Chapter 932: Sakaki Silver

Under the moonlight.

The futuristic Team Rocket headquarters was half-collapsed.

Towering black smoke rose from the shattered pale purple energy shield, mixed with spurting sparks.

On the cliffside.

'It was blocked.'

Reuniclus frowned, dissatisfied with the result of Starfall.

Previously, the entire base had exploded into a grand firework; now only half was gone, and Luvdisc felt its work wasn't done properly.

Spiritomb also neighed.

All All Baimu's expression remained unchanged.

He said: "After all, this is Team Rocket's headquarters—it's normal they can take a hit. And the fact they activated a protective barrier means they already know about the attacks on the Kanto bases."

He'd originally planned to destroy only the Kanto branch and leave, but then he thought: since he'd come this far, how could he skip the main headquarters?

To give Number Zero more time.

Team Rocket has many talented people; without applying some pressure, they might end up pressuring Number Zero.

But All All Baimu's nerves were a bit weak.

He'd already instructed his Pokémon—including the Five Divine Pillars, Hu Pa, and Lugia and her child—to be ready for battle.

If even this star-studded lineup combined with a surprise attack could still fail, he would have to surrender.

The facts proved:

Team Rocket couldn't respond.

The black-tech energy shield had only saved half the headquarters.

Just as Reuniclus prepared to switch to Glaceon for another shot, a loud female broadcast voice erupted from within the base.

'Stop! Mr. All All Baimu!'

'You tell me to stop and I stop? Ignore her—finish destroying the other half!'

All All Baimu guessed the speaker was Maki, and wasn't surprised Team Rocket had uncovered his identity; he sneered and signaled Reuniclus to switch mounts.

But the voice spoke again.

'Sakaki-sama wishes to negotiate with you! Please stop at once!'

Sakaki?

Is Sakaki here too?

All All Baimu's eyes lit up—he was surprised that after learning of the four destroyed bases, Sakaki still dared to stay put.

If it were him, he'd have hidden somewhere already.

After all, Team Rocket revolves around Sakaki; if he dies, the organization is effectively dead.

Oh wait.

Silver would inherit Sakaki's legacy.

In the Pokémon anime, Silver wasn't kidnapped by Team Mask like in the Special Edition—he grew up normally and became a rival to Kenta, the protagonist of Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Kenta's prototype? Obviously Ash.

Their fated rivalry of love and hatred ran through the games, anime, and manga.

The fated love-and-hate bond between them runs through the game, anime, and manga.

Got a bit carried away.

All All Baimu cleared his throat and snapped back to reality, his mind stirring with interest.

Setting aside Hu Pa's power, meeting Sakaki wasn't easy.

He'd thought he'd never get a chance to face this Team Rocket boss.

I thought it would be hard to even meet face-to-face with this Team Rocket boss.

The other side was arguably one of the most charismatic villains in the Pokémon series.

All All Baimu was more than willing to temporarily lift the ice spear hanging over Team Rocket's head, just to see what the anime version of Sakaki was like.

'Tell them inside—I agree, but Sakaki must come out to talk.'

He had Poliwhirl deliver the message.

When the energy shield shattered, Poliwhirl II had sent out a clone to infiltrate Team Rocket's main computer via the network.

Even if it couldn't break through the firewall in a short time, sending a message was no problem.

Even if I can't break through the firewall in a short time, sending a message is no problem.

A jeep emerged from the smoky, flaming base.

Seeing this, All All Baimu told Reuniclus and Glaceon: 'This spot has better visibility—you stay here. I'll go alone.'

If anything moves in the base during negotiations, they can alert him immediately.

With Reuniclus's abilities, even a slight distance wouldn't hinder its effectiveness.

With its abilities, Regieleki isn't hindered even at slightly greater distances.

Reuniclus agreed; Glaceon had no objections.

Two of the four bases had been obliterated by it—its latent violent instincts had been released after a long time, and Glaceon was thoroughly satisfied.

'I'll go have some fun and be back.'

All All Baimu smiled, leaping onto Spiritomb's back; both plunged down the cliff.

But at the instant before hitting the ground:

Spiritomb dissolved into a wispy, ethereal black mist, drifting like a ghost toward the jeep not far from the base.

Spiritomb transformed into a wispy, ethereal black mist, drifting like a ghost toward a jeep not far from the base.

Rainbow Team and Team Rocket met face to face.

The jeep slowed to a stop; a woman with glasses and a mushroom haircut stepped out from the passenger seat.

She walked calmly to the rear door, opened it, and bowed:

'Sakaki-sama, we've arrived.'

"Master Sakaki, we've arrived."

A stern-faced man stepped out; his calm expression shattered the moment he saw All All Baimu still seated on his mount, gazing down at him coldly.

'Hmph! Have today's youth lost all manners?' he sneered sarcastically.

All All Baimu replied with a smile: 'Manners depend on the person—I don't think the leader of an evil organization deserves mine.'

'Even during negotiations?'

'There's one thing you must understand: it's your side that wants to negotiate, not mine.'

He looked at Sakaki, who remained composed; a flicker of disappointment passed through his eyes.

Sakaki seemed equally tired of verbal sparring and cut straight to the point:

'Enough! Cut the chatter—state your demands!'

'I have no demands. I'm here to warn you: tell Team Rocket not to reach so far. Otherwise, not only will your hands be chopped off, but your lower body will be cut in half. Crunch.'

"I have no demands—I'm here only to warn you: tell Team Rocket not to reach so far. Otherwise, not only will your hands be chopped off, but your lower body will be sliced clean in half. Crunch."

Combined with his utterly indifferent expression—as if he were slicing a dish of vegetables—it sent a chill down Maki's spine behind him.

Combined with his indifferent expression—casual, as if slicing a plate of vegetables—Shincho's spine chilled behind him.

Four Kanto branch bases had been burned to ashes within half an hour; over a thousand people were hospitalized with serious injuries, some still missing…

All four regional bases in the Johto region were burned to ashes within half an hour; over a thousand people were seriously injured and hospitalized, some still missing…

This monster!

She'd never seen anyone so insane—and he was a trainer with a brilliant future.

Even Interpol wouldn't do this.

He was more Team Rocket than Team Rocket!

Sakaki frowned too, but replied calmly: 'Hah! What's the point? Bases? I'll just build ten more for you to destroy. Do you think you're crippling Team Rocket?'

Sakaki frowned upon hearing this, but replied calmly: "Hah! What's the point of this? Bases? I can just build ten more for you to destroy. Do you think you can truly cripple Team Rocket?"

As Poliwhirl II delved deeper into Team Rocket's inner workings, it discovered the organization relied entirely on Sakaki's legitimate businesses for funding—and hadn't turned a profit in years.

The failed projects—Mewtwo and Storm Plan—had weakened it further.

If All All Baimu killed every member of the branch bases, he'd arguably be doing Sakaki a favor.

He added: 'Or do you want to arrest me? Regretfully, no matter how many times you capture me, I'll always be released without charge!'

He added: "Or do you want to arrest me? Regretfully, no matter how many times you capture me, the final outcome is always acquittal!"

Sakaki's ties to Kanto's upper class were extremely tight—far beyond the two clueless ex-royals of Galar.

Sakaki's ties with the upper society of Johto are deeply entrenched, far beyond the two clueless former royals of Galar.

Extremely unlikely.

Sakaki's lawyers weren't amateurs.

So normal methods couldn't bring him down—he and his family had built more than just Team Rocket over generations.

Sakaki sneered: 'Naive youth. Power alone means nothing; those who know how to use and shape the rules are the true strong ones!'

Sakaki sneered: "Naive youth—strength alone means nothing in this world. Only those who understand and control the rules are truly powerful!"

'Finished?'

All All Baimu looked at him with a half-smile and shook his head: 'Disappointing.'

All All Baimu looked at him with a half-smile and shook his head. "Truly disappointing."

Sakaki said nothing, returning his cold gaze.

"I thought the leader of Team Rocket would be a mighty sovereign, but now I see—you're just a merchant."

All All Baimu regretted meeting him.

Before arriving, he had at least entertained a faint fantasy of the anime version of Sakaki, blending his image with the master from the specials and the warlord from the games.

What a pity.

In the games, Sakaki made money and battled equally well; in the specials, he focused solely on battling; in the anime, he leaned toward making money…

If it were the Sakaki from the specials, by the time they met, he'd already be ready to pierce All All Baimu's throat with his Pinsir's pincers.

If it were the game version of Sakaki, at least there'd be a three-on-three battle.

But not this version—using that "I've got connections, I'm important" tone to try to scare him off.

All All Baimu looked down upon him and said: "Leader of Team Rocket? A misnomer. You're not worthy to fight me."

One sentence made Sakaki's furrowed brow erupt in fury.

"Kid! Stop right there! Explain yourself!"

He shouted at the retreating Lingyouma and All All Baimu: "The negotiations aren't over!"

"I have nothing to discuss with you. Tuck your tail between your legs and survive—your time is running out."

All All Baimu said calmly.

Immediately, thin strands of black mist enveloped them, vanishing in an instant.

Left alone, Sakaki raged helplessly in the wind.

Zhen Zhen Niao kept her eyes down, deeply realizing that All All Baimu—a madman obsessed with violence—was someone Team Rocket could never afford to provoke.

Yes.

She saw it.

All All Baimu's desire to fight Boss Sakaki.

But since Boss Sakaki stepped down as the Violet Gym Leader, he hadn't fought in years, and the only Pokémon he still carried was Neko-Lord.

Huh?

Where's Neko-Lord?

Zhen Zhen Niao suddenly glanced at the back seat and saw the powerful Pokémon lying on the floor mat, eyes glazed over, seemingly unconscious.

When did this happen?

"Zhen Zhen Niao! Let's go back!"

Sakaki's icy voice cut through her thoughts.

Zhen Zhen Niao quickly bowed: "Y-yes, sir!"

Suddenly—

The phone rang.

She pulled it out and saw it was the CFO calling. Confused, she answered, and immediately a wailing voice came through.

"Secretary Zhen Zhen Niao! All the funds on the ledger have vanished!"

"What!?"

Before Zhen Zhen Niao could react, Sakaki snatched the phone, his face turning pale: "What funds are you talking about?"

"Boss Sakaki—"

"Speak!"

"All the company's funds on the ledger…"

"How the hell did you manage this!?" Sakaki lost it, screaming into the phone.

As if fate conspired against him, more calls came in.

When answered, they were from Sakaki's various public asset managers.

They said someone had used an internal channel to transfer the funds from the company accounts to Team Rocket's headquarters, then out again.

"How is this possible! You couldn't have moved the money without your own involvement!?" Sakaki felt he was being mocked by a conspiracy.

But the reality was clear: all his companies' cash had been drained, and he now faced the terrifying prospect of a financial collapse.

"Bai—mu—!!"

Sakaki knew perfectly well who the culprit was.

Thud!

He slammed his fist into the glass—the reinforced side window of the SUV shattered under his furious blow.

Zhen Zhen Niao and the driver dared not breathe.

They didn't know how All All Baimu had done it, only that Team Rocket now had no hope of reaching for Orre—surviving without bankruptcy would be divine intervention.

All All Baimu meant what he said.

His midsection slash had truly cut Team Rocket nearly in half!

Zhen Zhen Niao thought of her newly formed "Zhen Zhen Niao Matrix" special unit, and of the power behind Guanghui the Great—wondering if this plan could still proceed.

Probably… not anymore.

She couldn't suppress a silent sigh of despair.

—

All All Baimu and Lingyouma returned to the cliff.

He was about to speak to Reiguanwang when he suddenly spotted a purple shadow speeding toward them through the dark night.

"Air Slash!"

Whoosh!

Invisible blades of air shot toward them.

Reiguanwang's eyes flared blue, forming an invisible barrier that blocked the air blades.

It said: 'The attacker—a human child.'

"I saw him. I know who he is."

All All Baimu's lips curled.

Speak of the devil—Silver was at Team Rocket's headquarters too. In the games and manga, he despised Team Rocket.

Is the anime different?

There, Crobat hovered in the distance, and the boy it held by the shoulder landed on the ground and said:

"You just said my father isn't worthy to fight you?"

"Correct. What's your problem?"

All All Baimu raised an eyebrow.

"He may be a villain, but he was once an excellent Trainer! I won't allow you to insult him—I challenge you!"

Silver spoke with the fiery passion of a young hero.

Clearly, he was young—around fourteen or fifteen.

All All Baimu studied him with interest, and before the boy could grow too terrified to hold back his curses, he said:

"Fine. I'll give you one chance. Three-on-three."

With that,

he snapped his fingers.

A shiny Gengar emerged from the shadows, cackling as it stared at the red-haired boy.

Seeing All All Baimu agree, Silver immediately threw his Poké Ball.

Pop!

A flash of white light.

A Machamp landed.

"Nao~"

Without waiting for a signal, Silver ordered: "Strike the vital points!"

"Nao!"

Machamp crouched and charged toward Gengar at blinding speed.

This Pokémon's strength lies in its agile form and superhuman speed.

In the games, All All Baimu loved using it; a certain lettered streamer strongly recommended Machamp for clearing the game—he could dominate with it easily.

But—

"Nao!"

As Machamp reached Gengar and slashed with blood-red claws like lightning—

It met only a dissipating mist.

It froze, frantically scanning its surroundings; behind it, Silver did the same—Gengar's evasion made their vision dart everywhere.

Alas—

Nightfall was the Ghost-type's domain.

Even if Machamp had eyes that pierced darkness, it couldn't stop Ghosts from appearing and vanishing without warning.

Gengar suddenly materialized above it, as if teleporting, revealing a row of gleaming white teeth.

"Ji-xi-xi-xi~"

"Shadow Ball!"

A brilliant blue wave instantly expanded from small to large, trembling as it pressed down on Machop.

Boom!

Machop failed to dodge and crashed headfirst into the ground!

Explosive elemental energy mixed with thick smoke surged upward.

Silver cried out in alarm: "Machop!!"