Chapter 59: Team Rocket's Appearance
It had to be said, bringing Takuma along was indeed a wise choice.
The dense fog generated in the Toxic Swamp over many years was not only astonishingly toxic, but its thick, lingering nature also made it impossible for humans or Pokémon to see more than three meters ahead. In addition, the ground was constantly covered in soft mud, making walking quite strenuous. If it weren't for Takuma's extremely strong memory, allowing him to distinguish the route he had taken before based on different terrain features, the large contingent might not have been able to navigate out of this vast swamp even after three days and three nights.
After trekking through the dense fog for a good while, as the surrounding mist grew thinner and sunlight began to penetrate the path ahead, the group of people and Pokémon finally saw the end of the road.
"We're here!"
Takuma shouted excitedly.
Everyone and every Pokémon eagerly rushed out of the Toxic Swamp.
"This place Team Rocket chose is really good. This damned swamp alone is enough to deter many prying Pokémon or humans. It's truly a natural barrier."
Rio complained, from time to time shaking his feet to fling off the mud stuck to his fur.
Although he wasn't a Pokémon with "mysophobia," the dark, sticky mud from the swamp that had gotten all over him still made him feel quite uncomfortable.
After cleaning himself up, Rio finally looked up ahead:
A huge building stood before them. Its exterior walls were painted with camouflage, blending in well with the surrounding forest scenery. At a preliminary glance, the building was three stories high, with a glass roof. Looking a bit further, a large courtyard could be vaguely seen.
It was worth noting that the outer walls of this building showed traces of damage, as if they had been bombarded by some powerful force.
Souichi observed the experimental base intently for a while, then said softly, "We'll split up. Takuma, you've been inside before. You, Officer Jenny, and her team will go search for the location of your parents and the Pokémon Professor, then find an opportunity to rescue them."
"The rest of the team members and I, along with the big fellas, will feign a frontal assault on the experimental base to draw the enemy's attention for you."
"Remember, after rescuing the people, get away from the battlefield immediately. After all, you, your parents, and the Pokémon Professor have no combat ability."
"(Pokémon Language) I want to go too!"
Machop anxiously tugged at Souichi's jacket.
"Alright. Then let's begin our operation."
The group split into two. One group consisted of Takuma, Machop, Officer Jenny, and her police officers. Takuma was familiar with the internal structure of the experimental base, Machop was agile, and the police had rich experience in infiltration operations, so this group was tasked with sneaking into the experimental base to rescue the hostages.
The other group, consisting of Souichi and the other Pokémon Rangers, the Blastoise Boss, and the other Pokémon, possessed powerful combat strength. They would act as the frontal assault to attract fire, creating an opportunity for the other group to infiltrate.
After they split up, Rio also followed Souichi to break in through the main entrance of the experimental base.
"Screeech—" The two somewhat damaged large doors were pushed open, making a sound that set one's teeth on edge.
Upon entering the experimental base, what met their eyes were scattered broken instruments and piles of jumbled rocks and broken walls. The entire interior of the experimental base looked as if it had been swept by a hurricane, a complete mess.
"Click," "Click," "Click," "Click," "Click." The lights inside the experimental base abruptly lit up one by one, clearly illuminating Souichi's group and the Pokémon.
"It's a wonder you managed to find this place."
A frivolous voice sounded.
As Rio searched around for the source of the voice, a figure in a black cloak leaped down from above, then, supported by some unknown force, landed lightly in front of the group of people and Pokémon.
On the clothes concealed by the cloak, a large letter "R" was faintly visible.
"Who are you?"
Souichi said warily.
"Me?" The cloaked person pulled down his hood, revealing a pale face with crimson eyes. "I am an executive of Team Rocket. No, perhaps the future leader, a human who wields the power of a god, Jerrod."
According to the Shiny Magikarp's intelligence, it was a mysterious person just like this who had come to Crescent Lake and then summoned a Pokémon to wipe them all out.
Could it be this person?
Seeing the main culprit appear, Souichi's group and Blastoise's group of Pokémon all showed cautious expressions.
Only then did Rio realize that Jerrod's words were being transmitted directly into his mind, able to be understood simultaneously by humans and Pokémon without the need for any translation device.
"Surprised?" As if having seen through the thoughts in this little Pokémon's heart, Jerrod revealed a strange smile. "I can read any thought in your minds. Your little schemes cannot be hidden from me under the power of a god."
"(Human Language) Cut the crap, Team Rocket! Hurry up and confess, where are the people you kidnapped?"
A young Ranger couldn't help but step forward and question him.
Jerrod, however, ignored the Ranger's question. He closed his eyes slightly as if sensing something, and muttered to himself, "One, two, three... It seems quite a few little mice are sneaking around, up to no good."
Have Takuma and the others been discovered? Rio's heart tightened, and he became a little nervous.
"Don't worry," Jerrod opened his eyes, a sinister smile on his lips. "I've prepared a big gift for them..."
…
On the other side, Takuma, Officer Jenny, Machop, and their group, who had split off from Souichi and Rio's group, began to infiltrate from the courtyard on the side of the experimental base.
"This place... is really badly damaged."
Takuma looked at the courtyard, which was filled with trees snapped by great force and scattered wall fragments and rubble, and couldn't help but click his tongue.
"Clack." The police officers and Machop lightly moved aside the rocks blocking the path, revealing a breach leading into the experimental base.
Only after the group entered the experimental base did they discover that the degree of destruction inside was even greater than in the courtyard outside. There were glass shards and building materials everywhere, the doors to various rooms were in tatters, and the instruments inside the rooms were so damaged that their internal electronic structures were exposed.
"(Human Language) Just what kind of power caused this destruction..."
Officer Jenny looked at the chaotic scene before her. When she realized it was caused by some immense power, she felt a little breathless for a moment.
"Here, here, this is it."
Takuma carefully identified the location and found the room where he had been imprisoned. However, after the police searched the nearby rooms, they still found no clues.
"I remember that old grandpa seemed to have gone up this staircase?" Takuma tried hard to recall the Pokémon Professor's direction and pointed his finger at a relatively intact upward passage. "If they're not in these rooms, then I think they're on the upper level."
"(Human Language) Let's go."
Officer Jenny made a swift decision and led the group (and Pokémon) up the passage to the upper floor.
However, they did not discover that in a patch of shadow nearby, a pair of blood-red eyes was staring intently at them. A slender figure's tail twitched back and forth, filled with irritation and impatience.