"Crap, the Poachers are coming in."
Reluctantly, Feng Che abandoned his plan to steal the Silver Wing. He quickly recalled Ditto into its Poké Ball and scrambled out through the hole he had dissolved, escaping the Captain's office just as the lock clicked open.
"What a waste. So close to a legendary resource," Feng Che muttered, his heart aching.
Inside the office, the Poachers swarmed in like locusts. "Miyamoto! Where did that old man hide the Wing?" their leader, Tesha, barked.
"I... I don't know! He never let me in here alone!" the First Mate stammered, internally cursing the Captain for his secrecy. "That old fox... he told me he treated me like a son, but he hid the best treasures from me."
"Useless trash!" Tesha spat. "Search everywhere! Hanzo Shura-sama specifically wants that Wing. Don't disappoint him!"
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over the bridge. Captain Kasha, perched atop his Salamence, stared through the reinforced windows at the intruders. "You have a lot of nerve, breaking into my room to steal my things!"
"Hanzo has already fled," Kasha's voice was cold and sharp. "Surrender now, or I'll bury you in the wreckage of this room. I can't guarantee you'll be breathing when I'm done."
As Lance took off to assist the Dragonair in the water, Feng Che emerged from the lower decks, dragging a stunned Poacher by the collar to maintain his "struggling defender" cover. He looked up to see a massive Hyper Beam from Kasha's Salamence plow through the bridge, followed by the agonized screams of the thieves.
"I've spent years being patient," Kasha roared, his eyes bloodshot with rage. "Today, you'll learn the cost of making me angry!"
The Poachers were neutralized within minutes, but Kasha's fury didn't subside. He realized the Silver Wing was gone. He had kept it hidden for decades, never speaking of it—yet someone had found out. The Poachers must have it hidden on the ship, or used a device to shield its psychic imprint, he thought, unaware that the thief was currently "helping" the wounded on the lower deck.
In a hidden corner of the ship, a Poacher team leader named Tobu was panicking. "Hanzo-sama is gone! We need to evacuate! Dump the Rage Powder into the sea! Use the chaos to slip away!"
But his subordinate ran back, face pale. "Leader... the powder! It's gone! The entire stockpile vanished from the hold!"
"Going somewhere?" A shadow fell over them. Lance's Aerodactyl snatched Tobu up in its talons, while his other Pokémon pinned the rest to the deck.
"Society's dregs," Lance said coldly. "You can reflect on your life in a League prison."
With the source of the Rage Powder gone (safely tucked in Feng Che's ring) and the Poachers suppressed, the Gyarados swarm began to snap out of their trance. Faced with the overwhelming aura of two Dragonair, the sea serpents dived back into the depths.
"The crisis is over," Lance noted, watching Feng Che's Corvisquire and Scyther mop up the last of the stragglers.
Because the engine room was a total loss, the ship drifted until a fleet of a dozen helicopters appeared on the horizon.
"Ah, the Alliance's 'Black Hole' effect," Feng Che muttered, watching the League reinforcement aircraft. "They always manage to arrive 'just in time'—the moment the danger is completely cleared."
Blaine and Officer Jenny descended on rope ladders. Blaine, seeing the scorched deck and hearing Kasha's distant roars, walked toward Lance. "Lance, long time no see. I should have known it was you holding the line against the Syndicate."
"They've formed a massive network," Lance said grimly. "We need to do more than just arrest foot soldiers. The Poachers are becoming as big a threat as Team Rocket."
Blaine turned to Feng Che. "And who is this?"
"My friend, Feng Che," Lance introduced. "An exceptionally talented Alchemist and pharmacist."
"夏伯 (Blaine)博士, I've long admired your work in genetic research," Feng Che said, offering a polite bow. Blaine looked flattered but modest.
"My Dragonair is at its limit," Lance interrupted. "The battle with the Gyarados pushed its experience over the edge. I need to get to Cinnabar immediately to oversee its evolution."
Cinnabar Island
Blaine flew them directly to the Cinnabar Gym, which was built into the side of the volcano.
"The League's grip is slipping," Blaine sighed during the flight. "Poachers stealing a Tyranitar egg from Mt. Silver... it's total lawlessness. Ever since Goodshow retired and Damarane took over, the League has become a puppet for the Great Houses."
Lance nodded, his expression dark. Feng Che recognized the history; in this timeline, Lance's eventual disillusionment would lead him to take matters into his own hands, purging the corrupt Elite and eventually becoming the Champion of Johto.
"So, young man, why are you coming to Cinnabar?" Blaine asked Feng Che. "To challenge my gym?"
"Not yet. I'm looking for a Fire Crystal. My Vulpix is about to hatch, and I want to provide it the best foundation possible."
"A Fire Crystal?" Blaine mused. "Those only form in the deepest veins of a Fire Stone mine. The volcano's Fire-types are currently in a territorial dispute, and I've banned tourists for safety. I'll give you a pass to enter, but don't get your hopes up—they're incredibly rare."
They landed, and Blaine led Lance to a secure, 200-square-meter underground chamber. "You can evolve your Dragonair here, Lance. It's shielded and safe."
"Feng Che, I'm going to need your help," Lance said, closing the door. "I can't make it to the Dragon's Den in time. If you can help Dragonair through this, I'll owe you a massive favor."
Feng Che smiled. He already knew what he wanted for that favor: he'd ask the League to grant Lance official jurisdiction over the Death Islands, effectively making it a private sanctuary where Feng Che could freely harvest Salac Berries and explore the hidden vaults he'd found.
"Let's see the patient," Feng Che said.
Lance released Dragonair. Evolution into Dragonite involves shedding an incredibly thick layer of draconic skin—a process so painful and energy-intensive that many high-level Dragonair perish during the transition. Because of the intense battle on the ship, Dragonair's evolution was no longer a choice—it was happening now.
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