Misty rolled her eyes at Ash and said,
"Although he won the battle just now, he exchanged his Butterfree for the other party's Raticate."
"Exchange?" Xia You was stunned at first. After recalling this part of the plot, he couldn't help shaking his head.
"Isn't Butterfree your partner? Why would you exchange it? You're not trying to complete the Pokédex, and Raticate isn't a rare Pokémon either. There's no need to trade it."
"But…" Ash was clearly conflicted, his tone filled with disappointment.
"Brock also agreed to the exchange just now."
"He was too busy staring at the other person's female companion to even listen to you," Misty said helplessly, already used to Brock's weakness for beautiful women.
Since things had already come to this, Xia You didn't try to persuade Ash to immediately exchange Butterfree back. Everyone grows at their own pace, and this was something Ash had to experience himself. Moreover, it was Ash's own decision. Only the one who tied the bell could untie it. Even if he regretted it later, he had to realize it on his own.
"By the way," Misty said while taking another bite of cake, "where did you go just now?"
"I just walked around nearby."
Seeing the several pieces of cake in Misty's hand, Xia You smiled.
"Even though you're still growing, don't eat too many sweets. You'll gain weight easily."
Hearing this, Misty glanced at Xia You. For some reason, she remembered something. Though a little reluctant, she slowly put the cake down.
The ship's whistle sounded again. The St. Anne had already been sailing for quite some time. Outside the windows, no land or ships could be seen—only the endless blue sea.
Sitting beside Misty, Xia You had just taken a few bites when, with a loud bang, all the doors to the hall suddenly shut.
A group of sinister-looking people appeared from nowhere.
They wore black hats, eye masks, and black uniforms with a large red "R" printed on them. On their backs were machines equipped with multiple suction tubes, and they quickly surrounded the passengers.
Before anyone could react, the lights in the hall dimmed.
Two figures—one man and one woman—dressed in white uniforms leapt onto a high platform formed by stacked tables. Amid wild laughter, a spotlight shone on them.
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To protect the world's peace!"
"To embody love and truth, the evil!"
"The cute and charming villainous characters!"
"I am Jessie!"
"I am James!"
"We are Team Rocket, blasting off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"
"That's right, Meowth~"
A standing Meowth jumped between the two.
The Team Rocket trio—who ran through the entire Pokémon anime—finally made their dazzling appearance.
Jessie placed her hands on her hips and shouted loudly at the passengers,
"All the Pokémon here today—Team Rocket will take them all!"
"That's right!" James crossed his arms and followed up loudly.
"If anyone dares to stop us, don't blame us for being impolite!"
Before the passengers could even process what was happening, the black-clad Team Rocket members activated their machines.
Instantly, powerful air currents surged through the hall. With terrifying suction, more than half of the Poké Balls—whether held in hands or clipped to belts—were ripped away and swallowed by the machines.
Chaos erupted immediately.
Xia You, Ash, and Misty were positioned far enough away that they weren't affected for the moment.
Team Rocket, just like in the anime, had begun targeting the passengers.
After the initial panic, the passengers naturally refused to surrender. One after another, Pokémon were released, and under their Trainers' commands, they fought back against Team Rocket's forces.
Most of Team Rocket's Pokémon were Poison-type—Ekans, Koffing, and Zubat being the most common.
The passengers' Pokémon were far more diverse, though many were unevolved species like Rattata, Pidgey, and Bellsprout.
Ash, Misty, and Brock also joined the battle.
The hall quickly descended into fierce combat. Explosions and flames tore through the space, and in no time, the once-luxurious hall was left in ruins.
All things considered, if Team Rocket had no other tricks, even without Ash and the others, their defeat was only a matter of time.
But could such a carefully planned scheme really be this simple?
Xia You calmly observed the battlefield.
Suddenly, he spotted the man codenamed Handsome in the second-floor corridor, commanding two Pokémon while battling a feminine man wearing a Team Rocket uniform, his hair styled into a purple mohawk.
Xia You's heart stirred.
Without time to notify Misty and the others, he rushed up the stairs and reached the second-floor corridor.
Handsome's Pokémon were a standing frog with a punchable face—Croagunk—and a Growlithe with tiger-like stripes and a mane resembling a lion's.
The feminine man's Pokémon, on the other hand, were a Zubat with a gaping mouth and no eyes, and a Weezing constantly spewing poison gas.
The four Pokémon were locked in fierce combat.
When Handsome noticed Xia You, his face lit up with surprise, while the feminine man's expression darkened.
"Xia You!" Handsome shouted, pointing at the man.
"This guy is Lambda—one of Team Rocket's four Rocket Executives, and the on-site commander of this robbery. As long as we catch him, this riot will truly end!"
"Damn it, don't get in the way!" Lambda roared.
"Whether it's the International Police or any other Trainer, anyone who interferes with Team Rocket's plan will pay the price!"
So he really was the on-site commander. No wonder the Team Rocket members below were already falling into chaos without proper leadership.
"Just give up," Xia You said calmly.
"Look below. Your plan has completely failed. Your subordinates are scattered and fleeing. Defeat is inevitable. Kirlia—use Confusion!"
In the next instant, Lambda's Zubat was violently slammed into the ground, as if an invisible hand had seized it by the neck.
With Xia You joining the fight, the previously even battle instantly tipped to one side.
No matter how unwilling he was, Lambda could only swallow the bitter taste of defeat.
"Don't celebrate too soon. We'll be back!"
He glared fiercely at Handsome and Xia You.
"Weezing—use Smokescreen!"
A thick cloud of black smoke burst from Weezing's body, instantly engulfing Lambda.
"Oh no!" Handsome exclaimed.
When he covered his nose and rushed into the smoke, Lambda and his Pokémon had already vanished without a trace.