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The date was now February 9th, Monday.
Another day of Gym challenges.
Yet, the number of students departing from Mesagoza toward Cabo Poco was unusually low.
The reason? Simple.
The only road connecting the two towns—the Poco Path—had been partially destroyed by an unknown cause. Massive boulders had collapsed across the route, completely blocking passage. Clearing it would take days.
According to student speculation, a fierce battle between powerful wild Pokémon must have occurred there.
But… this wasn't necessarily bad news.
The Houndoom clan, long known to lurk deep within the Poco Path and terrorize new Trainers with surprise ambushes, had apparently fled the area overnight—presumably scared off by the same explosion.
Yes, the road would take time to repair.
But at least, future students wouldn't have to run for their lives from Houndoom packs anymore.
And for Paldean students? A blocked road was never a real obstacle.
No path? Then make your own.
As the region's most popular Pokémon, nearly every student owned a Cyclizar as a personal transport. Even if they couldn't scale cliffs like in the games, climbing nearby hills was child's play.
Some even had flying mounts—true travel marvels. Getting to Cabo Poco? No problem at all.
But when students finally arrived in Cabo Poco after every imaginable detour, eager for a legendary showdown with Teacher Azure…
They found a single note taped to the Sunshine Gym's front door.
[Teacher Azure has gone out to save the world.]
[This week's Gym Challenge: Self-Study!]
[Of course, the Pokémon permanently stationed here are still available for challenge.]
[Trainees who earn their trust may still receive the Gym Badge!]
"..."
Silence.
Absolute, stunned silence.
"Teacher Azure! You're not even pretending anymore?!"
"Translate that for me—what does 'save the world' mean? Did Arceus come back?!?"
"No! Not Arceus! Without Teacher Azure, I…"
"This isn't just negligence—it's treason! Alert the squad! Start flooding the reviews with 1-star ratings!"
The students stormed out, cursing and ranting.
Meanwhile, the "world-saving" Gym Leader Aiden?
He had already arrived via "Dragonite Air," the long-distance aerial transit service, in a region he'd never visited in person—but knew intimately.
Kanto.
The birthplace of Pokémon legends.
If he had time, Aiden would've made a pilgrimage to Pallet Town—the sacred ground where it all began.
But this trip had a mission.
He'd arranged to meet Lance in Saffron City.
Saffron was arguably Kanto's most critical city: centrally located, a vital transportation nexus, home to the Silph Co. headquarters, and the high-speed maglev link to Johto.
It also housed the largest concentration of police forces in Kanto—a place even Team Rocket dared not openly provoke.
Of course, Aiden's confidence in Saffron had another reason:
Its Gym Leader was Sabrina.
A woman whose psychic power dwarfed even Alakazam's—so overwhelming, she might as well be a semi-mythical Pokémon in human form.
Compared to other psychics, her combat capability was leagues ahead. In the anime, she'd turned humans into dolls and forced Pokémon into temporary evolutions.
Unless Giovanni himself came to kill her, no other Team Rocket executive stood a chance.
After disembarking from the terminal, the faithful Dragonite crouched low to the ground. Once Aiden jumped off its back, it rose slowly, gazing up at him with wise, gentle eyes.
Typically, pseudo-legendaries radiated intimidating majesty.
But Dragonite and Goodra? Two exceptions.
To the untrained eye, they looked like cuddly mascots.
Aiden couldn't resist reaching out to scratch Dragonite's little round head—then pulled a sandwich from his backpack and offered it.
Dragonite's eyes instantly narrowed into happy slits. It took the sandwich with quiet reverence.
Who would've thought this adorable giant was once one of Kanto's rarest, almost mythical Pokémon?
Lance's lineage—the Dragon Tamer Clan—had built their reputation in Kanto and Johto by raising Dratini and mastering the ancient Dragon energy.
But in Galar and Paldea, Dragonite were no longer rare. They'd integrated into society: Dragonite mail carriers, Dragonite aircrew, even Dragonite office workers.
After a warm farewell to his aerial steed, Aiden stepped out of the terminal.
—
Saffron City, outside the airport.
Dozens of crisp, uniformed International Police officers stood in formation along the sidewalk, waiting quietly. Occasionally, murmurs drifted through the group.
"I heard today's guest is Teacher Azure! I never thought I'd get to see him so soon!"
"Only someone as legendary as Teacher Azure could make Commander Lance personally wait for them. In all of Kanto, I doubt there's another. And outside Kanto? Only him."
"Clearly, Commander Lance and Teacher Azure are close. He even brought him in for this operation. If only we could convince him to stay in Kanto…"
"..."
Hearing the whispers behind him, Lance's jaw twitched.
Who could've imagined?
The entire operation to dismantle Team Rocket… was conceived by a boy in Paldea?
And…
Do you think I don't want Aiden to stay in Kanto?
Before Lance could dwell further, a smiling young man emerged from the terminal.
He blinked at the sea of uniforms.
Then, recognizing the lead officer, he walked forward with a polite nod.
"Long time no see, Teacher Azure."
Lance, still clad in his signature red-and-black cloak, offered a carefully composed smile.
"You shouldn't have gone to so much trouble… sending so many people to greet me."
Aiden glanced past Lance.
The officers—mostly young, barely out of training—were staring at him with starstruck eyes, like fans meeting their idol.
"It's no trouble," Lance replied, waving a hand. "This operation needs their support anyway."
"And word got out you'd be joining us. They've been buzzing with excitement."
"You might not know this, but your 'Beat Up Team' and 'Sunny Day Team' tactics? They're practically gospel for our agents. You've got more fans among the law enforcement than you realize."
That triggered a memory.
Aiden recalled—yes, dozens of Officer Jennys had commented on his livestreams under those exact tactical posts.
For police units relying on fast, scent-tracking Pokémon like Arcanine and various other canine Pokemon, those tactics were revolutionary.
Aiden scanned the group—then froze.
At Lance's side stood a striking young woman: red leather jacket, flowing indigo hair.
"Teacher Azure."
She smiled gently, nodding in greeting.
"First time we've met in person, Miss Sabrina."
Aiden bowed politely.
They'd fought once—long ago—in the game. An accidental clash, but enough to know each other's style.
By Aiden's count, half of Kanto's Elite Four and top eight Gym Leaders were his fans.
Add in the Officer Jenny family, the Nurse Joy network, and the International Police…
In Kanto, his influence was quietly immense.
After brief pleasantries, Lance cut to the point.
"Since you're here, we move now."
"Thanks to the cooperation of other Gym Leaders, Giovanni still believes he controls the situation. All we need is to seize control of Viridian City, infiltrate the Gym, and uncover the truth."
Aiden nodded.
He still couldn't believe it.
He—Aiden, a Paldean Gym Leader—was now participating in a Kanto-wide operation.
He'd informed President Geeta before leaving. She'd approved.
But now, standing here… the reality hit.
This wasn't Paldea.
This was Kanto.
Here, Trainers didn't just battle. They fought in the wild. In the streets. With real stakes.
Still…
There was no turning back.
Time to move.
—
Viridian City, Viridian Gym.
"BOSS! We've got trouble!"
A panicked Team Rocket grunt burst into the Gym, colliding with Giovanni's cold gaze.
"Speak."
Giovanni sat calmly on his sofa, one hand idly stroking his cat. His voice was ice.
"L-Lance! Commander Lance has arrived—with the International Police!"
At the name, Giovanni's hand froze mid-pet.
Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, he patted the cat's back.
The cat understood. It leapt silently from the sofa.
"Lance?"
Giovanni's expression twisted into something almost amused.
There was history.
Years ago, a young Lance had infiltrated Team Rocket, seeking the organization's leader.
He'd been too naive. Too obvious. Giovanni had dealt with him personally and taught this presumptuous newcomer a lesson.
No face shown. No identity revealed.
Lance never knew who had crushed him.
This incident had happened many years ago, and even Giovanni himself had almost forgotten about it.
However, at a critical juncture when Mewtwo was growing vigorously, Lance actually came knocking on his door?
Clearly, he must have known something.
But why now of all times?
Team Rocket had been silent for weeks. All operatives had retreated to secure bases across Kanto. Zero exposure.
How could anyone trace them?
Unless…
There was a vine to follow.
"Boss…"
The grunt, still trembling, spoke again.
"Should we… keep pretending? Buy time? Maybe we can bluff our way out?"
"..."
Giovanni fell silent. Then he smiled.
"No."
"Since they've come straight to Viridian Gym… there's no point in pretending anymore."
"A guest has arrived. As host, it would be rude not to offer a proper welcome."
"Notify the grunts. Use Plan A. Give them a little… greeting present."
—
When Lance and Aiden arrived at the outskirts of Viridian City, they were met by a pre-arranged squad of Team Rocket grunts.
"Tch…"
Lance grimaced.
He'd believed Aiden.
But seeing this confirmed it.
The hero of Kanto. The Guardian of Viridian.
Giovanni wasn't just connected to Team Rocket.
He was Team Rocket's shield.
Without him, the organization would've been crushed decades ago.
How many years had this lie buried Kanto's truth?
Even after all his efforts… even after all his sacrifices—
The ideal of absolute justice still felt impossibly distant.
Lance's jaw tightened.
Then, the grunts saw him.
The "Envoy of Justice."
They reacted instantly.
"Brothers! Attack!"
A shout rang out.
Dozens of Poké Balls arced into the air.
A wave of Weezing and Koffing materialized—slowly, deliberately, advancing toward the police line.
Aiden's eyes narrowed.
He recognized the tactic.
This… is my original "Explosion Combo."
And in combat, Koffing's ability? Neutralizing Gas.
It temporarily nullifies all Pokémon abilities within its area.
Meaning: even if you send out a Pokémon with Damp? It won't matter.
Due to the chain reaction of the explosion, the destructive power of this combination is absolutely terrifying in actual combat.
Team Rockets are indeed a bunch of lunatics.
Lance understood instantly.
"Fall back! Spread out!"
"Dragonite! Prepare Blizzard!"
The International Police reacted in unison, drawing their Poké Balls—
And at that moment—
Aiden's backpack began to tremble.
A pink, furry head popped out.
The moment it saw the Koffing swarm, it giggled.
"Mew~"
Aiden reacted instantly.
"Mew! Use Imprison!"
"Mew~"
The tiny Pokémon floated upward, its small finger pointing lazily at the Koffing.
Its eyes glowed faintly blue.
The Koffing—whose bodies had already begun to shimmer with the telltale white glow of imminent Explosion—
Suddenly went limp.
Like balloons with punctured strings.
They stopped.
No detonation.
No fire.
Just… stillness.
"..."
Aiden blinked.
Wait… that actually worked?
He'd just yelled it on instinct. A desperate gamble.
He'd assumed—because Mew possessed the genetic code of every Pokémon—it might know every move.
And the effect of Imprison is to seal the opponent's moves that are the same as its own.
A theoretically absurd tactic.
And yet… it had worked.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Even the Team Rocket grunts froze.
The International Police stared.
"…Unbelievable!"
One officer whispered.
"Teacher Azure… you're a god."
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