario's strength had reached a new height, far beyond what Weavile could currently counter."】

【"With its left hand pinning Weavile firmly to the ground, Lucario gathered an Aura Sphere in its right. Thus, in despair, Weavile met Lucario's Aura Sphere."】

【"Bang!"】

【"An explosion rang out, and the world fell silent."】

【"On the other side, the battle with Charizard had also reached its conclusion."】

【"Three minutes later, Byas was tied to a rock by Ash, while Weavile and Scizor had been recalled into their Poké Balls. Once they left New Island, the two would undergo Officer Jenny's re-education."】

【"They were both criminals, yet the reason for the different treatment was simple. Pokémon are rarely inherently evil; they merely obey their trainers' commands. With proper education, they can start anew."】

【"Hey, untie me quickly! This is the coast; if the tide comes in, it will swallow this place whole." Byas was getting a bit desperate."】

【"Hmm, I know," Ash nodded. "So, good luck to you."】

【"He was a 'soft-hearted' person who couldn't bear to see anyone die, so he took matters into his own hands without being asked."】

【"Actually, Byas didn't need to be so desperate. There were still several hours before the tide rose; he still had time to save himself. With a bit of luck, he might not even die."】

N: "Is this the strength of a Team Rocket Elite Executive? It's far too disappointing."】

He had expected a thrilling duel, but the result was a one-sided battle.

In that case, Team Rocket might not even be as good as Team Yell.

Sigh, as expected, only children think about ruling the world every day.

Lance: "Byas isn't a Team Rocket Battle Executive."】

Disdaining Team Rocket's character was one thing, but their strength was still worthy of respect. If Team Rocket's Battle Executives were truly all of Byas's caliber, the Kanto League would have wiped Team Rocket out long ago, rather than dragging it out until now.

Koga: "Apollo, Athena, Lance, and Lambda are the four guys who give us the most headaches."】

【"After defeating Byas, no one came out to block Ash and his group's path again. The road was clear all the way, and the three arrived at the banquet hall of the ancient castle."】

【"Finally here, Ash from Pallet Town."】

【"The mastermind behind the scenes, Giovanni, appeared."】

【"Glancing at Giovanni, Ash couldn't help but mutter in his heart."】

【"This guy really never forgets to bring his boss chair wherever he goes."】

【"Just like when they first met, Giovanni sat in his boss chair, endlessly petting his cat."】

【"Gym Leader Giovanni, you went to so much trouble inviting me to New Island; what exactly do you want?" Ash suddenly paused. "Oh, I forgot, you're no longer the Gym Leader of Pewter City; you're the mastermind behind Team Rocket.""】

【"Whether I'm the Gym Leader of Pewter City or the mastermind behind Team Rocket, it's just a title. I have always been, and always will be, Giovanni." Giovanni pretended not to understand the sarcasm in Ash's words."】

【"Enough riddles; let's cut to the chase. What conspiracy do you have in mind by bringing me to New Island?" Ash said coldly."】

【"Conspiracy?" Giovanni laughed. "I never held a gun to your head to force you to come to New Island. You came here of your own free will, didn't you?"】

【"Moreover, what you really want to know isn't what conspiracy I have, but why Mew must come to New Island, is it not?"】

【"Upon hearing 'Mew', Ash's face instantly turned cold."】

【"Giovanni truly had connections everywhere; he even knew Mew was by his side."】

"Giovanni seemed to ignore the change in Ash's expression and continued, 'Actually, I didn't know at first that your Ralts was a transformation of Mew. It wasn't until one time, when a Team Rocket member standing next to you was accompanied by a small pink cat.'"

"'You sent someone to follow me?' Ash's face grew increasingly grim."

"'No, no, no, no, no.' Giovanni shook his head. 'Following people is far too easy to get caught. It was merely a coincidence. I distributed your portrait to Team Rocket members in every city, instructing them to keep a close eye on you. You know, for a talented young man like you, I simply could not help but pay attention.'"

"'Then your Team Rocket is truly all-powerful,' Ash sneered."

"'So, are you interested in joining Team Rocket? As long as you are willing, the position of High Commander of Team Rocket is yours. Even, in ten or twenty years, when I am older, I can even hand over the position of Team Rocket Boss to you.' Giovanni said sincerely."

"'High Commander of Team Rocket?' Misty and Brock were also shocked by Giovanni's grand gesture."

"They were not people without experience; this position in Team Rocket was second only to Giovanni, truly one person below and ten thousand above. To recruit Ash, Giovanni was truly willing to make such a sacrifice."

Lance: "To attract talented individuals into Team Rocket, Giovanni, you are truly willing. Do you not fear that other Team Rocket members will have objections?"

Giovanni: "Our Team Rocket is not like the Alliance, which is rife with bureaucracy. Positions within Team Rocket have always gone to those with virtue; if one has ability, the position is higher. Since Black Ash has this ability, what is wrong with him sitting higher?"

Jessie, James (Zhao Nuohao), and Meowth: "Boss is wise."

Lorelei: "Tch, this is the first time I've heard anyone describe a dictatorship so refreshingly. And 'those with virtue'? Does anyone's position not depend on a single word from you, Giovanni? Don't try to gild the lily."

Flint: "Do you think Black Ash will accept Giovanni's conditions?"

Wallace: "Then let me ask you, would you give up your position as an Elite Four member to join the Magma Team or the Aqua Team?"

Flint: "I'm not stupid; how could I possibly do that!"

Wallace: "Heh, if even you wouldn't do such a foolish thing, do you think Black Ash would?!"

"'Your joke isn't funny at all.'"

"He was a legitimate member of the Alliance; if he developed normally, he wouldn't just become Champion, he could easily become an Elite Four member. Was he so bored he wanted to go work for Team Rocket?"

"Are you kidding me?!"

"'What a pity. In that case, we have no choice but to meet on the battlefield.' Giovanni wasn't too surprised; if Ash had truly agreed immediately to work with him, that would have been strange."

"Giovanni snapped his fingers forcefully. The castle began to tremble, and before long, a humanoid Pokémon clad in silver armor appeared behind him."

"'Let me introduce you to Team Rocket's most perfect masterpiece. Its name is Mewtwo.'"

"'Mewtwo? What does it have to do with Mew?' Misty asked hurriedly."

"'Miss, interrupting someone's introduction is very impolite.' Giovanni gave Misty a cold glance, then continued his introduction. 'It is an artificial Pokémon cloned using Mew's genes.'"

"'Actually, more than ten or twenty years ago, when my mother was still the boss of Team Rocket, Team Rocket had already begun pursuing Mew.'"

"'At that time, Team Rocket High Commander Miyamoto, in order to find and capture Mew, stayed in the distant jungles of South America for several months, and ultimately disappeared forever in that jungle.'"

"'However, Aunt Miyamoto's sacrifice was not in vain. The next batch of Team Rocket members sent to the jungle found a stone tablet carved with an image of Mew there.'"

86: Explosive! Ash caught a massive Dragonite! Giovanni is stunned!

"'In the temple dedicated to Mew, they also found a fossil of Mew's eyelash.'"

Lance: "In other words, as far back as twenty years ago, Team Rocket had already set its sights on Mew?"