Team Rocket's trio might constantly fail at catching Pikachu, but their business acumen was off the charts.
In addition, Meowth's translation skills alone were worth billions, not to mention their frightening assembly capabilities.
Lu Ye suspected that even with a pile of scrap metal, they could somehow piece together a functioning Gundam.
Self-reliant, multi-talented, and fiercely loyal—these were the dream employees for any capitalist!
Despite their differences in ideology, Lu Ye held a certain fondness for Jessie, James, and Meowth.
Their genuine love for Pokémon couldn't be denied. Otherwise, Alola's Bewear, known for its discerning taste, wouldn't have grown so attached to them.
Honestly, it's not about the cut I get from their business, Lu Ye thought. It's more about sparing them from unnecessary hardship.
"Anyway," he said, "your job for now is to focus on generating revenue. Understood?"
"Oh, oh! Is this part of some secret mission?" Jessie's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Panicking, James clamped his hand over Jessie's mouth. "Don't worry, sir! We've never seen you!"
"That's right, Meowth!" Meowth chimed in, trembling as it perched on Jessie's shoulder. Whispering into her ear, it added,
"Prying into an officer's plans could get us reassigned, Meowth!"
"Mmmph!" (Let me go!)
Lu Ye rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"A secret mission… Sure, let's call it that."
Giovanni's original directive likely revolved around ensuring their safety.
Besides, saving Giovanni the trouble of bailing them out of jail might even earn Lu Ye some gratitude.
Hearing his confirmation, the trio exhaled in relief, their expressions lighting up with realization.
So young and already a Rocket officer on a secret mission… This guy must be one of Giovanni's favorites!
If they executed his orders flawlessly, surely Giovanni would finally recognize their talents—putting an end to their rivalry with Matori and Persian once and for all!
"This feels amazing!" they exclaimed simultaneously, grinning idiotically.
Lu Ye coughed, interrupting their daydreams.
"By the way, why are you even here? Shouldn't you be active in other regions?"
Though the worldlines had shifted, the trio should still have been chasing Ash's Pikachu elsewhere. Why target an Eevee here of all places?
"Well, Meowth heard about a festival in the area, so we came to try our luck," James explained.
"There was talk from Hoenn," Meowth added proudly, "that a legendary Pokémon might emerge from a meteorite!"
Suddenly, they froze as if realizing something and began trembling.
"You're not planning to capture Jirachi, are you?"
Lu Ye blinked.
I didn't even say anything, and you already imagined the entire mission?
"Don't worry! We won't breathe a word!" they declared earnestly.
Lu Ye sighed and straightened his expression.
"If you understand, then hurry up and get to work. Don't make me repeat myself."
"Yes, sir! We'll complete the mission without fail!"
Saluting in unison, they pulled out a pile of random parts from nowhere.
Amid smoke and clanging metal, they assembled a tricycle on the spot, leaving Lu Ye slack-jawed.
Their technical skills are out of this world! They're wasted not building Gundams!
"Let's go!" they cheered, hopping onto the tricycle and waving as they pedaled away.
Before they disappeared, Lu Ye called out, "By the way, do you know a trainer named Ash? Where is he now?"
The trio froze mid-pedal, their expressions growing peculiar.
"Ash?" James stammered. "T-that kid!"
Lu Ye's face twisted into a complex expression.
I was just asking casually, but he really exists in this world?!
What kind of Frankenstein Pokémon universe is this?!
"How do you know his name?" James asked, astonished.
Lu Ye shrugged. "Oh, his Pikachu's pretty tricky."
Tears welled up in the trio's eyes as they exchanged glances, their expressions full of camaraderie.
Even a Rocket officer has struggled against that Pikachu… No wonder we couldn't catch it.
"The last time we saw him was during the Silver Conference," James recalled.
"Word is, he's heading to Hoenn next," Meowth added. "After this break, we're planning to follow him!"
"We'll definitely catch Pikachu this time!" Jessie declared, clenching her fists.
"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet exclaimed enthusiastically.
Lu Ye massaged his forehead and sighed deeply.
"Alright, you can leave now. I'd like some time alone."
"Wishing you great success and glory! Oh ho ho ho!" The trio laughed as they pedaled off into the forest.
---
Sunlight streamed through the canopy as Lu Ye gazed upward at the leaves, muttering, "Ash is heading to Hoenn, huh? Looks like this timeline's still early."
Taking a deep breath, the professionally trained Teacher Lu calmed himself.
Yeah… It's just Ash traveling solo. That's totally normal.
Red and Ash might theoretically be the same person, but their capabilities were worlds apart.
In this universe, Red was the battle-hardened "Legend of Battle" from the Pokémon Adventures manga—an ultimate trainer capable of taking down legendary Pokémon.
Ash, meanwhile, was still a rookie fumbling through regional tournaments.
Even their clothing styles were distinct: Red's iconic red-and-white ensemble versus Ash's blue-dominant attire.
In the I Choose You! movie, Ash's character was rebooted, traveling without Brock or Misty.
In summary, it was as if the TV series and manga worlds had merged with this one.
Lu Ye nodded slowly, then suddenly flipped the mental table.
"This is ridiculous!"
"Pallet Town must be way too wholesome for a god-tier Red and rookie Ash to coexist on the same timeline!"
But upon further reflection, Pokémon Adventures never delved into Red's family background.
The fact that Red rose to become the Legend of Battle as an ordinary boy only made him more admirable.
Lu Ye stroked his chin, muttering,
"When I visit Kanto, I wonder if I'll run into Ash…
"...Though meeting an Ash who can tank legendary attacks might actually be interesting!"
---
As dusk fell, the festival continued in the lively town square.
Lu Ye reunited with the others at their meeting spot, where Ruby and Sapphire were sharing ice cream, lost in their own world.
"Want to try mine?"
"Ah, I like that flavor better. Let's trade!"
"If you kiss me, I'll trade with you," Ruby teased, smirking.
Steven cleared his throat, gesturing at Jirachi as a reminder of its presence.
Lu Ye coughed as well, signaling that there was a single man present.
[Kissing? What's that?] Jirachi tilted its head.
Blushing furiously, Sapphire caught Ruby off guard and pecked his cheek before snatching his ice cream.
Jirachi cheered as it floated around.
[Kiss! Steven, kiss!]
Ignoring the chaos, Lu Ye asked, "Where'd you two get that ice cream?"
Ruby grinned. "From a new stall! It's super popular, and the flavor's amazing!"
Satisfied, Lu Ye nodded.
Looks like their business is thriving.
While their profits were still modest, Lu Ye felt confident that Team Rocket's trio had the potential to become highly successful entrepreneurs.
"I should ask Matori if those three can be reassigned to my team," Lu Ye muttered to himself.
"If it's possible, that'd be a total win!"