"The ceremony is about to begin! All units, stay alert!"
The Mayor of Celadon City stood backstage, issuing final instructions to the staff.
At the dressing table, Lance sat expressionless as a makeup artist dabbed strange liquids across his face.
Truth be told—
He wasn't comfortable in settings like this.
Officer Jenny stepped in from outside, crossing her arms as she amusedly admired the powder on his face.
Lance shot her a sidelong glance.
"How's the perimeter sweep?"
Jenny replied confidently, "Relax. No suspicious individuals will get inside the venue."
Lance wasn't entirely convinced.
The reserved seating alone held five thousand spectators. With that many people packed together, it was impossible to screen everyone thoroughly.
And deep down—
He had a bad feeling.
…
Outside the venue, the audience area was packed to the brim.
Some people without tickets had even mounted Flying-type Pokémon and hovered in the air to watch.
Armin blended into the crowd like water slipping into a river.
Strangely—
The Rocket operative assigned to monitor him hadn't followed.
He glanced back once.
Something felt off.
He didn't believe he'd shaken them that easily.
…
Across from the plaza, inside a tall building—
Ariana lowered her binoculars slightly, watching the sea of people below.
"Boss… is it really fine not having Ah Hua and the others tail them?"
Giovanni smiled confidently.
He opened his laptop.
On the screen—
Four green dots moved steadily across a digital map.
Ariana's mind clicked instantly.
Trackers.
And remote-controlled bombs.
"They've been fitted with both," she realized.
Giovanni rested his chin in one hand.
"The show is about to begin."
…
The festival commenced.
Triumphant music thundered across Celadon Plaza.
Lance stepped onto the stage in an elegant outfit.
The crowd erupted.
Screams.
Cheers.
Absolute hysteria.
He inclined his head slightly, then crossed his arms and flicked four Poké Balls into the air.
White light burst forth.
Four powerful Dragon-types materialized at his sides:
Dragonite — round-bodied and orange, radiating overwhelming presence.
Gyarados — blood-red and ferocious, maw wide open.
Aerodactyl — fossilized terror from ancient times.
Altaria — graceful, with cotton-like white wings.
The moment Dragonite appeared—
The audience lost their minds.
The screaming didn't stop.
It reminded Armin of idol fandoms from his previous life.
Utter chaos.
Standing at the edge of the crowd, Armin's head throbbed.
If he had to suffer, so would someone else.
He released Mimikyu.
"Lively, huh? You like it here?"
Mimikyu: …
Its Trainer might not be very bright.
Armin held Mimikyu in one arm and tried to pocket the Poké Ball with the other—
But someone bumped into him.
The Poké Ball slipped.
Clattered.
Rolled away.
It was kicked around by overexcited fans.
Someone stepped on it—
Slipped.
Fell.
The crowd reacted like dominoes.
Screams multiplied.
Bodies tumbled.
Armin shut his eyes and covered Mimikyu's face.
Unfortunately—
He covered the fake eyes on the disguise.
Mimikyu's real eyes were on its torso.
Mimikyu: …
Yes.
Definitely not very bright.
With a tiny sigh, it tugged his hand downward to cover the correct spot.
…
On stage, Lance noticed the disturbance.
His eyelid twitched.
He knew it.
Something would happen today.
At that exact moment—
Two figures dashed from below and leapt onto the stage.
They shoved something into Lance's hands—
A USB drive.
Printed documents.
Hannah.
Rento.
They had disobeyed Giovanni's orders.
Instead of carrying out sabotage—
They submitted their Main Quest directly to Lance.
Giovanni saw the movement on his laptop screen.
His expression darkened instantly.
Without hesitation—
He pressed the detonation switch.
Lance barely had time to register the words on the documents—
When the two figures in front of him exploded.
Blood blossomed like crimson flowers.
Scorching droplets splattered across his face.
Lance stared at the evidence in his hands.
Team Rocket's criminal records.
The final legacy left behind by two brave investigators.
Rage unlike anything he had ever felt surged through him.
…
Armin stood frozen.
Cold sweat trickled down his spine.
So that was why no one had followed him.
They'd planted micro bombs on all of them.
Wait—
Then why wasn't he dead?!
A scream erupted from nearby.
The Poké Ball that had rolled into a corner—
Exploded.
A massive crater tore into the ground.
Armin's heart slammed in his chest.
If that Poké Ball hadn't been knocked away…
If he hadn't released Mimikyu…
He might have been blown to pieces.
Damn Team Rocket.
…
The festival was immediately canceled.
Officer Jenny began evacuating civilians.
Lance stood on stage, stunned.
Armin and Mimikyu lingered in a corner, unsure where to go.
Return to the League?
His Main Quest still belonged to Team Rocket.
Return to Team Rocket?
They believed he was dead—
And had clearly intended to kill him.
Not an option.
At least not yet.
…
Suddenly—
Three translucent figures floated toward him.
Hannah.
Floyd.
Rento.
"You guys are ghosts now?!" Armin blurted.
Floyd shook his head.
"Of course not."
Rento thumped his chest in relief.
"That was close. We completed our Main Quest one second before detonation. Otherwise we'd have actually died."
Armin felt a faint sense of relief.
Before he could respond—
Floyd spoke again.
"Our Main Quests are complete. We can't remain in this instance much longer. We don't know what yours is… but we hope you make it out alive."
"Good luck."
"Stay alive."
Their forms shimmered—
Then dissolved like bubbles.
Gone.
Armin exhaled slowly.
He turned—
And met Officer Jenny's stunned expression.
"You're alive?!"
He pointed at the massive crater nearby.
"Barely."
The smoke still rose into the sky.
And somewhere above—
The light of justice and the shadow of betrayal collided.