After confirming it was the Team Rockets trio, a meaningful curl appeared at the corner of Roy's mouth.
Giovanni's efficiency in posting bail is truly high.
How many days has it been? And they've already been released for "free activities" again.
"Let's go this way!" Roy began to lead the way.
"I sense some movement over here."
The four of them lightened their steps and felt their way forward along the mine tunnel.
After rounding a few bends, the faint sound of "clink-clank" tapping came from ahead, along with familiar complaining voices.
"Meow! How long is it going to take to dig like this, meow!" That was Meowth's voice.
"Cut the crap! Since we're sure there's a Moon Stone down here, dig harder for me! All our future activity funds depend on this one time." Jessie's voice was as full of drive as ever.
"But... I'm so tired... and didn't we just get out of the police station? Should we keep a low profile first..." James suggested weakly.
"Shut up! It's precisely because we just got out that we have to pull off a big job to restore our image in the Boss's heart! Dig faster!"
...Roy and the others approached quietly, hiding behind a huge rock to see the situation ahead clearly.
Jessie, James, and Meowth, faces covered in dust, were digging fiercely at a rock wall with shovels and pickaxes.
A few empty sacks were placed nearby, obviously intended for packing the loot.
Koffing and Ekans had been released, but they seemed to be being used as manual labor as well.
Seymour's whole body trembled with rage at the sight, and he jumped out directly: "Stop! Please stop destroying the ecology of Mt. Moon."
The mining trio turned around to look.
They first locked onto Roy.
It was that brat who ruined their plans in Viridian City and caused them to be caught by Jenny!
Jessie's pupils constricted suddenly, and a nameless fire surged straight to the top of her head.
When enemies meet, their eyes blaze with hatred.
"It's you, brat!" the three of them screamed in unison, forgetting all about the mining.
Jessie threw down her shovel and pointed aggressively toward the rock: "Brat! You actually dare to show up here."
"Perfect, we'll settle the old and new scores together. This time, we'll definitely let you know how powerful Team Rockets is!"
James also shouted: "That's right! We'll settle the account for both before and now."
Meowth bared his claws: "Meow! It's because of you that we suffered so much, meow! We absolutely can't let you off, meow."
"I really do run into you everywhere." Roy glanced at the messy rock wall: "So it really was you three who came to destroy Mt. Moon."
"So what if it is!" Jessie put her hands on her hips, completely unrepentant: "Team Rockets has our eyes on the Moon Stones here! If you're smart, get lost quickly and don't interfere with us!"
"It seems you didn't stay in the police station long enough." Roy didn't bother wasting words with them and directly released Butterfree: "Butterfree, Gust! Drive them out!"
Butterfree flapped its wings, and a strong air current surged toward the Team Rockets trio, blowing them off balance as gravel and dust pelted their faces.
"Curse you! How dare you strike first!" Jessie shielded her face miserably and screamed: "Koffing, give him something to think about! Use Poison Gas!"
Koffing~!
Koffing floated forward, its body swelling as it spat out a large cloud of thick purple poison mist, drifting toward Roy and the others.
Poison Gas was not only toxic but also had a pungent smell; in this relatively enclosed cave, the threat was even greater.
"Butterfree, use Gust to blow the Poison Gas back!" Roy responded calmly.
Butterfree flapped its wings again, the strong wind attempting to blow the Poison Gas back.
But Koffing continued to spit, and the Poison Gas and strong wind reached a stalemate in the middle of the cave, forming a roiling zone of toxic mist.
Fortunately, with Butterfree's wind, the poison mist zone was closer to Team Rockets.
After telling Delia and the others to step back, Roy directly had Pikachu release a Thunderbolt.
The electric sparks ignited the gas, producing a violent explosion.
A wild shockwave and flames instantly swept forward.
"Waaaahhh...!"
"What a terrible feeling!!!"
The screams of the Team Rockets trio were drowned out by the sound of the explosion.
The force of the explosion not only sent them flying high but also blasted a large hole through the rock wall behind them, which was already structurally unstable due to the digging!
Outside the hole was the steep slope and sky on the other side of Mt. Moon.
Jessie, James, and Meowth, along with their Koffing and Ekans, turned into several dark shooting stars, flying straight out of that broken hole and disappearing into the horizon.
Vaguely, a shout could be heard drifting on the wind, getting further and further away:
"I'll definitely be back!!!"
Inside the cave, silence gradually returned, leaving only the faint smoke from the explosion and that conspicuous large hole.
"Cough, cough..." Seymour waved away the dust in front of him, looking at Roy with a gaze full of admiration: "Roy, you really are an amazing Trainer."
Roy put away Butterfree's Poké Ball and looked toward the hole.
This explosive blast-off would be enough for the Team Rockets trio to recover for a long time.
However, given the "tenacity" of these guys, they would probably return in three to five days, but at least there was no more plot for them today.
[Ding! Protect Mt. Moon mission complete]
[Friend of Nature halo loaded]
[Officer Jenny Family favorability +10. Current total: 20]
As the mission rewards were distributed, a warm, indescribable feeling quietly enveloped his whole body.
Roy could vaguely feel that a cluster of ferns tenaciously growing in the cracks of the rock wall beside him seemed to radiate a faint sense of closeness toward him.
Even the rustling sounds of unknown Pokémon coming from deep within the cave seemed less wary.
A good ability.
Roy was satisfied in his heart.
In this Pokémon world, wilderness exploration was the norm.
With this halo, not to mention its function in catching Pokémon, at least the chance of being attacked by wild Pokémon would be greatly reduced, indirectly increasing travel safety.
As for the Officer Jenny Family's favor... Roy thought of that valiant Officer Jenny in Viridian City, and the smile on his lips deepened.
In the future, it would surely be of great help.
"Mr. Roy." Seymour stepped forward and wanted to hug Roy again, but was still stopped by him: "Thank you very much for your help! If you hadn't helped, the ecology of Mt. Moon might have..."
"It was nothing." Roy waved his hand: "I also hate this kind of environmentally destructive behavior."
"Yes!" Seymour nodded vigorously, then took out a small cloth bag from his backpack.
"This is a good quality Moon Stone fragment I picked up while patrolling earlier. Although it's not as good as a complete Moon Stone, it's enough to stimulate the potential of specific Pokémon... please accept it!"
"Don't worry, I applied for this."
Roy took the cloth bag and opened it for a look.
Inside lay a thumbnail-sized fragment of rock with a soft moon-white luster. Although the energy it contained wasn't strong, it was enough to ensure one evolution; it just might not provide the combat power boost of a full Moon Stone.
However, even if not used for evolution, it would be good to exchange for some money.
"Then thank you." Roy accepted the gift without being overly polite.
Having dealt with the culprits, Roy didn't delay any longer. After bidding farewell to Seymour, he set off again with Delia and Misty.
After all, Mt. Moon was just a small plot point.
The best things were nothing more than Moon Stones and Clefairy.
He had already obtained a Moon Stone fragment, and a complete mineral vein wasn't something he could move alone, nor was it necessary.
As for Clefairy... those pink, elusive Fairy-type Pokémon were cute and rare, but their actual combat value wasn't particularly high.
Even if caught, they would just be kept in the backyard for show.
What Roy needed now was immediate combat power, partners who could help him quickly pass through Gyms and accumulate strength.
There was no need to waste time waiting here...
"Let's go, hurry up." Roy looked at the sky: "Let's try to get out of the mountain area before evening."
"Okay~"
Delia responded obediently, while Misty was still immersed in the shock of the explosion just now, muttering in a low voice as she walked: "Directly detonating Koffing... that's too reckless..."
"As long as it's effective." Roy didn't look back.
The three of them followed the exit on the other side of the mine tunnel and quickly left the Mt. Moon area.
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