Ash's Pokémon Travel Has Big Problems

Lijia: Neither the Three Beast Warriors, nor the Four Generals, nor even my colleagues, can make me back down.

After arriving—

Rika: Holy crap! Sakaki!!

Rika: We're doomed!

She practically gritted her teeth as she forced the name out:

"Sakaki..."

The name struck Xiaozhi like a thunderclap.

Sakaki!

It really is Sakaki.

The leader of the Rockets!

The headmaster of the Tokiwa Dojo!

That man who looms over the Kanto region's underworld like a shadow over everything!

It's that Sakaki from the earth!

Why is he here?

Moreover, it seems that he was waiting for Lijia on purpose?

Could the disappearance of the dream demon be related to him?

It couldn't possibly be for the sake of Misdreavus, could it?

impossible!

Let alone Misdreavus, even if a Thousand-Year Gastly came, it would have to behave itself in front of Giovanni.

Ash's heart began to pound, and his adrenaline surged.

What's worse than being ambushed in the starting village by the Demon King?

After leaving the starting village, I suddenly encountered the Great Demon King.

If you encounter Giovanni in Pallet Town, Professor Oak can step in to help.

However, they encountered Sakaki at the Rainbow City arcade.

...Can Rika beat Sakaki?

Xiao Zhi thought it was impossible.

Today's high-level ranked match seems to be in jeopardy.

He forced himself to calm down, his mind racing.

He could feel an unprecedented sense of crisis.

The man before him was infinitely more dangerous than any opponent he had ever faced before.

This is not just a difference in strength, but also an absolute crushing of momentum and experience.

Sakaki's gaze swept calmly over Rika, his eyes seemingly able to see through all pretense and reach straight to her heart.

But that's about it.

Rika is not worth Sakaki's attention.

Then his gaze fell on Ash behind Rika, lingering for a moment.

That gaze seemed to carry a hint of scrutiny, a hint of curiosity, but more than anything, a bottomless calm.

Indeed, I had high hopes for this young man before.

But it's just a positive outlook.

To truly gain Giovanni's attention, he needs to demonstrate more strength or potential.

“Rika…it’s been a long time,” Sakaki said.

His voice was deep and magnetic, and his tone was so calm that it sounded like he was having a casual chat, making him seem very familiar with the conversation.

Indeed, Rika was just a junior in Sakaki's eyes.

He never targets younger people specifically.

Eliminate potential threats?

That would be so boring.

Sakaki's approach has always been: I'll just walk ahead, and those who can catch up can try.

Even within the Rockets team, this is the case.

If anyone can defeat Giovanni, they can take his place.

"And this one... Ash, the trainer from Pallet Town."

"No need to be nervous, I just happen to be here taking care of some business... Since you've come all this way, let's meet."

For Sakaki, today's situation was actually a bit unexpected.

Neither Ash nor Rika are within his purview.

Potential is just potential.

Potential is not real strength until it has been fully realized.

Sakaki paused, a faint smile seemingly appearing at the corner of his mouth.

His gaze returned to Lijia's face, as if he could see through all her worries and calculations.

"As for the dream monster you're looking for..."

Sakaki's voice was calm and unhurried.

"It's safe, it's downstairs... a guest."

Giovanni hadn't expected his Beedrill to be so friendly to that Misdreavus... Well, let his old buddy have his way.

As Giovanni's first partner, and also his soulmate.

Beedrill still holds a very high status.

However, this Beedrill has always been rather aloof.

Sakaki emphasized the word "below" slightly, a typical tactic used to provoke the emotions of the two people opposite him.

As for the purpose?

No purpose.

This is just a habit he has as someone in a position of power.

Lijia's face instantly turned extremely ugly.

What she worried about most happened.

As expected, Misdreavus fell into Team Rocket's hands and crashed directly into Giovanni himself.

This means that things are no longer under her control.

Throughout the entire Kanto Alliance, there are very few people who are qualified to speak with Giovanni and Hedo.

Lijia was not among these people.

Rika's mind raced, frantically trying to figure out a way to ensure Ash and Misdreavus's safety without provoking the other party.

"..." Ash clenched his fist.

Abandoning my companions is impossible.

And there's no way out... Since that's the case, at least we should do what we can to show our concern.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger and worry.

Ash stepped forward and stood beside Rika, his gaze fixed on Giovanni. Although his heart was still pounding, his eyes did not waver.

"Mr. Sakaki, where is the Misdreavus right now? We want to take it away immediately."

The boy's voice was clearly audible in the eerily quiet room, trembling slightly but with an unwavering determination.

What if life's path is full of dangers?

Then face it!

True strength lies in facing the harsh realities of life... and then it's either live or die.

This was something Ash decided from the very beginning when he came into this world.

This world is full of far too many dangers.

There are only two options—live or die.

"..." Sakaki looked at the boy who dared to look him in the eye, and his interest seemed to grow even stronger.

He didn't answer Xiaozhi's question directly, but instead tapped the armrest lightly, as if he was thinking about something.

clatter--

clatter--

clatter……

The pressure in the room grew heavier with his silence.

The air seemed to solidify, making each passing second feel exceptionally long.

The slightly overweight manager almost collapsed to the ground.

Lijia was tense, thinking about all the possible solutions and consequences.

Ash held his breath, waiting for Giovanni's next words, which would determine how things would go.

“Answer me a question…” Sakaki said with interest, “What makes you dare to talk to me like that? Is it Oki Yukijo?”

This is a question that Giovanni finds very interesting.

His identity is very special.

It was so special that it was almost completely ignored by the entire league.

Most people in the alliance need to consider the face of Great Snow City.

But Giovanni doesn't need it.

Giovanni believed that given Ash's status and the intelligence he displayed, he would definitely be able to guess it.

That's how it is from Sakaki's perspective anyway.

"This world is dangerous, Mr. Giovanni." Ash looked up into Giovanni's eyes.

He met the powerful man's gaze without flinching.

"People who fear death will stagnate."

"Forget the fear, look ahead, and move forward. Never stop, for retreat only leads to aging, and cowardice invites death."

This is a line from "Bleach," which Ash has always liked.

……

……

(Trying to update... I'd like to take a break for the National Day holiday...)

(Please vote!)

?( o ? o )?

Chapter 114 Sakaki: Who do you think I am?

Quiet.

Quiet.

Quietly...

The air in the room seemed to have turned into amber, as if sealing time and sound within a suffocatingly viscous substance.