After parting ways with Nurse Joy, Nozomi had no idea that she had called Officer Jenny out of concern for his safety.
He was now walking down the streets of Gringey City.
The whole street was shrouded in gloom. The streetlights that should have been lit were out, the entire area plunged into darkness due to the Power Plant's blackout.
With his psychic senses, Nozomi could clearly perceive a gaze lurking in the alleys—an intent stare, uncertain whether from a human or a Pokémon.
"Just wondering if it's going to come out," he murmured as he walked.
He wasn't sure who—or what—the owner of that gaze was. But whether it was a person or a Pokémon, he hoped it would reveal itself. If it did, maybe this dreary night would offer a bit of entertainment.
But in the end, he was disappointed. No attack came.
When he finally approached the Power Plant's main gate, the source of the gaze stepped slowly out from the shadows—and Nozomi realized that his silent observer was only a Marowak.
"I can't believe I've been playing mind games with a Marowak this whole time." Nozomi smacked his forehead, exasperated.
He ignored the Pokémon standing guard at the corner and pushed open the Power Plant gate, stepping inside.
After he disappeared into the facility, a grim-faced figure emerged from the darkness.
"Damn it… even hiding all the way here wasn't enough to shake him?"
Giovanni's expression was cold as he recalled the Marowak into its Poké Ball.
He had fled all the way to Gringey City, yet Nozomi had still managed to track him down.
"Looks like Kanto's no longer safe…"
The thought flashed through his mind, and Giovanni made his decision: he would leave the Kanto region entirely.
He had already received news that Team Rocket's Celadon base had been destroyed. With the organization's operations in shambles, Giovanni had ordered a full retreat—Team Rocket forces across Kanto were to go underground, halting all activity until the storm passed.
"Prepare the jet. We're heading to Johto," Giovanni said, turning to Matori.
"Yes, Giovanni, sir."
Matori bowed her head. She firmly believed that even if Team Rocket had fallen into decline, one day, it would rise again—and reclaim Kanto as its domain.
Nozomi, unaware that Giovanni had been watching him the entire time, walked the deserted corridors of the Abandoned Power Plant, searching for traces of Grimer or Muk.
"So where's this Grimer supposed to be? Haven't seen even one so far."
He felt deceived. Aside from a pair of Magnemite huddling together, crackling with static to keep warm, there wasn't a single Grimer in sight.
That remained the case—until he reached the Power Plant's central chamber.
A nauseating stench nearly knocked him unconscious. Layer upon layer of Grimer and Muk filled the hall, countless and writhing, while a few terrified Power Plant workers trembled in a corner.
Now he understood where all the Grimer had gone.
A massive swarm had engulfed the entire generator. More kept squeezing in through vents, ducts, and even the sewers, flooding into the plant.
"Metagross, get those people out of there," Nozomi ordered. He donned a gas mask against the stench and released his Pokémon—one that didn't even have a sense of smell.
Metagross didn't need an explanation.
Though the Grimer and Muk tried desperately to block its path, they couldn't hope to stop it.
Being Poison-types, they were naturally at a disadvantage against the Psychic-type titan. With a single surge of Psychic, Metagross swept aside the blockade—dozens of Grimer and Muk collapsed instantly, losing all fighting ability.
"Thank you so much!"
"You saved our lives—we were this close to dying in there!"
The rescued workers bowed deeply, eyes filled with gratitude.
It truly was a salvation beyond measure. They had been moments away from despair—trapped, suffocated, assaulted by both the poison and the smell.
It was torment to both body and mind.
"No need to thank me," Nozomi said evenly. "Just tell me what happened here."
He gestured toward the writhing mass of Grimer.
"We… we don't know either," one of the workers stammered. "Just earlier, all these Grimer suddenly attacked the Power Plant. They broke through the protective nets at the ocean intake, came up from underwater, and poured straight into the facility!"
He shook his head helplessly.
"I have no idea why they went crazy like this."
"Has this ever happened before?" Nozomi asked.
"Never! Usually, they just clog the water intake once in a while. And when that happens, all we have to do is electrify the net—once they get shocked, they retreat on their own!"
"That is strange…"
Nozomi frowned as he watched the Grimer still crawling toward the generator.
Could something here be drawing them in?
That didn't make sense. Grimer were Poison-type Pokémon—there shouldn't be anything in a Power Plant that would attract them. If anything, the place should appeal to Electric-types.
He tried using his telepathy to communicate, hoping to sense what the Grimer desired.
But the Poison-type's natural incompatibility with psychic energy made it difficult. After several attempts, the only thing Nozomi could feel was… yearning.
A deep, desperate longing.
As for what they longed for—he couldn't tell.
"At least I know they came here for something they want," Nozomi thought grimly.
He turned to the two plant workers.
"Has anything unusual happened here recently?"
The men looked at each other and shook their heads. "Nothing strange. This place runs automatically. We just come by for maintenance checks—everything's been normal these past few days."
That gave him nothing.
With no leads from them, Nozomi sighed and decided to consult another source.
"Mewtwo, do you sense anything special about this place?" he asked, tapping the Master Ball at his belt.
Letting Mewtwo out here was out of the question. He was certain that if he released it in this place, their friendship level would instantly plummet to negative numbers.