Team Rocket's Second-in-Command!

While Luo Yuan was battling Drake, Team Rocket had already begun their operations in other parts of the S.S. Anne.

---

The Ballroom

A grand ball was in full swing, with nearly all passengers gathered in the lavish hall.

Suddenly—bang!

The ballroom doors were kicked open, and every head turned toward the entrance.

A large group of Team Rocket operatives stormed into the hall with their Pokémon.

"This ship is now under Team Rocket's control! No one move, and we won't harm you!"

"Team Rocket? Why should we listen to you?" A trainer, clearly not from Kanto, stepped forward defiantly.

He threw out a Poké Ball. "Toxicroak, Sucker Punch!"

But before his Pokémon could react, the squad leader's Crobat flared its wings with a brilliant white glow, darting forward in a blur and slamming Toxicroak into the wall.

Thud!

"Toxicroak!" The trainer barely had time to call out before Crobat's wing struck him as well, knocking him out cold.

Chaos erupted in the ballroom as others scrambled back.

Watching with satisfaction, the Team Rocket captain calmly pulled out a megaphone.

"Everyone, please cooperate and stay here. Don't play hero—unless you want to end up like him."

---

Below Deck

A squad of Team Rocket operatives crept toward the S.S. Anne's engine room, treading lightly.

This area was heavily guarded, with most of the ship's security stationed here. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The team leader peered through the glass in the door, surveying the room, then nodded to the team behind him.

One of the operatives stepped forward, cracked the door open slightly, and rolled a Poké Ball inside.

"Huh? What's that?" One of the engineers paused, noticing the Poké Ball.

Some of the more seasoned crew members instantly sensed trouble and reached for their own Poké Balls.

In an instant, the Poké Ball popped open.

A flash of white light revealed a Weezing.

"Weeez..."

"Oh no..."

Realizing the danger too late, the crew scrambled to grab their Pokémon.

But it was already over.

Thick, suffocating Smog billowed from Weezing, filling the room.

Coughing and sputtering, the engineers and security guards staggered outside, eyes streaming, only to be subdued easily by the waiting Team Rocket operatives.

"That was too easy. Such poor security—what a bunch of useless grunts..." The Team Rocket captain kicked at one of the furious, yet helpless crew members, chuckling as he pulled out his radio.

"Reporting in: Group Two's mission is complete. Zero casualties."

---

Captain's Cabin

A Pelipper crashed against the wall, defeated by Hypno's psychic power.

"Pelipper!" The ship's captain, an older man, cried out as he moved forward to help.

But before he could do anything, a Beedrill drifted forward, its gleaming stingers inches from his throat.

"Don't move, or I can't guarantee what happens next."

Swallowing nervously, the captain looked around at his subdued crew members, all already defeated.

Reluctantly, he nodded. "Just... please, don't hurt my crew."

"Relax, I'm not interested in you."

The Team Rocket captain gestured for his operatives to bind the captain and his crew before speaking into his radio.

"Captain's cabin secured. One injury, able to continue fighting."

---

Drake remained oblivious to all that was unfolding elsewhere on the ship—or rather, even if he knew, he had no time to spare.

Altaria had been on the defensive since the start of the battle.

With eerie agility, Dragapult circled Altaria, striking with quick, low-powered moves that wore it down bit by bit.

Like a cat toying with a mouse, Dragapult's constant, pestering attacks were piling on the damage.

"Al-ta!" Altaria cried out as another Dual Wingbeat struck, a pained sound escaping it.

Drake's mind weighed heavy.

"This guy's stronger than the intel suggested!"

The fact that someone could pressure his Altaria in a direct confrontation meant this opponent was more formidable than anticipated.

But he wasn't out of options yet.

From what he'd read, the Tech Hunter had only ever been seen using a single Dragapult.

Some in the Hoenn League believed he didn't have any other strong Pokémon.

And for this mission, Drake had brought his best team.

His hand slid toward the next Poké Ball on his belt.

He didn't want to do this, but the mission mattered more than his pride. Against criminals like these, battle etiquette was the last thing on his mind.

"Go, Salamence!"

With a streamlined body, crescent-shaped crimson wings, and a piercing glare, Salamence's very presence exuded menace.

With a two-on-one setup, Drake felt victory was within his grasp.

Yet Luo Yuan's face didn't show any tension; instead, he wore an expression that seemed to say, Finally.

He'd been waiting for this moment.

"You finally sent out a second Pokémon? Show me what an Elite can do. Dragapult, Dragon Darts!"

At Luo Yuan's command, the Dreepy perched on Dragapult's head shrieked with excitement as they were launched, whistling through the air toward Salamence.

"Raaaargh!"

Salamence let out a furious roar.

Stronger than Altaria, Salamence was Drake's team anchor.

Without waiting for an order, Salamence retaliated on its own, unleashing a blazing Flamethrower at the incoming Dreepy.

But Salamence had no experience fighting Dragapult.

It had assumed Dragon Darts was an ordinary move.

In reality, the launched Dreepy were very much alive.

Faced with the flames, the Dreepy twisted mid-air, dodging the Flamethrower by curving into arcs and skirting around the fiery blast.

Drake's face shifted. "Salamence, be careful! Altaria, back it up!"

Salamence raised its wings in defense, and Altaria fired a Dragon Pulse to intercept the incoming Dragon Darts.

Only one Dreepy was deflected by the Dragon Pulse.

The other shot straight through, hitting Salamence squarely on the wing.

"Graaaargh!"

Salamence let out a pained howl.

Barely out for three seconds, and it was already injured.