Chapter 156: Wallace You Can Always Trust Me, Everyone!
On the island housing the Team Rocket base, chaos had fully taken hold.
The fighting between Team Rocket and the League Trainers was intense.
"Dragon Pulse!"
Flygon's roar split the air as a concentrated beam of draconic energy tore forward.
The Mightyena twisted out of its path with sharp reflexes — but before it could reset, the furious Flygon had already closed the distance, raking forward with gleaming dragon claws.
Dragon Claw!
BOOM.
A heavy detonation. Mightyena was sent flying, managed to adjust its landing, dug all four paws in, and skidded back a considerable distance before stopping.
"Tch. Old man's got some real bite, huh!"
Archie bared his teeth, eyeing the figure across from him — an older man in a high-collar trench coat, bearing radiating dignity.
His posture was impeccable. The white beard put his age clearly in a certain range, but those sharp, commanding eyes stood out in stark contrast. And visible beneath the open coat — the faint outline of defined abdominal muscles.
This was Drake — head of the Hoenn Elite Four.
Beyond any doubt, the strongest Trainer in Hoenn behind its Champions.
"You were born in Hoenn — and you joined Team Rocket. You've truly sunk to this level, Archie."
Drake's voice was full and stern.
"Ha ha ha ha~ What are you even talking about?" Archie responded with a vicious grin.
"The Hoenn League already considered me a criminal anyway. Was I supposed to turn myself in and beg for mercy?"
He sneered.
"Team Rocket absorbed your Team Aqua. It is eating into this region's prosperity."
Drake's eyes went cold. His left hand raised another Poké Ball, and despite his age, every line of his stance was that of a fighter.
Another low dragon call. A Flygon spread its wings and rose.
"You have become their instrument — helping them prey on your own homeland and people. Archie, if you have even a shred of conscience left, then for the sake of Hoenn's future, you should know what you need to do."
Drake's voice was resonant. Team Aqua's original goal had been to expand the ocean — they could at least be framed as extremist environmentalists. But this was different.
"Ha ha ha ha~ Sorry, I genuinely have no idea what that means!"
Archie laughed with reckless abandon.
"Old man, save your speeches. I don't care about any of that."
He flashed a wide, fierce grin.
"All I know is that Team Rocket's a good situation, and it's given me the life I want. That's enough."
"I see."
Drake's expression went even colder.
"Then you deserve to be stopped."
He had dedicated himself to ensuring the people and Pokémon of this world could live better lives. Whenever he saw children and Pokémon together, he felt genuine joy rising in him.
Because a long time ago, he had fallen from a boat and nearly drowned — and a wild Dragonite had saved him, leaving him a memory he could never forget.
From that day, Drake had understood: Pokémon, nature, and humanity, all woven together, were what made this world.
To protect Hoenn. And to honor the Dragonite that had taught him that truth. Those were the reasons Drake had held his place on the Elite Four.
He would not allow any darkness or evil to stain this beautiful, harmonious land.
"Heh. Going to take me down, old man? Let's see if you can."
Archie's eyes held no fear whatsoever.
"Come on then. Lord Mammon gave me something special for this."
He opened an Ultra Ball.
"GRAGHH—!"
A deep, rumbling snarl. A massive black Pokémon crashed down in front of Archie, the enormous maw across its abdomen yawning open, two dark pincers flexing with menace.
Ultra Beast designation UB-05 Glutton — Guzzlord.
This was the reward Mammon had given Archie for his contribution in providing intelligence on Team Magma's base. Mammon had always been generous with his people.
"Guzzlord — an Ultra Beast?"
Drake's eyes narrowed. As a Trainer who followed new Pokédex entries closely, he recognized it.
"Ha ha ha ha~ Not bad, you actually know what it is! Then let's see firsthand what Guzzlord can do!"
Archie roared with laughter.
"I will be placing you under arrest today, Archie."
Drake responded to that swagger with a cold exhale.
Elsewhere.
Inside the base, a young man with a distinctive tuft of red hair strolled through the corridors with both hands in his pockets, utterly unbothered.
At his side, an Absol and a Mightyena.
The occasional Team Rocket member had tried to stop him. Each had been dealt with easily.
Until —
"Oh, finally. A real fish."
The red-haired young man's mouth curved as he spotted the cold, blond-haired young man appearing around a corner ahead.
"If I remember right, your name's Gladion?"
Gladion — senior Team Rocket executive. Listed on the League's priority watch register.
"I'm Glacia of the Hoenn Elite Four. Lucky timing — I'm actually curious how you measure up."
"You'll regret this." Gladion said it flatly.
"I don't think so. This whole island is surrounded — you've got nowhere to run."
Glacia gave him a sharp, deliberately unpleasant smile.
"Not a single one of you is getting out."
But what surprised Glacia was that the blond young man's expression hadn't shifted in the slightest. He simply opened two Poké Balls.
Silvally and Zoroark materialized in front of him.
"You're not concerned?" Glacia asked, genuinely puzzled. "We have this island completely surrounded. You're all trapped."
"So?"
Gladion asked it without inflection.
Glacia blinked.
"It won't matter. Lord Mammon is on his way. You have no chance of winning."
"Ha?" Glacia's brow went up.
"And in the meantime — taking down high-value opponents like you will earn me quite a few merit points before he arrives."
"??? "
Glacia stared at him, somewhere between bewildered and laughing.
"Kid, you've got a big mouth for someone your size. You think you can beat me? That's quite some arrogance."
Glacia considered herself at least one of the Hoenn Elite Four. She knew this cold little blond was also Elite-Four-tier — but so what?
"It's not arrogance. Two more Elite Four members on top of you wouldn't be a match for me."
Gladion said it with complete calm.
Though if he could take down two more Elite Four-level opponents on top of her, the merit point haul would be substantial. Enough to exchange for the Moltres from headquarters.
Then he'd finally have a legendary Pokémon as his main fighter.
(Gladion was unaware that Silvally also technically counted as a legendary Pokémon.)
"Ha. Sounds like I'm being underestimated."
Glacia's smile went cold.
She didn't particularly care about winning and losing in the abstract — but context mattered.
"I swear on this magnificent hair of mine — I will beat you today, you insufferable little brat!"
Gladion's eyes fell on the tuft of red hair in question, and he went quiet.
Well. I suppose I'll just have to oblige.
The battle between Team Rocket and the Hoenn League raged on.
But it was unmistakably the League side gaining the upper hand. The bulk of Team Rocket's forces here were former Aqua and Magma members, and their overall strength was average. The League had sent elites. The scales were tipping.
"Mammon still hasn't appeared."
On Wailord's back, some distance from the island, Steven and the others observed.
"Glacia got intel from Gladion that Mammon is already on his way." Steven was composed.
"Though Glacia has already called for backup. She's not a match for Gladion. Apparently he also insulted her."
Wallace's expression was strange, because according to Glacia's voice message, Gladion had forcibly cut her hair.
Her pride and joy.
Her voice had cracked.
"Team Rocket! Absolutely evil!"
Wallace's righteous indignation would have been more convincing if he could stop smiling.
"Drake is still doing well — he's got Archie mostly suppressed."
"But if Gladion and Archie link up, Drake probably won't be able to hold both of them."
Steven thought it through.
"Then I'll go help!"
Nemona was practically vibrating. She had been waiting for a chance to fight.
"Stay, Nemona. Wallace — go. Get that base under control as fast as possible."
Steven's gaze rested on Nemona for a moment, then he made the call.
Wallace was more useful here anyway. Against Kagura and Caitlin, Wallace ended up captured regardless — better to send him against Gladion and Archie.
"Understood. Leave it to me." Wallace stood up with serene confidence.
"Be careful. Don't let anyone slip through."
"Relax — you can always trust me, Steven!"
Wallace smoothed his hair and smiled.
The reaction from Cynthia and the others was immediate and slightly pained.
Steven nearly lost it entirely.
Please. I'm begging you. Stop tempting fate.
"You'll be fine, right? Wallace." Steven couldn't quite stop himself from checking.
"What are you implying, Steven? Are you saying I can't handle a few executive-rank opponents?"
Wallace was genuinely offended that his closest friend was questioning him. He was not happy.
Though the last few times, he had in fact been captured — but who had those battles been against?
Different circumstances entirely.
"Go on, then."
Steven thought about it and conceded the point. None of Team Rocket's top-level heavyweights had shown themselves yet. Against just Gladion and Archie, Wallace should be fine.
"Wait for the good news, everyone!"
Wallace released Gyarados and soared toward the island, filled with absolute conviction.
Ridiculous. He was Wallace, former Hoenn Champion, now with Mega Evolution. There was nothing to worry about.
"With Wallace there, the base is as good as taken."
"Everyone — I have a bad feeling. Don't you think there are a few too many senior executives in this base?"
Giovanni spoke up, brow furrowed.
Their target had been Maxie — capture him, use him to force Mammon out, or interrogate him for Kagura and Caitlin's whereabouts.
But Maxie hadn't appeared yet, and in the meantime Gladion and Archie had both shown up.
Was that too convenient? Were two senior executives just happening to be at this particular base at this particular time?
"You're right." The group registered the same uneasy note.
It was almost as if Team Rocket had known they were coming. As if they'd arranged a welcoming party.
"Regardless — we're already committed." Steven turned his gaze aside.
Maybe Team Rocket had lured them here deliberately. But that could work both ways.
If they could seize this moment and sweep up the majority of Team Rocket Hoenn's senior executive roster in one operation, the branch would be effectively neutered.
A savage dragon's cry rolled in from the distance. A Flygon with blood-red wings came sweeping in, circling overhead.
A dark-haired girl sat cross-legged on its back, looking down at Steven's group from above.
"Hey there~ Champions of the League. Good afternoon~"
She grinned and tilted her head in an easy greeting.
Kagura — Team Rocket senior executive.
(End of chapter)
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