As Sabrina walked to Natsui's side, Clair at that moment also took the Blackthorn Gym badge from inside her clothes.
"Please take this. This is the Rising Badge, proof that you have defeated me."
Natsui said his thanks, took the still-warm badge, and played with it in his hand for a few moments.
The Rising Badge was in the shape of a blue dragon's head. However, because it was a smooth, mirrored surface with no facial features or distinct characteristics, it was impossible to tell which Dragon-type Pokémon's head it was. At first glance, it looked more like a dark-style steel mask.
As he placed the badge in his badge case, Lance casually asked, "Where are you headed next? Are you going to challenge the next gym?"
Natsui weighed his options in his mind.
Since Lance had also fought alongside him against Team Rocket, he told him about his upcoming trip to Mahogany Town to deal with them.
After all, with Lance's status as an Elite Four member and an investigator, this information couldn't be considered a leak.
"What? There's a Team Rocket base there!?"
Hearing this news, Lance, Clair, and Kabu were all greatly shocked.
After all, Mahogany Town was not far from Blackthorn City, very close to their gym. It could be said that the enemy was hiding right under their noses, but they hadn't discovered it until now.
"How terrifying," Lance said, stroking his chin with a sigh. "Team Rocket was right under our noses, and we didn't even notice! Have they infiltrated to this extent?"
Clair suddenly remembered something, her brow furrowing. "If there really is a Team Rocket base in Mahogany Town, then Vicious's hideout is very likely there! And after he escaped this time, there's a high chance he'll flee back to that base!"
"Mhm, you're right," Lance pondered for a moment, then looked at Natsui seriously. "Are you sure this information about a Team Rocket base in Mahogany Town is reliable?"
"It should be. After all, it was Looker who notified me. I think the International Police must have already verified it," Natsui nodded. "And this time, I was invited by Looker to help deal with a Team Rocket executive. By the way, do you want to come along? I think Looker would be very happy to have you join."
Lance thought for a moment. He originally wanted to agree, but in the end, he refused.
"I'm afraid I can't this time," he said apologetically. "Although I also really want to arrest those guys to avenge the attack on the Holy Land, there are more important matters waiting for me in Kanto. I've already been delayed here for too long and can't afford to drag it out any longer. And…"
At this point, Lance drew out his voice and said with a smile, "…and I believe that with you there, that group of Team Rocket will be no match for you. There's no need for me to get involved."
"…" Natsui shook his head with a wry smile. "I'm just an ordinary person. You think too highly of me…"
"Are you really just an ordinary person?" Lance laughed. "An ordinary person wouldn't be able to defeat Clair so decisively."
Hearing Lance tease her, Clair rolled her eyes but couldn't refute it.
In fact, Natsui also knew that, just as Lance had said, Looker and his team must have already made thorough plans for this operation. Even if Lance went, it would just be icing on the cake and wouldn't have a major impact on the raid on the Team Rocket base.
But Natsui had just mentioned it on a whim. Seeing Lance refuse, he didn't say any more.
"Then that's that. Since I've achieved my goal, I should be taking my leave."
"Take care."
Lance and the others walked him to the main gate before waving goodbye.
…
Leaving Blackthorn City, Natsui and Sabrina headed northwest.
Their destination was Mahogany Town, which was only about half a day's journey away.
But this time, Natsui didn't take the same route back through the Ice Path. Instead, he chose to cross the mountains, taking the less rugged mountain road on the surface.
Counting the time, although there were still a few days left before his ten-day appointment with Looker, and he had plenty of time, Natsui was no longer in the mood to wander around other places.
After all, with a big battle imminent, his mood had also settled down.
With the sun overhead, he had Charizard carry their luggage and soar in the sky, while he and Sabrina traveled light with just small backpacks.
As they left the mountain-enclosed Blackthorn City, the forests on both sides of the road became sparser.
The two walked side by side, talking and laughing, just like a couple in love on an outing.
However, although going downhill was much easier than going up, as anyone who has walked it knows, because your center of gravity is forward and you have to pay attention to the path under your feet, it is still very tiring.
And indeed, after walking for just over an hour, Sabrina's clothes were already soaked with sweat.
Fortunately, this mountain road was not steep. They walked and stopped, treating it as sightseeing.
And just as they were about to leave the mountains, among a pile of rubble at the foot of a cliff, Natsui keenly spotted a Pokémon flash by.
"Huh? What's that…"
He turned his head and saw a small, grayish-green Pokémon rummaging through the pile of rocks, as if looking for food like mushrooms.
"It's a Larvitar!"
Natsui recognized it at a glance.
Seeing Natsui take out his Pokédex from his pouch, Sabrina gave him a surprised look.
"You want to catch it?"
"Of course," Natsui nodded. "Just like Dragonite, its evolution, Tyranitar, is extremely powerful, a pseudo-legendary level of strength."
Pseudo-legendary?
Sabrina hadn't played the Pokémon games and naturally didn't know the meaning of pseudo-legendary. But seeing Natsui rarely prepare to catch a Pokémon, she couldn't help but size it up.
This was the first time she had seen a Larvitar.
Larvitar had a long, blunt horn on its head, its eyes were red, its arms were short, and each of its feet had a single toe. Its abdomen was covered with a diamond-shaped red scale armor, and the center of its tail was cone-shaped, surrounded by a plate-like structure.
Although it looked a bit small, its expression was cool, and its eyes, in particular, made it seem as if it was always in a defiant mood.
Unfortunately, besides Psychic-type Pokémon, no other Pokémon could arouse her interest.
At that moment, Natsui quietly approached the Larvitar. Before it could notice him, he pointed his Pokédex at it.
Pokédex: Beep. Larvitar, the Rock Skin Pokémon. A Rock/Ground type. It is said that Larvitar is born deep underground and grows by feeding on the nutrients in the soil. It eats soil as it makes its way to the surface where its parents are. And after eating about a mountain's worth of soil, it will become a pupa on the ground and begin to sleep in order to grow.
To be honest, this was the first time Natsui had seen such strange information.
Eating soil… that must be a joke, right?
------------------------
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