Upon hearing the distinct hollow echo, Ash imdiately rushed over in excitent and pressed his ear tightly against the floor, completely ignoring how dirty it was.
The young noblewoman from Sinnoh, on the other hand, was much more composed. Though equally excited, she maintained her poise—unlike Ash, who was practically bouncing around like a wild monkey.
Before long, Ash managed to pry open a floor tile, revealing a keypad-protected chanism beneath.
"It needs a password?"
Caitlin leaned in, shining a flashlight over the device, her expression falling in disappointnt.
Both Ash and Caitlin found themselves at a loss, instinctively turning their gazes toward Ryuuske.
"Why are you looking at ? I'm not so hacking expert."
Ryuuske scoffed. Cracking passwords wasn't his forte—if Green were here, it'd be a different story. That girl practically radiated "tech genius" vibes.
"Then how do we get down?"
Ash scratched his head. Quick thinking in battle and Pokémon strategy were his strengths, but high-tech gadgets left him stumped.
"Just have Pikachu fry the circuit board."
Ryuuske shrugged, offering the most straightforward—and destructive—solution.
"Great idea! Pikachu, you're up!"
"Pika—!"
The Electric Mouse perched on Ash's shoulder let out a cry, and in the next instant, a blinding surge of electricity crackled through the dark cargo hold. With a sharp "ZZZT!" of short-circuiting electronics, the floor panel shuddeAsh before gears began grinding into motion.
Ryuuske glanced at Pikachu. This one diffeAsh slightly from the one in his mories—not in appearance or personality, but in sheer battle prowess. Its mastery of moves and combat instincts were on another level.
The mont the hidden door opened, Ash imdiately bolted down the staircase without a second thought. Caitlin shot Ryuuske an excited glance before eagerly following.
Kids will be kids. Destroying the keypad is basically announcing our presence.
Ryuuske rolled his eyes. He couldn't care less about turning stealth into a full-blown invasion. As for Caitlin and Ash? They probably hadn't even consideAsh the consequences.
Turning his head, Ryuuske's violet eyes locked onto a security cara tucked in the corner of the cargo hold.
Yeah, we've been spotted from the start.
---
Beyond the hidden door lay what appeaAsh to be the ship's engineering bay—a labyrinth of steel scaffolding and humming machinery that kept the massive vessel moving. Magnemite floated about, their electromagnetic fields pulsing as they patrolled the area.
"Give your hand."
Ryuuske descended a tal staircase first before turning and offering his palm to Caitlin.
The noble heiress from Sinnoh smiled sweetly, placing her delicate, porcelain-smooth hand in his while lifting the hem of her dress with the other, gracefully hopping down.
Her skin was cool to the touch, flawless like polished jade. Ryuuske didn't take advantage—rely securing an arm around her slender waist to steady her, ensuring she didn't stumble.
"You're quite the gentleman, Lord Ryuuske."
Caitlin's voice was soft, her gaze lingering on him with newfound intrigue. Her elegant deanor clashed starkly with the industrial gri of the ship's underbelly.
She had initially assud him to be an unfeeling, blunt man—one who'd outright reject her without hesitation. But now? He was nothing like she'd imagined.
Which version of him is the real one?
For the first ti, Caitlin found herself intensely curious about Ryuuske.
anwhile, Ash, leading the charge, remained oblivious to the two behind him. He crept forward with exaggerated caution, completely unaware that their cover had been blown long ago. Between the caras and the Magnemite's electromagnetic sensors, stealth was a lost cause.
"It's Team Rocket!"
Ash crouched behind a railing, peering down at a group of black-uniford grunts hauling crates.
"So this is Team Rocket—Kanto's infamous cri syndicate."
Caitlin pressed herself against Ryuuske, peeking through the sa gap with barely contained excitent.
"Didn't realize Team Rocket's reputation reached all the way to Sinnoh… Ash, you've got history with them?"
"I've run into them a few tis before. Stopped so of their sches. After that, they sent people after , but I handled it."
Ryuuske exhaled. Of course. Ash and Team Rocket—a never-ending saga.
"Those crates… they're full of Poké Balls."
Caitlin whispeAsh directly into Ryuuske's ear, her breath warm and sweet like honey. The sensation sent an involuntary shiver down his spine.
"Yeah. And the Pokémon inside look weak. Probably drugged or exhausted so they can't break free."
Ryuuske's eyes narrowed.
"Kanto and Johto are practically treated as one region. The S.S. Anne's first stop is Johto. My guess? These stolen Pokémon get funneled into Team Rocket's front companies there, then 'legally' Ashistributed back to Kanto. Instant money laundering."
He quickly grabbed Ash's shoulder before the boy could leap into action.
"What're you planning?"
"Take out Team Rocket and free the Pokémon, obviously!"
Ash flipped his cap backward, ready to jump down.
"We're in the middle of the ocean. See those Voltorb and Electrode? If they all explode at once, they could level a building. Now imagine that happening here ."
Following Ryuuske's pointed finger, Ash's pupils shrank. Rows upon rows of Voltorb and Electrode lined the far wall. While Ash didn't know terms like "TNT equivalent," as a Trainer, he understood the sheer destructive potential of a mass Self-Destruct.
Team Rocket's suicide bombing in Vermilion City had already proven how deadly such tactics could be.
"Then what do we do?"
Ash hesitated.
"In about two days, the S.S. Anne will reach the nearest island to Johto. Full facilities, rescue teams on standby. We strike then . Even if sothing goes wrong, we won't be stranded at sea."
"Team Rocket and these Pokémon aren't going anywhere. Two more days won't change anything."
Ryuuske laid out the flawless plan.
"Whew… Calling you in was the right move. You really think ahead! Alright, we'll wait."
Ash was easily convinced, fully trusting Ryuuske's judgnt.
"Perfect. Caitlin, if you've got free ti these next two days, co find . I'll teach you what I know about controlling psychic powers."
At those words, Caitlin's eyes glead with sudden inspiration.
---
"Sir Surge, they've retreated for now. What's our move?"
Inside the S.S. Anne's surveillance room, a Rocket Grunt bowed respectfully.
"We wait three days! Just like that brat said—if the S.S. Anne goes down mid-ocean, our entire haul sinks with it! They're stuck on this ship anyway. HAHAHA!! Let's see what the kid who made Sabrina lock herself indoors for three days is really made of!"
A boisterous man's laughter bood through the room.
To be continued…
Btw guys, Ash is Red and Gary is Blue in the story, I use their ani nas cuz most of the readers are unaware of their manga counterparts.
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