The others heard Tetsu's voice and crowded around. However, Tetsu's voice was a bit too loud. Eichi glanced at the people in the other iron cages; seeing no reaction, he whispered, "Keep your voice down."
Tetsu finally realized his mistake. He covered his mouth and nodded, indicating he understood. Eichi looked at everyone's longing eyes and said, "I can't tell you the plan yet. I'll explain when the time is right."
"What exactly is the plan?" Shinta asked. "Tell us, the suspense is killing me."
Matsumoto said with a trace of disdain, "What's there to hide? Isn't it just because you got caught and felt like you lost face, so you made up this excuse? In reality, you're just waiting for Director Yanagi's rescue like the rest of us."
"Matsumoto has a point," Ishida added. "Is that really how it is?"
"Matsumoto, Ishida, just because you were caught due to your own lack of strength, don't assume everyone else is like you," Tetsu snapped angrily. "Do you even know Eichi as well as I do? He wouldn't stoop to that. Furthermore, you think everyone is as petty as you!"
"I believe in Eichi," Ami said.
"I believe in him too," Kosei added timidly.
"Even though I don't like the guy, I don't think he would do something like that," Shinta remarked.
Seeing everyone siding with Eichi, Matsumoto became exceptionally angry, his face flushing red. "You guys..."
"Forget it, Matsumoto," Ishida urged from the side.
Matsumoto eventually calmed down. Deep down, he also felt Eichi was there to save them, but it was just hard to swallow the fact that he needed Eichi's help.
"Everyone, say less and save your strength," Eichi advised. "Director Yanagi will be here by tomorrow at the latest."
The others nodded and found places to sit and rest. Eichi, meanwhile, fixed his gaze on the small passage emitting a bright yellow glow.
Time quickly passed until the middle of the night. Since the evening, after delivering dry rations, the Team Rocket members hadn't returned, especially since Eichi and the others were in the innermost cage.
In the blink of an eye, it was late at night. Although the roar of the excavators hadn't ceased, the people in the cages around Eichi had all fallen asleep. Tetsu and the others had also drifted off.
Eichi suddenly opened his eyes. He looked around; it was quite peaceful. Aside from the noise of the machinery outside, there were only the sounds of nearby snoring and sleep-talking.
Eichi observed that the Team Rocket guard outside was currently dozing off, and all the Pokémon guarding beside him were fast asleep. He then turned his gaze toward the small passage. During the day, Tetsu had told him that all their belongings, including their Poké Balls and communicators, were kept in that small tunnel.
Eichi scanned the surroundings. Everything was quiet now, unlike the daytime when talking could be heard. He felt this was a good opportunity.
"Haunter," he whispered to the ground.
Suddenly, a pair of eyes emerged from his shadow on the floor. In this dim environment, anyone else seeing this would surely have been scared to death.
Eichi pointed toward the small passage. "Haunter, go into that tunnel and bring back my communicator and Poké Balls. They're right next to my backpack. Oh, and get the keys too. Remember, don't get caught."
Fortunately, Sato's Haunter was very intelligent. It gave a smirk and then vanished.
Inside the passage, Haunter flew in. There was a small alcove containing several large sacks filled with Poké Balls. On a nearby table sat several backpacks belonging to Eichi and the others. Beside the table, several Team Rocket members were slumped over, asleep.
Haunter quickly searched for Eichi's backpack, remembering what it looked like. It found it quickly—the one at the very front. Beside it were three Poké Balls and a communicator. Haunter took the three Poké Balls and the communicator from the table, then moved toward one of the Team Rocket members. Silently, it swiped the ring of keys from the man's belt.
Eichi waited for a moment until Haunter suddenly appeared out of the darkness. It passed through the bars and appeared before Eichi. In its hands were three things: the Poké Balls, the communicator, and the keys.
Eichi took the Poké Balls and clipped them to his belt. Having his Pokémon in hand, his sense of security instantly surged. He checked the keys, then took the communicator.
"Alright. Thank you very much, Haunter. Get back into the shadow," Eichi said.
Haunter gave a couple of "Heh-heh" laughs and immediately dove into his shadow. Eichi first set the communicator to silent vibration mode. Then, he began sending a text to Sato.
In the forest outside the cave, several tents had been set up. Inside one of them, Sato was still awake, clutching his communicator tightly. Suddenly, the device buzzed. Sato immediately sat up and opened the message.
It read: Sato, it's Eichi.
After reading it, Sato composed a reply: How are you?
A moment later, another message came through: I'm okay. By the way, has Director Yanagi arrived yet?
Sato thought for a moment and typed: Not yet. Director Yanagi said they were too far away and might need a few more hours. I estimate they'll arrive at dawn, but there is already one teacher here with us.
The message was sent, and after a while, Eichi replied: Understood. Let me know the moment Director Yanagi arrives.
Just as Eichi sent the message, he sensed someone approaching. He quickly shoved the communicator into his pocket and lay on the ground, pretending to sleep.
Ten seconds later, a bright light shone in. A Team Rocket member was patrolling with a flashlight. He walked to the innermost area, checking Eichi's cage. Finding everyone sleeping with no abnormalities, he turned back.
Slowly, the flashlight beam faded. Once the guard was far away, Eichi opened his eyes, then closed them again to sleep. Meanwhile, after receiving no more messages from Eichi, Sato went to sleep as well.
When the sky was just starting to turn grey before dawn, Sato's communicator rang. Sato scrambled up and answered the call.
"Hello, this is Director Yanagi. Where are you now?"
A minute later, Sato put down the communicator. Half an hour after that, a gust of wind blew as a massive figure appeared before Sato and the others. Behind it followed twenty or thirty Pokémon, each possessing an extraordinary aura. Leading them was Director Yanagi and his Flygon.
Sato and the others met Director Yanagi below, while the following teachers recalled their Pokémon into their Poké Balls.
At that moment, the first ray of sunlight appeared.