Erika's Residence
"Please enjoy. My tea-making skills are not as refined as those of the masters, so please forgive me," Erika said with a gentle smile.
Erika had already bathed and changed into a beautiful kimono. She gracefully raised her fair, white wrist to pour tea for Dylan and Leah.
At this moment, Erika appeared elegant, serene, and gentle, a stark contrast to her lively demeanor in the group chat.
In fact, Erika was indeed a refined young lady who owned a perfume shop. She was also a highly skilled flower arranger. With her fair and pure appearance, she was the Gym Leader of Celadon City, making her the epitome of a wealthy, beautiful, and refined woman.
"Very nice," Dylan said with a smile after taking a sip.
"I'm really grateful to you, Dylan. If it weren't for you saving me, I don't know what might have happened," Erika said sincerely.
"Erika, you've mentioned this many times already," Dylan interrupted, shaking his head.
"As Gym Leaders of the Kanto League, it's only natural for us to help each other. Besides, you risked your life to investigate Team Rocket's base," Dylan said calmly.
"No matter what, it was still a lifesaving favor," Erika insisted.
Erika was very persistent. If Dylan hadn't saved her and she had been captured by Ariana and taken back to the Team Rocket base, Erika couldn't imagine what she would have faced.
She would probably have encountered many terrifying things since she was not only an infiltrator but also an official Gym Leader of the league, not a minor figure.
"That's right~ Erika, you should say, 'I owe you my life and can only repay you with my body,'" Leah teased, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster as she snacked and laughed mischievously.
"This..." Erika blushed deeply at Leah's words.
She was indeed very grateful to Dylan, but repaying him with her body was too much.
"Don't talk nonsense," Dylan said, glaring at Leah.
"What? Erika just wants to thank you, and she wouldn't be losing out," Leah muttered, rolling her eyes.
Leah thought Erika would be getting a great deal. Dylan had good looks, strength, wealth, and his talent as a trainer was monstrous!
Last week, he had fought alongside Red against Archer, and now he had captured Ariana!
"Shut up," Dylan said, stuffing a piece of cake into Leah's mouth.
Leah's eyes widened; the cake was too big!
"Don't mind Leah, she's just a bit mischievous," Dylan apologized to Erika.
"It's okay," Erika said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, avoiding eye contact with Dylan.
She knew Leah was joking, but as a reserved young lady, she found such comments a bit overwhelming. She wasn't as quirky as Leah.
"If you ever need anything, feel free to contact me. I won't refuse," Erika said with a serious tone and a modest smile.
"Alright, I won't be shy if I need your help," Dylan responded with a smile.
"By the way, Dylan, why is your Meowscarada so strong?" Leah asked curiously, taking another bite of cake.
"Meowscarada was my starter Pokémon. It's natural for it to be strong," Dylan said, shrugging innocently.
"Where did you get it, if I may ask?" Erika inquired, equally curious.
"I received it when I enrolled in a Pokémon school. I chose it as a Sprigatito because it felt like fate," Dylan explained, smiling.
In his Pokémon school, starter Pokémon were distributed, and sometimes, they included starters from other regions.
Like Liko in "Pokémon Horizons," who received a Sprigatito at the Pokémon school in Pallet Town.
"If you like Meowscarada, you could visit the Paldea region or ask a friend to send you one," Dylan suggested, sensing Erika's fondness for the Pokémon.
"Thank you, I understand," Erika said thoughtfully.
The three continued chatting over tea. Meanwhile, the Celadon City police had begun their operation.
The area around the Game Corner was temporarily cordoned off by Officer Jenny and her team, evacuating guests and residents.
Team Rocket was the largest criminal organization in the Kanto region. Once discovered, they would not be tolerated!
However, the Game Corner was a popular spot, so evacuating everyone took time.
With a roar, a fierce Aerodactyl descended into Erika's courtyard.
A young man with fiery red hair leapt off the Aerodactyl. It was the Champion, Lance.
"Lance, you arrived quickly," Dylan remarked as the three of them stepped out of the house.
Disguised, Leah curiously observed the Kanto Champion, who exuded a dragon-like arrogance and imposing presence. Erika, on the other hand, was a bit cautious. She had heard many rumors about Lance, all suggesting he was arrogant and difficult to get along with.
"I heard from Officer Jenny. You did well, Dylan," Lance said with a rare smile, looking at Dylan with approval.
No wonder he was Lance's junior!
Although Lance despised Ariana, he had to admit that Team Rocket's Executives were cunning, making them difficult to capture.
But Dylan had managed to capture Ariana, making Lance increasingly fond of his junior. As expected, Viridian Forest chose wisely!
"When I return to Indigo Plateau, I will personally request a reward for you from the chairman. What do you want?" Lance asked generously.
"Thank you, Champion Lance. I would like a gifted Pokémon," Dylan said after a moment of thought. "If possible, a Larvitar or another pseudo-legendary would be great."
Lance raised an eyebrow, finding his junior quite ambitious.
"Having ambition is necessary," Lance said with a grin.
A well-trained pseudo-legendary could become a team's backbone or even a star player!
"But Dylan, raising dragons takes time and effort. How's the Dratini I entrusted to you?" Lance asked sternly. He hoped Dylan wasn't neglecting his Pokémon in pursuit of stronger ones.
"Don't worry, Champion Lance. I won't neglect any of my Pokémon," Dylan assured.
"That's good to hear," Lance said, nodding in satisfaction.
"I will discuss your request with the president. I can't guarantee approval, but it shouldn't be a problem," Lance said calmly.
Ariana was one of Team Rocket's Executives and a formidable trainer. Capturing her justified the request for a pseudo-legendary.
"If the chairman disagrees, I'll personally give you another Dratini with a different ability," Lance added, remembering Dylan's Dratini had the Shed Skin ability.
Hearing Lance's casual tone, Leah and Erika were stunned.
Is Dratini really that worthless?
"Thank you in advance, Champion Lance," Dylan said, accepting the offer. Though he already had a Dragonite, having more was never a bad thing, especially as a gesture from Lance.
"You and I both received gifts from Viridian Forest. You can call me Senior," Lance said softly.
"Okay, Senior Lance!" Dylan responded, sensing Lance's different attitude towards him. Lance had been focused on Dylan the entire time, not sparing a glance at Leah or Erika.
Clearly, in Lance's eyes, they weren't worth his time.
"Let's go take care of those filthy rats," Lance said, leaping back onto Aerodactyl with a flick of his cape.
Team Rocket must be eliminated!
Lance's gaze was icy.
By now, it was half-past six in the evening, and the sky had darkened.
Aerodactyl hovered mid-air, with Lance standing tall, his red hair blowing in the night wind as he gazed expressionlessly at the massive Game Corner below.
On the ground, officers stood ready.
Outside the area, a middle-aged man in a suit and black bowler hat squinted up at Lance.
"Boss?"
"Not yet. Wait."
The man's magnetic voice was soft. If Proton and Apollo could escape with important data, there would be no need for him to intervene.
(End of Chapter)