Chapter 62: “Benefits

Huo La pushed open his room door, and his corner eye first spotted the yellow‑white shape on the bed—Miao Miao was lying splayed on the quilt, paws draped over the pillow edge, looking like a "guest taking over."

He froze for half a second, then swung the door shut, his movement natural as if he'd expected the visitor, with no surprise on his face.

"Meow~ you see me and you don't seem surprised at all?" Miao Miao jumped down from the bed, perched on the nightstand, licking a front paw while grooming, and stared at Huo La with a puzzled look.

Huo La walked to the desk, sat down, poured himself a cup of warm water, let his fingertip touch the cup's wall to feel the temperature, and said slowly, "Seen it enough, I've gotten used to it."

"Got used to it? Meow!" Miao Miao stopped licking, paw frozen mid‑air, "You mean you already knew we'd come?"

Huo La didn't answer directly, but lifted his eyes to look at it, his tone a little knowing: "Stop beating around the bush, tell me, why did you suddenly run into my room? It can't be to borrow my bed, can it?"

He had long anticipated the Rocket Team Trio appearing at Zheng Hui's Lighthouse, but didn't expect Miao Miao to show up on his own.

Seeing him get straight to the point, Miao Miao dropped the lazy attitude, leapt from the nightstand to the opposite side of the desk, paws braced on the surface, his gaze grew serious: "Meow, actually there's nothing else. Ash's little Pikachu, we Rocket Team are determined to obtain. This time we came so that, since we're both Rocket Team, you'll stay out of our plan. When we succeed in catching Pikachu and present it to Banmu Laoda, you'll have a share of the credit!"

"My share of the credit?" Huo La lifted the water cup, gently blew the steam off the surface, a smirk curling his mouth, "Miao Miao, have you forgotten? Ash is a brother I consider a sibling; do you think a 'share of the credit' is enough for me to watch you attack him?"

Miao Miao's eyes instantly darkened, the sharp claws hidden in his pads silently sprang out, fingertips glinting coldly: "Meow! You want to hog the credit? Or are you deliberately opposing us?"

"Don't get worked up." Huo La set the cup down, his voice calm and flat as if he hadn't seen the exposed claws, "I'm not interested in fighting over credit, nor do I care about your mission. If you move against Ash's Pikachu, I can pretend I didn't know."

Miao Miao froze for a moment, clearly not expecting him to say that.

Huo La continued, "But I have one condition: while I'm present, you may not act in front of me. Whether it's a sneak attack or a brazen grab, as long as I'm there, don't even think about touching Ash or his Pokemon. As for whether you succeed at other times, that's none of my business."

He had already thought it through—on Ash's path of growth, these 'small troubles' are needed; the Rocket Team's appearance can actually make Ash and Pikachu grow faster. He doesn't need to block them completely, yet he can't just watch the Rocket Team bully people right before his eyes.

Miao Miao stared at Huo La for a long while, as if judging whether he was lying.

After a while, it finally retracted its claws, its tail gently swaying: "Meow~ so, as long as you're not present, we can do whatever we want?"

"Yes." Huo La nodded, "But I'll remind you, Ash's Pikachu isn't that easy to catch, and he's accompanied by Xiao Xia and Lilian. If you really move, don't end up capsizing the boat in a hidden ditch."

"You don't need to worry about that! Meow!" Miao Miao snorted, leapt off the desk, "Got it, I'll tell Musashi and Kojiro. Today I'll give you face, we won't strike him, and we'll leave right away."

After speaking, it walked to the window, then turned back to glance at Huo La: "Meow~ hope you keep your word, don't back out later."

Just as Miao Miao's hind legs pushed off the ground, about to leap out the window, Huo La's voice suddenly rang out: "Wait!"

"Meow~" Miao Miao's body was already half‑outside the window; hearing the call it froze, panic making it clutch the windowsill with its paws, its fluffy body wobbling in the air before it barely scrambled back into the room.

It shook the wind‑tossed whiskers, gave Huo La a plaintive stare: "Meow~ couldn't you say it earlier? You're not going to change your mind, are you?"

"You agreed to my condition, so I won't back out." Huo La walked to the window, his gaze fixed on the black sea, "I just wanted to give you a heads‑up—tonight have Musashi and Kojiro keep an eye on the sea; you might see a Pokemon you didn't expect."

Miao Miao froze, ears perking up: "Meow~ an unexpected Pokemon? What is it? Rarer than Pikachu?"

"Whether it's rarer, you'll see for yourselves." Huo La didn't state it outright, but deepened his tone, "But I must warn you, if you actually see it, don't act on impulse. That Pokemon's power is beyond what you can handle; forcing a confrontation will only bring you pain."

His words were not empty threats.

It was an Ancient Pokemon—Dragonite. Given the Rocket Team Trio's nature, if they laid eyes on such a massive Pokemon they might not be able to resist acting, and then, forget catching Pikachu, even surviving would be doubtful.

"Is… is it that simple? Meow~" Miao Miao still doubted, feeling Huo La wouldn't give them a "benefit" for nothing.

"It's that simple." Huo La waved his hand, tone tinged with impatience, "I told you, believe me, the benefit you can reap isn't just a Water Stone. I've said everything I need to, believe it or not. If you don't want to miss out, hurry back and tell Musashi and Kojiro."

Miao Miao stared at Huo La for a few seconds, seeing he wasn't lying, and stopped asking, turned and leapt again onto the window sill: "Meow~ I understand! If there truly is a rare Pokemon, we'll remember your favor!"

With that, it vaulted, disappearing quickly into the night.

The room fell silent again, Huo La stood at the window, staring into the sea, lost in thought.

The reason he told Miao Miao all this was, of course, his own plan.

The Rocket Team Trio has direct permission to contact Banmu Laoda; as soon as they spot the Ancient Dragonite, the news will reach Banmu Laoda. Using the Rocket Team's influence and resources, they may unlock the Ancient Pokemon's secret faster; and by leaking the info early, Huo La can leave the impression of being an Insider before Banmu Laoda, planting a seed for future contact.

More importantly, he had already arranged with Zheng Hui that once he left the Lighthouse, Zheng Hui would compile the research on the Ancient Dragonite into a paper published—then the League would inevitably intervene; with the League's check, even if the Rocket Team wants to exploit the Ancient Pokemon, they'll have to think twice.

"Hope you don't mess up." Huo La whispered softly, turned back to the desk.

The sound of waves outside the window continued, and an "accident" concerning the Ancient Pokemon seemed to be quietly brewing.