"Don't worry, you and Eevee will be fine," Gary said.
Cassidy and Butch were furious. The Pokémon had obviously belonged to them, yet now it had been snatched away by someone else, and they had no legitimate way to reclaim it.
The main issue was that they were members of Team Rocket, and they couldn't exactly take the matter to court. It was maddeningly frustrating.
"Butch, let's go," Cassidy said.
Butch immediately recalled his Mightyena and left with Cassidy.
Gary didn't give chase. Even if he sent Cassidy and Butch to the police, they would just be rescued by Team Rocket unless they were completely defeated.
However, this was a city. Gary wasn't a police officer or an investigator, and permanently eliminating criminals in the city wasn't something Team Rocket even had to handle themselves—they could just spend money to hire a few lawyers and put Gary behind bars instead.
Even being Professor Oak's grandson would offer no protection in matters like that. If it were out in the wilderness, however, so long as the roots were cleanly pulled up, there would be no risk of it coming back.
"Vee!"
Eevee suddenly dashed toward the woods on the left, its tail wrapped in a layer of water, and swung it in a sharp slicing motion.
Several trees were cut clean in half, and at the same moment, a Sableye was struck down and fell to the ground, defeated in a single blow.
"You really don't give up, do you?" Gary said.
This Sableye naturally belonged to Cassidy. It had been left behind to keep watch over the area, probably waiting for a chance to grab Eevee back.
Sableye, like Gengar, could hide within shadows. Without a careful search, one would never be able to find it.
Eevee, however, had detected the Sableye with its Anticipation ability.
"Sableye!"
Soon enough, Cassidy and Butch came running back. Seeing that Sableye had been taken out in a single hit, they gnashed their teeth and glared at Gary as if they wanted to tear him apart.
"If you don't behave yourselves, I don't mind handing you over to Officer Jenny," Gary warned.
"Let's go."
After recalling Sableye, Cassidy and Butch left immediately.
Eevee didn't relax until the two had disappeared from the park. It could sense that Cassidy and Butch had gone far away.
After its Anticipation ability had been enhanced, Eevee's sensory range had improved significantly—more than doubled in effect.
"Eevee, are you okay?" At that moment, the chubby little boy also ran over to check on Eevee.
Gary walked over as well and took a closer look. "Don't worry, Eevee just got injured in the battle. There's nothing fatal. We just need to take it to the Pokémon Center for treatment."
"Then, big brother, can you help me take Eevee there?" the little boy asked.
"Leave it to me."
Gary recalled Charizard into its Poké Ball, picked up Eevee, and had his own Eevee use Psychic to carry the little boy along.
"Big brother, my name is Timmy. What's your name?" the little boy asked.
"My name is Gary."
Gary answered while checking Eevee's condition, mainly examining its ears. After searching carefully, he found a small electronic device attached to Eevee's left ear. It was clearly something that had been deliberately installed.
This electronic device was the reason Eevee had evolved into a Fire-type Pokémon and then reverted back into Eevee.
Gary wanted to remove the device, but since it was installed inside the ear, he wasn't sure whether it would harm Eevee in some way, so it was better not to touch it for now.
"Brother Gary, will those bad guys come back again?" Timmy asked.
"I think so," Gary said.
"Then, Brother Gary, can you take Eevee with you?" Timmy said.
Gary was momentarily surprised, and immediately caught a glimpse of Ash in Timmy.
"If I take Eevee with me, you won't see it again," Gary said.
"That's okay. As long as Eevee is safe. Brother Gary, you're so strong, those bad guys won't be able to take Eevee from you," Timmy said.
Gary smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll make sure Eevee is safe. Once Eevee is fully healed, I'll bring it back to you."
"But... I..." Timmy hesitated, torn. He didn't want to part with Eevee, but he also knew he had no way to protect it himself.
"I know what you're worried about. Rest assured, I'll solve this problem at the root. Those bad guys won't bother Eevee again," Gary said.
"Okay, I believe you, Brother Gary." Timmy was still a child, and after being reassured by Gary, he relaxed.
The two arrived at the Pokémon Center, and Gary handed Eevee over to Nurse Joy for treatment. He had his own Eevee stay with Timmy to keep him company.
Then Gary went to contact Timmy's parents.
Along the way, Gary also learned how Eevee and Timmy had met.
Eevee had come across Timmy near the park. When Timmy first found it, Eevee was unconscious, so he took it home to care for it.
But Eevee was injured, and all Timmy could do was provide it with food and water. To truly treat it, he needed to bring it to a Pokémon Center.
Timmy was still just a child, and going to the Pokémon Center required money. So he had been waiting for a chance at home. This afternoon, he had finally managed to sneak some money from his mother's purse. After dinner, the two of them had prepared to bring Eevee to the Pokémon Center for treatment.
But the moment they stepped outside, Eevee spotted the Team Rocket members in the city. They were blocked at every turn along the way, and the two of them had to run for a long time before finally reaching the park—only to be discovered by Team Rocket in the end.
If Gary hadn't shown up in time, Timmy could only have watched as Eevee was captured.
"What?! Timmy is hurt? I'll go find a doctor right away!"
After hearing about Timmy's situation, his parents immediately rushed over.
After calling Timmy's parents, Gary contacted Professor Oak's laboratory.
"Oh! Gary, why are you calling so late? Do you want to transfer a Pokémon?"
On the screen, Professor Oak was eating instant noodles—the kind of food Professor Oak often ate.
"Grandpa, I've told you many times—instant noodles are tasty, but they're not nutritious. Eat less of them. If you really can't cook, go over to Aunt Delia's," Gary reminded him.
"I know, I know. I just don't have time this once. Tell me what's going on," Professor Oak said.
Gary didn't waste any more words and told Professor Oak everything he had just encountered.
"What?! Eevee reverted after evolving?!"
After hearing Gary's account, Professor Oak was shocked. He had been studying Pokémon for many years, and aside from Mega Evolution, he had never once seen a Pokémon regress after evolving.
This immediately captured Professor Oak's full attention.
"Grandpa, can you help study it?" Gary asked.
"No problem. I'll report this matter to the League. Hurry up and send Eevee over," Professor Oak said.