Team Rocket's Second-in-Command!

Whatever these Pokémon hunters had in mind, they were clearly underestimating Team Rocket.

By poaching on Team Rocket's turf in Kanto, they were essentially throwing down the gauntlet.

If they managed to get away unscathed, it would be a slap in the face to Team Rocket.

As executives, both Luo Yan and Sabrina had a duty to remind them who really ruled Kanto.

"How should we approach this?" Sabrina asked.

"No need for disguises," Luo Yan replied. "With you here, I won't even need to use my main team. Afterward, we'll call Matori to handle the cleanup."

With only about a dozen hunters below, there was no need to overdo it.

Luo Yan reached for Gyarados's Poké Ball, intending to unleash it and have it blast the hunters' Pokémon with a Hyper Beam.

But just as he was about to act, a voice suddenly rang out below.

"Arcanine, Flamethrower!"

A jet of flame shot toward the hunters, directed at the man in charge.

Hearing the familiar voice, Luo Yan looked over and, as expected, saw Gary commanding his Arcanine in an attack against the poachers.

"Gary?"

Luo Yan hadn't expected him to arrive so quickly, let alone immediately engage the hunters.

The hunters reacted just as fast. Seeing the approaching flames, they quickly issued a command to counter.

"Ursaring, Protect!"

Whoosh!

A strong gust swept through as a hulking, fierce-looking Ursaring stepped forward. Raising its arm, a blue protective shield appeared, blocking Arcanine's flames.

"Where'd this little brat come from? Did nobody teach you to mind your own business?"

The hunter sneered, but his eyes quickly turned from anger to greed when he noticed Gary's Arcanine.

In the black market, an Arcanine could fetch a hefty price.

"Forget the Kangaskhan! Get that Arcanine!"

The Kangaskhan could wait; taking out that Arcanine was now the priority.

With a swipe of its paw, Ursaring extinguished the leftover flames and charged toward Gary's Arcanine.

"Arcanine, use Agility!"

"Arroo!"

Arcanine dashed forward, its speed leaving Ursaring's swipes hitting only air.

A small grin appeared on Gary's face.

Ursaring was far too slow to catch up with Arcanine.

But just as he was about to counterattack, a sudden glint flashed through the air.

Arcanine let out a pained cry as one of its front legs buckled, sending it tumbling across the ground.

"Arcanine!"

Gary was caught off guard, unable to figure out what had happened.

From his vantage point above, however, Luo Yan could see everything clearly. One of the hunters' Arbok had launched a Poison Sting, hitting Arcanine's front paw.

At the same time, Ursaring, along with a Mightyena and a Crawdaunt, charged at Gary, who barely managed to call out Exeggutor and Wartortle in response.

Mightyena's relentless attacks had Exeggutor backing up frantically, its usual dopey expression now replaced by one of panic.

Wartortle was faring no better, retreating into its shell as it was sent rolling across the ground by Ursaring's powerful strike.

Facing an overwhelming disadvantage, Gary was struggling.

Just as he was beginning to regret his impulsiveness and was considering calling for help, a familiar voice rang out, as if it were a lifeline.

"Gyarados, Hyper Beam!"

A blinding beam of white light burst across the field.

Boom!

A massive explosion sounded, followed by a powerful shockwave.

A Nidoking that had been charging toward the poisoned Arcanine was blown off its feet by the blast.

"Luo Yan!"

Gary turned and, seeing Gyarados, felt a surge of relief and excitement.

"Unbelievable!"

The hunters grumbled as they realized another trainer had arrived. Right when they were about to take down the kid, now he had backup? Their leader, Ryuji, clenched his fists in frustration.

"Everyone, take out that Gyarados!"

"Yes, boss!"

The hunters regrouped and commanded their Pokémon to swarm Gyarados.

Their disorganized assault only highlighted their lack of coordination.

Team Rocket and League trainers, even when outnumbered, usually formed tactical groups to support one another. This ragtag crew of hunters had no such order.

Luo Yan released Charmeleon and Dragonair.

"Charmeleon, use Fire Blast! Dragonair, Dragon Pulse!"

The combination of Fire Blast and Dragon Pulse erupted, throwing the charging Pokémon into disarray.

Without discipline, they trampled over one another, turning the field into chaos.

Their leader, Ryuji, seemed more thrilled than upset as he caught sight of Dragonair.

"Ha! I'd heard rumors about Dratini being in the Safari Zone. Catching a Dragonair would be just as good!" he yelled.

He signaled for his Ursaring to launch an attack.

"Ursaring, Hyper Beam! Bring that Dragonair down!"

With a fierce roar, Ursaring unleashed a Hyper Beam toward Dragonair.

"Dragonair, use Agility!"

Dragonair deftly maneuvered, slipping through the air to dodge Ursaring's attack.

Meanwhile, Gyarados and Charmeleon targeted the hunters' vehicles.

Each Fire Blast from Charmeleon sent a vehicle up in flames, causing the hunters' eyes to blaze with fury. That was their money going up in smoke!

Sensing their frustration boiling over, Luo Yan knew it was time. He exchanged a glance with Sabrina.

Catching his cue, Sabrina's eyes glinted as she focused, psychic energy shimmering around her.

Before the hunters could react, all of their Poké Balls detached from their belts, floating upward in Sabrina's psychic grasp.

"What the hell—my Poké Balls!"

"It's a psychic attack!"

"That woman... she's Sabrina, the Saffron City Gym Leader!"

One of the hunters finally recognized her.

In an instant, their anger gave way to terror, as if they'd just been doused with ice water.

Before coming to Kanto, they'd done their homework on its most dangerous figures, and Sabrina's name was high on that list.

The rumors of her turning intruders into dolls weren't just urban legends; they were testimonies from those who'd once dared to challenge her Gym and had lived to tell the tale.

Now, seeing Sabrina, with all of their Poké Balls held in her grasp, the hunters felt their courage evaporate.

Their first instinct was to run.

But—

"Where do you think you're going?"

Freed from the pressure of their leader, Gary stepped forward, releasing all of his Pokémon to block the hunters' escape path.

---

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