Chapter 51: The passphrase is... stinky... stinky rotting fish and shrimp?

Half an hour later, the two successfully untied the vine whips and stripped the uniforms off the two Team Rocket grunts.

Along the way, the duo even conducted a harsh interrogation. Thanks to the potent paralyzing powder, the two grunts had no room to fight back at all. Under a good-cop, bad-cop routine, they could only stammer out all their intelligence.

However, since the two grunts were merely at the second-to-lowest rank of Fearless Bronze, they did not know much. They only revealed that most of the current staff on board the ship were actually Team Rocket in disguise.

Of course, there were also some temporary workers casually roped in.

Should any real trouble occur later, these temporary workers would be the ones Team Rocket used to take the blame.

As a transnational syndicate, this was standard procedure for Team Rocket.

Having dealt with the two grunts, the pair changed into sailor suits and decided to first take a stroll around the captain's lair.

Diving straight into the enemy's base to snipe the crystal right at the start—this was the hallmark of a qualified gamer.

...

On the way.

"Seriously, Team Rocket's ranking system is so hilarious. How can anyone fail to reach Glory Gold even after 20 years? If it were me, I'd have been a Pokémon Master 20 years ago."

Ash laughed and joked.

Brock furrowed his brow deeply and said, "The stricter the ranking system, the more it proves that this organization is rock-solid."

Previously, he had only vaguely heard that Team Rocket was a massive organization, but seeing it now, it was indeed extraordinary.

The two walked toward the old captain's room. They met quite a few staff members along the way, who didn't stop them upon seeing they wore the same uniforms, letting them pass straight through.

It didn't matter if your face was unfamiliar; Team Rocket only recognized uniforms when doing business.

...

Creak...!

Ash gently pushed open the old captain's door. It was pitch black inside, and soft snoring could even be heard.

After all, it was already close to four in the morning. Anyone who lived to be the captain's age was already brewing goji berries in tea by the age of twenty and hitting the hay at sunset—practitioners of longevity and wellness.

As for those still out partying and clubbing, they were basically future prospects on the verge of sudden death.

The two sneaked into the room stealthily. Due to poor visibility, Ash even accidentally bumped into Brock.

"Hey, Brock-teacher, open your mouth a bit wider and show your teeth, otherwise I can't see you," he reminded.

Brock: "psilon?"

Since operating in the pitch darkness was impossible, Ash had a flash of inspiration and tossed out a Poké Ball.

A red flash gleamed, and an orange Charmander stepped onto the floor. As soon as it appeared, it bared its claws and fangs, looking quite irritable as its body heat rapidly rose.

A familiar, powerful aura instantly filled the entire room.

Charmander was emulating that fleeting glimpse of the Charizard aura from the foggy sea by the lighthouse that day!

Its battle intent condensed to the absolute limit. Charmander desperately wanted to roar at the sky and unleash a blazing torrent of flames to vent the passion still boiling inside it, even in the dead of night.

"Roar—cough, cough...!"

Ash hastily lunged forward with a flying tackle and locked Charmander's throat with a hellish throat strike.

If you actually let out a roar, we'd be finished!

When the dragon in his arms finally calmed down completely, Ash spoke up:

"Charmander, please, use a not-so-flashy Flash move."

"Roar-ao."

Charmander nodded, gathered its power at the tip of its tail, and then reduced that power to the absolute minimum.

Suddenly, a tiny sliver of light lit up in the dark room, resembling a starlit torch.

Taking advantage of the faint illumination, the two hurriedly looked around the room.

Although it was the captain's cabin, the furnishings were extremely simple and plain: two beds, plus a desk, and nothing else.

Sleeping on the beds respectively were an elderly man with a full