Chapter 80: Leaving Lavender Town

Read up to 30 advanced chapters exclusively on my Patreon at - patreon.com/LoverrBoy

---------------------------------

At the entrance to Rock Tunnel, two poachers stood guard. The strong autumn wind blew fiercely, causing both of them to shiver.

"Hey, man, I wonder if they've caught that guy yet. If this keeps up, we're going to freeze out here," the poacher on the left said with a bitter smile to his companion.

"Yeah, no kidding. They're totally taking advantage of us newbies. Making us stand out here in the cold while they're probably having a blast inside. It's so unfair," the poacher on the right grumbled, pulling his jacket tighter.

"It's all because of that mysterious guy. He's got some nerve, sneaking into our base and causing trouble. If I ever find him, I'll make sure he regrets it!" the left poacher said angrily, clearly holding a grudge against Liam.

Just then, the ground near the exit of Rock Tunnel began to shift. A figure burst out of the ground, covered in dirt, and stood in front of the two poachers.

"Ugh, gross! Isn't this Escape Rope supposed to zip me out in a flash? Why did it drag me through the ground for so long? I'm returning this! False advertising!"

The figure was none other than Liam. He had used the Escape Rope, which had wrapped around him and spun like a giant drill, burrowing through the ground for nearly a minute before reaching the exit.

Liam brushed off the dirt and turned around, only to see the two poachers staring at him in shock.

Liam was momentarily stunned, but then he grinned.

"Hey, you two! So, are you going to make me do this the hard way, or are you going to handle it yourselves?"

Liam sneered as he pulled out a PokeBall and tossed it up and down.

"Gulp…"

The two poachers swallowed hard, exchanged a glance, and then simultaneously bolted into Rock Tunnel.

"Wow, am I really that scary? Jeez… Garchomp! Destroy the tunnel entrance!"

Liam watched the two run off, then threw a PokeBall. In a flash of light, Garchomp appeared. 

At Liam's command, Garchomp turned to the tunnel entrance and unleashed a Dragon Rage, causing the entrance to collapse and seal shut with massive boulders.

"Good job. That should buy us some time. Let's head back to the Pokemon Center."

Liam was pleased with Garchomp's work and returned it to its PokeBall. Seeing that dawn was approaching, he turned and ran back toward Lavender Town.

Sneaking back into the Pokemon Center, Liam changed out of his dirty clothes and took a refreshing shower to wash off the grime. 

Afterward, he took out the Heal Ball containing Onix.

Liam had been concerned about Onix's severe injuries, so he had spent 50 points to exchange for a Heal Ball, which could slowly restore a Pokemon's health.

Liam knew that he couldn't take Onix to the Pokemon Center for treatment without risking exposure. There was no guarantee that the center wasn't connected to the poachers. 

Additionally, the rooms at the center weren't large enough to accommodate Onix, making treatment impossible. That's why Liam had opted for the Heal Ball. 

Without it, Onix might not have survived long enough to receive proper care.

After checking the Heal Ball, Liam placed it with his other PokeBalls and lay down for a well-deserved sleep.

No matter how bold the poachers were, they wouldn't dare cause trouble at the Pokemon Center. So, Liam slept soundly until morning.

"Ahhh! That was so refreshing! A night of adventure followed by a good sleep—perfect!"

Liam stretched as he got out of bed, washed up, dressed, and packed his belongings, ready to leave.

After checking out of his room, Liam took out his Acro Bike and prepared to leave Lavender Town.

As he rode through the town, Liam noticed that the streets were much busier than usual. 

Many of the newcomers were burly men, scattered throughout the town, seemingly aimless but clearly keeping a close eye on everyone.

Liam rode casually, completely unfazed by their presence. Humming a tune, he left Lavender Town without incident.

Meanwhile, at the top of the Pokemon Tower, in a spacious office, a man in a black suit watched Liam's departure on a monitor. On his desk were several documents with Liam's photo. 

The man clenched his fist but eventually relaxed.

Standing beside him was Nando, who asked cautiously, "Leader Kuro, do you think that kid is the mysterious intruder from yesterday?"

Kuro glanced at him and replied with a cold smirk, "The timing, the location, and the intel we've gathered all point to this kid, Liam. He's one of the people who captured our people in Viridian Forest a while back. It's almost certain that he's the one."

Nando was surprised and asked, "If you're so sure, why didn't we capture him? Why let him go?"

Kuro tapped his desk lightly, the sound growing louder as his frustration mounted. "Our organization operates in the shadows. We can't afford to draw too much attention. Besides, this kid didn't cause us significant damage. From what he said, he seems to be from an organization called Team Rocket. We don't know much about them yet, so it's not wise to make another powerful enemy. That's why I decided to let him go."

"Ah, I see. Leader Kuro, you're truly wise," Nando quickly flattered.

"Enough with the flattery. Spend more time training your Pokemon. Losing two-on-one is embarrassing," Kuro said coldly.

"Uh… yes," Nando replied weakly.

Kuro sighed and said, "This place is compromised. It's no longer safe for us. Notify everyone to relocate our headquarters to the secret base on Cinnabar Island."

"Yes, sir!" Nando stood at attention and responded loudly.

Meanwhile, Liam rode his bike at full speed. 

Once he was far enough from Lavender Town, he turned into the woods, stashed his bike, and quickly made his way deeper into the forest.

Soon, Liam found a secluded clearing. After checking to ensure no one was following him, he took out the Heal Ball and released Onix.

"Roar!!"

Onix roared as soon as it emerged, swinging its massive head toward Liam.

Startled, Liam jumped back to avoid the attack and waved his hands frantically. "Onix, calm down! I'm not one of the bad guys! I'm the one who saved you!"

Onix missed its strike and paused upon hearing Liam's voice. It glared at Liam, realizing he wasn't one of the poachers who had injured it the day before. 

Its guard lowered slightly, and it let out a low growl.

"Rawrrr!"

Liam frowned, completely unable to understand what Onix was saying. He had no choice but to call for Lulu to translate.

Lulu, her form slightly translucent, emerged from Liam's body. After listening to Onix, she turned to Liam with a look of exasperation.

"This big guy says you captured it using underhanded methods, and it's not happy about it. You have two options: either release it so it can return to its territory, or fight it fair and square. If you win, it'll acknowledge you as its trainer."

Liam's eyes lit up at Lulu's words. 

He stepped forward, looking Onix straight in the eye, and said firmly, "Onix, I captured you out of necessity. If I hadn't, you would've fallen into the hands of those poachers. But I won't make excuses. I accept your challenge. I'll fight you fair and square. If my strength earns your respect, then let's be partners. If not, I'll let you go without any hard feelings. That's my promise!"