Chapter 23: The Scarlet R

"Faster, faster! Move it!!"

"There's a high probability 'that' is around here. Our objective isn't capture; it's strictly location and verification!!"

"Keep looking, all of you!"

A group of unidentified individuals, dressed in matching black uniforms and black caps, were scouring the forest.

Dozens of meters away, N crouched behind a tree, his hat pulled low to shield his face. A flicker of surprise crossed his features as he observed the intruders.

Visible on their chests was a prominent, blood-red 'R,' a symbol N recognized instantly from his knowledge as a transmigrator. It was the mark of the notorious criminal organization that plagued the Kanto region.

Team Rocket.

They were the most widespread criminal syndicate in the world, rooted in Kanto for years. Even the Elite Four's "Iron-Masked Adjudicator," Lance, with all his dedication and hatred for evil, had been unable to pull Team Rocket out by its roots.

"..."

N remained deathly silent. He knew Team Rocket's reach was vast; they were active in the Johto region neighboring Kanto, so their appearance here in the Japan region wasn't entirely unexpected.

Still, why dispatch over a dozen people? What exactly were they looking for?

N had lived in Nichiyo Forest for years and knew its every corner. He couldn't recall anything that would draw these jackals out in such force. Regardless, he decided to stay back and observe until he could gauge the enemy's full strength.

Besides, if things went according to plan, these thugs were about to have a very bad night.

"Zorua, if you would."

"Zua!"

Zorua nodded with a mischievous glint in its eyes. Utilizing its pitch-black fur and natural agility, it vanished into the shadows. It circled around to the front of a Team Rocket grunt and intentionally made a noise.

ROAARR!!

Less than a minute later, a roar tore through the night air. Some poor Team Rocket soul had been lured by Zorua's trickery, inadvertently stumbling right into a dangerous territory during their search.

To make matters worse, Zorua had chucked a rock toward the noise, hitting a certain inhabitant square in the head. This immediately enraged a long-time neighbor of Nichiyo Forest.

"An Ursaring!!"

A terrified shriek erupted from the grunt. A split second later, a berserk Ursaring lunged from the brush, swiping a massive paw that sent the nearest Team Rocket member flying over ten meters.

An enraged Alpha Pokémon was a terrifying force of nature, especially a species as brutal as Ursaring. A casual swing of its arm could snap a thick tree trunk like a twig. A human taking that hit would suffer shattered ribs and crushed internal organs; survival was slim.

"Counterattack, now!!"

"Arbok! Use Poison Sting!"

"Mankey, use Fury Swipes!"

"Weezing, use Sludge!"

The dozen or so Team Rocket members scrambled to regroup, hurling their Poké Balls. Dozens of Pokémon emerged to swarm the Ursaring. However, these were mere grunts. Their Pokémon were mostly used for bullying the weak; their strength peaked at the Elite level. Against an Alpha Ursaring, they were like Rattata facing a Persian.

ROAARR!!

The Ursaring was already fuming from a previous encounter with humans a few days prior. Seeing these newcomers dare to provoke it again, it unleashed its full fury. Its body moved like a heavy tank, trampling everything in its path.

Any Pokémon it hit was instantly knocked back, losing their ability to battle. The fragile Team Rocket members fared worse. The lucky ones walked away with shattered limbs and unconsciousness; the unlucky ones didn't wake up at all.

"Vile beast..."

In the center of the group stood a member without the standard black cap, his face twisted in a dark scowl. His hand moved to the Poké Ball on his belt. His codename within Team Rocket was Blackhawk. He wasn't an Executive; because his Pokémon's raw power had hit a plateau, he'd been stuck as a Squad Captain for years.

Even so, Blackhawk didn't dare slack off.

His direct superior was one of the "Great Ones," one of the Team Rocket Four Executives, and a cold, demanding individual at that. If he failed a task as simple as this, he wouldn't have the face to return and report.

"Go, Crobat! Use Cross Poison!"

Even if he couldn't bring back information, he couldn't let this mission end in a total disaster.

Blackhawk whipped his Poké Ball forward. A Crobat emerged, streaking through the air. Purple and sleek, its four wings formed a distinct 'X' shape as it navigated the dark canopy with lethal speed.

The Cross Poison, shimmering with a dark purple light, struck the Ursaring squarely in the chest. Unlike the superficial scratches from the other Pokémon, this hit forced the Ursaring back several steps. Two deep gashes opened on its thick, rugged hide, a testament to the Crobat's power.

Alpha level... Mid-level... or perhaps High-level?

N calmly assessed the Crobat's strength. In a squad of ten, it was logical for the leader to possess an Alpha-level Pokémon. As long as he didn't run into a quasi-Elite Four level opponent, he could handle it.

Truthfully, if that man actually had a Pokémon at that level, he wouldn't be wasting his time as a lowly Squad Captain.