"666! You're not even pretending anymore, huh?!"
"I'm not spamming question marks because I have a problem—I'm doing it because you have a problem."
"I accepted finding a hidden passage behind a poster! But what the hell do you mean you just pulled out a Team Rocket ID card and opened the door?!"
"Known facts:
This is a Team Rocket base.Salted Fish Teacher has the base access card.
Conclusion: Salted Fish Teacher is actually a Team Rocket executive?!"
"Sorry… I'm a Team Rocket executive!"
The chat instantly flooded with question marks.
At the same time, Red and Blue in the game both turned around in perfect sync, staring at Rei, who had just put the ID card back into his bag.
"Hey—Blue doubting me is one thing, but Red, why are you looking at me like that?"
Rei Akagi felt a bit uneasy under their gaze and said irritably,
"You have an access card too, remember? Think back to Nugget Bridge in Cerulean City."
"Oh! Right!"
Red suddenly realized.
He quickly rummaged through his bag and indeed found an ID card with the red 'R' logo on it.
"…So we kind of… maybe… technically… joined Team Rocket?"
Red's tone was full of confusion, like someone realizing he had accidentally become a villain.
"What are you two even talking about?"
Blue listened to their cryptic conversation and suddenly felt like a third wheel intruding on someone else's secret.
She shouldn't be here.
She should be under the car.
"What access card? What Nugget Bridge? What do you mean we joined Team Rocket?! Explain it properly!"
"Everyone in the livestream chat, pay attention—this is what happens when someone doesn't watch the stream…"
Rei Akagi teased with a smile.
But when he saw Bluesilently approaching Rei step by step with an oppressive aura, he quickly dropped the joke and explained seriously.
"Ahem! After crossing Nugget Bridge in Cerulean City, a Team Rocket NPC will approach you and invite you to join."
"If you choose 'Yes', you'll receive this Team Rocket ID Card."
"You should've just said that earlier! Why make it sound so mysterious…"
Blue sighed in relief, then muttered quietly with a hint of guilt.
"I did watch your stream… it's just that later I accidentally… fell asleep for a little while…"
"Hm? What did you say?"
Rei Akagi didn't catch the last part.
"Nothing! Idiot! Blockhead! Hmph!"
Blue exploded instantly, venting her embarrassment on random insults.
Rei Akagi scratched his head in confusion, completely clueless about what nerve he had triggered this time.
The livestream chat erupted again.
"So that's the trick! If I refused to join earlier, I can't trigger this storyline?!"
"That's insane! The Celadon City hidden plot requires a trigger back in Cerulean City? That's ridiculous!"
"I've lived an honest life, yet because I clicked 'Refuse' too fast, I missed my Team Rocket job offer?! The pain!"
"'If I agree to join Team Rocket, do I really join Team Rocket?' — Salted Fish Teacher's classic quote.
Answer: Yes. You absolutely do."
"I followed the stream guide all the way. Feeling great. I'm already ahead!"
Instead of calming things down, Rei Akagi's explanation only made the chat even more chaotic.
Ignoring the comments, the trio prepared to enter the passage.
Suddenly—
Two figures appeared like ghosts, silently blocking the entrance.
It was the handsome researcher and the mysterious girl who had previously scammed Red out of all his money.
But the mysterious girl looked completely different now.
Gone was the rustic street-vendor appearance.
Instead, she wore fashionable city clothes, youthful and radiant.
The most shocking part—
Aside from the outfit, her character model looked almost identical to Blue.
"Researcher Rei: Stop right there! You filthy Team Rocket members! I'll take you down right—"
"Researcher Rei: Wait! It's you guys? You got access cards too? Don't tell me…"
"Researcher Rei: Are you also planning to infiltrate this Team Rocket base to gather evidence of their illegal genetic experiments? Haha! What a coincidence—we are too!"
"Researcher Rei: Oh right, let me formally introduce her. This is Blue, my partner in this operation."
The moment he finished speaking, the NPC Blue crossed her arms and examined the three of them carefully.
Then she flashed a bright, slightly mischievous smile and stepped forward.
"Blue (NPC): Oh~ It's you guys! Looks like your wallets recovered pretty quickly."
"Blue (NPC): Since that's the case, how about we cooperate?"
"Blue (NPC): You have the access cards, so you can infiltrate the base and steal the core intel. We'll stay outside and keep watch for you."
"Blue (NPC): Hey! What kind of look is that?! Relax! This time I absolutely—absolutely—won't scam you again! I promise!"
"Blue (NPC): After the job is done, you can trade the intel you obtain with my friend here for some real rewards. Guaranteed profit!"
"Blue (NPC): Alright! It's settled! We'll be waiting for good news by the slot machines over there!"
Without giving the handsome researcher a chance to say another word—
She grabbed his lab coat sleeve and dragged him away toward the slot machine area.
"Hey! Wait—!"
"Waaah!!!"
Blue's shout exploded across the communication channel.
Her excitement was completely genuine.
"She's so pretty! And so fashionable! Is that outfit from the clothing shop? My in-game version has amazing taste!"
"That's not the point!"
Rei Akagi laughed helplessly.
"Blue, wake up!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know!"
Blue replied absentmindedly, still staring in the direction the NPC Blue had disappeared.
"Let's just go in already."
The trio entered the passage and descended to B1 Floor.
The view suddenly opened up.
A clean, orderly corridor stretched ahead, brightly illuminated by white lights.
The walls gleamed with cold metallic reflections, connected to several heavy alloy doors.
But the moment they stepped out of the stairwell—
Two guards appeared from around the corner.
Their expressions were tense and alert.
"Guard A: Stop! Password! Who are you?! Why aren't you wearing uniforms?!"
"Guard B: Identification! Show your ID immediately! Otherwise you'll be treated as intruders!"
Guard B placed his hand on the Poké Ball at his waist, watching them carefully.
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
"Red, show them the ID first."
Rei Akagi reminded him while controlling Rei to take out the card.
"Rei: We're new recruits. Today's our first day reporting in."
"Rei: The logistics department said our uniforms haven't been issued yet. The guy behind us hasn't even finished his paperwork, so he hasn't received his ID card either."
Guard A took the ID cards from Rei and Red and inserted them into a portable card reader.
The screen flickered several times.
Their basic information appeared.
He checked the records repeatedly.
After confirming everything matched, he returned the cards.
But his gaze remained sharp—
Locked firmly onto Blue.
They still hadn't been allowed through.
Guard B quickly turned around and slipped into a nearby room.
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