A woman's thoughts are always delicate and intricate.
Especially for a woman who had just lost her first time and was feeling anxious and uneasy.
Unlike in the mental world, everything that happened in the real world was more easily remembered by women. Even if the torment in the mental world was more terrible, it still couldn't compare to the unforgettable nature of even the smallest matters in reality.
Reality would always surpass any virtual world.
"It's a friend looking for me."
Ryuuske spoke without thinking.
"Is it that girl?"
For some reason, Sabrina thought of Green, who had confronted her not long ago and had nearly been killed by her.
"No, just a friend."
Ryuuske shook his head, denying Sabrina's guess. He felt he wasn't lying—Erika truly was a friend, just a friend he'd accidentally ended up sleeping with.
Walking before Sabrina and crouching down, he saw beneath the torn, disheveled clothing covering her body, a pristine white leg extending out. Her jade foot was delicate, her snow-white skin seemingly reflecting light in this darkness. His heart stirred as his palm fell upon it, gently caressing that smooth tenderness.
Sabrina felt her foot somewhat ticklish and instinctively wanted to pull back. However, noticing Ryuuske's gentle movements, she silently bit her lip and let him toy with her ankle.
"Like this—I'll first go lead my friend away so she won't discover you, and deal with the League to explain the 'truth.' Sabrina, you'll continue staying here. After dawn tomorrow, I'll notify you to return to Saffron Gym to explain the situation to the League people..."
Ryuuske's eyes flickered as his tone suddenly turned cold: "...I'll have Mew stay here with you. If the League people keep their word, that's best. But if they break their promise and want to capture you while you're weak, or even want your life, I'll directly order Mew to eliminate all the Saffron City League members, then dispatch Mewtwo to the Indigo Plateau to uproot the Kanto League headquarters entirely!"
"...So you don't need to worry about your safety." Ryuuske held Sabrina's hand against his heart, as if swearing to tell her he was willing to do anything for her sake.
Ryuuske had no feelings for the Pokémon League. For the sake of someone he cared about, he didn't mind using ruthless methods. Even if the League truly turned hostile, he'd already found a fallback—he could directly collaborate with Lance. From snippets of conversation with Lance, he could sense this Elite Four Leader's disdain for the League.
Even if joining forces with Lance ultimately failed, Ryuuske could completely run to other regions. The world was so vast—there would always be a place for him. When his wings were finally full and his skills perfected, he could emerge to take revenge as a "revolutionary." That wouldn't be bad either.
Of course, these were all last resort measures. At least for now, he was very satisfied with his life and didn't want too much change.
Sabrina was moved. Extremely sensitive to human hearts, she could distinguish Ryuuske's sincerity. The ice on her face melted as she gently held Ryuuske's hand: "...You be careful too."
Seeing Sabrina's thoughts finally leave his "friend," Ryuuske relaxed considerably.
Every girl he'd encountered seemed too clever. Trying to deceive them was really difficult.
Fortunately, under his sincerity, Sabrina had been moved.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
After giving Sabrina a few more instructions, Ryuuske left. Turning the corner, he saw Mew in its Pokémon form, spinning circles in the abandoned corridor playing by itself. After telling Mew its next task, this legendary Pokémon obediently went to Sabrina's side.
Though Mew's personality seemed somewhat childish, it was ultimately a Pokémon. After acknowledging someone, it would instinctively obey its Trainer's commands.
Watching Ryuuske's back disappear, the gentleness on Sabrina's face turned cold again. Her indifferent gaze looked toward that distant bright moon as she clenched her fists in determination.
If things truly developed to the most unacceptable situation, she was willing to abandon everything to follow Ryuuske and do anything for his sake!
When a man was willing to become enemies with the entire world for your sake, for a woman's soft heart, there was nothing more to ask for in this lifetime.
Several hours earlier, while Sabrina and Ryuuske were entangled, an uninvited guest arrived at the ruins of Silph Co.
It was none other than Giovanni, who had suddenly disappeared midway through his decisive battle with Ryuuske.
He walked alone across these ruins as if searching for something.
Suddenly, an old woman's voice came from the desolate distance.
"Are you looking for this, Giovanni?"
Giovanni looked up to see an old woman leaning on a cane yet full of vigor standing there. The smile on her face was eerie, and in her hand she held a stone disk with three original Badges attached.
"Agatha..."
Giovanni's gaze darkened as he spoke in a mocking tone: "...Since when did the Kanto Elite Four completely become the League's lapdogs? No wonder my barrier troops were silently eliminated—so it was your doing."
For an Elite Four member skilled in Ghost-types, eliminating a group of Psychic-type Pokémon controlled by ordinary Trainers wasn't difficult, even if those Psychic Pokémon were numerous.
Agatha's interference had caused Saffron City's barrier to collapse, forcing Giovanni to temporarily retreat to avoid being surrounded.
"Hehehehe... What, Giovanni, do you want to fight? Be careful of your body. Your previous battle with that boy also consumed your Pokémon considerably. Do you think in your current state you can keep me here?"
Agatha said sinisterly. Having researched human bodies, she could tell at a glance something was wrong with Giovanni's condition.
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort, Giovanni's face was full of suppressed fury, as if ready to erupt like a volcano at any moment.
"You got one thing wrong—I didn't come for the League, nor for the Elite Four. I merely took these Badges in passing. I'm sure that boy Lance would be quite pleased."
Agatha removed the Badges from the stone disk and put them away.
"I'm not young anymore. Whether it's the League, the Elite Four, or even your Team Rocket and what you want to do—I'm too lazy to care about any of it. The thing I want to do is only one... But you shouldn't have, absolutely shouldn't have tried to destroy Pallet Town."
Giovanni's brow furrowed, not understanding what Agatha meant.
Agatha raised her cane to tap the rubble beneath her feet, then looked up and said quietly: "...Though I hate him for leaving without saying goodbye back then, and was angry when our research diverged and he refused to change for me, still—Pallet Town is his life's proudest achievement. I won't let anyone destroy his life's work."
Agatha's expression shifted—seeming reminiscent, seeming resentful.
Perhaps that was loving yet hating.
"I have no interest in hearing old, stale love stories."
Giovanni said coldly.
"Hehehe... Old, stale love stories? Back then, didn't you also experience an old, stale love story and even had love's crystallization?"
Agatha laughed lowly as smoke rose around her.
Before Giovanni could fly into rage, she was surrounded by ghostly mist, her figure completely disappearing.
After confirming Agatha had truly left, all angry emotions vanished from Giovanni's face, as if his fury moments ago had all been pretense.
"I'm not afraid of you Elite Four taking those Badges—I'm afraid you Elite Four won't take them..."
Giovanni pulled an item from his torn suit pocket—the original Badge belonging to Viridian Gym.
"What you Elite Four want to do is exactly what I want to do. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Let you be my vanguard and attract everyone's attention!"
Giovanni revealed a knowing smile and turned to leave.
He preferred lurking in darkness to cause trouble rather than stepping into the spotlight like this.
To be continued…
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