Chapter 226: There Might Be Two Sakaki Hidden Inside

It wasn't the Boss who was hunting us, it was the Boss who first asked us for help!

The sentence rang like a thunderclap, instantly striking Huo La's heart.

He sprang to his feet, his eyes shifting over Meow again and again, full of shock and disbelief, his voice trembling slightly: "Say it again!"

"Meow? Did Meow not say it clearly enough?" Meow was startled by his sudden intense reaction, turned in confusion toward Musashi and Kojiro, eyes full of bewilderment.

"No, you were clear enough." Huo La inhaled deeply, forced himself to stay calm, plopped back onto the bed, his fingertips unconsciously gripping the sheets until the fabric creased, "But how did you know I'd come to Viridian City? You even waited here on purpose—aren't you afraid the Rocket Team people would spot you and keep hunting you?"

"Meow, let me speak," Meow cleared his hoarse throat, took the initiative, "Your escort of Dr. Namba and his party into Viridian City has already spread within the Rocket Team. We all know the Boss wants to meet you personally, so we came here to stand guard."

Huo La nodded in understanding—apparently his escort of Dr. Namba wasn't hidden at all inside the Rocket Team, which saved him a lot of explaining.

"Alright, then tell me, what does Sakaki want me to do?" He leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming solemn.

Musashi and Kojiro exchanged a glance, then both looked at Meow, clearly handing the "messenger" task to it.

Meow straightened his tiny body, cleared his throat, then said: "Meow~ the Boss said, let us take you to Xindao to do what we do best."

"Xindao!" The two words hit his ears, and Huo La was startled again, his pupils suddenly contracting.

However, the birthplace of Mewtwo is the core secret research base of Sakaki and Doctor Fuji!

He forced his emotions to settle for a moment, his gaze carrying a hint of sarcasm as he scanned the three, finally sighing helplessly: "Sakaki really does understand you three well."

"Hey hey hey! What kind of look is that!" Musashi's hair bristled instantly, hands on hips, retorting harshly, "We are the Rocket Team elite!"

"Nothing," Huo La shrugged, his tone tinged with helpless amusement, "Sakaki sent you to sabotage Xindao, and you, of all people, actually ran straight to ask..."

"The Boss who was hunting us!" Meow immediately jumped in to add.

"Right, the 'Boss' who was hunting you." Huo La nodded, his tone full of resignation, "You basically sent yourselves straight into the line of fire, walking into a trap."

"Sabotage Xindao? Why would we do that?" Kojiro scratched his head, clearly puzzled, "Isn't that the Boss's years of hard work?"

Huo La looked at the clueless Kojiro, spread his hands, his tone bluntly merciless: "Sakaki said to let you do what you do best. The three of you are best at turning something good into a mess, aren't you? This 'talent' fits Xindao perfectly."

"You little brat! You're clearly mocking us!" Musashi glared, eyes wide, fists clenched, eager to pounce.

"Musashi, don't be impulsive, Meow." Meow promptly extended a paw to hold them, then turned to Huo La, eyes instantly serious, "You mean the Boss had us take you to sabotage Xindao... but that place truly is the Boss's years of effort."

"But also, it's the secret base Sakaki never wants outsiders to know, right?" Huo La's gaze suddenly sharpened, staring intently at Meow.

He knew in his heart that Sakaki and Doctor Fuji's research on Mewtwo wasn't a one‑day affair; it must have been set in motion many years ago.

Meow had once been Sakaki's closest Pokémon, staying by his side day and night; to claim it knows nothing of Xindao's secret, Huo La would never believe.

"I understand, Meow," Meow fell silent for a moment, extended a paw to lick, eyes now bearing a hint of comprehension and gravity.

Musashi and Kojiro still wore puzzled expressions, looking at Meow in confusion, not grasping what he suddenly understood.

But Meow ignored their confusion, continuing to stare at Huo La, waiting for his next words.

"Just..." Huo La shifted his tone, his voice growing heavier, "If I'm not mistaken, you three rashly went to confront that 'fake Sakaki', stirring up trouble, and now Xindao is probably under full lockdown, right?"

He paused, spread his hands, his tone tinged with resignation: "You come to me now, and I still have no solution."

Meow lowered his head, falling silent.

Musashi and Kojiro stared at each other, then fell silent as well—throughout the whole thing they never untangled the twists and turns, completely unable to understand what Huo La and Meow were babbling about.

The room fell into silence; Huo La furrowed his brows, the sentence "It wasn't the Boss who was hunting us, it was the Boss who first asked us for help!" echoed in his mind, each word a heavy hammer, unsettling his spirit.

After a moment, he rubbed his throbbing temples, exhaled long: "Sigh, my brain's about to explode. You all go back first; I'll think it over, and we'll meet here again tomorrow night."

"Alright, Meow~" Meow instantly stood, gave Musashi and Kojiro a look, about to usher them out.

"Wait." Huo La suddenly called them back, "Did you go looking for Dr. Seg?"

Musashi and Kojiro exchanged a glance, their faces full of bewilderment.

Kojiro shook his head and answered honestly: "No."

Huo La nodded, asked no further, merely waved his hand to indicate they could leave.

The Rocket Team Trio still kept their "professional" habit, not using the room door but skillfully sliding open the windowsill, using the night's cover to slip away silently into the Pokemon Center.

After the window was shut again, Huo La finally spoke: "Old Ghost, what do you think?"

A faint lilac figure drifted slowly from beneath the bed as the words fell, it was Gengar.

It no longer had its usual smirking face; its eyes were full of gravity, evidently also finding the matter odd: "Honestly, I can only float and watch!"

Huo La glanced at it, his tone tinged with resignation: "Joking at a time like this, I'm already headache enough."

"Alright, alright, no more jokes." Gengar floated before Huo La, shaking its round head, "Little brat, tell me your view first; this old fellow will help you sort your thoughts."

Huo La glanced at Gengar, went to the table, poured a glass of water, downed it in one swallow, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the empty cup, after a moment of thought he said: "According to Meow's words, there are probably two 'Sakaki' hidden inside."