"Huff... huff..."
Misty snuggled in Roy's arms, her body drenched in fragrant sweat.
Her thin nightgown had long been crumpled and was hanging halfway off her body.
The black silk stockings were still on her legs, but they were now riddled with several holes.
"You big meanie... using so much force..." Misty feebly punched Roy's chest, her voice soft and weak.
Roy smiled and held her tighter.
"Wasn't this my reward from you?"
"I didn't tell you to be so... so crazy..." Misty buried her face in Roy's chest, her voice muffled: "I told you to be gentle..."
Despite her words, her arms were tightly wrapped around Roy's waist.
She was clearly saying one thing but feeling another.
The two of them embraced quietly for a while.
Only the sound of light breathing and the waves from outside the window remained in the room.
It took a good while before Misty recovered her strength.
She looked up, her watery eyes gazing at Roy.
"Roy..."
"Hmm?"
"Thank you for giving me Horsea today," Misty said seriously. "I really, really love it."
Roy pinched her cheek. "As long as you like it."
Misty hesitated, and her face turned red again.
She reached out to the bedside table and picked up the black lace panties that Roy had torn off and tossed there earlier.
"Do you really like this style?"
Roy took them and looked.
"I do," he said truthfully. "It's very sexy."
"You can wear them more often in the future..."
"In your dreams!" Misty gave Roy a sidelong glance, but her eyes were full of smiles. "Today was a reward. If rewards happen too often, you won't find it exciting anymore."
"Don't I know a big pervert like you? If I wear black today, you'll want red tomorrow, and purple the day after... slowly pushing your luck."
"When that time comes, ordinary styles won't satisfy you, and you'll want something even more stimulating."
Misty blushed as she spoke.
But she still feigned composure, putting on an "I know everything" look.
"So, we have to take it slow. You, just focus on training your Pokemon and increasing your strength."
"As for these matters..." Misty's voice clearly trembled when she said that word, but she forced herself to finish, "this young lady will arrange them for you!"
After finishing, she felt embarrassed herself and buried her face in Roy's chest.
Although she was boasting—since she didn't really understand these things—she had a support group: her three older sisters.
The four sisters would plot together.
It would be equivalent to Roy going one versus four.
Could he win? Hmph! She would definitely have him wrapped around her finger.
Looking at Misty pretending to be an experienced veteran, Roy felt incredibly warm inside.
He leaned down and kissed Misty's forehead.
"Then I shall look forward to it."
"Hmph... you'd better..."
Misty nuzzled Roy contentedly, like a kitten.
They chatted for a while longer, with Misty doing most of the talking.
She talked about her training plans, how to raise Horsea, and how she wanted to form a powerful Water-type team in the future.
Roy listened quietly, occasionally responding.
The night grew deep.
As Misty spoke, her voice became smaller and smaller.
Finally, she fell into a deep sleep in Roy's arms.
Roy gently covered her with the quilt, held her, and closed his eyes as well... The next morning.
When Roy woke up, Misty was still wrapped around him like an octopus.
The nightgown had long since been kicked who-knows-where.
Roy gently moved her aside and got up to wash.
By the time he changed and went downstairs, Delia was already preparing breakfast.
"Morning, Roy," Delia smiled gently. "Where's Misty?"
"Still sleeping."
"Then let her sleep a bit longer." Delia's eyes held a hint of ambiguity. "She must have been... exhausted yesterday, right?"
Roy gave a dry cough.
Delia didn't tease him further and turned back to continue frying eggs.
But a gentle smile remained on the corners of her mouth.
Misty finally came downstairs rubbing her eyes just as breakfast was nearly ready.
She had changed into casual clothes, but her walking posture was clearly a bit awkward.
"Morning..." she greeted with a red face.
Delia considerately didn't ask questions and just invited her to eat.
At the dining table, Roy spoke about his plans for the day.
"I need to handle something. You two wait for me at the villa."
As soon as he finished, Misty and Delia put down their chopsticks simultaneously.
"I'm going with you," Misty said.
"I'm going too," Delia also spoke.
The two looked at each other, both seeing the worry in the other's eyes.
Roy was stunned for a moment. "No need, I'm just handling a small matter. It's not dangerous."
"Liar. You've gone out for two days in a row; it's definitely not a small matter." Misty stared straight at Roy.
Delia also nodded and said gently but firmly, "Roy, let us follow. Even if we can't help, at least... we want to be by your side."
Roy looked at the two of them.
Misty's gaze was stubborn.
Delia's gaze was gentle but brooked no refusal.
Both women had been marked by him; they had long since developed a special intuition regarding him.
"Alright," Roy compromised. "But you must promise me to follow my arrangements."
"Mhm!" Misty smiled immediately.
"Good." Delia also breathed a sigh of relief.
After breakfast, the three set off.
Misty brought Horsea along; although its injuries hadn't fully healed, it could already move around a bit... First stop, the City Hall.
Lampurchi City's economic development department was located in the government building in the city center.
Roy led the two into the lobby and went directly to the office responsible for approving tourism projects.
The person who received them was a middle-aged man wearing glasses, surnamed Sato.
"Regarding the offshore Paradise Resort project?" Sato pushed up his glasses and took out a file. "This project is a key characteristic industry supported by this city. All procedures are complete."
Roy asked directly, "In the project's environmental impact report, how was the relocation of the Tentacool group handled?"
"This..." Sato flipped through a few pages of the document. "The report shows that the project party has commissioned a professional agency to properly settle the local Water-type Pokemon."
"What kind of 'proper settlement'?"
"That is a trade secret, and it is inconvenient for us to disclose," Sato smiled formally. "But we can guarantee that everything complies with League regulations."
"There are many uncontrollable factors in the wild behavior of Pokemon. The project party has fulfilled its responsibilities."
A very complete set of rhetoric.
Roy knew that continuing the conversation was useless.
These departments had clearly been taken care of by Old Woman Jin.
He stood up. "Thank you, sorry for the trouble."
...The three walked out of the lobby.
As they passed the bulletin board, Roy suddenly stopped.
The bulletin board was covered with tourism posters for Lampurchi City and various economic development reports.
One document caught his attention.
[Lampurchi City Annual Work Report — Superior Guiding Unit: Vermilion City]
Roy's eyes lit up.
That's right.
Lampurchi City didn't have a Gym and was administratively under the jurisdiction of Vermilion City.
And Vermilion City... had just gone through that business with Lt. Surge.
Now, all official institutions in Vermilion City were incredibly sensitive to Pokemon-related issues.
Roy immediately had an idea.
He took out his communicator and scrolled to Vermilion City's Jenny's number.
After resolving the Lt. Surge incident last time, the two had exchanged contact information.
The call was quickly connected.
"Hello? Roy?" Jenny's voice came through. "Why are you contacting me all of a sudden?"
"Officer Jenny, I need your help with something."
Roy briefly explained the situation.
He emphasized the construction party's use of chemical agents and dispersal devices, and the potential for a large-scale Pokemon riot.
On the other end of the line, Jenny's voice became serious.
"Chemical agents? Are you sure?"
"Horsea saw it with its own eyes; it was injured while trying to avoid the agents."
Jenny was silent for a few seconds.
"Alright, I believe you," she said. "I will immediately report this to the Vermilion City government and the League. Such a malicious incident must be strictly investigated."
"Thank you."
"No need to thank me, it's my duty." Jenny paused. "Besides... I haven't properly thanked you for the last incident."
She was referring to the Lt. Surge incident.
Hanging up the phone, Roy breathed a sigh of relief.
With Jenny's intervention, the official side of the problem was resolved.
Next was the Tentacool side... They arrived at that area of the sea again.
The weather was great today, the sun was bright, and the sea was calm.
But Roy could feel that it wasn't calm underwater.
His Aura Power spread out, sensing a large number of Tentacool gathered in the depths.
They were restless, filled with anger and unease.
Roy released Horsea.
"Little guy, it's up to you."
Horsea nodded, took a deep breath, and dove into the water.
Misty nervously grabbed Roy's arm.
"Can it do it?"
"Trust it," Roy said.
A few minutes later, the sea surface began to churn.
One by one, Tentacool surfaced.
Densely packed, there were at least a hundred of them.
Their tentacles swayed in the seawater, their eyes staring warily at the three people on the speedboat.
Misty subconsciously took a step back but still forced herself to stand beside Roy.
Delia also clenched her hands but kept a calm expression.
At this moment, Horsea swam out from the jellyfish swarm.
Beside it was a Tentacool that was clearly much larger.
This Tentacool's tentacles were longer, its color deeper, and the red gems on its head were shining brightly.
It was the Jellyfish representative.
Horsea swam to the side of the speedboat, making gurgling sounds.
[This is the representative... I've told it everything you said...]
Roy nodded and looked at the Tentacool.
He directly expanded his Aura Power to establish a mental connection with the other party.
[Human,] the Tentacool's voice was cold, [Horsea said you can help us. But why should I believe you?]
[Because I am not like those people,] Roy responded calmly. [They only want to drive you away and occupy your home. I want to find a solution that both sides can accept.]
[A solution?] The Tentacool Leader's tentacle suddenly lashed out. [Our home has already been destroyed! The water is polluted, and everyone is poisoned and injured! What solution is there?]
Roy could feel its intense anger.
It was the pain of a destroyed home and harmed kin.
[I can guarantee that the people who released the chemical agents will be punished,] Roy said. [I have already contacted the League, and they will investigate this matter thoroughly.]
[Punished? What use is punishment? Can our home be restored?]
[I can fight to have a protected area designated to help you recover,] Roy continued to negotiate. [Furthermore, if you attack now, the League will view you as a threat. By then, those who come won't be negotiators, but Trainers and law enforcement.]
These words were very blunt.
The Tentacool fell silent.
The swarm behind it began to stir, tentacles waving and emitting a low hum.
They were communicating.
After a long while, the Tentacool spoke again.
[How can you guarantee that what you say is true?]
[Three days,] Roy gave a deadline. [Give me three days. If there is no progress after three days, you can act, and I will not stop you.]
The Tentacool stared at Roy.
Aura Power allowed it to feel Roy's sincerity.
Combined with Horsea's guarantee and the friendly aura emitted by Roy's Friend of Nature... finally, it nodded.
[Fine, I will believe you this once,] the Tentacool said. [Three days. But if we don't see results after three days...]
It didn't finish, but the meaning was clear.
"Rest assured," Roy promised solemnly.
The Tentacool Leader took a deep look at Roy and then led the swarm to slowly sink back into the sea.
The sea surface returned to calm.
"Did... did it work?" Misty asked blankly.
"For now." Roy exhaled. "Next, it depends on Officer Jenny's efficiency."
Delia gently held Roy's hand.
"You've already done very well."
Roy smiled, recalled Horsea, and started the speedboat to head back.
Now that both sides were settled, he just had to wait for notification from Vermilion City... Late that night.
At a secluded rocky beach along the Lampurchi City coastline.
A dilapidated small boat quietly pulled ashore.
Three people and a Meowth jumped off the boat.
"Jessie, why do we have to come in the middle of the night?" James complained. "It's pitch black; I can't see anything."
"Idiot!" Jessie slapped him on the head. "That old lady said there are patrols during the day! Can we be seen using 'three cup vinegar' to catch Tentacool?"
"That's true..." James rubbed his head and pulled several large bottles from his bag.
The bottles were filled with a transparent liquid.
"This is my specially made 'three cup vinegar'!" James introduced proudly. "It's specifically for soft-bodied Water-type Pokemon; it can make them temporarily unconscious, but it's absolutely harmless!"
Meowth leaned over and sniffed.
"It smells sour, meow."
"Of course!" James said. "Alright, stop talking and get to work! The more we catch, the bigger the reward!"
Jessie's eyes gleamed. "And the unconscious Tentacool can be sold on the black market! That's another huge sum of money!"
"We're going to be rich, rich!"
The trio immediately sprang into action.
They rowed the small boat to the edge of the sea area where the Tentacool group was active.
James opened a bottle cap and poured it into the sea.
The liquid diffused rapidly.
A few minutes later, the sea surface began to churn.
One by one, Tentacool floated up, their tentacles swaying weakly, clearly having fallen unconscious.
"It works! It works so well!" James danced with excitement.
Jessie and Meowth quickly took out specially made nets and began to scoop them up frantically.
One, two, three... the cages on the small boat were soon filled with unconscious Tentacool.
"Hahaha! We're rich now!" Jessie counted the number in the cages, her eyes nearly turning into currency symbols.
"Wait, there are more over there!" James pointed to another patch of sea.
The trio rowed the small boat, continuing to pour "three cup vinegar" and continuing to scoop them up.
They were completely immersed in the joy of making a fortune and didn't notice at all that deep under the sea, a special Tentacool was expanding abnormally... The Team Rockets trio was still frantically scooping.
"The 47th one!" James recorded excitedly.
"Quick, there's another group over there!" Jessie pointed ahead.
Meowth suddenly pricked up its ears.
"Wait, meow... did you guys hear something?"
"A sound? What sound?" Jessie said dismissively. "Get back to work!"
Meowth looked at the sea surface suspiciously.
It felt like... something was moving underwater.
And that something... was huge.
But Jessie and James had already rowed the boat forward.
Meowth had no choice but to follow.
Just then.
The water beneath the boat suddenly began to churn violently.
"Eh? Are there waves?" James was stunned.
"No... there's something underneath!" Jessie's expression changed.
The trio looked down at the sea surface simultaneously.
Then, they saw a massive shadow rapidly rising from the deep sea.
The size of that shadow... was bigger than their boat!
"What... what is that, meow?" Meowth was so scared its fur stood on end.
The next second.
The sea surface exploded!
An unimaginably massive Tentacruel burst out of the water!
"A mon... monster!!" James screamed.
Jessie was also scared witless. "Is... is this a Tentacool? How can it be so big?"
The Giant Tentacruel's eyes were fixed squarely on the small boat.
It saw its unconscious kin on the boat.
It saw those three hateful characters.
A massive tentacle suddenly rose up and then slammed down fiercely.