Just as the Team Rocket Trio was halfway through their run, Kojiro suddenly bumped into a blond-haired man.
The blond-haired man fell to the ground, and after getting up, he muttered, "Damn it... I threw Gengar away, so why am I still so unlucky?"
"Hey, don't you look where you're going?" the blond-haired man yelled angrily at Kojiro, who had also fallen to the ground.
Just then, a green-haired girl ran up behind him. She hooked her arm through the blond-haired man's and giggled, "No way, didn't you throw Gengar away? It's been so long, is the curse still there?"
The blond-haired man pouted, "Tch, ever since I caught Gengar, nothing good has happened. I always lose battles, I fall down the stairs, nothing good ever happens. I wish I hadn't caught that Pokémon, Gengar."
Musashi and Meowth helped Kojiro up, having no mind to argue with the two.
Gengar, who was inside Kojiro's ghost-catching device, heard the blond-haired man's words, and its enraged eyes instantly blazed with Move - Rage.
He was once a wild, free Pokémon, until the blond-haired man captured him and made him his Pokémon. At first, Gengar felt no dissatisfaction; he believed he could work with the blond-haired man to overcome any challenge.
However, ever since he became partners with the blond-haired man, both battles and daily life had been filled with setbacks and disappointments. Whenever he lost a battle, he would doubt his own strength and never blame his Trainer.
The blond-haired man's mocking words left Gengar's heart restless for a long time. He had once held hope, but now he was seen as a useless Pokémon. The feeling of Move - Rage boiled in Gengar's heart like a volcano, and he decided he would no longer tolerate such treatment.
Pidgeotto also arrived behind Team Rocket at this moment, and Pikachu seized the opportunity to jump down from Pidgeotto's back.
Pikachu swung his small tail, unleashing a powerful Iron Tail attack. The Iron Tail shone with a metallic gleam, striking the ghost-catching device on Kojiro's back with irresistible force!
Kojiro's device exploded under Pikachu's Iron Tail, sending fragments scattering everywhere, landing on the ground.
Gengar regained his freedom in the impact of the explosion. As soon as he was free, he immediately gathered energy, his gaze locked on the Team Rocket Trio.
"Gengar!"
He roared, and a black-purple Energy Ball—Shadow Ball—appeared in his hand. This eerie orb flew rapidly towards the Team Rocket Trio.
The Team Rocket Trio was struck by the sudden Shadow Ball and instantly swept up by the shockwave produced by the explosion. They could not withstand the impact of this move and were sent flying.
"This feels so annoying!"
The blond-haired man also saw Gengar. He protected the green-haired girl, his body uncontroll as he took a step back: "Gengar, you... how are you here? Didn't I tell you to wait for me to pick you up?"
When Gengar heard the blond-haired man's voice, he slowly turned around, his crimson eyes lingering on the blond-haired man for a moment.
He raised the Shadow Ball in his hand, and Ghost-type energy surged within the orb, releasing an eerie majesty.
The blond-haired man was shaken by Gengar's intimidation. He instinctively took a step back, his eyes filled with terror and helplessness. His body trembled, almost unable to support his own weight, and he finally collapsed to the ground.
"Don't... don't come closer! It's all your fault!" the blond-haired man cried out in terror.
"Pikachu!" (So, abandoning a Pokémon is justified, huh!)
Pikachu jumped in front of Gengar. When he heard the blond-haired man's words, he was also quite enraged, not expecting to encounter another Trainer who abandoned their Pokémon!
It was the same with Charmander last time, and this time Gengar was also an abandoned Pokémon. How could Pikachu stand by and do nothing?
"Pikachu, Gengar, what's wrong?" Xiao Zhi finally ran to the scene. Pidgeotto was perched on his shoulder, and Xiao Gang, Xiao Xia, and Xiao Mao followed behind Xiao Zhi.
'That blond-haired man is the Trainer who abandoned Gengar.' Li Qingfeng spoke up to remind him.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhi began to roll up his sleeves.
How dare he casually abandon a Pokémon?
Xiao Zhi suddenly noticed Gengar's body trembling continuously. He asked with concern, "Gengar, are you alright?"
Gengar turned his head, met Xiao Zhi's gaze, then shook his head, indicating he was fine.
Seeing that Xiao Zhi had many people on his side, the blond-haired man glared at Gengar in a fit of rage. He almost roared at Gengar, "Nothing good ever happens when you're around me! I don't need you anymore! Get lost!"
His words seemed to express a long-held dissatisfaction that had been building up in his heart. Gengar was stunned, seemingly never expecting the blond-haired man to vent his displeasure towards him so emotionally.
After shouting this, the green-haired girl quickly pulled the blond-haired man away, fearing that his words would cause a greater dispute. She led the blond-haired man away from the scene quickly, seemingly wanting to escape the suffocating atmosphere as soon as possible.
Gengar's eyes fixed on the retreating figures of the two, his expression becoming increasingly complex. His heart was filled with mixed emotions.
"Gengar..." (What did I do wrong...)
Gengar squatted on the ground, looking up at the sky and contemplating his life as a ghost.
"Gengar, do you want to come with me?"
Xiao Zhi stood in front of Gengar, extending his hand to Gengar, then said, "No matter what your previous Trainer said, I... need you now."
Gengar looked at Xiao Zhi, his eyes full of confusion. He couldn't understand why Xiao Zhi would still seek him out, even after his former Trainer had said those things. He voiced his doubts.
"Gengar." (Why choose me? Aren't you afraid I have a curse on me? Aren't you afraid that catching me will cause you to lose battles in the tournament?)
Under Li Qingfeng's translation, Xiao Zhi replied, "Because I believe in you. I believe you are definitely not the kind of Pokémon that maliciously harms others."
Gengar recalled what Charmander had told him. Perhaps this young man in front of him could truly give him warmth, but what had happened before made it truly difficult for him to trust humans...
Xiao Zhi smiled, and with a sincere and friendly tone, he said to Gengar:
"We've been talking for so long, you don't even know my name, do you? I'm Xiao Zhi from Masara Town, and my goal is to be a Pokémon Master! You don't have to believe me right away, but of course, if you're willing to trust me, that would be even better!"
Gengar heard Xiao Zhi's words, a flash of surprise in his eyes, then they became somewhat lost.
He looked at Xiao Zhi's smile, and a feeling of being cared for and understood welled up in his heart. This surprised him, yet it also made him feel warm.
So...
Should he let him catch him or not?