Every office computer in the facility had a prominent logo of Silph Co., the largest technology corporation in the Kanto region.
Sato's mind reeled. He vividly remembered, in his past life, when he had visited Team Rocket's headquarters, he had noticed something odd about their offices.
Every single computer there had no brand markings. As an assassin, Sato had developed an extreme awareness for details. At the time, his curiosity had led him to ask a Team Rocket member about it.
The response had been one of pride..."To prevent data leaks, Team Rocket has always manufactured its own computers!"
So then...everything here was fake. Or rather, it had been deliberately staged, a setup meant to frame Team Rocket.
Sato should have realized it sooner. A criminal organization like Team Rocket, known for its shady genetic experiments, would never leave its signature "R" insignia all over the place, practically advertising their presence.
But that raised another critical question: 'Who had the motive, power, and influence to frame Team Rocket?...' Only one organization in Johto fit that description.
Sato's thoughts clicked into place. He had to get out of here... Now.
This facility was a ticking time bomb, a trap carefully set by the League for Team Rocket's eventual downfall. It wouldn't be exposed until the right moment.
As he hurried back, a sense of unease settled in his chest.
'Had the League already noticed my presence?'
Zoroark and Haunter exchanged glances but didn't ask questions. They simply followed him without hesitation.
As Sato reached the entrance, his foot had just touched the first step when, a wave of disdain surged through his Dark Energy. The source was ahead, hidden in the long passageway leading out.
It burned in his mind's eye, as if a spotlight had been cast on something invisible.
"Zoroark, Night Daze! Haunter, consecutive Shadow Balls, blast it!"
Sato jumped backward just as his Pokémon launched their attacks.
A Starmie was suddenly exposed, its Camouflage shattered by the Dark-type energy wave. Behind it, a middle-aged man emerged, his expression sharp with shock.
Perched on his shoulder, a Golbat unfurled its wings, hissing menacingly.
The remaining attacks, Night Daze and Shadow Balls, came crashing down.
A green barrier flashed into existence. Golbat's Protect had absorbed the remaining blows, shielding both itself and its trainer.
But Starmie, which had relied on Camouflage, had been completely defenseless.
It collapsed on the spot, knocked out in one strike.
The man frowned, recalling his Starmie. Then, with a measured gaze, he looked directly at Sato.
"...How did you see through that?"
Sato remained silent. Haunter, floating nearby, snickered softly.
The answer was simple: Dark Energy.
He could feel presences, especially those that concealed themselves. But there was no reason to explain that to the enemy.
Instead, Sato's expression remained cold as he asked a question of his own.
"You're from Team Rocket, aren't you?"
The man smirked, shaking his head.
"Oh? So that's what you think?"
His lips curved, but his eyes held something unreadable.
Sato's mind worked rapidly. This entire facility had been designed to make Team Rocket look guilty.
If this man truly belonged to them, he wouldn't admit it so easily. But if he was part of the League, playing along would be his best option.
"Of course," the man sighed dramatically. "I'm just here to clean up evidence. You know, standard Team Rocket work."
Sato's stomach twisted.
Before he could respond, the man's hand moved slightly. "Golbat, Air Slash!"
Golbat's wings gleamed, sending two sharp, crescent-shaped wind blades flying toward Sato's position!
"Haunter, intercept!"
Haunter's ghostly hands extended, summoning a barrier of Shadow Balls to counter the attack.
"Zoroark, Dark Pulse!"
Zoroark roared, launching a surge of darkness straight at Golbat!
The man remained eerily calm, giving his next order smoothly.
"Golbat, Air Cutter!"
Golbat's wings whipped forward, unleashing shockwaves that collided head-on with Dark Pulse.
The entire passage shook as dust and debris scattered everywhere.
Sato's brows furrowed. 'This is trouble.' The man before him was undoubtedly a veteran trainer.
He hadn't reached the Pseudo-Elite Four level yet, but he had already reached Peak Elite strength! Judging by his age, Sato had no doubt that this man had at least six Pokémon at Peak Elite level.
"When I was your age," the man mused, shaking his head with a tinge of regret, "I was celebrating the fact that I owned a mere Ordinary Peak-level Pokémon. But you... you're something else."
Then his voice turned cold.
"Unfortunately, you came to the wrong place." Without hesitation, he gave his next command.
It was the same move as before. Except this time, the twin blades of wind moved at double the speed and carried far more power.
Haunter immediately sank into the ground, while Zoroark and Sato each leaped to opposite sides.
The Air Slash carved deep into the solid ground, leaving two crossed scars, each one meter long and half a meter wide. Dust erupted from the impact, filling the room with a thick haze.
"Golbat, finish them off."
Golbat, relying on its echolocation, wasn't hindered by the dust in the slightest. Instead, the darkness worked in its favor. Its wings tilted slightly before it dove straight down, targeting Sato.
"Wait," Sato murmured, signaling Zoroark and Haunter to hold back. He had already begun channeling Dark Energy through his arms.
A human's body had some natural resistance to Pokémon attacks. But it was still far too fragile to take direct hits.
Sato knew this. Golbat knew this.
Which meant this first strike wouldn't be its strongest attack. That was exactly what he was counting on.
Sato's eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. This was a bait-and-punish strategy. It was a trick he had used countless times in his past life, he knew exactly how to time it.
Golbat's screech was shrill and grating, like an old man trying to cough up phlegm. But Sato saw everything. His vision, tinted pitch black, made Golbat's fiery aura stand out against the darkened world.
"Here it comes." At the last possible second, Sato lunged forward.
Golbat wasn't expecting him to counter. Its angle was off.
It had committed too hard to its dive, this was the worst possible position for an attack. And Sato exploited it instantly.
His Dark Energy-infused fists slammed into Golbat's ears. A direct hit. Disrupting its senses.
"Night Slash! Shadow Ball!"
Golbat was stunned. Zoroark's Night Slash tore into its weak point: its exposed back.
At the same time, Haunter's Shadow Ball shot directly into its open mouth. The resulting explosion sent shockwaves through the air.
Sato took some of the impact, but he didn't care. Not when his life was on the line.