Pokémon: Above the Top

That night, behind a closed-down restaurant in Shadownight Town, seven or eight Team Rocket grunts in black combat uniforms were commanding some Pokémon to move supplies.

Because Shadownight's nights were pitch black, they all wore night-vision goggles while working. The whole process was silent, and no one nearby noticed a thing.

"This is the last batch of supplies… A brat is still a brat, he got infiltrated by us, Team Rocket, anyway," one of the grunts sneered quietly, but got no response.

"Too bored with nothing to do, huh? Get inside and organize the supplies…" a white-uniformed Team Rocket Captain growled in a low voice, scaring the speaker into scrambling into the restaurant.

The Captain walked to the back door, looked around with his night-vision goggles, and only after confirming there was no one suspicious did he close the door.

Thunk~ Thunk~ Thunk~

The incandescent lights inside flickered on, and all the Team Rocket members took off their night-vision gear.

"AHHH! W-Who are you?!"

A scream suddenly rang out. The same grunt who had spoken earlier stumbled back in fear. Standing right where he had been moments ago, two people had appeared out of nowhere.

"I'm the brat you just mentioned. Doesn't Team Rocket distribute my photo before starting a mission?" Sato said casually. By now, the rest of the Team Rocket grunts had already frantically retreated to the other side of the room.

"S-S-SATO!" Even the white-uniformed Captain stuttered at the sight of him.

"And what about me~? Do you guys recognize me?" Mark raised his hand and joined in on the fun.

"You're Mr. Mark, one of… one of the top combat forces at Shadownight Gym." the white-uniformed Captain said "respectfully". He even used "Mr." in a desperate bid to stay alive.

"Hehehe, Boss, did you hear that? I'm a top combat force~"

"Then take care of them," Sato said casually, hands in his pockets.

"Golbat, Leech Life!"

The Team Rocket Captain suddenly launched an attack. A Golbat lunged fiercely at Mark. He didn't dare target Sato, so he aimed to capture Mark as a hostage, his only shot at survival.

But it was nothing more than a daydream. After traveling with Sato for so long, there was no way Mark would be that careless in front of enemies.

A powerful burst of psychic energy suddenly erupted from behind Mark, sweeping through the entire group of Team Rocket grunts, including the Golbat that was about to strike his face.

"Good job, Orb~Orb!" Mark sidestepped the snarling Golbat, revealing the Solosis floating behind him.

Sato couldn't help glancing at the innocent-looking green jelly. It was only at Ordinary stage, but its psychic power was so "overwhelming" that even an Elite-level Golbat couldn't break free.

Its other stats were trash, but it was still impressive enough. The Pokémon Mark acquired really did get better each time.

"Knock them out and check if they're carrying any communicators." Sato didn't go as far as to wipe them all out. Team Rocket was never short on grunts like these.

"Orb~Orb, Psychic!" Mark commanded immediately. The Solosis floated unsteadily toward the group, then blasted them with psychic energy.

And just like that… a Team Rocket hideout was neutralized.

"That was way too weak…" Even Mark couldn't help but complain.

"They're all Intel Operatives. Of course they're not strong. Was Voya strong last time?" Sato glanced at the smug-looking Mark and shot him down.

"Umbreee~"

At that moment, Umbreon, who was rummaging through things, let out a soft cry. It had just dug out a pitch-black communicator.

"Nice!"

Sato picked up the device and fiddled with it for a bit, quickly figuring out how to operate it.

Beep~beep~beep~beep

"Has the hideout been established? Why hasn't there been any contact as scheduled?" A cold female voice came from the communicator. Sato instantly recognized who it was.

"Sorry, 'Lady' Voya~ The hideout was suddenly attacked by me. It's gone now," Sato replied cheekily.

"…"

Sato could even hear the heavy breathing from the other end of the communicator. Clearly, she was both shocked and furious.

"You might have taken out one hideout, but can you take out all of them? There's not a single city in the Johto Region, including Blackthorn City, that Team Rocket hasn't infiltrated!"

Voya was burning with rage, her voice full of dominance.

"Then listen up, Team Rocket… if I find another hideout, I'll take out one of your research camps for every single one I uncover…"

With that, Sato used Dark Energy to destroy the communicator, not giving Voya any more chance to argue.

As for "research camps", Sato knew quite a few. The closest one to Shadownight Town was in a shallow bay near Olivine City.

"Boss… the research camp you mentioned…" Mark, who had listened to everything, suddenly realized what Sato meant earlier by "a nice little gift."

"Yeah. I'll make a quick trip overnight and be back by morning," Sato nodded, acknowledging it directly.

"Stay safe, Boss!" Mark didn't say more. He knew going along would only be a burden.

"Have Amber come over first to see if there's anything valuable, then notify Officer Jenny to clean up. I'm heading out now," Sato said, then had Ralts use Teleport and vanished.

"Strength… when will I catch up?" Mark murmured, staring at the spot where Sato had disappeared.

A beam of white light suddenly appeared in the Forest of Shadows. Sato regained his focus and saw countless pairs of glowing red eyes.

"Krow!"

A familiar cry rang out. Sato raised his hand, and his Murkrow landed precisely on his arm.

"I need to ask your mother for a favor, take me to her," Sato said to Murkrow.

"Krooow~"

Sato had never sought it out this late at night, so Murkrow knew something urgent must be going on. Without delay, it soared into the sky to guide him.

Very soon, Sato arrived before Murkrow's mother. But now, the giant Murkrow had completed its evolution.

And the item it used to evolve was a Dusk Stone that Sato had specially searched for.

"Help me out. I need to get to Olivine City overnight, and only you can take me. Ralts doesn't know the way," Sato said directly.

The giant Honchkrow looked extremely displeased at Sato. It was the dominant Pokémon of the Forest of Shadows, after all. 'Getting ordered around by a human like this…' what about its dignity?! Three minutes later, Honchkrow flapped its massive wings and shot through the night sky toward Olivine City.

Sato lay flat on its back, and Ralts used its psychic power to shield him from the wind, making the ride comfortable.

"I'll give you a Dark-type Energy Crystal to play with when we get back. Should be useful to you," Sato said to the Honchkrow beneath him.

"Krooow!"

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150 PW = Chap