"What!!?"
"White Iron Ore!!?"
"I remember there's a mine in this area, but I don't think there was any White Iron Ore there," Director Yanagi said. "The urgent matter now is to rescue my students. Listen up, everyone. One teacher will stay behind with these students and take them back to the academy. The rest of the teachers will come with me to save the students. Oh, and report this to the police as well."
Following his words, all the teachers turned serious. Director Yanagi released his Flygon, and the other teachers followed suit by releasing their own mounts. The roar of Flygon mixed with the screeches of Pidgeot, Golbat, and Skarmory. Together, they urgently sped toward the area where Eichi and the others were located.
On the other side, Eichi hung up the phone. Kelly quickly asked, "Eichi, what did Director Yanagi say?"
"Director Yanagi is over by Mount Silver and is rushing here now," Eichi replied. "He already called the police. He told us to just stay where we are and wait."
At this moment, Sato looked directly at Eichi and asked, "Are we really just going to wait here?"
Sato glanced at the Team Rocket members outside and said, "I'm certain Team Rocket only arrived in the last day or two, and they won't stay long. In another day at most, the League will notice something is wrong and come here. But we can't be sure when they'll leave. What if Team Rocket leaves before Director Yanagi arrives? What happens to Tetsu and the others then?"
"Furthermore," Eichi added, "if Director Yanagi comes to save them later, what if they use Tetsu and the others to threaten him? We need to act in advance."
"Eichi, what do you think we should do?" Konan asked.
Looking at the expressions of Sato and the other two, Eichi said, "I have a plan."
"In a moment, I will appear in the forest and let Team Rocket capture me. I intend to go inside and rescue them."
Hearing this, Kelly immediately voiced her disapproval. "No, that's too dangerous!"
"It's the only way," Eichi said. "Besides, among the four of us, I have the strongest physical fitness and the highest combat strength. If I don't go, who will?"
The three of them thought about it and realized he was right. Kelly fell silent for a moment before eventually agreeing.
"By the way, Sato, I need your Haunter," Eichi said. "Without it, this plan won't work."
Sato nodded. "Haunter."
A purple figure emerged from Sato's shadow.
"Haunter, listen to Eichi from now on," Sato commanded. "Do whatever he tells you to do."
Haunter gave a piercing laugh while nodding its head. Then, it slipped into Eichi's shadow. Eichi nodded to the group, stood up, and walked back toward the forest.
After entering the woods, Eichi began to release his Bug Force. He soon discovered two Team Rocket members. Instead of hiding, Eichi walked openly. In the grass about twenty meters away, two men in black uniforms spotted him, looked at each other, and smirked.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of Eichi. He pretended to be very nervous and made a move to take out a Poké Ball. However, he found a cold object pressed against his neck. Looking down, he saw a dagger.
"What are you doing?" Eichi asked, feigning panic.
"Nothing much," the Team Rocket member replied with a malicious grin.
After saying that, he tied Eichi's hands and took his backpack. He also searched him, confiscating his Pokémon and communicator.
Fifteen minutes later, Sato, Konan, and Kelly saw Eichi being escorted into the cave. They knew the first step was a success.
Under the escort of the two Team Rocket members, Eichi entered the cave. They walked deeper inside. There were three forks at the very front; Eichi was taken into the passage on the far right. After passing two more forks, they arrived in a large hall. The passage was wide enough for three mining carts to run side-by-side.
Several floodlights hung from the ceiling of the hall, making it very bright. The interior was spacious, roughly the size of one and a half football fields, with excavators digging everywhere. On a high platform, a simple rest station had been built.
Two men in black uniforms sat there. Their uniforms were different from the other Team Rocket members—sleeker and more impressive. One of the men looked to be in his twenties, with a burly build that made him look like someone not to be messed with. The other's age was hard to tell, but he also seemed to be in his twenties; he had a hunchback and an incredibly sinister look.
They seemed to sense someone looking at them, but when they searched, they found nothing. They only saw Eichi being escorted into a small passage on the left side of the hall.
Because of the lights from the outside, it wasn't pitch black, but the dim lighting made it an unpleasant place to stay. Moving further in, the sound of people talking could be heard, while the noise of the engines outside grew quieter.
Gradually, a dozen iron cages appeared. They were all filled with staff members, miners, and drivers. Each cage held about ten to twenty people, and despair was written on every face. Several Team Rocket members stood guard, along with a dozen Pokémon that looked at Eichi with excitement as he arrived.
An ordinary person would have been terrified by this scene, but Eichi was not afraid. They reached the innermost cage, which held six people—Tetsu and the other five captured students.
When they saw Eichi, they were struck with shock, followed immediately by despair. A Team Rocket member opened the cage and shoved Eichi inside.
"Eichi, how did you get caught too?" Tetsu asked.
Eichi didn't answer. He found a place to sit and watched the two Team Rocket members walk into another passage. One of them was carrying Eichi's backpack. In that passage, there was another opening from which light emanated.
Once the guards were gone, Tetsu and the others crowded around Eichi. "Eichi, why were you caught as well?"
"This is it. We can only count on Director Yanagi and the others now," Tetsu lamented. "I hope they get here soon. Staying in this place is unbearable."
The others also let out sighs of woe.
"Alright, everyone, don't be like that," Eichi said. "We're definitely getting out of here."
Tetsu sat down beside him. "Eichi, do you have a plan? You don't look worried at all."
Eichi smiled. "Why would I be worried? I let them catch me on purpose."
"You're here to save us?" Tetsu asked.
"Exactly," Eichi replied. "I've already notified Director Yanagi. They are on their way and will be here soon."
Tetsu was happy for a moment but then became worried again. "All our Pokémon were taken away. How are you going to save us?"