"You!"
Archer was both amused and angered by Proton. So now he's being accused of lying? But he wasn't lying!!
Back on the S.S. Anne, it was indeed Dylan and Red who teamed up 2v1 against him, with that Harley Quinn-like girl constantly using 'Mental Pollution,' which is why he lost.
Dylan watched with great interest as Archer and Proton started to bicker. This was too entertaining.
"We're all brothers here, let's not argue—it'll hurt our camaraderie. How about you two just have a fight instead?" Dylan tried to play the peacemaker.
"??"
Both Archer and Proton looked at Dylan with confusion, their faces turning grim.
"It seems you're not willing. So, are you still going to fight me? If so, hurry up and bring out your Pokémon," Dylan said, a bit disappointed. Seeing the way Archer and Proton were acting, it seemed they wouldn't fight after all.
But then again, they were high-ranking executives in Team Rocket.
Archer took a deep breath, calming his agitated emotions.
"Dylan, I think we can talk this out," Archer said, trying to keep his voice steady.
No, fighting was out of the question. Dylan was too strong.
Looking at Proton, it seemed his main Pokémon had already been taken down by Dylan. Although Archer still had some of his main Pokémon, what was the use?
They had no choice but to negotiate. Archer didn't want to end up in jail; he still had work to do for Team Rocket!
"At this point, there's nothing left to discuss, Mr. Archer," Dylan raised an eyebrow.
"As a League employee, I've already shown mercy by not attacking you and Mr. Proton directly."
"Lance is still watching from above, Mr. Archer. Why not be a decent person?" Dylan shook his head slowly. He believed he had already gone easy on them. If it had been Lorelei or Lance, whether Archer and Proton could still be standing would be a big question mark.
"Dylan, I don't think Team Rocket has wronged you. Ariana has already been arrested, and that achievement is enough."
Archer didn't give up but spoke sincerely to Dylan.
"If you turn a blind eye and let Proton and I leave, or even just one of us, Team Rocket will reward you far more generously than the League."
He still had critically important genetic fusion data, the product of years of research at this base. He had to get it out!
"I'm afraid I have to refuse. I'm a Gym Leader. Please excuse the both of you," Dylan smiled, directly refusing.
What a joke—though he did enjoy watching entertaining and thrilling scenes, what benefit would there be in letting Archer and Proton go? Even if there were benefits, they wouldn't be worth it.
"Salazzle."
Salazzle bared its teeth and began to approach Archer and Proton.
"Damn it!"
Archer understood that Dylan intended for Salazzle to attack them, rendering them unable to resist.
But how could he let that happen?!
Buzz, buzz, buzz~!
At that moment, the faint sound of wings flapping reached Dylan's ears. Nidoking and Salazzle noticed it immediately as well.
Dylan looked towards the left corridor, his expression tense. A yellow figure, as fast as lightning, was swiftly approaching.
"Salazzle!"
Despite Dylan's warning and Salazzle quickly gathering flames in its mouth, it was still too late.
Bang!
The yellow Pokémon, like a knight's lance, thrust its long needle fiercely into Salazzle.
Salazzle felt a sharp pain and immense force hit her, sending her flying backward like a cannonball, smashing heavily into the wall behind her, shattering it.
Everything happened too fast! So fast that the three present hadn't even reacted yet.
This...
Dylan's brow furrowed tightly as he looked at the Pokémon that had stopped in front of Archer and Proton.
It resembled a giant yellow wasp, with two pairs of wings on its back and slender legs, with large, long white needles at the front of its arms, resembling the head of a knight's lance.
It was a Beedrill, a Bug/Poison-type Pokémon!
Beedrill was one of the most common Bug-type Pokémon in the Kanto region. You could find swarms of them in almost any large forest, though they were usually not very strong.
However, this Beedrill had just swiftly attacked and sent Dylan's Salazzle flying!
Even though Salazzle wasn't Dylan's main Pokémon, it was already at level 53, making it quite powerful among the Elite Four-level Pokémon.
But it was so easily sent flying by this Beedrill!
"Boss is here!" As high-ranking Team Rocket executives, Archer and Proton were delighted to see the Beedrill.
The debris was pushed aside, and Salazzle slowly emerged, breathing heavily, her narrow eyes glaring angrily at Beedrill.
It was clear that Salazzle wasn't in good shape.
"Tsk~ What a strong Beedrill. Are you not going to show yourself?" Dylan licked his dry lips as he spoke.
Dylan glanced at Salazzle. It seemed that Beedrill hadn't even used any special move, meaning it was just a regular attack that had done this much damage to Salazzle.
Such a terrifying Beedrill could only belong to one person—Giovanni, the boss of Team Rocket!
Click, click, click~
The sound of polished shoes echoed, and from around the corner, a middle-aged man in a black suit and fedora hat slowly walked out.
It was Giovanni!
"Heh~ Young people these days are truly amazing."
A deep, hoarse male voice came from him, clearly disguised, as were his appearance and build.
Dylan looked Giovanni up and down. He was very different from how he remembered him, but that made sense.
Giovanni appearing here in person was already incredibly risky. If he hadn't disguised himself, his Viridian Gym would've been raided overnight.
For a base in Celadon City that was bound to be destroyed, Giovanni wouldn't have acted so recklessly.
"And you are?" Dylan placed his left hand in his pocket, pressing a button on his communicator. He was signaling Lance, something they had agreed upon before the operation.
As fast as he was growing, Dylan knew his limits. He was still far from the level of top Champions like Giovanni or Lance.
This Beedrill in front of him was at least level 80! And that was a conservative estimate.
"Boss!" Archer and Proton immediately ran to Giovanni's side, both respectful and ashamed.
They never imagined that one day, they would need their boss to personally come to their rescue. As subordinates, they felt like total failures.
"You should understand now," Giovanni said, taking the USB drive from Archer and slipping it into his pocket, his mature and calm smile directed at Dylan.
In fact, Giovanni had been here for a while. If it weren't for the fact that Archer and Proton had no way to escape, he wouldn't have risked stepping in.
"The leader of Team Rocket," Dylan squinted slightly.
"Exactly, but today really isn't a good day. Kid, if we get the chance, we'll meet again," Giovanni said calmly, preparing to leave with Archer and Proton.
Although he found Dylan intriguing, the Kanto Champion, Lance, was just outside, and Giovanni didn't want to deal with him right now.
Beedrill floated behind the three, its red insect eyes fixed on Dylan.
"I can't let you leave so easily," Dylan decisively threw out a Pokéball.
"Articuno, Blizzard!"
"Yiao~!"
Beautiful ice-blue light gleamed on Articuno's body as it unleashed a powerful snowstorm.
An Ice-type Blizzard!
The air in the base plummeted in temperature, white snowflakes fell, and the walls on both sides of the corridor frosted over.
A very powerful Blizzard!
"Oh?" Giovanni paused, surprised as he turned around. Articuno?
But as the raging snowstorm approached, Beedrill simply raised its right limb, and a white light flashed.
A Fighting-type Brick Break!
With an impressive strike from its long, white needle, the Blizzard was effortlessly split in two.
Watching Beedrill handle the attack as if it were slicing through vegetables, Dylan couldn't help but be amazed. This Beedrill was ridiculously strong!
There was no way he could beat this absurdly powerful Beedrill, but it didn't matter. He had bought enough time.
Boom!
A loud explosion erupted from nearby, flames bursting out as a thick wall was blasted open.
A black cloak billowed as a stern-faced red-haired young man walked in, a powerful Dragonite following closely behind.
Lance!
Giovanni narrowed his eyes as he looked at the arrogant, cold-blooded redhead.
This was going to be interesting!
Dylan took a few steps back, leaning against Articuno as he watched Giovanni and Lance get closer. He was just about ready to grab some popcorn.
The clash between Kanto's Champion, Lance, and the dark mastermind of Team Rocket, Giovanni—this was going to be one hell of a show!
(End of Chapter)