The ventition duct was narrow, but it was more than spacious enough for a child to crawl through.

  Sato advanced in a pnk position, minimizing any noise from his movement.

  "Take me to the most crowded area first," he whispered to Gengar, whose head was halfway out of the vent.

  Gengar grihen vanished into the shadows to scout ahead. Within two minutes, it returned and poio the right, indig the correct path.

  The ventition system extended in all dires, and Gengar led Sath its winding passages.

  Along the way, they entered multiple exits.

  If there were voices in a room, Sato stopped to eavesdrop. If a room was empty, he peered through the vent to observe before tinuing forward.

  After gathering bits and pieces of information, Sato deduced that this facility was simir to the oh the Natural Park—it was also dug resear forced Pokémon evolution.

  However, the focus here was Fire-type Pokémon!

  Given their reputation for powerful attacks and explosive strength, Fire-types held far more research value than the paratively weaker Bug-types.

  As a result, the entire base was bustling with activity, and the research appeared to be in full swing.

  "Gengar—"

  Gengar turned back to Sato, nodded lightly, and then pointed downward, signaling that they had reached the area with the highest tration of people.

  Crawling closer to the vent opening, Sato checked the dire of the lighting and positioned himself in the shadows before peering down.

  As expected, the busiest area was the research ter—and at that moment, chaos was unfolding below.

  A group of disheveled researchers in white b coats were locked in a teandoff against Team Rocket operatives in battle gear. The grunts were holding ttured researchers.

  Sato's position was closer to the researchers' side, allowing him to clearly hear their whispered versations.

  "How did they get caught again? Do you think they'll spill anything?"

  "Damn it! I told you letting them escape was a bad idea. Now that they're back, we're all going to be implicated! I don't want to die!"

  "You didn't say that when we were pnning this. What, you scared now? They need us—we're too valuable. Just stay calm!"

  "You might have value, but I'm just an assistant!"

  …

  It was clear that the escape of these two researchers had been a collective effort. Unfortunately, Team Rocket had discovered aured them.

  The otion tinued until an elderly, bald researcher slowly stepped forward. His presence immediately silehe rest of the research team, who instinctively parted to make way for him.

  "Either let your ander, Miss Voya, speak with me, or release them right now!"

  The old researcher's words carried undeniable weight—eveeam Rocket grunts hesitated, uo make a decision on their own.

  Minutes passed. Both sides stood in tense silence, holding their breath.

  Then—the sharp sound of high heels clig against the floor echoed through the room, approag from a distance.

  "Lady Voya!"

  "Lady Voya, you're here!"

  …

  The Team Rocket grunts also stepped aside, clearing a path for the woman named Voya to take ter stage. She was apanied by a strikingly elegant ales, its demeanor as proud and anding as its trainer.

  Sato looked at the twenty-years-younger version of Voya, momentarily struggling tnize her.

  Yes—Sato knew Voya.

  In his past life, after being involved with Team Rocket, he had once worked alongside her on a mission. Sato had been the sharp dagger, leading the charge, while Voya had coordinated and anded from behind.

  However, by then, she was no longer called Voya. She had risen through the ranks to bee one of Team Rocket's Seven Star Huhe Bzing Star Hunt!

  Because of her exceptional beauty and her ranking among the top three of the Seven Star Hunters, many who knew her preferred to call her the Fire Rose!

  And now—at just fifteen or sixteen years old—she was already beginning to make a name for herself as the leader of this research facility.

  "Miss Voya, I sincerely apologize. These two immature subordinates of mine have caused you trouble. I will make sure to properly disciplihem wheurn."

  The elderly researcher was the first to speak, bowing at a full y degrees, his attitude remarkably humble despite his age.

  The surrounding Team Rocket members, however, were furious.

  This act of pleading for mercy had clearly been performed many times before. They cursed the researchers for their shamelessness and urged their leader, Voya, to teach them a lesson.

  Dressed in her sleek bbat suit, Voya was unmoved by either side's arguments. She simply walked forward at a leisurely pace, the sound of her high heels clig against the floor as she approached the ttured researchers.

  "Was the sky blue outside?"

  The two men, who had barely regained some strength, exged a hesitant gnce before nodding.

  "Good."

  Voya smiled, revealing a set of pristine white teeth. Her stunniy momentarily eased the tension in the air.

  "Kill them."

  "Schlick! Schlick!"

  The two researchers wideheir eyes in disbelief, their gaze shifting downward to their chests. Twray tails had already pierced through their hearts.

  Voya turned away as ales, standing loyally at her side, slowly withdrew its two bloodstained, silver-glowing tails. Ohe st drop of blood trickled off the tips, the metallic sheen faded, and the Iron Tail dispersed.

  For a moment, the room fell silent. Then, Team Rocket's operatives erupted into cheers, celebrating their leader's swift and decisive execution.

  Amidst their excitement, however, there was a lingering trace of unease—an unspoken fear of the young woman who led them.

  Oher side, the elderly researcher, Dr. Parlo, went pale. His entire body trembled as a storm of emotie, terrret—overwhelmed him. He nearly colpsed on the spot.

  "Dr. Parlo, you were brought here to duct research. Until you produce results, do not test my patience."

  Voya's voice was calm, yet the weight of her words silenced everyone instantly.

  Parlo and the rest of the research team fell into a stunned silenot a single one dared to voice a pint.

  As the crowd dispersed, two Team Rocket grunts dragged the bodies of the executed researchers away. The remaining stists looked on helplessly, wanting to stop them but too afraid to act.

  Voya also turo leave. Beside her, ales suddenly gnced up at the ceili, its sharp eyes narrowing slightly.

  After a brief moment, it dismissed the feeling as a mere illusion and followed its trainer.

  From his hiding pce, Sato felt a rare moment of tension when ales had looked in his dire. Thankfully, the Pokémon hadn't discovered him.

  Just as he was pting his move, the researchers' whispered versation below drew his attention once more.

  "Dr. Parlo, what should we do now?"

  "Yeah, Dr. Parlo, Jad Tanichiro are dead just like that. I don't want to die too!"

  "Dr. Parlo, let's just hand over the research results. We 't keep hiding this anymore."

  …

  Dr. Parlo's trembling body gradually stilled. He listeo his colleagues' panicked cries and pints with a cold expression before wordlessly turning away and leaving.

  So the research results were already plete?

  Sato's thoughts drifted back to Voya's ales. In his past life, Voya's ales possessed a unique ability—one she had once mentioned was obtaihrough a rare, tal opportunity.

  Could this research be the reason for it?

  inally, Sato had po slip away quietly.

  But now…

  He was tempted to stay.

  After all, Houndour's Fire-type potential was still missing that one crucial piece!