----
Kai kept his eyes on Silver, who was still sitting in the restaurant, finishing his meal.
Estimating that Silver wouldn't be leaving anytime soon, Kai motioned for the waiter, ordering a simple dinner for himself and Sabrina.
A few minutes later, their table was filled with sandwiches of different flavours, a fresh salad, crispy fries, and chicken nuggets along with two cups of hot coffee.
As they ate, Looker explained the upcoming operations that Interpol had planned.
Looker was surprisingly open about their plans, showing no concern that Kai or Sabrina might leak sensitive information.
After all, both had helped him before in Kanto, and even with Interpol's resources, taking down Team Rocket was a challenge. That's why they needed the support of the Pokémon League and trainers like Kai.
Kai finished four sandwiches before he felt somewhat full But just as he was about to start a fifth one, he glanced through the window.
Silver had finally finished his meal and was now leaving the restaurant.
Kai didn't hesitate.
In one swift motion, he stuffed the entire sandwich into his mouth cheeks bulging like a Snorlax stockpiling food.
Looker stared at him in shock, completely speechless.
Sabrina sighed, 'Again'
Without another word, Kai quickly paid the bill, and the three of them exited the café, stepping into the cool night air.
...
The night breeze was crisp, sending a chill down their spines.
The streetlights cast a warm glow, but there were few pedestrians left at this hour.
Silver walked at a steady pace, heading northwest through town. He didn't seem to realize he was being followed.
Looker was about to trail after him, but Kai quickly grabbed his arm.
"Wait. We can't follow him like this."
Looker frowned.
"Why not?"
Kai gestured at their surroundings.
"There's almost no one else on the street. If we stay too close, he'll notice us instantly."
Looker let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing his temples.
"I know that! But if we wait too long, we'll lose him. And I came here in such a hurry that I don't have backup agents nearby so we have no choice but to risk it!"
Kai smirked.
"Who said we have no choice? This is why you need to rely on Pokémon!"
Kai looked down at his shadow and spoke calmly.
"Gengar, you heard everything, right? This job is all yours."
Gengar's Assignment
From Kai's shadow, a familiar figure emerged, its eerie grin widening.
"Hehe… So what do you want me to do? Kidnap him? Or wait until we're alone and… eliminate him?"
Kai: …
"Dude, seriously…?"
Letting out a deep sigh, Kai rubbed his forehead.
"Just follow him quietly and see what he's up to. No kidnappings. No murder. And for the love of Arceus, stop making it sound so sinister!"
Honestly, Kai could have sent Charizard to scout from the sky or had Sabrina use her psychic powers to track Silver.
But considering the environment, Gengar was the best choice.
Gengar chuckled darkly.
"Fine, fine! I was just joking lighten up, Boss!"
"Now's not the time for jokes!"
Kai shook his head, exasperated.
"Listen. Leave some subtle markers along the way so we can follow you. Don't get caught, and don't pull any pranks on him. Got it?"
Gengar pounded its tiny chest proudly.
"Trust me, Boss stealth is my speciality!"
With that, Gengar vanished into thin air, blending perfectly with the shadows.
"Bye, Bye"
A gentle breeze blew past them, signalling that Gengar was now on the move.
Watching Gengar disappear, Looker let out a deep sigh of admiration.
"Man… Having Pokémon that powerful and reliable must be nice."
Kai glanced at him, curious.
"Wait, don't you only have two Pokémon? Growlithe and Toxicroak, right?"
Looker nodded.
"Yeah. That's all I've got."
Kai frowned.
"You're a top Interpol agent, and you only have two Pokémon? Isn't that a little dangerous?"
Looker chuckled bitterly.
"I don't have the time to catch more Pokémon, let alone train them. My job is too demanding; missions come one after another. But my Growlithe and Toxicroak are incredibly dependable. That's all I really need."
Kai shrugged.
"Fair enough."
The three of them waited a few minutes, giving Silver some distance before slowly following in the same direction.
Though Silver himself was nowhere in sight, Kai could see the markers Gengar had left small arrows hidden in plain sight.
Night had fully fallen, and the town was now silent. Following the trail, they eventually arrived at a large estate.
The property featured a three-story building with a tower-like structure, surrounded by a neatly maintained courtyard.
Seeing it, Looker nodded knowingly, excitement flashing in his eyes.
"I knew it! This is Professor Elm's laboratory! It all makes sense now Team Rocket must be targeting this place!"
He scanned the area, expecting to see Rocket grunts lurking nearby but there were none.
Suddenly, Gengar reappeared, peeking over the courtyard wall.
It waved at Kai and whispered...
"Boss, Silver already went inside!"
Kai and Looker exchanged glances.
Leaving Sabrina to keep watch outside, the two of them vaulted over the wall, landing silently inside the property.
They quickly hid behind a large tree, keeping their eyes on Silver who was crouched in the bushes, watching the lab intently.
Kai's eyes narrowed.
"He doesn't look like he's breaking in… More like he's observing something."
Looker furrowed his brows.
"Something's off. Why is he alone? Where's Team Rocket? Shouldn't there be more of them?"
Kai took a deep breath, then gave his own theory.
"Maybe… there are no other Rocket members here. Maybe this is just Silver acting alone."
Looker's face darkened.
"Acting alone? You mean… he's not actually with Team Rocket?"
If that was true, then he had just wasted a ton of effort tracking him for nothing…
----
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