Mauville City Electric-type Gym.
The Gym entrance was bustling with people, mostly young Trainers filled with aspirations, who would take a photo at the door and leave contentedly.
There were also many Trainers who had done extensive preparation, bravely entering to challenge the renowned Electric-type Gym.
Ariel walked straight in.
As soon as he stepped inside, a faint smell of ozone wafted into his nostrils, accompanied by a crackling sound of electricity echoing through the spacious hall.
Before him was a maze constructed from electric barriers, with pale yellow arcs of electricity dancing across the transparent walls, looking terrifyingly dangerous—as if a single touch would turn one into charcoal.
Ariel didn't even bat an eyelid.
This was nothing more than a trick by that old man Wattson to discourage challengers.
Mauville City had a massive flow of people, with countless individuals wanting to challenge the Gym every day. If the Gym Leader accepted every one, he'd likely work himself to death.
Setting up thresholds to filter out most Trainers lacking in strength was standard practice for every popular Gym.
"Hohohoho..."
A hearty and robust laugh came from the side.
An old man with completely white hair and beard walked over with his hands behind his back. He wore a yellow Gym uniform, a kind and amiable smile on his face—this was the Gym Leader of the Mauville Gym, Wattson.
"You must be Ariel, right?" Wattson looked at him with a cheerful smile, a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.
Ariel's heart stirred slightly, but his expression remained unchanged. "Gym Leader Wattson, you know me?"
"Follow me." Wattson didn't answer directly. Instead, he waved his hand, signaling Ariel to follow as he turned and walked deeper into the maze.
He didn't take the main path of the maze but pressed on one of the electric barriers. The seemingly dangerous electric wall instantly opened a door.
Ariel followed behind, his gaze fixed on Wattson's broad back as his mind raced.
Why would a Gym Leader specifically wait at the entrance and call out his name?
The two walked one after the other through several metallic corridors, eventually arriving at a standard indoor battlefield.
"I watched your match at the Pokémon Center that day," Wattson stopped and turned to look at Ariel. "A very talented young man, with clear battle strategies."
Looking at Wattson's beaming smile, Ariel recalled the figure he'd seen in the audience that day.
There were too many suspicious points.
A long-established Gym Leader, with nothing better to do, went to the Pokémon Center to observe a newcomer's battle? That in itself was suspicious.
The first guess flashed through Ariel's mind.
The Wenye Family, which had already been uprooted by Team Rockets, primarily used Electric-type Pokémon. As the Gym Leader of an Electric-type Gym, could Wattson have some connection with them?
This thought lasted only a second before he dismissed it.
If Wattson were truly the Wenye Family's backer, he wouldn't have stood by when Ariel and Laic had taken Fumino Tosh hostage.
A Gym Leader's influence was enough to make Jenny hesitate to act rashly.
Since he wasn't an enemy, then... Ariel's pupils contracted slightly as a bolder guess surfaced in his mind.
Wattson had long been bought off by Team Rockets!
This possibility was extremely high!
How could the Gym Leader of the league, in Mauville City, not hear any rumors about Team Rockets establishing such a massive secret base underground?
The only explanation was that Wattson not only knew but had even provided cover and convenience for the base's establishment!
Infiltration of league Gym Leaders—this wasn't the first time Team Rockets had done something like this.
Giovanni from the Kanto region was the Gym Leader of Viridian City himself!
Then, recalling the task Ariana had assigned... "After obtaining the second badge, I'll apply to headquarters for a high-quality sharp claw for you."
The second badge!
And Mauville City was precisely the second Gym he planned to challenge!
All the clues connected at this moment!
So that's how it is.
Ariel looked at the smiling Wattson before him, his gaze gradually changing.
This was no coincidence—it was clearly an internal assessment arranged for him by Ariana, by Team Rockets!
This Gym battle was not only a test of his strength but also an examination of his insight and comprehension.
If he failed to see through this layer and merely challenged Wattson as an ordinary Gym Leader, even if he won, his rating in Ariana's eyes would likely drop significantly.
Having figured this out, Ariel felt a sudden clarity, and the doubts in his heart vanished.
He looked at Wattson, a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"You flatter me, Gym Leader Wattson," Ariel's tone was calm yet carried an indescribable confidence. "Just some insignificant tricks, nothing more."
Wattson's smile stiffened, seemingly taken aback by the young man's audacity.
He narrowed his eyes, a glint of sharpness flashing in his seemingly muddled old eyes.
"Hohohoho, it's good for young people to have drive," Wattson laughed heartily, returning to his amiable old man demeanor. "However, my Electric-type Pokémon aren't so easy to deal with!"
As he spoke, he walked to the other end of the battlefield.
"Come, let me see how much weight the person Ariana has taken a liking to truly carries!"
The last half of his sentence was spoken in an extremely low voice, almost inaudible, but in the quiet battlefield, it clearly reached Ariel's ears.
The dagger was drawn.
Ariel sneered inwardly.
This old fox had finally stopped pretending.
He walked to his commander's position, his gaze becoming sharp as a blade.
Since it was a test, he'd show some real skill.
He wanted Ariana and the higher-ups of Team Rockets to see that he, Ariel, was worthy of their investment in top-tier resources!
"Then, please enlighten me, Gym Leader."
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