When Nozomi heard Agatha's words, he froze for a moment.
How could she be so sure that he got her number from Professor Oak? Couldn't he have learned it from someone else?
Puzzled, Nozomi looked up at the elderly woman.
Agatha immediately caught the doubt in his eyes. Her tone remained eerily calm as she said,
"This number—only that old coot Samuel Oak knows it. So tell me, boy—what exactly is your relationship with him?"
"…"
Nozomi was utterly stunned by her response.
Wait, what!? Professor Oak, what exactly happened between you and Agatha when you were young? You even had a private number set aside just for you?
The rumors that Oak and Agatha were once lovers who went separate ways over ideological differences suddenly sounded a lot more believable to him.
Still, Nozomi quickly composed himself. He hadn't come here to gossip—this was business.
"Elite Four Agatha, good afternoon. My name is Nozomi. I'm a rookie trainer who started my journey under Professor Oak earlier this year. I have something important to discuss with you."
"...Nozomi?" Agatha's eyes narrowed slightly. "So you're that Nozomi—the one who's been causing such a stir in the League lately? I didn't expect that old man to have trained someone like you."
Her gaze sharpened as she studied him more closely.
Over the past few weeks, Agatha had heard whispers about this young trainer—the one who'd dealt several devastating blows to Team Rocket's operations across Kanto, dramatically reducing the workload of League enforcement agents.
Now that he stood before her claiming to have important information, her expression turned serious. "All right. Speak."
If any League staff had seen Agatha's face right now, they'd have been shocked.
Was this really Agatha—the eccentric, short-tempered Ghost-type master who'd once scared rookies into tears? Since when was she so… reasonable?
Nozomi didn't care about that. He calmly repeated what he had already told Professor Oak, and then added gravely,
"I know the true identity of Team Rocket's leader."
Agatha, who had already tensed up when he mentioned Team Rocket's planned assault on the S.S. Anne, abruptly stood up with a start.
"Who is it!? Who's leading Team Rocket!?"
As she rose, a mischievous Gengar flickered into view behind her, melting back into her shadow with a grin.
The League had been trying to uncover Team Rocket's true leader for years. Though they had several suspects, none of the evidence had ever been conclusive enough to name their target.
If Nozomi really possessed that proof, it would be a monumental breakthrough—a turning point in the long stalemate between the Kanto League and Team Rocket.
Nozomi spoke plainly:
"The leader of Team Rocket… is the current Viridian Gym Leader, Giovanni."
Agatha's expression hardened, but she didn't look surprised—at least, not entirely. Giovanni had already been one of the League's prime suspects.
The League wasn't useless—they'd been quietly investigating Team Rocket all along. Their top suspect list contained three names:
Giovanni of Viridian Gym, Blaine of Cinnabar Gym, and Pryce of the Johto Region's Mahogany Gym.
That list was highly classified—known only to the four members of the Elite Four and the League Chairman, Charles Goodshow.
Given that the information Nozomi had provided matched the League's internal findings so precisely, Agatha was inclined to believe he wasn't bluffing.
"Evidence," she said sharply. "I need evidence."
The League, after all, was bound by law. Even if she personally believed him, they couldn't act against Giovanni without proof—he was, after all, an official Gym Leader.
The League needed a legitimate reason to move.
"I have a recording," Nozomi replied without hesitation. "It proves that Lt. Surge, the Vermilion Gym Leader, is a Team Rocket executive—and that Giovanni is the boss himself."
He'd already anticipated that question. As he spoke, he pulled out a voice recorder and pressed play.
Lt. Surge's gruff voice filled the air.
When the playback ended, Nozomi added calmly,
"If you still have doubts, you can start by investigating Surge. Once his connection to Team Rocket is confirmed, Giovanni's role will become self-evident."
He'd laid the cards on the table. If Agatha still hesitated after this, she wouldn't deserve her position as one of the Elite Four.
"…What kind of help do you need from me?" she asked at last.
"I'd like to request your aid in disrupting Team Rocket's operation in Vermilion City."
Nozomi wasn't taking chances—two Rocket executives were already en route to deal with him. Having an Elite Four member intervene would make things far safer.
With Agatha's power, dealing with two Rocket lieutenants would be child's play.
"You want me to go personally?" Agatha slowly shook her head. "I'm afraid that's impossible. Lance has already gone to Hoenn, and I'm currently responsible for guarding the Indigo Plateau in case of a Rocket counterattack. If I leave my post, they might strike while we're unprepared."
Her refusal was calm but firm. The defense of the Indigo Plateau—the political and administrative heart of the Kanto League—was her top priority.
Nozomi frowned. That complicated things.
Without her, taking down Team Rocket's operation would be much riskier. Two Rocket executives… without Elite-level backup, confronting them would be suicide.
He might even have to disguise himself as a civilian and flee Vermilion City just to stay alive.
"However," Agatha said after a pause, "there is another way. I can't leave the Plateau—but Lorelei is currently near Vermilion. I'll send her to meet you."
Nozomi blinked. "…"
Couldn't she just say that earlier instead of pausing for dramatic effect?
He sighed inwardly. Whatever. She's strong—she gets to be eccentric. I'm a civilized man. I'll let it slide.
Now wasn't the time to bicker anyway.
After some quick discussion, they finalized their plan: Agatha would contact Lorelei and coordinate manpower to prepare an operation targeting Giovanni, while Nozomi would remain in Vermilion to observe Team Rocket's movements.
Their strategy was simple but daring—
Use the S.S. Anne as bait, and wipe out every Team Rocket operative bold enough to attack it.