Chapter Ninety-Five: The Final Trial

At this moment, Sachi’s cold and sinister expression did not waver, yet he feigned familiarity as he said, “Heh heh, Lord Orange, you must be joking... I was merely concerned that your daughter might misunderstand us, so I caught her first.”

Akin had originally begun to believe she had misunderstood—that her father had nothing to do with Team Rocket, and perhaps... he was here to stop them. Yet, upon hearing Sachi’s address, Akin became confused once more.

“Sachi, as far as I recall, the Boss never approved any operation at Mount Moon,” Orange stated bluntly, without hiding anything.

“Approval, approval... Team Rocket members often act independently, don’t we? I was simply interested in this ‘harvest,’ so I didn’t inform the others,” Sachi replied breezily, reducing what was actually a secret operation, carried out without Giovanni’s knowledge and with clear signs of rebellion, to just ‘personal initiative.’

Orange also noticed Sachi idly rolling several Poké Balls between his fingers, looking ready for battle at any moment.

Just then, a sudden commotion echoed through the passage, followed by—

“Listen up, everyone inside! You’re surrounded! Drop your Poké Balls immediately and release the Pokémon you’ve captured...” came the repeated shouts.

Clearly, Am’s earlier ‘report’ had worked!

“It seems the Junsha clan and the League’s lackeys have arrived. I won’t trouble you any longer—next time, I’ll explain everything here to Lord Orange... Miss Akin, apologies for my earlier rudeness.”

As Sachi spoke, he glanced coldly at Arian and Harry. “Withdraw!” he commanded.

The other Team Rocket members avoided looking at Orange; those who could walk helped those who couldn’t. Sachi’s Starmie, its central red gem flashing, enveloped them all in a psychic aura.

Under the cover of this psychic power, the light around the assembled Team Rocket members twisted and blurred, becoming nearly invisible to the naked eye; only the sound of departing footsteps could be heard!

“Is that... Camouflage?” Am muttered, his expression odd.

Normally, Camouflage was a rare move with a limited learnable range, but it shouldn’t produce this near-invisibility effect. It seemed this Starmie’s mastery of the skill had surpassed its usual limits!

Meanwhile, Orange made no attempt to stop Sachi, and leapt down from the high cavern entrance with remarkable agility—before Misty could react, he had already caught Akin.

“Thank you, it’s thanks to you that Sachi was forced out... Now isn’t the time to talk. If possible, please keep what happened here confidential,” Orange said, hoisting his daughter with one arm. With a leap, he grabbed hold of his Crobat with the other, and was swiftly carried out through the cave’s opening by the bat.

“Wait—” Misty wanted to ask more, but their figures had already vanished.

Soon after, the Junsha clan and League trainers surged into the Moon Festival Altar...

Am guessed Orange had allowed Sachi to escape because he didn’t want to be caught by the Junsha—after all, even capturing Sachi would bring trouble for Team Rocket!

Though the scene of devastation shocked the arriving Junsha and League trainers, they quickly assessed the situation.

“So you’re Am and Misty? Professor Giantwood told us about your report... Where are the Team Rocket members?”

A Junsha with short hair, dressed in the standard skirt uniform and looking quite capable, approached Am with questions.

Misty hesitated, then simply lowered her head and said nothing.

“When we heard your voices, they vanished—using invisibility,” Am replied honestly, though he didn’t mention their names.

“Invisibility?” The short-haired Junsha frowned, seeming to realize something.

“Yes, with Starmie, large-scale invisibility,” Am continued.

“I see...” The short-haired Junsha seemed to have guessed who it was, and promptly addressed Am, who was still suffering from the aftereffects of poisoning. “There are medics just ahead; we’ll get you out right away.”

“No need, I’m not that fragile—and... I still have Pokémon to catch!” Am pushed himself to his feet.

“Huh?” The short-haired Junsha was stunned.

Am looked rather battered—not only suffering from the lingering effects of poisoning, but also clearly injured. By rights, having just survived such an ordeal, he should hardly be thinking about catching Pokémon.

Moreover...

“Such opportunistic captures aren’t encouraged!” The short-haired Junsha surveyed the wounded and unconscious Pokémon scattered everywhere, and sternly reminded Am.

“No, the Pokémon I want to catch...” Am replied, searching the shadows around him.

The short-haired Junsha followed his gaze, but found nothing but confusion.

Suddenly, six or seven Gengars sprang out!

Lulalala—

Each one stuck out their tongue, pulling faces and frightening the Junsha and League trainers who were tending to the injured Pokémon.

Hehehe—

The Gengars, delighted by their successful prank, burst into laughter.

Everyone: ...

Ghost-type Pokémon’s mischief was always so untimely, so heedless of the mood—especially Gengar!

“So, the final test as promised... let’s get this over with!” Am extended his finger, sweeping from left to right.

Hmm, at a glance, it was hard to distinguish which Gengar had evolved from his familiar Gastly, unless it spoke or displayed its unique temperament.

Now, each Gengar wore a wide, grinning expression—making the task even trickier!

“Well, let’s do it this way then...”

“You must—”

“Pick ‘me’ out—”

“And you’ll have passed the test—”

“You only get one chance!”

Each Gengar spoke a line in turn.

The League trainers witnessing the scene couldn’t help but envy Am.

Just the prospect of a Gengar would excite anyone, though not enough to drool...

But a Gengar evolved at the Moon Festival Altar could be nurtured to reach Champion level!

Some even felt nervous for Am—though the test seemed a formality, if he picked wrong...

Am gazed at each in turn, then scratched his head. “Uh... Can I just pick whoever, and take them with me? You see, I did just save you all, right? I don’t absolutely have to have that one Gengar.”

Everyone: !

!

Are you not afraid “that Gengar” will cut ties with you on the spot?

At that moment, one Gengar jumped out and shouted, “You idiot! Explain yourself—‘not absolutely me’? Are these other stupid Gengars good enough for you?”

Not only did it reveal itself, but the other Gengars began to glare at it.

Seizing the opportunity, Am tossed a Poké Ball...

“Hey! That won’t work for capturing—wait, what?” The short-haired Junsha was about to warn Am that this wasn’t the way to catch a Pokémon, but—

The Poké Ball shook, then flashed with the brilliant light signaling a successful capture!