Chapter 97 - Chapter 96: All My Ashes Are Scattered for You

"191919..."In the dusky streets of Shuangyang City, a faint hum floated through the air.Luo Tianyou, a chubby man in his thirties with a slightly cocky smile, swaggered down the alleyways, his wallet a little heavier than usual. He had just left a nearby underground casino, having made a small fortune at the blackjack tables."Hehe... I've really been lucky these days," he muttered to himself, swinging a plastic bag filled with instant noodles and soda cans in one hand. "Life's finally turning around."His feet lightly tapped the sidewalk in rhythm with the song he was humming. The air was thick with the smell of oil smoke and the faint scent of nearby blooming night flowers. Neon lights flickered in the distance, painting the dim sky with flashes of purple and orange."How can there be such a dumb organization in the world..." he scoffed. "Pays you for doing nothing. No training, no fighting, just money in the account."He chuckled proudly. "Only an idiot would waste time going to that so-called training camp. Why bother when you already got the money?"In Luo Tianyou's mind, Team Rocket was just an overfunded, underbrained criminal syndicate, blindly tossing cash at people like him. He had taken the money, promised to report to training, and then simply... never showed up. It had been over a month now, and he was still walking free."I really talked a big game back then," he smirked, "but look at me now. Still here. Still breathing. They probably forgot all about me."He confidently turned down a shortcut through a familiar alley—one he had walked countless times before—expecting a peaceful journey home.But something wasn't right."Hmm?" he paused, squinting at the sky. "Why are there so many Golbats out tonight?"Above him, dozens of Golbats, large bat-like Pokémon with gaping mouths and piercing red eyes, circled ominously under the twilight. Their wings flapped rhythmically, creating a low, unsettling hum that echoed across the street.Luo Tianyou furrowed his brows. "Weird… Bat Pokémon usually hang around caves or dark city corners, but this many? In one place?"Still, he didn't think too much of it. Zubat and Golbat often lingered in urban areas, especially near alleyways and abandoned buildings. It wasn't totally unheard of. Maybe there was a migration going on. Maybe someone was training them.But the moment he stepped into the narrow alley, an unmistakable chill crept up his spine.Dozens of people stood silently on both sides of the path. Some leaned against the walls, smoking cigarettes, others stared blankly at their phones, but all of them occasionally lifted their heads—staring directly at him.The cheerful song died in his throat.Something was very wrong.The 200-meter alley now felt like a never-ending tunnel of dread, like the endless 1,000-meter runs from his high school gym class—torturous and suffocating."Why... why are they all looking at me?" he whispered.He quickened his pace, trying not to make eye contact, beads of sweat beginning to form on his forehead.But just as he was about to reach the end of the alley, a voice stopped him in his tracks.A deep, mocking voice."So… is it easy to get money from Team Rocket?"The words hit Luo Tianyou like a bolt of lightning.The air turned icy, and a terrifying realization dawned upon him. He slowly turned toward the voice.It came from Zhang Xuewei, a man whose face he vaguely remembered from the early Rocket recruitment meetings. Standing behind him were several others—people who had joined the organization at the same time, but unlike Luo Tianyou, had followed orders, gone through training, and pledged their loyalty.One by one, the figures lining the alley closed in.Panic surged through Luo Tianyou's veins. He darted toward the alley's exit, but it was already sealed off. More Rocket members emerged from the shadows, blocking every possible escape."Don't come near me! Stay back!" Luo Tianyou screamed, backing up against a wall and waving his arms wildly. "I... I didn't do anything wrong!"But his cries fell on deaf ears.The Rocket members, eyes cold and indifferent, surrounded him like wolves circling a cornered deer.Slap! Slap! Slap!Zhang Xuewei casually walked forward and smacked Luo Tianyou's face a few times, not hard enough to injure, but enough to humiliate."You took the Rockets' money," he said softly, but the venom in his voice was unmistakable. "And yet, you refused to attend the training camp. While the rest of us were sweating blood, you were out here gambling?"Luo Tianyou's face twisted in fear."I was wrong! Brother, please—I'm sorry! Just give me one more chance!" he pleaded, falling to his knees. "I'll go! I swear I'll go to the camp. I'll even return the money. Look, I brought cash!"He pulled out thick wads of bills from his jacket, waving them around desperately like they could save his life.Zhang Xuewei scoffed."You think we're short on money?"He grabbed Luo Tianyou by the collar and hurled him to the ground like a rag doll. Then, with a glance toward the sky, he gave a silent signal.The Golbats above suddenly dove down like missiles."AHHHHHH!" A blood-curdling scream tore through the alley.What followed was chaos—flashes of wings, shrieks of pain, and finally... silence.Moments later, only dust remained in the air. Where Luo Tianyou once stood, there was now only a pile of blackened ash, slowly being picked up by the night wind.Zhang Xuewei pulled out his communicator and sent a message.[Zhang Xuewei: Boss, it's done.]A reply came almost instantly.[Renjiro: Is it clean?]Zhang Xuewei smirked at the fading ashes.[Zhang Xuewei: Not even a drop of dust is left.]The operation had been ruthless and precise. After Golbat's assault, a Magmar—the duck-billed fire Pokémon nicknamed the Yabile Dragon—stepped in to burn what was left. Under its searing flames, even bones turned to nothing.If Luo Tianyou had no close family, no one would ever even ask where he went. He would simply disappear—a ghost.[Renjiro: Very good. Rest for now. Sabrina will assign your next mission soon.][Zhang Xuewei: Yes, Sir Renjiro.]The communication ended.Zhang Xuewei looked down at the ashes for a long moment."We're all in the same boat now," he murmured. "None of us can escape this path."He turned to address the gathered Rocket recruits."You've all seen what happens when someone betrays Team Rocket," he said coldly. "We are not a charity. We gave Luo Tianyou a chance—money, purpose, power—and he spat in our faces."He pointed to the ash."This is what happens when you cheat us. This is what happens when you think Giovanni is a fool. When you think Renjiro is merciful."His voice echoed through the alley, serious and unwavering."Before any of you joined, we made things very clear. You want what the Rockets offer? You fight for it. You earn it. Otherwise, you're nothing but fuel for the fire."A hush fell over the group. Then, one man stepped forward."I'm not quitting!" said Zhang Tianyu, his voice steady. "The Rockets showed me what real strength looks like."More voices followed."Same here! I used to be a delivery guy—overworked and underpaid. The Rockets gave me purpose.""Haha! That Fatty Luo really didn't know what he had.""The Rockets changed my life. I won't go back to what I was.""I believe in the Rockets. I believe in Giovanni—and Renjiro."The once-silent crowd erupted into agreement. A fire had been lit within them—fear, yes, but also loyalty. Team Rocket was not just a gang. It was a system. A lifeline."We are Team Rocket!" someone shouted."Traveling across the galaxy!" another added.Zhang Xuewei smiled darkly as the chant grew louder, echoing down the alley like a battle cry.Indeed, they were all on a road of no return.But for these men and women—castaways of society—it was the only road that made sense.