NOVEL NEXT Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Departure
Watching Ron's retreating figure, Koga's gaze shifted subtly.
The speed displayed by Bellossom earlier had sparked an idea in Koga's mind.
If Bellossom hadn't possessed such speed, Koga was certain that even if Ron could win, it wouldn't have been so easy. It would have been nearly impossible for Ron to defeat two of Koga's Pokémon in one go.
Given Koga's identity as a ninja, seeing such a unique training method firsthand was too valuable to ignore. To him, Ron's status as an official League Trainer didn't carry much deterrent power.
However, Koga hadn't achieved his current position without caution and decisiveness.
Koga didn't believe Ron had trained his Pokémon to such a level overnight. Surely, the Gym Leaders Ron faced before, and even the League itself, wouldn't have turned a blind eye to him.
After temporarily halting their Gym battle, Koga instructed his team to gather information about Ron.
Although Ron had garnered some attention previously, his reputation was mainly confined to Cerulean City and Saffron City, with little reaching Fuchsia City.
Moreover, due to the significant gap in their respective strength, Koga had no reason to specifically investigate him before.
But now, with ample justification, Koga began to dig deeper into Ron's background.
In just a short while, Koga had a comprehensive file on Ron in his hands.
"So that's how it is? I suppose I'll just wait and see. I wonder if that little guy realizes what's happening," Koga mused.
Koga wasn't someone who relied solely on luck to get where he was. Balancing alliances with both Team Rocket and the League required skill and resourcefulness.
From the gathered information, Koga quickly learned why no one had made a move against Ron.
Koga had witnessed similar tactics employed by the League before. During his own rise, even the League had taken note of the ninja training techniques he had inherited.
Training a true ninja, however, was no easy task—it required specialized Pokémon and a significant investment of effort.
Back then, Koga had already established himself, and with the support of his mentors who upheld the ninja tradition, the League refrained from interfering.
Eventually, Koga agreed to have ninjas serve as a reserve force for the League, ready to fight on their behalf, which resolved the matter.
It was thanks to this network of ninjas that Koga maintained influence within both the League and Team Rocket.
Now, seeing a young trainer in a similar position to where he had been, but with far less strength and influence, Koga was curious to see how Ron would respond.
Would he obediently follow the League's directives and dedicate everything to them? Or would he try to resist?
Koga couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.
Meanwhile, as Koga was busy gathering information, Ron had already left Fuchsia City.
As expected, Kirlia soon alerted Ron that they were being followed.
To Ron's surprise, this time the pursuit was led personally by Dunn, accompanied by two subordinates.
Dunn's appearance intrigued Ron. People with prominent family backgrounds like Dunn rarely put themselves in harm's way.
Of course, exceptions existed—some individuals, despite their privileged backgrounds, willingly trained themselves through danger to grow stronger. Lance, one of the current Elite Four, was a prime example.
With the backing of the Dragon Clan, Lance could have safely risen through Johto's ranks, becoming a Gym Leader and eventually an Elite Four member.
Yet, Lance chose to move to Kanto and work as an investigator, actively targeting Team Rocket. This relentless drive eventually earned him the title of Elite Four and made him Team Rocket's greatest nemesis.
While Lance's rise was undoubtedly supported by the Dragon Clan, his personal effort played an equally critical role.
Ron believed that even if Lance had started with a humble Weedle, he would have eventually reached the top through sheer determination.
The Dragon Clan merely expedited the process.
In contrast, Dunn seemed to be an average spoiled heir.
Given Ron's previous encounter with Dunn, it was clear the man lacked strength. Why would he risk pursuing Ron? Did Dunn truly believe his two subordinates could protect him, or were they that confident in their ability to deal with Ron?
Burying his doubts for now, Ron saw this as an opportunity.
Leaving Fuchsia City, Ron was curious to see how his pursuers, knowing he had Psychic-type Pokémon, planned to catch him.
Taking a side path, Ron began preparing his strategy.
Kirlia remained vigilant, using its Psychic abilities to monitor Dunn's group while scanning the skies to ensure no blind spots.
"Nasir, I'll be counting on you to stop his Kirlia from using Teleport," Dunn ordered.
"Leave it to me, young master," Nasir replied with a respectful nod.
This mission was Dunn's chance to prove himself. If successful, his father, Hudson Wade, would undoubtedly take him more seriously and invest in his development as a trainer, potentially putting him in charge of their family's retainers.
Thus, both Nasir and the other trainer, Huck, were willing to show Dunn due respect.
To ensure success, Dunn had chosen two mid Elite trainers with Pokémon suited for this task.
Nasir specialized in pursuit, using Mightyena's keen sense of smell to track targets and its Taunt ability to prevent Kirlia from using Teleport. His other Pokémon were also adept at speed and tracking.
Huck, on the other hand, was an expert in Flying-types.
Based on Dunn's observations, Ron's Pokémon struggled against Flying-types. If Nasir could hold Ron in place, Huck's aerial strikes would inevitably overwhelm him.
Both trainers' ace Pokémon were at Level 49, making them formidable opponents.
The only concern was Kirlia using Teleport to escape.
As Ron ventured into the forest, he began setting up his countermeasures.
Persian and Machamp moved separately, maintaining a distance that Kirlia could cover with a single Teleport to regroup with either one.
On the other side, as they entered the forest, Nasir released his Azumarill.
Azumarill's sharp hearing, combined with Mightyena's exceptional sense of smell, enhanced their tracking capabilities.
Huck also deployed his strongest Pidgeot, instructing it to soar high and scout for Ron's location.
Now, it was a matter of who had the better strategy.
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