Pokemon: With Title System

Chapter 116: Officer Asahi, You Wouldn't Want…

At the Mansion

In the garden's training grounds, Green was overseeing a sparring session between Wartortle and Torchic when the front gate suddenly swung open.

She turned and saw Asahi walking in.

"Eh? You're back already?"

She had only just started training. Even if Gym challenges weren't difficult for Asahi, this was still way too fast.

Didn't he say he was going to investigate Sabrina?

As she was wondering about this, Green soon noticed that Asahi wasn't alone.

Aside from Gardevoir, another familiar figure followed behind him.

"Wait... Is that Sabrina?! Did you bring her back?!"

If he had brought her here, did that mean she wasn't actually suspicious?

Just as Green was thinking that, Asahi waved her over. "Green, go get Indeedee and ask where the underground holding cells are."

"Holding cells? Okay, got it—" Green nodded and turned to leave, but then she suddenly stopped in her tracks, eyes widening in realization.

She spun around to stare at Asahi. "Wait… Did you say underground holding cells?!"

"Of course," Asahi replied casually, pointing at Sabrina behind him. "We worked hard to capture her. We can't let her escape."

"Eh—?!"

Green's face was full of shock.

"Stop looking at me like that. I told you she was with Team Rocket," Asahi said, tossing Sabrina's Rocket uniform to her.

Green caught it and immediately understood.

But… why was her uniform being used as evidence?!

---

And so, following Asahi's orders, Lance had ensured that the mansion was built with underground holding cells specifically for high-profile criminals.

Now, in one of those cells, Sabrina sat quietly in the interrogation room.

Without her Pokéballs and restrained by special cuffs, she was unable to use her psychic abilities.

Green stood beside Asahi, staring at the completely docile Sabrina with suspicion.

Why was she being so obedient?

Unable to hold back her curiosity, Green whispered to Asahi, "What did you do to her? Why isn't she resisting at all?"

"Not resisting?" Asahi chuckled. "She's been resisting the whole time—you just couldn't see it."

At his signal, Gardevoir withdrew its psychic energy, releasing Sabrina from Hypnosis.

Whoosh!

The instant she regained control, Sabrina lunged at Asahi.

"I knew it…" Asahi sighed.

Before he could react, Gardevoir effortlessly restrained her again with Psychic.

Seeing Sabrina's murderous glare, Green's curiosity only grew.

A thought surfaced in her mind, and she couldn't help but ask, "Asahi… you didn't do anything weird to her, did you?"

Asahi's face darkened. "…What the hell are you thinking?"

Hearing Green's insinuation, Asahi's face darkened.

"…What the hell are you thinking?"

"I'm just saying! You kept going on about how Sabrina is a psychic beauty before, and now you brought her back, hypnotized… and even kept her uniform as evidence…" Green mumbled, her voice trailing off.

Asahi let out a long sigh. "All I did was use Hypnosis to make her easier to transport. That's all."

He turned to Sabrina, who had now calmed down. "From the looks of it… Miss Sabrina doesn't seem to enjoy being hypnotized."

Sabrina remained silent, glaring daggers at him.

She took a seat at the interrogation table, crossing her arms. Green, slightly annoyed at Sabrina's earlier glare, shot back a glare of her own—only to be completely ignored.

Turning back to Asahi, Sabrina finally spoke. "So? Are you planning to hand me over to the League for some credit?"

"Credit? That's a harsh way to put it. I am a member of the League, after all." Asahi smirked, settling into the chair across from her.

Green also sat down beside him, readying a notepad to record the interrogation.

Sabrina remained expressionless. "If you turn me over to the League… I doubt I'd stay in their prison for long."

Hearing this, Asahi chuckled. "True. If I really did hand you over, you'd probably walk free before long."

Setting aside the spies Team Rocket had planted within the League and the influence of Sabrina's family within it—

Just looking at the evidence Asahi currently had on hand…

A few pieces of clothing, a recording of their conversation, and a half-written report. These could only prove that Sabrina was a Rocket Executive and that she had assisted in the escape of Saturn from the League's pursuit.

At most, this would result in her losing her status as a Gym Leader and being temporarily detained. It was far from enough to convict her of any serious crimes.

As long as her father was willing to pay for bail, she might not even set foot in a League prison.

Honestly, guys like Lt. Surge—who conveniently stored all their criminal evidence at home—were a rare breed.

Sabrina smirked, looking as if she had already seen through Asahi's dilemma.

Now that her identity as a Rocket Executive had been exposed, her best outcome was avoiding prison altogether—and that was already a major victory for her.

Seeing her smug expression, Green, who had been recording the interrogation, felt her frustration rising.

Before Green could lash out, Asahi gestured for her to stay calm. Then, he turned to Sabrina. "You haven't forgotten that my Gardevoir can hypnotize you, have you?"

"If I put you under, getting evidence would be a piece of cake."

Sabrina, who had regained her composure, scoffed at his threat. "According to League regulations, any evidence obtained through illegal means is inadmissible in court."

She narrowed her eyes, a smirk playing on her lips. "Officer Asahi, you wouldn't want to be suspended for violating protocol, would you?"

"…..?"

Asahi blinked.

For a moment, it felt like their roles had been reversed.

Sabrina was being way too bold—he had to put her in her place.

Asahi decided it was time to drop a bombshell.

A slow smile crept onto his face. "You know… I wasn't actually planning to keep you locked up for long."

"After all, if I hand you over to the League, you'll probably be released in no time. So I might as well let you go right away."

"Hmm?"

Sabrina frowned in confusion.

Asahi? Letting her go?

Even though she had only known him for less than a day, she was certain—there was no way in hell he was being this generous.

Before she could question him further, Asahi leaned back and gazed at the ceiling. "Of course, I won't just release you. Once you're free, tomorrow's headlines will feature an article with a title like..."

"'Saffron Gym Leader Joins the International Police—Undercover in Team Rocket for Years, Uncovering Major Secrets!'"

Sabrina remained silent, her cold gaze fixed on Asahi's performance.

Did he really think Team Rocket would fall for such an obvious trick?

Did he think they were idiots?