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Chapter 118: Asahi’s Countermeasure
🕑 Added 2025-02-10 12:07:20 +0000 UTCChapter 118: Asahi’s Countermeasure
For Sabrina, this was a dilemma with no good options.
If she remained loyal to Team Rocket, she would have to endure their pursuit.
It was true that she had joined Team Rocket because she was drawn to Giovanni’s vision.
But did she really want to sacrifice everything for them?
Maybe… she could pretend to agree and then report everything to Giovanni?
As the thought crossed her mind, she instinctively glanced at Asahi.
However, the knowing smirk on his face sent a chill down her spine, making her immediately avert her gaze.
No… That wouldn’t work.
Regaining her composure, she quickly dismissed the idea.
Even if she did report back, would Giovanni believe her?
Her standing within Team Rocket wasn’t the best.
Apart from her decent relationship with Lt. Surge and Koga, she was not on friendly terms with the Three Beasts of the Sevii Islands or the Four Generals of Johto.
Especially Sird…
If something happened to her, Sird would definitely seize the opportunity to push her further into the abyss.
Moreover… Sabrina couldn’t shake the feeling that there was already a mole inside Team Rocket.
Otherwise, how else could Asahi have obtained such classified information?
A known enemy like Sird, an unknown traitor lurking in the shadows, and her inability to explain how Asahi had learned everything—no matter how she looked at it, she saw no future for herself within Team Rocket.
Right now, the only path left seemed to be… to accept Asahi’s offer.
But… the thought of how Asahi had toyed with her, manipulated her, and even hypnotized her to drag her here—just thinking about it filled her with unbearable humiliation.
A strong sense of resistance swelled within her.
After much hesitation, Sabrina finally opened her mouth. "I…"
"Wait a moment."
Asahi suddenly stopped her.
Sabrina looked at him in confusion as he raised his hand and checked his watch, then smiled at her. "Sorry, it’s lunchtime. Ever since our department was restructured, we follow a strict no-overtime policy for non-urgent tasks. So… we’ll continue this conversation in the afternoon."
With that, he nodded to Green, and the two of them packed up their things and walked toward the door.
"Wait…!"
Sabrina quickly called after them, watching them leave in disbelief.
But Asahi and Green didn’t stop, leaving her alone in the specially designed prison cell, eyes full of frustration.
"….."
For the first time in her life, the Saffron Gym Leader hated the League’s bureaucratic work policies.
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Back at the Mansion
Seated at the dining table, Green hesitated before asking, "Are you seriously planning to turn Sabrina into a double agent? She is a Rocket Executive, after all…"
Asahi picked up a spoon and casually replied, "Well… let’s just say, if it were Lt. Surge, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation."
"Why?"
"Because there’s way too much evidence against him. With all the illegal goods he’s smuggled, there’s no turning back for him—he’s bound to go down with Team Rocket."
"But Sabrina is different. Her father holds a high-ranking position in the Pokémon Association. She knows how to be cautious. Do you know why I couldn’t find any incriminating evidence in Saffron Gym? Or why there were no Team Rocket grunts there?"
"That’s her escape route."
Green thought for a moment. "So… you’re saying she always planned to leave Team Rocket?"
"Not necessarily. It’s more of an unconscious safeguard, something even she might not have realized."
"But will she really agree to it?"
Asahi took the tray from Indeedee, thanked it, and then turned back to Green. "I gave her two choices, but any smart person would realize she actually has none."
"Unless Sabrina is willing to sacrifice everything for Team Rocket. But tell me—does she seem like that kind of person to you?"
Green thought about it and shook her head.
"Exactly." Asahi poured curry over his rice.
As long as she had a functioning brain, Sabrina wouldn’t remain blindly loyal to Team Rocket.
And as for the worst-case scenario—if she pretended to surrender but secretly reported everything to Giovanni—Asahi already had countermeasures.
If needed, he could expose Saturn’s status as a double agent for Team Galactic, throwing Team Rocket into chaos.
Or he could leak the information about Pryce kidnapping Giovanni’s son, forcing Team Rocket to turn their attention toward Pryce instead.
At that point, without Team Rocket’s protection, Sabrina would be completely at his mercy.
Of course, these were last-resort measures. He wouldn’t use them unless absolutely necessary.
"Should we inform Lance about this?" Green asked.
Asahi waved his hand dismissively. "No need. Lance has enough on his plate already. Now that I’m the acting director of the Kanto branch, there’s no need to bother him with every little thing."
The League’s security was full of leaks—like a sieve. If they reported this, Giovanni would probably find out in two days.
Besides, the International Police reported directly to their headquarters, not to the League. There was no need to inform them of everything.
Still, Green’s question reminded him—he would need to officially register Sabrina with the International Police HQ later.
After enjoying the Galar-style curry made by Indeedee, Asahi and Gardevoir lounged on the couch, petting Eevee while watching a broadcast of a Pokémon battle from the Galar region.
On the screen, a Gigantamax Eevee took down a Gigantamax Pikachu.
Eevee, watching with bright eyes, let out an excited cheer. "Vee!"
Then it perked up its ears and looked at Asahi expectantly.
"You want to grow that big too?"
Asahi twitched at the thought. "That’s a battle style unique to the Galar region. Ever heard of ‘region exclusivity’?"
Hearing this, Eevee’s ears drooped. "Vee…."
It gave Asahi a pitiful look.
Asahi sighed, unable to resist. "…Alright, alright. When we have time, I’ll take you to Galar to experience Dynamax battles."
Seeing Eevee instantly perk up again, Asahi chuckled to himself.
He had only said when there’s time, not when exactly—Eevee was way too easy to trick.
Still… wasn’t he forgetting something?
He thought for a moment but couldn’t recall, so he shrugged it off and refocused on the TV, grumbling about the show that was on.
"Kricketune’s Adventures…? Who even watches a show with this kind of protagonist?"
Meanwhile, in the underground cell, Sabrina’s stomach let out an embarrassing growl.
She clenched her fists, her face burning with shame.
She knew she shouldn’t have skipped dinner last night for the sake of maintaining her figure.
And skipping breakfast while waiting for Asahi’s Gym assessment had been an even worse idea.
Now, she could only endure her hunger and wait for Asahi and Green to finish their lunch break.
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