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In the end, after careful consideration, Sato agreed to Janine's offer. Once she achieved her goal, she didn't linger to chat with him. Without a word, she simply vanished.
"So strange... How did she leave? This ti, even my externalized psychic perception couldn't pick up a trace. What a terrifying assassin… I really don't know whether making this deal with her was the right choice or not."
Sato watched with twitching brows as Janine was enveloped by her own shadow and then eerily lted into the earth below, disappearing from sight. The wariness in his heart surged.
After Janine's departure, the camp received no other visitors. Ti passed quickly, and soon it was dawn. A fiery red sun rose slowly from the eastern desert horizon.
The elite Team Rocket recruits stationed in the oasis had already fed their Pokémon and were now gathering under the leadership of Tomoki—the initiator of this ruins expedition—for final preparations before departure.
"That covers most of the basics. If anyone feels this expedition is too risky, now's the ti to leave. No one will fault you for it."
"Since everyone seems prepared, I won't ramble on. I hope we can cooperate sincerely and all walk away with great gains."
"Lastly, let be absolutely clear—if anyone disobeys orders or acts recklessly during the expedition, putting the team in danger… I, Tomoki, will personally deal with them!"
Tomoki stood atop a temporary earthen platform, addressing the crowd with a broad grin as he laid out the plan. But his tone turned cold at the end, and his sharp gaze pierced through the crowd, his warning crystal clear.
Sato stood beside him on the high platform, silent the entire ti, like a statue.
But no one below dared to treat him as a re decoration. Seeing him stand shoulder to shoulder with Tomoki made everyone's expression turn solemn.
During Tomoki's speech, the entire crowd listened intently, not daring to make a sound.
Even Ailes and Rin were no exception. Their faces were unsightly as they glared hatefully and helplessly at Sato and Tomoki on the platform.
Though Sato and Tomoki hadn't openly declared anything, the fact that they stood together already signaled their alliance—they would advance and retreat as one.
The elite Team Rocket recruits below were no fools—anyone who'd made it this far in the island survival trial had sharp instincts.
In an instant, everyone understood what Sato's position ant: the command of this ruins expedition had fully shifted to Tomoki. It was ti to pick sides again.
After the speech, even the independent loners who had hesitated the day before now decisively chose to join Tomoki's camp.
Even Vanna, carefree as ever, ca over cheerfully after exchanging a few words with Tomoki. She now stood at his other side, grinning, shoulder to shoulder with him and Sato.
Just like that, the three powerhouses stood together. Their team now had more mbers than the combined forces of Ailes and Rin.
So who had previously sided with Ailes and Rin were shocked by this turn of events. Eventually, several gritted their teeth and defected to Tomoki's side, despite the burning glares from their forr leaders.
With the sides chosen and alignnts clear, many Team Rocket recruits now looked at Ailes and Rin with less reverence and more amusent.
"Hahahaha~"
"Thank you all for your trust. As elite recruits of Team Rocket, your futures are limitless. I, Tomoki, promise that no one will be left behind during the expedition. Alright, let's move out!"
Seeing his dominance established, Tomoki was full of confidence. After laughing boldly at the sour-faced Ailes and Rin, he turned and addressed the elite recruits behind him with a hearty laugh.
He then nodded to one of his trusted n.
"Co out, Onix x2!"
The man stepped forward and released two massive Onix, each larger than average and darker in color.
Tomoki was the first to climb aboard. Built like a bear, he strode with commanding presence toward one of the Onix's heads. With a stomp, he leapt over two ters high and landed steadily on its head.
"Everyone, get on. The ruins are quite far from here, and the terrain is rough. These two Onix know the path and can move easily through the quicksand. They'll take us safely to the Mirage Ruins."
Stabilizing himself atop the Onix, Tomoki gently tapped his foot, prompting the giant to raise its head. Once it stopped, he looked down at the crowd and addressed them with a smile.
Hearing this, Tomoki's loyal team climbed aboard the Onix without hesitation. So of the newly converted loners and defectors from Ailes and Rin's camps followed suit.
As for the others on Ailes and Rin's side, they chose to release their own desert-riding Pokémon and followed behind the Onix.
Ailes and his group all used Carupt as their mounts—fiery-tempered cals with powerful legs ideal for desert travel. They followed the two leading Onix at a steady pace.
Rin, on the other hand, went big—she released her Salance and led her group from the air.
Sato did not ride the Onix either. Instead, he released his Flygon, a Pokémon even more suited for desert travel than Onix, and set off with Thomas riding behind him.
Maya, too, opted for her own ride. She was atop an Altaria, floating gracefully beside Sato's Flygon, following the team in a relaxed fashion.
Tomoki hadn't lied—the journey to the Mirage Ruins was perilous. Around 80% of the route involved shifting sands and sandstorms. Without knowledge of the terrain or a suitable mount, it was easy to get lost in the vast desert. (Note: They didn't know it was the w Ruins yet and are calling it the Mirage Ruins)
And if the desert wasn't enough, wild Pokémon posed another threat.
For reasons unknown, several large Pokémon colonies surrounded the Mirage Ruins. Entering their territory ant inviting a vicious attack.
Sure enough, the expedition team was now under assault from a massive group of wild Sandile.
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