Giovanni's invitation was truly unexpected for Lu Ye.
He thought it was just a simple Trick Room video. Who knew it would max out Giovanni's favorability?
But Teacher Lu didn't even want to be a Trainer, let alone join Team Rocket. That was way too dangerous.
With a mind to seek advice, Teacher Lu opened the chat group.
[Lu Ye: Team Rocket sent someone to recruit me.]
The quiet chat group suddenly pinged non-stop.
[Gold: ???]
[Lorelei: ???]
[Sabrina: ???]
A string of question marks filled the screen.
Sabrina's delicate face was full of surprise.
She had already guessed it was Teacher Lu being invited… But was this the kind of thing you just casually mention in a chat group?!
Teacher Lu, are your nerves made of steel?
Lance was drinking coffee and choked, coughing heavily before typing:
[Lance: And then?]
[Lu Ye: I turned them down.]
Lance coughed again, genuinely worried that Teacher Lu might suddenly say, "I already joined."
Thinking back, nearly all the Gym Leaders had received offers from Team Rocket. Even Red and Blue were personally scouted by Giovanni.
It had practically become a badge of honor for the strong.
Seeing Teacher Lu be so straightforward, Brock nodded.
[Brock: Team Rocket contacted me back then, too. The offer was very tempting.]
Even with the burden of raising nine younger siblings, this steadfast man didn't waver in the slightest.
Seeing Teacher Lu refuse Team Rocket's offer now, he couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie.
'As expected...' Brock narrowed his eyes and clenched his fist. 'That's the Breeder I respect!'
Green covered her mouth, laughing.
[Green: Oh my, Teacher Lu, have you thought about taking the money and running? I can help you with that.]
Lu Ye's eyes lit up.
Was that an option?
[Lu Ye: DM me, we can split it 50-50.]
Sabrina held her forehead, feeling an inexplicable fatigue.
Discussing backstabbing Team Rocket right in front of a former Team Rocket admin—was that really okay?
[Yellow: Uncle Giovanni is a gentle person! (╹▽╹)]
Having grown up in Viridian Forest, Yellow had even been helped by Giovanni in a fight against Lance.
Hearing that Teacher Lu was being recruited by Team Rocket felt… perfectly natural.
Lance coughed again.
[Lance: Anyway… Teacher Lu, be careful. Being targeted by Team Rocket isn't a good thing.]
Lu Ye froze.
You might not believe it, but I'm technically a Team Rocket instructor!
Even if he didn't join Team Rocket, no grunt would dare mess with Teacher Lu.
After all, his Minimize + Substitute + Toxic combo was already legendary within Team Rocket.
Red had just finished his training on Mt. Silver.
Hearing that Giovanni tried to recruit Teacher Lu, he found it amusing.
In some ways, Red and Giovanni's thought processes were surprisingly similar...
"Guess even the old man sees potential in Teacher Lu," Red chuckled.
No one was particularly surprised by the recruitment. Team Rocket was always hungry for talent.
Honestly, it would have been weirder if they didn't try to recruit Teacher Lu.
Lu Ye nodded thoughtfully.
So everyone's gone through this, huh?
Recruiting strong Trainers…
Was this Giovanni's "Strength Recognition Technique"?
After his draw with Lance, Teacher Lu now had a new bragging right: "Giovanni Approves!"
"Wait a minute..." Lu Ye muttered. "Who else… hasn't been recruited?"
Gold was furious.
[Gold: Why has Team Rocket never recruited me?!]
I'm a star Trainer in Johto, for crying out loud!
Not that he wanted to join… but come on, give me some respect!
Green teased,
[Green: You can ask Silver to recommend you.]
[Gold: Forget it.]
Gold, like a concerned big brother, stroked his chin.
[Gold: That kid always looks so serious. If only he'd lighten up a bit.]
Lu Ye froze.
Oh right, Giovanni is also Silver's dad!
Silver and Gold were both kidnapped by Pryce, mastering the abilities of Exchange and Hatcher, respectively.
Due to various misunderstandings, Silver refused to acknowledge his father as Team Rocket's leader.
Giovanni desperately wanted to find his son.
Meanwhile, Silver, who grew up as a thief yet had a strong sense of justice, wanted nothing more than to destroy Team Rocket…
Lu Ye looked up at the sky.
"This is… father-son bonding at its finest!"
That night, it was all about Team Rocket and Giovanni.
Lu Ye felt exhausted.
Teacher Lu just wanted to be an ordinary gaming content creator, making some easy money.
He never expected Team Rocket to come knocking…
Lu Ye muttered, "Maybe this is what they mean by… gold shines wherever it goes?"
---
It was nearly 10 PM, and they still hadn't had dinner.
His three little companions looked at him with teary eyes.
Lu Ye smiled. "Alright, I'll make dinner now!"
"Haunter! (๑`▽´๑)۶" Haunter raised its claws in agreement.
Eevee perched on Lu Ye's shoulder, watching him cook.
The firelight illuminated Eevee's face, tinting its fur with an orange glow.
"You can have some Pokéblocks first," Lu Ye said, rubbing Eevee's head. "There's a late-night snack, too."
Eevee squinted impatiently. "Vee!"
Got it!
Lu Ye smiled.
Not worrying about battles, but simply enjoying daily life with his Pokémon…
This was the true beauty of the Pokémon world.
Lu Ye chuckled, shaking his head.
"If only the betrayals were a bit gentler…"
Squirtle peeked out of its shell and sniffed cautiously.
"Squirtle…" Its face turned pale.
Aura had enhanced Squirtle's senses, making its nose particularly sensitive.
Grabbing some tissues, Squirtle stuffed them in its nostrils and stood proudly.
Suddenly, it took several deep breaths.
"S-Squirtle… achoo!"
Squirtle shivered, rubbed its red nose, and grinned.
"Squirtle (*￣︶￣)" (That felt good.)
In an instant, moisture in the air swirled.
A small gray cloud formed under the ceiling.
Squirtle and Haunter looked up, stunned, before bursting with excitement.
Their Rain Dance training… had succeeded!
They clapped their hands and spun in circles, laughing.
Haunter & Squirtle: o(*≧▽≦)ツ
The room's humidity rose as the rain cloud grew.
Drip, drip—
Raindrops splattered on the floor.
"Awwoooo~"
Haunter and Squirtle opened their mouths, trying to catch the raindrops.
Squirtle's eyes gleamed.
Master… would be so proud!
---
In the kitchen, Lu Ye suddenly felt a chill.
Eevee sensed it too and bolted.
Turning off the stove, Lu Ye walked out, removing his apron.
Raindrops splashed onto his eyelashes.
It was like a burst pipe, water spraying everywhere.
Lu Ye looked up to see a small rain cloud hovering under the ceiling.
His three companions happily splashed in the water, oblivious to their "father's" paling face.
"Eevee (*≧▽≦)" Eevee jumped around, water flying.
"Squirtle (づ￣3￣)づ" Squirtle shot a celebratory Water Gun.
Haunter patted Lu Ye's shoulder with a grin. "Haunter!"
Impressive, right?
Lu Ye's hands went cold.
He glanced at Squirtle's move list. [Rain Dance].
He wasn't sure if the rain soaked his eyes or if his tears blended with the downpour.
With wet hair and trembling lips, Lu Ye sank onto the drenched sofa.
Holding his head in his hands, he gave up thinking.
"At least… I won't need to hire a cleaning service tomorrow…"
Lu Ye smiled bitterly.