Chapter 428: Raid, Explosion

Mikan Island isn't exactly big, nor is it exactly small.

If you call it big, it's when you stand on the beach and look out— the island stretches so far you can't see its end, and dense vegetation covers most of the land;

If you call it small, it's because you can wander around for a whole day and still manage to tour the entire island.

Huo La strolled at an unhurried pace, his gaze seeming to sweep casually, but in fact he was silently observing everything on the island.

He found that everything on the island matched the rumors, except that the original patrols had been replaced entirely by Rocket Team members in uniform; aside from their back‑and‑forth patrols and wary expressions, nothing else seemed abnormal.

The crowd continued their normal lives, shops stayed open, and a rare calm pervaded everywhere.

Huo La nodded to himself, realizing: indeed, Sakaki is different from the lunatics Chi Ri and Spinel who only think of destroying and reshaping the world. Though ambitious, he at least understands the importance of order and doesn't let his subordinates ravage civilian life— a small mercy in an unfortunate situation.

After wandering for about half an hour, Huo La casually chose a street‑side milk‑tea shop, ordered a drink, but never took his eyes off the opposite side of the road.

Across the street, not far away, a seemingly ordinary cottage had two Rocket Team members posted at the door, on guard and glancing around now and then— that was a small Rocket Team gathering spot on Mikan Island, and his first target for gathering intel.

At this moment, Huo La had already changed into attire that matched the island's vibe.

He wore a woven straw sun hat, simple sunglasses, a breezy beach shirt and shorts, exuding a relaxed summer‑beach feel that blended perfectly with the surroundings, not standing out at all— just like an ordinary vacationing tourist.

He sipped his milk tea leisurely, fingertips tapping the table lightly, his gaze still calmly fixed on the Rocket Team spot across the street.

Before long, several figures walked slowly from afar, their steps steady, expressions secretive, and they headed straight into that base.

Huo La's hand holding the milk‑tea cup paused briefly; looking through his sunglasses, he glanced once and instantly recognized the newcomers, a barely perceptible surprise flashing in his eyes.

Leading them was former League Kanto Electric-type Gym Leader Ma Zhishi, still bearing his thunderous demeanor, exuding a sharp aura;

Beside him walked a man with black‑and‑white spliced hair and a goatee— Dr. Zager— his expression steady, his eyes hiding a hint of calculation;

Finally came a woman with two towering curls, bright red lips, a sly expression, and at her side a gracefully poised MaoLaoda— Sird!;

"Ma Zhishi, Dr. Zager, Sird… this damn lineup isn't small at all," Huo La gasped.

A former Gym Leader, one of the Rocket Team's Four Great Research Doctors, and one of the Rocket Team's Nine Great Battlers— facing them head‑on without the Three Gods would be beyond my capability.

Just as Huo La was silently pondering, a deafening blast erupted from the Rocket Team base across the street, billowing black smoke soaring skyward and instantly spreading.

Within the black smoke mingled boisterous laughter and sharp, ear‑piercing roars, the scene descending into chaos.

"Who are they? How dare they attack the Rocket Team, they must have eaten a bear's heart and a leopard's gall!" a sharp female voice rang out, followed by the crisp clash of metallic claws striking and cutting.

In the next instant, a blinding upward electric flash exploded— no doubt Ma Zhishi's Raichu had unleashed Thunderbolt.

Huo La's eyelids flicked up sharply, his heart instantly tightening.

Immediately after, a massive, lofty serpent head burst through the thick smoke, hovered briefly, then crashed down with tremendous force, a booming impact that made the surrounding ground tremble.

After the commotion, the base fell silent again, with not a ripple left.

Huo La paused briefly, then tossed two Pokeballs into the air.

"Needle Bee, Flying Mantis, go scout the situation," he commanded. A flash of light summoned Needle Bee and Flying Mantis, who, upon seeing Huo La again, filled his eyes with excitement and affection.

Huo La gave a slight nod; the two understood instantly, soaring skyward and vanishing in an instant amid the distant smoke.

After observing for a moment, Huo La gently tugged his sun hat, lowered the brim, and slipped out of the milk‑tea shop silently.

The faint disturbance earlier from the base's direction and the lingering image of Steelix in his mind kept him uneasy, silently staying alert to shifts in the situation.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the Rocket Team base grew unusually heavy.

Sird stood rooted, his complexion so gloomy it seemed to drip water; his once‑delicate makeup was stained by smoke, his face still bearing lingering malice, a stark contrast to his earlier elegance;

Ma Zhishi stood beside her, his expression equally grave.

The two gathered around a pit, eyes fixed on it, their tones heavy with gloom.

"It's them again!" Sird gritted his teeth, his voice full of fury, the fire in his eyes nearly spilling over, "How dare they strike right under our noses!"

Ma Zhishi furrowed his brows, his solemnity deepening, and slowly said, "Hmm, this time the problem is bigger— Dr. Zager has been taken by them; we must find a way to rescue the doctor."

Upon hearing that, Sird's tone added impatience and helplessness, "How do we rescue? Should we crawl through the tunnels ourselves, walking into a trap?"

Ma Zhishi inhaled deeply, speaking gravely, "First report the situation here truthfully to Lord Fulindo and await his orders. Whatever happens, we must not let them sabotage our plan to capture Lokichia; that is paramount!"

Sird glanced sideways at Ma Zhishi, stamped his foot in irritation, had no rebuttal, turned his head with a sour expression, and walked straight away.