chsdbacks Chapter 408: Lance's Confusion
Chapter 408: Lance's Confusion
With Mewtwo and Gardevoir guiding him, Lin Feng was able to move through the research facility as if he were strolling across an open field. The only thing he needed to avoid were the surveillance cameras.Fortunately, that was easy enough.
Whenever they entered an area covered by cameras, he simply had the two Psychic-type Pokémon use Teleport. It was far more convenient.
What surprised him was something else entirely.
The senior executives of Team Rocket's research division had already prepared contingency plans after Mewtwo's previous attack.
To Team Rocket, the most valuable assets were never the machines. Equipment could always be rebuilt.
Even the escaped Dragon-type Pokémon, while valuable, represented losses that were still manageable.
The truly irreplaceable assets were the research data and the scientists.
As long as they retained those, then even if the first Mewtwo had escaped, they could create a second Mewtwo given enough time.
And with the lessons learned from the first attempt, they could focus not only on increasing its power but also on making it more obedient.
The real problem was that Mewtwo's rampage had drawn the League's attention to these waters.
League investigators frequently patrolled the surrounding sea.
As a result, Team Rocket's leadership had already decided to relocate the research center inland.
The transfer process had begun.
Researchers would be reassigned, and ongoing projects would be distributed among other facilities.
Because of the previous incident, several key researchers had been injured or had disappeared altogether. To ensure their safety, the scientists involved in the Mewtwo Project had been quietly dispersed among multiple research sites.
The purpose was simple.
If one facility was exposed, the League would not be able to wipe out everything in a single strike.
Which meant...
As long as someone closely monitored those transferred researchers over the next few days, they could uncover the locations of most of Team Rocket's research facilities throughout Kanto.
"Perfect. That's the plan."
After digging through countless memories, Lin Feng already had a clear picture of the situation.
"Mewtwo, Gardevoir, let's go."
The moment he made his decision, several figures vanished from the facility.
A short while later, some of the unconscious staff members slowly woke up.
They rubbed their heads in confusion.
Why had they suddenly fallen asleep?
Still, none of them thought much of it and simply returned to work.
Not a single person realized that beneath this seemingly calm surface, a young trainer from afar was quietly preparing to destroy every Team Rocket research facility in the region because of a single Salamence.
...
March 21st
At the center of the Kanto region, Lance sat in his office wearing the Champion's cape.
A puzzled expression appeared on his face as he opened an email marked [URGENT] from Blue.
Blue and Red had left a deep impression on him.
Both of them were incredibly unusual.
Back then, Blue had arranged through Professor Oak to challenge the Elite Four. Not long afterward, he became the Champion of Kanto.
Yet before he could even settle into the position, another challenger appeared.
Red.
It was almost as though the two had planned it beforehand.
Red challenged him with overwhelming strength and ultimately defeated Blue in battle.
Honestly...
The whole thing had never looked like a battle for the Championship.
It looked more like a competition to determine first and second place.
After becoming Champion, Red had immediately given up the position.
In the end, after everything had come full circle, the most suitable candidate among the Elite Four turned out to be Lance himself.
He had been speechless.
The other Elite Four members had been equally speechless.
But there was nothing they could do.
Those two were simply too young, and neither of them had any interest in running the League.
Blue preferred a carefree lifestyle and eventually became a Pokémon Breeder and Gym Leader.
Red chose the path of endless training, obsessively pursuing greater heights.
Even so, it was unusual for Blue to send him a private email marked as urgent.
"Strange..."
Lance opened the message.
The further he read, the more serious his expression became.
"Team Rocket?"
One address after another filled the email.
Every location was described in incredible detail.
Specific alleyways.
Underground passages.
Hidden entrances.
Everything.
Attached were numerous photographs.
The photos showed Pokémon being used in various research projects. Some even documented where those Pokémon had been captured and which wilderness areas they originally came from.
The contents were disturbing.
In Kanto, and in most regions around the world, capturing Pokémon for unauthorized experimentation was strictly illegal, especially when conducted without the Pokémon's consent.
"Team Rocket..."
As Lance flipped through the photos, a chill ran down his spine.
He forced himself to remain calm and continued reading.
When he reached the final page, he saw a message:
March 24th, 10:00 AM.
I will bring Red down from Mt. Silver and have him destroy the research facility near Pallet Town.
Champion Lance, please be prepared. Within three days, cast the net and capture everyone involved.
As for the ocean-based research facilities, leave them to the provider of this information. Don't worry. He and his Pokémon are more than capable.
Remember, choose your people carefully and do not allow any leaks.
"..."
Lance slowly exhaled.
His jaw tightened for a moment before relaxing.
The email contained too much evidence.
Detailed locations.
Clear photographs.
And most importantly, it had been sent personally by Blue.
The fact that Blue was even willing to bring Red down from Mt. Silver meant that the matter was unquestionably genuine.
Furthermore, Blue knew the current state of the Kanto League.
Lance had only recently assumed leadership and was not fully familiar with all the personnel within the organization.
That was precisely why Blue had chosen to shoulder part of the responsibility himself and even volunteered to recruit Red.
But one question continued to bother Lance.
What did that final sentence mean?
The ocean facilities would be handled by the information provider?
Lance found himself increasingly curious about this mysterious individual.
It was obvious how the information had been gathered.
Someone had infiltrated Team Rocket's research facilities personally.
The photographs had been taken at close range.
Some were practically face-to-face with the researchers themselves.
And yet...
Not only had this person avoided alerting the enemy, they had also managed to uncover the locations of so many facilities.
Was that even possible?
Even a trainer commanding exceptionally powerful Psychic-type Pokémon shouldn't have been able to accomplish something like that so easily.
So who was this person?
Where had this trainer come from?
Lance couldn't figure it out.
In the end, however, he decided not to dwell on it.
If Blue believed this person was capable of handling the situation, then that was enough.
It would also relieve a tremendous amount of pressure from his shoulders.
Still, one lingering question remained in his mind.
Just who was this mysterious individual?
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