Chapter 225: It's Not the 'Boss' Who's Chasing Us, It's the Boss Who Asked Us for Help!

"Viridian City..." The sunset's afterglow turned the ground warm orange, Huo La and Xiaogang Ge's silhouettes stretched long, and the two stood side by side before the city sign bearing the three characters "Viridian City", their eyes alike landing on the familiar marker.

"Xiaogang Ge Ge, you really aren't going back to Nibi City to take a look?" Huo La turned his head and asked, his tone carrying a hint of probing.

Xiaogang Ge's gaze still lingered on the sign; after a moment of silence he gently shook his head: "No rush, it's not far anyway. After you finish the challenge at Viridian Gym, we can go back together, it's not late."

Huo La glanced at his resolute profile and said no more.

During their travels together, Xiaogang Ge's steadiness and care had already accustomed him to having such a reliable companion by his side; this goodwill he need not dispute, and he felt fully grateful.

"Let's go, first stay a night at the Pokemon Center, rest well tonight, replenish our spirit for the battle." Huo La yawned, stretched his sore neck, his tone carrying a hint of fatigue.

Upon entering the Pokemon Center, Huo La habitually scanned the lobby, his gaze halted at a corner, then helplessly rubbed his forehead.

"Xiaogang Ge Ge, you go handle the check‑in first; I've run into a few 'acquaintances'."

Following his line of sight, Xiaogang Ge immediately saw three figures in the corner — the Rocket Team Trio.

They were gathered around a table, reading a newspaper by the dim light, but the newspaper was clearly held upside down, looking especially comical.

Xiaogang Ge took the backpack and Pokeball Huo La handed over, nodded: "Alright, I'll send you the room number later. I'll also ask if there are discounted ingredients tonight, and show you a trick."

After parting ways with Xiaogang Ge, Huo La walked straight to the Rocket Team Trio, plopped onto the chair opposite them, and with a half‑smile said: "What are you three up to now? Not chasing Ash to steal Pikachu, how did you end up in Viridian City?"

Musashi and Kojiro, like startled rabbits, instantly lifted their heads, cautiously scanned the surroundings, and after confirming no one was watching, simultaneously set down the newspapers.

Meowth's figure darted out from behind the newspaper, and Huo La only then saw the trio's current appearance, and couldn't help but stare.

In the past, whenever they appeared, they wore clean white Rocket Team uniforms; now they had switched to shabby gray foot‑soldier outfits, crumpled and stuck to their bodies;

Musashi's trademark long hair had been cut down by more than half, the tips still bearing a few burnt, withered strands;

Meowth's originally cream‑colored sleek fur was stained with many spots, and even bore several obvious smoke‑blackened burn marks, looking utterly disheveled.

Huo La looked at the scene before him and was indeed somewhat surprised.

Given these three's "exploding immortal, falling unhurt" robust constitutions, ending up in such a sorry state definitely hides a significant problem.

"What is this..." He was just about to ask further when Musashi and Kojiro's tense gazes cut him off.

The two again quickly glanced around, confirmed safety, then lightly nodded at Meowth.

Meowth cleared its throat; its already unmelodic voice was now hoarse, carrying urgency and pleading: "Cough cough... Huo La, we need your Help!"

————

Inside the Pokemon Center room, the lighting was soft yet could not mask the heaviness in the air.

Huo La sat on the bedside, his expression solemn as he stared at the Rocket Team Trio before him; after a long silence he slowly spoke: "So... you three were injured by your own people and then pursued?"

When he heard Meowth say "need Help" in the lobby earlier, he keenly sensed something was amiss, immediately halted the conversation, and directly brought the three into his own room.

Only after closing the door and confirming the surroundings were safe did he let them slowly recount the cause and effect.

"Exactly! After we received the Boss's contact, we rushed back to Viridian City without stopping." Kojiro spoke first, his tone still tinged with post‑escape dread.

Musashi immediately took over, a hint of annoyance flashing across his face: "Our original plan was simple — if we could see the Boss himself, the prior request for Help was likely a misunderstanding, everything would be easy; but if we can't see him... and the Boss proactively contacts us for Help, then this is definitely not simple!"

Huo La furrowed his brow, probing: "So you saw Banmu? Then he ordered you to be pursued?"

"Meow~ we saw the Boss, but... not completely!" Meowth hurriedly continued, gesturing with its paws.

"What does that mean?" Huo La's tone was full of doubt.

"Just the literal meaning!" Musashi, a bit impatient, glared at Meowth, explaining, "We indeed saw the Boss sitting on his trademark chair, but he kept his back to us, so we never saw his face!"

"Didn't see his face..." Huo La murmured low, his fingertips lightly tapping the bed rail, "Can you be sure that the person with his back to you was really Banmu?"

"Meow! Though the Boss didn't turn his head, that unique aura and the scent on his body are definitely the Boss's!" Meowth said confidently, then with a hint of doubt, "It's just that we don't know why the Boss isn't next to the Boss."

Huo La nodded, continuing to piece together the clues: "So, after you asked him about the contact for Help, you were then pursued?"

"Yes!" Kojiro nodded heavily, his face full of bewilderment.

"How can you be sure the pursuers are Rocket Team members?" Huo La, having caught the key info, kept probing.

"The one leading the chase was Jia Mu! With that guy's appearance, how could we mistake him!" Musashi said through clenched teeth, clearly having a strong impression of that person.

"One of the Nine Great Captains, Jia Mu?!" Huo La's pupils dilated sharply, his gaze toward the three instantly changed.

On one hand, he was shocked by these three's hard luck — being chased by a Rocket Team senior captain and still managing to escape alive was a miracle;

On the other hand, he was more concerned that the Rocket Team would deploy a senior captain against three seemingly "incompetent" foot soldiers; the secret behind this was probably far more astonishing than imagined.

After calming his mind, Huo La posed the most crucial question: "Why did you come to me for Help?"

Meowth looked at Musashi and Kojiro beside him, the two nodded in unison. Only then did Meowth lower its head, its voice a bit hoarse: "It's the Boss's will."

Huo La wore a bewildered expression: "??? He was chasing you, why look for me?"

"Meow~ not the 'Boss' who chased us, but the Boss who first contacted us and asked for Help!" Meowth hurriedly added, fearing Huo La would misunderstand.