Pokemon: With Title System

Chapter 63: How Dare You Assume My Identity?

With that growing unease, Lt. Surge rushed back to the Gym.

But even before stepping inside, he sensed something was wrong.

"…Where are the guards?"

Before leaving, he had specifically assigned some of his best men to guard the entrance.

Now, the entrance was deserted.

His anxiety deepened. Looking at Electabuzz beside him, he took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The Gym was eerily dark. All the lights had been shut off.

As he moved toward the command center, he suddenly noticed a faint glow and some strange noises coming from the battle arena.

"…Something's off."

Holding his Poké Ball tightly, he cautiously approached the arena.

It was his own Gym, yet for some reason, he felt like an intruder.

The irony was infuriating.

Reaching the entrance, he carefully avoided the traps he had set and pushed the door open.

The moment he stepped in—

Click.

The entire arena went dark.

Before he could react, three spotlights snapped on, converging on him, making him the sole focus of the room.

But he didn't panic. This was his domain.

Instead, he looked straight at the person sitting in his chair.

And saw… himself.

A man who looked exactly like him, down to the last detail.

The doppelgänger grinned.

"Hello, baby! I'm Lt. Surge! Welcome to my Vermilion Gym! Are you today's challenger?"

Lt. Surge's expression darkened.

"Do all members of your Masked Corps enjoy wearing other people's faces?"

His heart grew heavier. If this man was sitting here so boldly, it could mean only one thing—

The entire Gym had already fallen.

"NO, no, no! I'm the real Lt. Surge!" Asahi wagged a finger at the furious Gym Leader.

"Listen to how I talk—does that sound like someone who isn't the real Lt. Surge?"

Not even Giovanni himself would dare to assume otherwise.

"F***! I'M the real Lt. Surge, you bastard!"

Lt. Surge snapped, losing all patience.

Rather than continue this ridiculous exchange, he simply turned to his Electabuzz and commanded, "Electabuzz, use Thunderbolt! Fry that impostor!"

But just as Electabuzz prepared to attack, Asahi quickly called out:

"My electrifying Electabuzz, don't be deceived! I am your true master!"

Electabuzz, mid-action, hesitated.

Two identical trainers stood before it—one it had followed for years, but the other spoke just like its master. Which one was real?

Seeing Electabuzz's moment of confusion, Lt. Surge's blood pressure skyrocketed.

He wasn't mad about Asahi impersonating him—after all, he knew he was real.

But his own Pokémon hesitating? Now that was infuriating!

Fortunately, Electabuzz quickly sniffed the air, recognizing the familiar scent of its true trainer. Without hesitation, it turned and launched a powerful Thunderbolt at Asahi, restoring Lt. Surge's mood slightly.

"Pity."

Asahi sighed as he dodged. It was a shame he couldn't trick Electabuzz—Pokémon noses were just too sharp.

"You're so heartless, Electabuzz."

Despite his words, Asahi didn't waste a second signaling to Gardevoir.

Swish!

A shimmering Light Screen appeared, redirecting the Thunderbolt harmlessly away.

"Heh, finally dropping the act?" Lt. Surge sneered.

His eyes locked onto Gardevoir, and he quickly pieced things together.

"The 'Demon Ranger'… Asahi?"

"Busted already? Gardevoir, you really stand out too much…"

Asahi wasn't surprised.

A shiny Gardevoir was practically one of a kind in Kanto—trying to remain anonymous while using her was nearly impossible.

Wiping his face, he revealed his true appearance.

Lt. Surge frowned, recalling what he knew about Asahi. "I heard you used to be a legendary ranger for the League. Never expected you to betray them and join the Masked Corps!"

"As a Gym Leader of the Kanto League, I'll bring you to justice today!"

Even without Team Rocket's influence, he could still use the League's power against his opponent.

Hearing Lt. Surge continue his charade, Asahi clapped sarcastically.

If he truly was a Masked Corps member, he might have actually fallen for it.

Too bad for Lt. Surge—Asahi had proof.

"Drop the act, Lt. Surge. Your subordinates have already confessed."

"Your Rocket uniforms and equipment are all sitting in the underground warehouse. Go ahead, try explaining to the League why you're not part of Team Rocket."

Lt. Surge fell silent. He knew there was no arguing against that.

He had been too careless, leaving behind far too much evidence. But…

"And what gives you the right to judge me?" he shot back.

"I don't know much about this 'Masked Corps' of yours, but you're clearly not a League-sanctioned group."

"Go ahead, report me to the League. See if they believe me, a recognized Gym Leader, or you, a former League member who resigned long ago!"

Lt. Surge was confident.

He had spent years establishing deep connections in Vermilion City, both in the League and the underground.

As long as official League personnel didn't directly catch him red-handed, he could always talk his way out.

This was precisely why Lance had been hesitant to act against him.

Unfortunately for him…

"Lt. Surge, who do you think you are to assume my identity?" Asahi retorted.

Lt. Surge smirked—but as he looked at Asahi's calm expression, a bad feeling crept into his gut.

No way… could it be…?

A second later, Asahi casually raised a badge and a search warrant.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Asahi. I'm currently an officer of the International Police Kanto Division."

"Based on the evidence, you are confirmed to be colluding with Team Rocket."

"Lt. Surge, you're coming with me."

Lt. Surge responded with a wild laugh.

"You fool! Did you really think I was just stalling? Die!"

As he shouted, several miniature Voltorb silently rolled to Asahi's feet—then began to glow brightly.

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