Pokemon: The Legendary Trainer

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Wild Pokémon that survive in nature are, for the most part, creatures that respond instinctively. As long as you are strong enough and clearly demonstrate that strength, they will back down and show deep reverence.

After Sato successfully repelled the infamous Mankey tribe using his team of powerful Pokémon, his reputation spread like wildfire throughout the nearby Pokémon habitats.

Because of this, Sato and his team made smooth progress while tracking Ranka. Aside from the occasional rash wild Pokémon that popped up only to flee in panic, their path remained unimpeded.

Moreover, when passing through territories of various wild Pokémon tribes, they even received small gifts as a sign of goodwill. Along the way, Sato's backpack quickly filled with all sorts of edible fruits and berries.

Thanks to Bellossom's healing, Arcanine recovered from its injuries quickly. With its keen sense of smell, it successfully led Sato and the others to the Sunflora Forest where Ranka had recently stayed, even locating the exact campsite Ranka had used the day before.

"Lord Sato, the campfire in the campsite is still fresh, and there's a faint residual warmth in the ashes. I believe Ranka didn't leave too long ago. Also, judging by the traces left when the tent was dismantled, it seems he wasn't alone—someone else was with him."

Having once again witnessed Sato's strength with his own eyes, Thomas had fully stepped into the role of a loyal subordinate. He took the lead in investigating the campsite thoroughly before respectfully reporting his findings to Sato.

"You're right. We're getting closer to our target. Stay sharp. We could encounter them at any moment. If we do engage, your main task is to stall that other companion of his. Can you do that?"

Sato had also carefully assessed the campsite and came to the same conclusion as Thomas. Expressionless, he nodded and replied calmly, acknowledging Thomas's noticeably improved attitude.

In truth, one of the main reasons Sato had kept Thomas around was to deal with exactly this kind of unpredictable variable. Otherwise, as Thomas had initially believed, this mission could have been completed solo.

But the unexpected had occurred—Ranka now had a companion. The difficulty of the mission had clearly increased, making Thomas—previously a dispensable piece—suddenly quite vital.

If Sato wished to proceed with the plan, he would now need Thomas to share the burden.

"I guarantee I'll get it done. Even if it costs me my life, I won't let that other person interfere with you, Lord Sato."

Hearing Sato's words and seeing the expression on his face, Thomas immediately straightened up and gave a firm nod in reply.

Inside, Thomas was filled with anxiety. He too understood that Ranka having a companion drastically changed the stakes. If the plan previously had a 70% success rate, now it wasn't even 50%.

But considering his earlier involvement in the ambush against Ranka—and the strength and potential Sato had displayed—he gritted his teeth and decided to follow Sato to the bitter end. He had no way out anymore.

"Good. I'll end this quickly. You only need to hold out for a short time. After it's over, whether we win or lose, I'll return what's yours. And if we win, the rewards will definitely include your share."

Sato smiled faintly at Thomas's resolute answer. Patting him on the shoulder, he made a solemn promise.

While Sato and Thomas were examining the campsite Ranka had used, Ranka and Noda had already flown several dozen kilometers away on Yanmega and Dodrio, arriving at the Diamond Canyon.

A wide river cut through the long gorge, but the waters were thick with mud and silt, making them extremely murky. Despite the flowing river, the tall cliffs on either side showed almost no greenery.

The reason for the Diamond Canyon's barren appearance lay in its vast mineral resources.

In fact, the Diamond Canyon didn't just host a massive open-pit diamond mine—it also contained many other large mineral deposits, including iron, copper, gold, silver, and tungsten.

Naturally, a place so rich in mineral resources would attract countless Rock-type Pokémon that feed on ores.

Within this immense gorge lived six major wild Pokémon tribes, including Onix, Aron, Geodude, Roggenrola, and Rhyhorn.

These Rock-type Pokémon dug relentlessly through the mines in search of food, which severely damaged the local vegetation and led to serious soil erosion.

Ranka had three goals for coming to this place:

First, to find iron ore for his ace Pokémon, Aggron.

Aggron's main diet consists of iron ore. They extract the iron to reinforce and repair their steel armor, increasing their defensive power. The iron also strengthens their bodies over time.

High-grade iron ore is Aggron's favorite food. If it goes several days without eating, its already short temper gets even worse.

Naturally, Ranka didn't want his ace Pokémon getting upset, so he personally came to this pitted and barren landscape to help Aggron find iron ore.

The second reason was to search for beautiful diamonds.

The reason Ranka transitioned from a man to a woman had everything to do with his mindset—he had always possessed a woman's heart.

He was absolutely obsessed with gemstones. From Rocket veterans at various bases, he'd learned rumors that someone had once retrieved a rare pink diamond from the Diamond Canyon.

Pink was Ranka's favorite color. Naturally, this made his desire for a pink diamond—especially a large, sparkling one—overwhelming.

The third reason was to search for Larvitar, a Pokémon from a pseudo-legendary evolutionary line.

With its abundance of mineral resources, the Diamond Canyon was a paradise for Rock-type Pokémon. Naturally, Pokémon like Tyranitar—who love devouring rare ores—would be drawn to it.

In fact, many Rocket veterans who had once been to the Diamond Canyon reported sightings of Larvitar and its evolutionary line, but due to various reasons, all had ultimately failed to catch one.

Of course, that failure was a blessing in disguise—because those who didn't fail were usually buried beneath layers of mud and rock.

Ranka was unquestionably an ambitious person. He longed to possess another pseudo-legendary like Larvitar. And if an opportunity arose, even knowing the risks, he wouldn't hesitate to take it.

Iron ore is one of the most abundant minerals in the Diamond Canyon. So once Ranka and Noda entered the area, they quickly found an open-pit iron mine.

However, the mine was already occupied by a small tribe of Aron, who greeted the strangers with clear hostility.

"Come out, Aggron. Your favorite iron ore is right in front of you—go ahead and enjoy."

Ranka completely ignored the Aron tribe's hostility. He immediately released Aggron and let it act freely.

"Rrraaaagh!!!"

As soon as Aggron caught the scent of iron from the mine, it let out an excited roar. But when it saw the unwelcoming Aron blocking its path, its eyes immediately gleamed with bloodlust.

In the next second, Aggron charged in like a tiger among sheep, beginning a brutal rampage through the open-pit iron mine.