Pokemon: With Title System

Chapter 61: Your Rank Makes You Right

Whether Kanto could be saved or not, the Rockets at Vermilion Gym were certainly feeling anything but safe.

"Team at the port has been ambushed—requesting reinforcements!"

"The team near the Pokémon Center isn't responding—possible loss of contact."

"Backup team reports only signs of battle at the scene—no trace of the initial squad."

…

One piece of bad news after another reached the Vermilion Gym, spreading panic among the Rocket members.

Vermilion City was supposed to be their territory, yet overnight, the city had turned alien, as if enemies were lurking everywhere.

"Can anyone tell me where the enemy is? How many of them there are?!"

Lt. Surge slammed his fist on the armrest of his chair in frustration.

It had been two hours since the first team went missing, and a total of 13 three-man squads had now been taken out.

Despite this, the only clue they had was the suspicion that the attackers were the same "Masked Corps" who had hit Celadon City's Game Corner earlier.

Beyond that, they knew nothing about their enemy's numbers, strength, or Pokémon.

Facing Lt. Surge's anger, his subordinates remained silent, their fear palpable—not just fear of their furious boss, but also terror of the unknown enemy.

The attackers were like ghosts, ambushing teams with no survivors left behind.

Often, a squad would call for help, but by the time reinforcements arrived, neither the enemy nor their allies could be found.

"Should we… pull everyone back?" one subordinate suggested cautiously.

It wasn't a great idea, but concentrating their forces at the Gym seemed better than being picked off one by one.

They all believed that as long as Lt. Surge was there, the Gym would remain impenetrable.

But to Lt. Surge, this suggestion only fueled his anger.

"Ha? Pull back?"

Lt. Surge grabbed the subordinate by the collar.

"You're suggesting I abandon my captured men? Or that I admit defeat to cowards who won't even face me head-on?"

The subordinate, trembling under Lt. Surge's glare, quickly shook his head. "No… That's not what I meant, boss."

Lt. Surge shoved him aside. "If that's not what you meant, then shut up. This is my city, my turf! A mere Masked Corps has no right to act recklessly here."

Standing up, Lt. Surge slung his bandolier across his chest, hefted a rocket launcher, and turned to leave with his Electabuzz crackling with electricity at his side.

"This time, I'll handle it myself!"

None of his subordinates dared to stop him as he stormed out of the Gym, consumed by rage.

---

"Eevee, Tackle!"

"Eevee—!"

The small Eevee charged at a Machoke.

Seeing the tiny Pokémon, Machoke smirked disdainfully.

A little thing like that? It could crush her with one hand—

BANG!

A loud impact followed, and Machoke, wearing a stunned expression, was sent flying.

From a spectator's perspective, it was clear that one of Machoke's arms had been dislocated.

"Swift!"

Eevee's fluffy tail swung, releasing a flurry of star-shaped projectiles that rained down on the fallen Machoke.

Asahi calmly knocked out the opposing trainer with a punch, then gestured for Gardevoir and Green to handle the others. Together, they teleported the unconscious trainers back to the hotel to lock them up.

"That's number forty-two," Asahi counted silently.

They had taken down 14 Rocket squads in total.

Lt. Surge's reputation as one of Team Rocket's top executives and Vermilion City's status as his stronghold were well-earned.

Despite capturing so many Rocket members, there were still plenty left in the city, and those remaining were now more cautious, making them harder to catch.

"Eevee, stay still."

Asahi cradled Eevee, preparing to use his Viridian Power to restore her energy, when Green's shout interrupted him.

"Asahi! Lt. Surge just left the Gym!"

This was Green's assigned task—to notify Asahi the moment Lt. Surge left the Gym.

Turning, Asahi saw her holding a tablet, which was linked to a surveillance camera facing the Gym entrance.

On the screen, Lt. Surge, accompanied by his Electabuzz, was shown leaving the Gym, his expression thunderous.

"He's finally out…"

This was exactly what Asahi had been waiting for.

By targeting Rocket members across the city, his goal had always been to force Lt. Surge out of his fortress.

"I thought he'd hold out a bit longer…" Asahi remarked, shaking his head.

Lt. Surge was even more impatient than he had expected.

But that wasn't surprising—Lt. Surge was known for his lightning-fast temper. Had it been Koga instead, this strategy wouldn't have worked.

"What's next? Do we capture Lt. Surge now?" Green asked eagerly.

Asahi gave her a puzzled look.

"Why would we do that? Lt. Surge is a League Gym Leader!"

Green: "?"

Didn't you just tell me he's a Rocket executive?

Sensing her confusion, Asahi explained, "Those two things aren't contradictory. Until we have solid evidence, Lt. Surge is just a suspect. As International Police, we have no authority to revoke his status as a Gym Leader without due process."

"As law enforcement, we must operate strictly by the book. Until we obtain concrete proof of his crimes, he remains a member of the League," Asahi declared righteously.

Green: "…"

If she hadn't heard Asahi teaching her tricks to exploit work expenses and slack off just days ago, she might have believed he actually followed the rules.

"Your rank makes you right," Green muttered, playing along.

"So what's the plan? We can't just watch him, can we?"

Smiling, Asahi pulled a signed search warrant from his pocket as if performing a magic trick. "We're going to search the Vermilion Gym."

"A search warrant? That won't work right now…" Green doubted the Rockets would simply let them in.

"Of course I know that. But it's evidence! Proof that we're acting lawfully. If they attack us, it'll count as assaulting League officials."