Jessie and James kept a fearful attitude toward Axel.
'No wonder, this guy sucked up money like a magnet.'
Last time he blasted them with Meteor Swarm, they flew all over the regions, and now even a single bowl of noodles has to be split three ways.
If Axel hits them again, what then?
Jessie pressed her legs together, put her hands together toward Axel, a fawning smile appearing on her face.
"Sorry, Mr. Axel, we went to the wrong place. You know we're not actual Gym Leaders. Since the misunderstanding's cleared up, we'll take our leave first."
After speaking, Jessie yanked James, who hadn't reacted yet, intending to hurry out of this unlucky place.
"Wait!", At that moment, a massive Gyarados suddenly filled the corridor, its huge mouth stopping right in front of Jessie and James.
The two of them raised their hands in unison and turned to laugh awkwardly as they retreated.
"Lord Axel, Boss Giovanni said we're on the same side..."
"Same side?", Axel looked at Jessie with a smile.
"I'm here to challenge the gym, and you just said you're the Gym Leader."
"So you must let me fight once!"
James seemed to flash behind Axel; Axel lightly pinched his shoulder.
"Lord Axel, Boss Giovanni said your status is like a Rocket executive, we absolutely wouldn't dare attack you."
Axel: "Then simply let me beat you up once is fine."
Jessie, James: "???"
'What, even upright people are this shameless now?'
They pulled sour faces, trying hard to think of a way to move Axel to spare them, hoping he'd let them off.
Last time Axel's Meteor Swarm sent them straight back to Kanto.
If another Meteor Swarm came this time, they'd probably become the first villains in villain-world to take out a web loan just to chase Pikachu...
They truly had no money left for ships.
Just as James had a flash of inspiration and was about to speak, a rumbling sound came from outside the gym.
Jessie reflexively reached for a walkie-talkie, but it was already too late.
A huge hole blasted open in the gym wall, and a three-meter "Gundam"-like robot appeared in the breach, from which Meowth's arrogant voice rang out.
"Wahahahaha, finally challengers have come! Our gym rule is: if you lose, you must leave your Pokémon behind, nya!"
Axel paused, then nodded vigorously.
Didn't expect something this good. Not only can he beat Jessie and James, but he can also get a counter to Giratina, a conceptual deity of the Pokémon world, netted in one fell swoop.
Even if only for a short time, it would be a great counter to Giratina.
"Jessie, James, still saying you don't want to fight?"
Jessie and James looked at the robot-Meowth, who was spouting off with his eyes closed, and almost wanted to grab a Poké Ball and smash it.
"Meowth, could you open your eyes before you speak?"
Meowth opened his eyes and froze a moment later.
'Wait, this Gyarados is even bigger than my robot!'
"Hello~"
Axel greeted Meowth, and Meowth stood there dumbfounded.
Seeing Axel, he suddenly felt that such a huge Gyarados wasn't so unreasonable after all.
After all, this guy had made Pokémon master Meteor Swarm and had sent people flying from Hisui all the way to Kanto.
But—
Meowth exploded, "Why are you here, nya!"
"I came to challenge the gym," Axel's tone carried a hint of entitlement.
Seeing Jessie and James so scared, the young lady quietly poked Axel's arm.
"They all look so fierce, why are they so scared of you?"
Axel spread his hands innocently, "Maybe they're insecure because I'm handsome?"
"Enough, let's just fight the gym."
The young lady blinked, "Don't we need these three Gym Leaders to explain the rules?"
"No need. In front of these three, my rules are the rules."
Axel's tone was relaxed, as if meeting old friends he hadn't seen in years.
"Gyarados, use Crunch, don't give them the chance to turn it into a Meteor!"
"ROAR!"
Gyarados let out a huge roar, opening its mouth to the limit, almost encompassing the whole corridor's space.
Crack~
With a crisp sound, the robot Meowth broke apart instantly.
Before Meowth could run his meteor routine, Gyarados had already bitten Meowth in its mouth, leaving him completely immobilized.
Seeing Axel act, James and Jessie reacted instantly and threw their Poké Balls.
"Wobbuffet, Cacnea!"
"Wobb!"
"Cac!"
Wobbuffet and Cacnea charged left and right toward Axel, using moves to rush him.
Axel smiled faintly, holding the young lady with one hand, and with his right hand slapped twice in succession.
Clap! Clap!
After the two crisp slaps, Wobbuffet and Cacnea, one after the other, ended up in Gyarados's mouth.
'Huh?'
Jessie and James were completely dumbfounded.
'What the heck, what kind of humanoid divine beast is this?'
They were already incredulous that these people survived flying so high without dying, and now there were masters too?
Axel squinted at Jessie and James with a smile, "You want to come in by yourselves, or should I help you in?"
Jessie trembled, covered her face with both hands, afraid the next moment Axel would slap their crooked-mouthed dragon.
"No trouble, sir, we'll do it ourselves!"
A few minutes later, Axel and the young lady rode Glastrier out of the gym, their hands now holding two glittering badges.
Even after filling the badge case, Platinum still felt a little unreal.
They didn't even go through the gym door, already had the badges?
This was ridiculous.
Worse still, Platinum glanced at the Poké Ball in Axel's hand that had contained Wobbuffet, and at Jessie, James, and Meowth trailing obediently behind Glastrier.
"Axel, won't taking the Gym Leaders like this cause problems?"
"And their Pokémon... you just stole them like that?"
"Don't worry," Axel gently stroked the young lady's head, "Those three aren't real Gym Leaders, they're a gang of villains I ran into before."
"These Pokémon might be useful. After using them I'll return them."
"First let's go to Snowpoint Temple. After I treat you, we'll find Team Galaxy, there's a lot to do lately..."
"All right~", Hearing Axel say that, the young lady obediently lay back in Axel's arms and didn't say more.
Thinking that, the young lady quietly poked her head out of Axel's arms, rested her chin on his shoulder, and watched the trailing trio.
"You three, behave and follow us. If you misbehave, your food allowance today will be only twenty thousand!"
Jessie and James's eyes brightened at the idea of getting food, 'This... this is a punishment?'
From now on, until they met the brat Pikachu again, they were Platinum's dogs.
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