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After the Gyarados incident, unlike last night's more relaxed watch, tonight the deck of the St. Louis was lined with ship guards patrolling back and forth.
None of the passengers were willing to come to the deck at this hour, hoping to avoid any potential danger, so aside from the guards and a few persistent anglers, the deck was almost empty of ordinary passengers.
Around the St. Louis, some guards sat in pairs or trios atop Tentacruel, following along with the ship as they glided across the water.
The passengers were pleased with the increased security; their nerves had barely calmed since yesterday's attack by the Gyarados swarm, and now, they could finally get a peaceful night's sleep.
The shadow of a disaster at sea is haunting; many onboard had been awake all night, and by daybreak, most passengers looked visibly worn out and sleep-deprived.
Sato sat in a small, foldable wooden chair, statuesque against the sea breeze, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on a glowing buoy drifting on the dark waves.
Yet, possibly due to the heightened activity of guards patrolling nearby, his night fishing trip yielded nothing even after half an hour.
Of course, Sato wasn't the only one without a catch, but strangely, the other anglers, like him, persisted in this monotonous night fishing.
The quiet was almost oppressive, casting a vague tension over Sato's mind. But he maintained his usual expression, blending into the stillness around him like a dedicated angler.
Finally, about two minutes later, the man Sato had been waiting for arrived—it was Hans, the tall sailor.
After spotting the "Aipom" dozing on Sato's shoulder, Hans quietly approached. He leaned against the railing nearby, striking a casual pose much like a person watching someone fish.
"Did you find them?"
Breaking the silence, Sato asked softly.
"I did, but I can't tell you," Hans replied just as softly, taking a long drag from his cigarette before turning around, his face filled with a cold resolve.
"I understand. Thanks for the heads-up. I'll transfer the credits to you shortly," Sato said, his expression shifting momentarily before returning to normal.
Without another word, he began packing up his fishing rod and chair into his space gear and prepared to leave.
Hans's words were few, but they held considerable weight. Clearly, Sato's enemy either had a high standing or was currently too useful for Hans's superiors to allow any information on them to slip out.
The fact that Hans had come and offered even this much was a favor, likely because he saw Sato as one of their own.
For anyone else, things would probably have ended much worse by now.
Watching Sato's retreating figure, Hans flicked his cigarette butt into the sea, his gaze briefly sharp. But when he saw the others merely watching Sato leave without making a move, he tucked the PokéBall he'd been holding behind his back.
"Good evening, Captain."
Once Sato had completely left, a sailor riding a Pelipper descended from the dark sky to join Hans. Seeing him, Hans immediately saluted.
Nearby, the other guards and anglers also saluted in greeting before returning to their previous posts as the officer gave them a slight nod.
"Is it him, then?"
As the others returned to their posts, Chief Sailor Rhodes leaned on the railing, facing away from Hans as he asked, "So, it's him?"
"Yes, sir, it's him. Should we take some forceful action? If you move on your own, those rats might be alerted by him," Hans replied respectfully, his face paling slightly at Rhodes's question.
The person who attacked Sato last night was one of the same people who drew the Gyarados to the St. Louis. Hans had only learned this after taking on Sato's request.
In fact, it was largely due to the clues Sato provided that the other Team Rocket members on board were able to identify the suspect, who turned out to be one of the very troublemakers they'd been searching for.
Now, Rhodes was strategizing how to use this exposed agent to capture the rest of the intruders in one go, but Sato was clearly an unpredictable element in the plan.
Although Sato was also a member of Team Rocket, he wasn't aligned with Hans and Rhodes's Poseidon faction.
For this reason, Rhodes chose to exclude him from the operation.
This was also why Hans had briefly felt the urge to eliminate Sato.
Team Rocket wasn't a fully united front, and as a member of the Poseidon faction, Hans was technically overstepping by accepting a request from another faction's member.
He felt compelled to protect his position and clarify his allegiance.
Generally, this sort of "friendly rivalry" between factions was ignored, but given the importance of this operation, the presence of a Team Rocket member from a rival faction was more of a hindrance.
In short, Sato was obstructing their plan, and if removing him would make things smoother, they wouldn't hesitate.
"No need. He's a smart guy and knows his place," Rhodes said, giving Hans's shoulder a reassuring pat. "As for you, keep a close eye on that exposed rat. You know the consequences if you fail."
Rhodes gestured to a Pelipper on the ground and then flew off with its help into the dark sky.
"Understood, sir. I'll complete the task, even if it costs me my life," Hans replied quickly, watching as Rhodes disappeared before he hurried back inside the ship.
On the top deck of the St. Louis, Rhodes descended slowly from the air with the help of Pelipper.
Waiting on the deck was a cold beauty with icy-blue hair flowing in the breeze, alongside her majestic Pidgeot.
"Well, well, well, who would've thought that kid would have you behind him, Sofia? It's been nearly three years since we all last gathered. How about we catch up properly? I've prepared some deep-sea fish, just the way you like," Rhodes said, eyes briefly revealing admiration before he masked it, stepping forward with a smile.
Rhodes was a tall, powerfully built man of mixed Kanto and Unovian descent, with his strikingly handsome face complemented by short black hair and deep blue eyes, making him the picture of a classic heartthrob.
Unfortunately, Sofia merely nodded at him, replying, "Good night, Rhodes," before mounting her Pidgeot and vanishing into the night sky, leaving him with a disappointed expression.
"She actually spoke to me this time… I guess you could call that progress," Rhodes muttered with a stiff smile, his expression softening to a wry grin as he watched her swiftly disappear into the night sky.
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