Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

A rough voice called out from behind.

Turning, Luo Yuan saw a burly man step forward from the miners' group, speaking up on his behalf.

Although Luo Yuan didn't really need any help, he figured he might as well step back and watch how things unfolded.

He left the young man with a cold expression standing alone in front of the crowd.

"Save your breath. We're not letting you through," the young man said.

"We didn't come here expecting your permission." The burly man's tone was firm. "But we're getting through today, one way or another!"

The miners who had been facing off with the environmentalists began releasing their Pokémon, following the big man's lead.

From the looks of things, the miners held him in high regard.

"It's about time. No need to waste words on these people."

"We've had enough of you blocking the road day after day!"

"That's right. Go make your protests elsewhere—don't get in the way of us trying to make an honest living!"

The miners were visibly angry.

After three days of blocked roads and lost wages, their patience with the environmentalists had worn thin.

At the big man's signal, the miners released an array of Geodudes, Gravelers, Machokes, and other Rock- or Fighting-type Pokémon.

As for the leader, he stood next to a massive Onix.

Seeing the miners release their Pokémon, the environmentalists weren't about to back down and began calling out their own Pokémon as well.

Except… the Pokémon they sent out…

"Wait, are those Kalos Pokémon?"

Luo Yuan's brow furrowed as he took in the scene.

Alongside familiar Kanto Pokémon like Nidoran and Ekans, the environmentalists had a surprising number of Kalos Pokémon—Clawitzers, Diggersbys, and more.

And they seemed well-prepared.

Many of the Pokémon they released were Water- or Fighting-types, chosen to counter Rock-types.

It was clear they had planned for this.

"This doesn't add up…"

Now, normally, a world with Pokémon from various regions wouldn't be surprising.

But the fact that only Kalos Pokémon were present here, alongside Kanto Pokémon, in such numbers was strange enough to make Luo Yuan suspicious.

But before he had time to ponder it further, the battle had already begun.

The miners and environmentalists had clearly been harboring resentment toward each other.

Once their Pokémon were out, they wasted no words and charged.

The chaos of the fight quickly turned into a brawl.

The miners, with their Rock-types, found themselves at a disadvantage, though they managed to hold their own with sheer numbers and the powerful Onix led by the big man.

The crowd of bystanders quickly backed away, not wanting to be caught up in the crossfire.

Misty, too, had started to pull Luo Yuan back—

But it seemed the young man from earlier had his sights set on Luo Yuan.

As soon as the clash began, he ordered his Pokémon—an evolved Talonflame from Kalos—to dive toward Luo Yuan.

"So, you're the one picking a fight with me, huh?"

Luo Yuan found it amusing.

He wasn't sure whether to feel flattered or annoyed.

It seemed his acting skills were good enough to convince others that he was just an ordinary Pokémon Trainer, not a hidden Team Rocket officer.

"Caw—!"

Talonflame's fierce gaze locked on him as it spread its wings, soaring high before diving like an arrow straight at Luo Yuan.

"Look out!" Misty shouted.

But Luo Yuan remained calm.

He'd taken down a Gyarados—why would he be worried about a Talonflame?

His eyes glowed faintly blue.

An invisible psychic force formed a sturdy barrier in front of him.

This was a technique he'd recently developed, inspired by the Reflect and Light Screen moves from Psychic-types.

Talonflame, diving down from the sky, hadn't anticipated that a human could possess such psychic power—and such a terrifying level of it at that.

The bird came hurtling down, then…

Thud!

With a dull thud, Talonflame crashed into the invisible psychic barrier.

The impact left it splayed out against the barrier, eyes swirling.

The backlash from the collision knocked Talonflame out almost instantly.

"No way!"

Seeing his Talonflame in such a state, the young man was visibly stunned.

That Talonflame was his trump card.

He'd expected it to teach Luo Yuan a lesson.

Instead, Talonflame had been defeated in the blink of an eye.

The young man began to realize he might have underestimated Luo Yuan.

He knew there was no way Talonflame's sudden loss had nothing to do with Luo Yuan.

"Better retreat."

With that thought, he reached to recall Talonflame and retreat behind his allies.

However, there was no way Luo Yuan was letting him off that easily.

"Attacking me without a word and then thinking you can just walk away?"

With a click of a Poké Ball button…

"Roar—!"

Gyarados appeared on the battlefield, blocking the red recall beam aimed at Talonflame.

Its fierce, domineering presence sent a wave of intimidation across the field.

Both miners and environmentalists froze, turning to look at Luo Yuan and his ferocious Gyarados, swallowing nervously.

None of them had expected a seemingly ordinary rookie Trainer to have a Gyarados at his disposal.

Not everyone was intimidated, though.

Out of the crowd, there were always a few willing to push their luck.

"Heliolisk, use Thunderbolt!"