Mt. Moon had numerous caves, many of which were rumored to contain Moon Stones. Satoshi and Misty initially planned to spend several days exploring the caves one by one.
However, whether it was due to the hidden mission or sheer bad luck, they stumbled upon their target in the first cave they entered.
Near the entrance of the cave, a group of individuals clad in black uniforms stood guard. Their uniforms bore a large "R" emblazoned on the chest, making their identity unmistakable—Team Rocket.
"I didn't expect us to find Team Rocket so quickly. We must be lucky!" Misty whispered excitedly as she and Satoshi crouched in a bush, observing the patrols.
Satoshi wasn't so sure about their "luck." Finding Team Rocket so quickly probably meant they were near someone important—possibly an executive.
"Misty, let's not rush in recklessly. They might have reinforcements inside," Satoshi cautioned.
Misty, however, had no intention of backing down. "These guys stole my Pokémon before. I can't let them off so easily. Let's knock them out quickly and then investigate the cave to see if there are more inside!"
Reluctantly, Satoshi nodded. "Alright, but we need to do this quietly. If they hear us and alert the rest of their team, we'll be in trouble."
Both of them prepared their Poké Balls, ready to launch a surprise attack on the six Rocket grunts patrolling the entrance.
"Why are we even patrolling this place? No one comes here except us. I'd rather be searching for Moon Stones," one grunt complained as he paced.
"Quit whining. Haven't you heard? The reconnaissance team we sent to the Evergreen Forest yesterday lost contact. All 20 of them just disappeared," another grunt replied, though he also sounded exasperated.
"Yeah, but that was just some rookies. Their leader was barely a mid-level Trainer. What does that have to do with us? We've got way stronger Trainers here, and we're under the protection of Koga, the third executive. There's no one in Kanto who can take on Team Rocket!" the first grunt scoffed arrogantly.
Nearby grunts nodded in agreement, their confidence bolstered by the mention of Koga's name.
"Thanks for the info," Satoshi's calm voice interrupted their chatter.
The grunts turned, startled, but before they could react, Satoshi and Misty's Pokémon launched their attacks.
Charmeleon, Riolu, and Grovyle each swiftly approached a grunt, using one hand to silence them and the other to land precise [Thunder Punch] attacks, knocking them out instantly.
Meanwhile, Frogadier used [Aerial Ace], striking two grunts with incredible speed and precision.
Misty's Staryu executed a powerful [Rapid Spin], taking down the final grunt.
Within moments, all six Rocket grunts were incapacitated.
"Now, Misty, have Staryu use [Ice Beam] to freeze their hands and feet. That'll keep them from escaping or calling for help," Satoshi suggested.
Misty nodded, and with Frogadier demonstrating the technique, Staryu followed suit. Soon, the grunts' hands and feet were encased in ice, effectively immobilizing them.
With the entrance cleared, Satoshi and Misty turned their attention to the cave. However, the narrow passage ahead presented a new challenge—it was too tight for a sneak attack.
"If we can't sneak in, we'll just fight head-on," Misty declared confidently.
"But didn't those grunts mention someone named Koga?" Satoshi asked, his expression serious.
Misty frowned. "Yeah, they called him 'Lord Koga.' What's the big deal?"
Satoshi hesitated before responding. "Koga isn't just anyone. He's the gym leader of Fuchsia City and one of Team Rocket's executives. He's a quasi-elite Trainer now and will likely become an elite-level powerhouse in the future."
Misty's confidence faltered slightly, but she remained defiant. "So what? We've already come this far."
Satoshi sighed. "Misty, listen. Hidden tasks like this often adjust based on the initiator's goals. If you want to leave now, we can still complete the mission, though the rewards might be smaller. But if we go in and face Koga, we're risking our lives."
He glanced at her, his tone firm. "Are you sure you still want to do this?"
End of the Chapter.