Bruno sent a message that caught Grey off guard.
[Elite Four Bruno: Gym Leader Grey, I'm almost in Celadon City. Are you still in Celadon City right now?]
[Dojo Annihilape: Yeah. I just stepped out to buy some snacks with the young Riolu, then I'm heading back to the hospital to keep visiting Gym Leader Giovanni. Are you coming to visit Gym Leader Giovanni too?]
[Elite Four Bruno: Yes. At the moment, I'm the only one on the League side who can conveniently come over. Let's meet at the Pokemon Center in a bit.]
Since Celadon City was a major city, it had multiple Pokemon Centers.
The one Bruno was heading to was the Pokemon Center right next to the hospital.
That also made Grey curious about how Bruno was getting here.
[Dojo Annihilape: Got it, Bruno. I'll wait for you at the Pokemon Center.]
After sending that, Grey put his phone away.
He looked at Mewtwo, who was standing perfectly still, and continued, "Mewtwo, one of the Kanto Elite Four is coming. Where are you planning to go now?"
"The sky."
Mewtwo lifted his head and stared upward.
Grey followed his gaze.
"You're just going to stay up there? By the way, where do you usually live when you're with Giovanni?"
"A culture dish."
Mewtwo's tone was flat.
"...Huh?"
Grey scratched his head at the answer.
Living in a culture dish?
Is that even a place for a Pokemon to live...
"My body is still somewhat fragile. Normally, I need to stay in a culture dish and use nutrient solution to improve my physical state."
Mewtwo told the truth, but in Grey's ears it sounded like something else entirely.
"Physically fragile... you?"
Grey looked Mewtwo up and down, thinking.
That didn't make sense, did it?
With Mewtwo's strength, his physical power shouldn't be lacking at all.
Even if Grey fought him hand-to-hand and only compared raw strength, Grey wasn't sure he'd win.
And yet Mewtwo was saying his body was fragile?
So what counted as "strong," then?
"Yes. I believe both psychic power and the body should reach the absolute peak."
To Mewtwo, he was only just getting started.
Someone who couldn't even beat Mew was still too weak.
His earlier self had been way too confident. Then he came to Saffron City, ran into Grey, Sabrina, and the "young Riolu," and nearly had his entire worldview shattered.
He was doing better now.
He just couldn't beat those three walking cheats, that was all.
Compared to everyone else, humans and Pokemon alike, he was still the strongest existence.
Even the legendary bird Pokemon Kanto loved to talk about—the Legendary Birds—were no match for him!
Mewtwo felt extremely confident now.
He believed that in Kanto, he was absolutely one of the top Pokemon.
"Mewtwo, I'll give you a line to remember. There's always someone stronger, and there's always a wider sky."
Grey could tell what was going on with Mewtwo and couldn't help warning him.
"I know. But I think you still need confidence. I'm going to rise up—keep rising up—until I'm the strongest Pokemon in the world!"
Mewtwo's fighting spirit sharpened. Maybe it was because of Colress—replaying those memories just now had made Mewtwo so cocky it was unreal.
"Next time we meet, my strength will surely have reached an even higher level!"
Mewtwo murmured to himself, then vanished with Teleport.
"Alright, good luck. If you need anything later, remember to contact me."
Grey waved goodbye to Mewtwo.
After that, he started thinking about Colress...
Grey didn't know Colress well. Mewtwo had already sent him away, and Grey had no idea what Colress would do after returning to Team Plasma.
Maybe he should ask N?
Grey thought of that naive yet stubborn kid.
Under Grey's influence, N had already started doubting Team Plasma.
That pure idealist was standing at a critical crossroads.
If Grey could guide N into seeing Team Plasma for what it really was, it would not only add strength to Grey's side, it could also tear the organization apart from within.
Compared to the unpredictable Colress, someone as pure and relentless as N was actually easier to turn into a reliable ally.
Yeah. He should ask.
They were good friends.
With that in mind, Grey took out his phone and messaged N.
[Dojo Annihilape: Black of Nature, looks like Team Plasma has another member who showed up in our region.]
[Black of Nature: ? Huh? When?]
"Hm? N doesn't know about this?"
Grey frowned slightly. N's reaction surprised him.
N was Team Plasma's king. If Colress had been recruited and sent to Kanto, N should've known.
But that question back made Grey freeze for a second.
What kind of act was this?
Grey rubbed his brow, stared at the screen, and kept typing.
[Dojo Annihilape: Not long ago, a scientist named Colress came to Kanto. In Celadon City, at the ruins of the Celadon Game Corner, he infiltrated the ruins of Team Rocket's base and took away the documents Team Rocket left behind.]
[Black of Nature: Huh??? Zoroark confused.jpg]
"Yep. He really doesn't know anything."
Seeing the question marks N kept throwing out, Grey pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed a few times.
So N had already been sidelined...
He got sidelined that fast, right after capturing Zekrom. What was Ghetsis trying to do?
Grey narrowed his eyes. He knew Ghetsis was a master manipulator.
But N was still his adopted son, the one chosen as the heir and king.
And yet right now, N looked like a king in name only.
[Dojo Annihilape: Black of Nature, aren't you Team Plasma's king? How do you not know any of this? Colress is one of your Team Plasma members, right?]
[Black of Nature: Streamer, can I ask you something first?]
[Dojo Annihilape: Go ahead.]
[Black of Nature: Colress... who is that?]
[Dojo Annihilape: ?]
"Grass (as in the type)."
That message nearly made Grey lose it.
So he didn't even know who Colress was!
[Dojo Annihilape: It's this guy. image.jpg]
Grey sent over Colress's wanted poster.
After quite a while, N finally replied.
[Black of Nature: There really is someone like that, but back then Father told me he was just a normal scientist...]
N left it at that.
He truly didn't understand the rest.
Grey slowly let out a breath. In that case, he could only wait until he went to Unova later and then see what was going on with Colress.
[Dojo Annihilape: Thanks, Black of Nature.]
[Black of Nature: No problem. Whenever you come to Unova, tell me. I'll host you properly.]
After traveling for a while, N had gradually become more open.
But today, seeing Grey's messages left him with a faint, lingering sense of unease.
//Check out my P@tre0n for 30 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[email protected]/Razeil0810.