Bab 175: 175. Planks
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"Boss, the plan involving the St. Anne has failed. The Trainer on the ship resisted fiercely. We didn't manage to capture many Pokémon. The St. Anne has sunk to the bottom of the sea."
In the dark headquarters of Team Rocket, Giovanni sat silently, staring at the large screen before him. The atmosphere in the dim room was so tense that no one dared to breathe.
Even on the other side of the screen, Hideki, one of Giovanni's men, felt the pressure. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead as he nervously waited.
"Explain clearly!" Giovanni's voice was low and menacing.
"Y-Yes! The plan was going smoothly, but then a boy suddenly attacked us, and his actions stirred the other Trainers into fighting back as well! There were too many of them. We really weren't their match."
The subordinate hurriedly explained, while Giovanni stroked the Persian lying by his side. Persian, the evolved form of Meowth, resembled a large cat with a gleaming red jewel on its forehead.
"Who is this boy?"
"That boy is Ash, from Pallet Town. He recently received his first Pokémon from Professor Oak and is traveling to collect Badges for the Pokémon League."
Giovanni's men knew his expectations. When a mission failed, he demanded answers. They had already investigated and a photo of Ash with his Pikachu appeared on the screen.
"So, you're telling me you were beaten by a rookie Trainer?" Giovanni's expression darkened.
"Boss, please forgive us. He's stronger than we anticipated. I've heard that Jessie and the others have also been repeatedly defeated by this kid!" With Jessie and James absent, the blame naturally fell on them.
"Hmph! Useless fools. They can't handle even this simple task! They've ruined my plan and lost the St. Anne, yet they still dare to ask for advances on their pay!" Giovanni's voice rose in anger.
The Persian beside him flinched slightly.
The construction of the St. Anne had been expensive. Giovanni had planned to salvage it if the mission succeeded, but now, it was lost. Even Team Rocket's funds weren't limitless, and the St. Anne had been a costly investment.
"Enough. This mission is over. Now, get rid of those meddling police officers!"
"Yes!" The subordinate sighed in relief after receiving the order.
Once the call ended, silence filled the room again. Giovanni picked up another phone and made a call.
"What are your orders, boss?" A female voice answered on the screen.
"The St. Anne plan failed, and it cost us dearly. Make sure you keep a close eye on Pokémon Paradise. It's a critical source of our funds. I don't want any issues there."
"Understood!"
The call ended, and the room fell silent once more. Giovanni's gaze returned to the screen, where Ash's photo still lingered.
"Pallet Town, huh? What a bunch of troublemakers."
Giovanni looked at the photo once more, his voice cold as he spoke. Then, he turned off the screen.
However, he didn't notice the slight gap at the door. A figure stood just outside, watching everything. Though only the figure's back was visible, the vibrant red hair was unmistakable in the darkness.
Before the screen turned off, the figure's gaze lingered on the photo. Afterward, the figure turned and quietly left.
---
**At Sea**
Meanwhile, Ash and his friends waited on the sea for about half an hour until Pidgeotto finally returned. The loyal bird Pokémon had found land and hurried back to guide them.
Pidgeotto pointed the way, and after receiving its directions, Ash fed it some food as a reward. Squirtle, Starmie, Staryu, and Goldeen, having recharged their energy, got ready for the next task.
The four Pokémon tied ropes together and began pulling Ash, Misty, and Brock toward the land, with Pidgeotto leading the way. Although they lamented not having Gyarados, Squirtle and the others were strong enough to manage.
With Pidgeotto guiding them, it didn't take long to reach a lush coastline. While they weren't sure exactly where they were, the trio felt relieved to finally be back on solid ground.
"Finally! I don't think I'll want to go on a cruise again for a long time," Misty said, her voice filled with relief. She had thought boarding a luxury cruise was a stroke of luck, but it had turned into a disaster. Still, they were safe now, and that was all that mattered.
Ash and Brock exchanged a glance and couldn't help but smile.
"It's getting late. We should find a place to rest," Ash suggested, looking at the darkening sky. After all the excitement, night had fallen. It seemed like another night sleeping under the stars, but after surviving such an ordeal, even a tent felt like a blessing.
They found a spot near the coast and set up camp. Ash released all of his Pokémon, and Charmander lit a fire to keep everyone warm. The three friends, along with their Pokémon, sat around the fire, the glow casting a comforting warmth over them.
They shared the remaining food they had salvaged from the boat with their Pokémon. Watching the happy expressions on the faces of Pikachu, Squirtle, Charmander, and the others, Ash, Misty, and Brock smiled contentedly.
After their meal, the trio retreated to the tent for some much-needed rest, while the Pokémon huddled together outside to sleep.
---
**Boom! Boom!!**
"Hmm… Ash, Brock, did you hear something?" Misty suddenly awoke in the middle of the night, startled by a loud noise. Ash and Brock, still groggy, also stirred at the sound.
"It's probably just thunder," Brock replied, listening for a moment. "It's normal for the weather to be like this near the sea."
"Pika!"
Suddenly, the Pokémon outside began to stir, Pikachu's voice among them. Ash frowned and quickly got up, stepping outside to check. Misty and Brock exchanged a glance and followed him.
Outside, all of the Pokémon were awake, gazing up at the sky. The three trainers looked up too and saw a shadow moving slowly in the distance, high above in the night sky.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone