[Sato, we reviewed surveillance from all exits of Viridian City during this period and spoke with people who had contact with Trish and Amber. Eventually, we found a new lead.

Trish and those two unidentified companions once ate at the Pokémon Center cafeteria. A nearby passerby overheard them talking about going to Viridian Forest to catch a Snorlax…

Since raising a Snorlax requires a lot of funding, something not just anyone can afford, the witness remembered it clearly out of both envy and impression.

So it's highly likely they went to Viridian Forest!]

Through the video call, Haruka Joy shared the latest intel with Sato as thoroughly as possible.

"Got it. Haruka, please also send me that person's contact info. I'm already on my way to Viridian City."

[Alright. Be careful.]

"Mhm."

After hanging up with Haruka, Sato immediately dialed another number.

"Lance, where are you now?"

On the screen, Lance's wild hair whipped around, his cape fluttering violently in the wind. With Dragonite's upper half visible in the frame, it was obvious Lance, the Flying Master, was flying at high speed…

[I should arrive in Viridian City by around 3 p.m. Don't worry, I'll scout ahead for you.]

Despite the wind, Lance's voice came through clearly to Sato.

"Thanks. We'll be there tonight. Let's meet at the Pokémon Center."

[Alright, I'm off!]

When the screen went dark again, Sato finally looked up and turned to Joseph and Mark beside him.

"Let's go. Time to board."

Joseph and Mark nodded simultaneously, and the three of them headed quickly toward the boarding gate.

In the end, Sato chose to bring only Joseph and Mark. The rest stayed behind to handle their own tasks.

After all, this was a rescue mission not a direct assault. Sometimes having too many people wasn't a good thing.

And truthfully, most of them -like Akira- had just reached Ace level. With only one or two Ace Pokémon each, surviving in Viridian City would be a stretch.

Better to let them carry the weight of that helplessness. Once they became League Investigators, that frustration might fuel their desire to grow stronger!

"Boss… just how many backup did you call this time?"

In the boarding tunnel, Mark glanced left and right before whispering the question, as if afraid someone might overhear the secret!

Sato gave him a sideways glance but didn't respond. He lowered his head slightly, focusing on recalling every detail he could about Viridian City.

In his previous life, Sato had at least lingered at High Ace level and was even absorbed into Team Rocket as an internal member, so he'd been to their Viridian base a few times.

But based on the timeline, he didn't enter their main base until several years later. So the memories he had could only serve as rough references now.

Seeing that Sato ignored him, Mark shot a pitiful look at Mama Joseph, but refrained from pestering Sato any further.

Their plane rose into the sky, and when it landed again, the three had arrived in Cerulean City in the Kanto Region.

They didn't fly directly to Viridian City to avoid tipping anyone off.

Afterward, each of them called their Flying Pokémon to travel from Cerulean City straight to Viridian.

During the flight, Sato had Gengar help them set up a Spatial Barrier, completely concealing their movements.

Sato rode his Hydreigon, Mark took to the skies on Togekiss, and Joseph -having made arrangements earlier- borrowed another Hydreigon from Lotta.

Ace level Pokémon flew fast, and with the Levitate Ability, Hydreigon's flight was nearly effortless, consuming barely any stamina. Mark's Togekiss didn't have the best stamina, but it could easily manage a trip this short.

By the time only a trace of twilight remained on the horizon, the three of them finally arrived in Viridian City.

After confirming the location of the Pokémon Center, they quietly made their way over, avoiding all detection.

Inside a luxury suite at the Pokémon Center, Lance and Will were huddled together, studying something intently.

Suddenly, Alakazam and Dragonair both whipped their heads toward a specific direction, their expressions tense and alert. They cried out, warning their Trainers!

Lance and Will immediately looked over, hands already tightening around two Poké Balls.

"Don't attack, it's us."

A familiar voice came from the air. Lance and Will relaxed their brows instantly and ordered Alakazam and Dragonair to stand down.

Moments later, Sato and the others appeared in the room as if from thin air. Gengar had already slipped back silently into the shadows, and the Pokémon at Sato's side had become Gardevoir.

"That stealth ability's not bad. Alakazam and Dragonair didn't even notice until you were right up close."

Lance looked at Gardevoir beside Sato, clearly impressed as he praised the move, assuming it had been Gardevoir's doing.

…But Gardevoir didn't even glance at Lance. It vanished instantly with a Teleport, destination unknown.

Lance: …???

"Will, you came too?"

"Yeah. I happened to be nearby, so Lance called me over."

Will answered simply, but Sato still felt deeply grateful.

Years had passed, and whenever the members of "The Braves Fight the Evil Dragon Adventure Team" looked back on those memories, they couldn't help but smile awkwardly… followed by waves of secondhand embarrassment.

That team name really was cringey…

But maybe it was precisely that phase of embarrassing youth that left them all feeling especially close.

Over the years, the team had stayed in touch, and their relationships remained strong.

As soon as they learned Sato was in trouble, even cold-natured Will showed up without hesitation; uninvited but completely welcome.

And with such a powerful ally joining them, Sato was naturally pleased.

Immediately, the five of them began planning without delay. As Sato once again shared the secrets of Viridian City, both Lance and Will looked increasingly shocked!

So many things not even the League executives knew… how could Sato possibly be aware of them?

It made no sense!

That was, until Sato casually mentioned at the end that he'd once been abducted by a Rocket-affiliated underground org, and had "discovered" these secrets by accident before escaping.

Sato spoke of it lightly, but that only made Lance and Will imagine more…

They instinctively filled in the blanks. Picturing all the "dangers and hardships" Sato must have faced!

They figured it couldn't be a good memory, so they didn't pry.

Only Joseph gave Sato a subtle wink~ Behind that innocent look was a hint of amusement… like he'd seen through everything.

"Ahem… We can't waste any time. We move tonight. According to the intel I received, the place where Team Rocket is holding their captives is likely located at…"

Sato avoided Joseph's eyes and returned to his serious planning.

---◓---

Meanwhile…

A burly man in martial arts attire slowly entered Viridian City.

"If that kid hadn't come looking for me, I'd have forgotten all about the promise I made back then. But I never expected that after just a few years… you'd already become this outstanding…"