The livestream chat instantly exploded.
"How strong is that Beedrill!? One sting could probably kill me through the screen!"
"So that's the boss of Team Rocket!? That pressure! How can someone be this terrifying?!"
"I suddenly understand why Team Rocket managed to grow so powerful—
that charisma, that calm confidence, that aura of total control—what a shame—"
"The character design is amazing. The pressure is insane. I'm just watching the stream and I'm already breaking out in cold sweat."
"Putting aside everything else—Teacher Salted Fish! Buying three sodas from the vending machine opens a hidden door!? What kind of ridiculous dungeon design is that!? Nobody would ever guess it!"
"Compared to the game, I'm now more worried about Teacher Salted Fish's personal safety… According to unreliable rumors, the leader of Team Rocket is still at large. So… who exactly is he?"
"Alright, snap out of it."
Rei Akagi's voice broke the silence in the voice channel.
He controlled Rei and walked over to the genuine leather sofa where Giovanni had been sitting moments earlier.
"Come here for a moment."
"Teacher Salted Fish…"
Red's voice carried a trace of hesitation.
"Is it really okay that he just appeared like that?"
Clearly, Giovanni's presence had shaken them far more than the game itself.
"Hmph. If something happens later, it'll just be someone's own fault."
Blue still spoke sharply, but concern was obvious beneath her words.
"It's fine. It's not a big deal."
Rei Akagi replied casually while controlling Rei to carefully search the seams of the sofa cushions.
"Come on over. There's something good here."
Red and Blue suppressed their doubts and moved their characters closer.
After rummaging around for a moment, Rei suddenly pulled something out from deep between the sofa's backrest and seat cushion.
It was a strangely designed telescope-like device.
"Rei, Red, and Blueobtained the Silph Scope!"
"The Silph Scope was placed in the Key Items pocket."
Silph Scope:
A cutting-edge device secretly developed by the Silph Company. It allows the user to observe energy spectrums and non-material entities that ordinary optical instruments cannot detect.
"Silph Scope? A Key Item?"
Red opened his bag, staring at the vaguely described item in confusion.
"What does this thing even do?"
"Idiot!"
Blue snapped automatically—then fell into thought herself.
"Lavender Town… Pokémon Tower… that ghost… ah!"
Suddenly she remembered something. Her voice shot up with a strong sense of dread.
"Wait! This thing isn't meant to—no way… it can't actually be related to ghosts, right? Right!?"
"As expected of Lady Blue. You figured it out immediately."
Rei Akagi's voice carried clear amusement.
"That's right. This is the key item that reveals the ghost in Pokémon Tower—and it's also the key to reaching the tower's top floor."
"Aaaaah—nooooo!"
Blue's continuous complaints echoed in the background.
The three of them passed through the hidden passage and safely returned to the still-bustling first floor of the Celadon City Game Corner.
The Cooltrainer researcher and the NPC version of Blue—who had been watching the entrance anxiously—immediately hurried over.
"Researcher: How did it go? You didn't run into any danger in there, did you? Are you hurt?"
Rei Akagi controlled Rei to transmit the captured evidence through the Pokédex's wireless transfer function.
The files included footage of Mewtwo, along with related experimental reports.
"Researcher: Live genetic experimentation? These people are insane!"
"Researcher: Thanks to you, we finally have solid evidence. The Pokémon League will soon wipe out this Team Rocket base."
"Researcher: Oh right—this is the reward I promised you. I happened to discover it deep inside Diglett's Cave. I hope it will be useful."
"Rei, Red, and Blueobtained the Old Amber!"
"The Old Amber was placed in the Key Items pocket."
"A rock?"
Blue stared at the yellow-brown piece of amber in the inventory. Inside it seemed to be the faint outline of a creature.
Her voice was filled with disappointment.
"We risked our lives and this is the reward? A stupid rock? That's so stingy!"
"Old Amber…?"
Red stared at it with furrowed brows, clearly trying to recall something.
Suddenly he slapped his palm.
"Ah! I remember now! That's Aerodactyl!"
"What!?"
Blue's voice instantly jumped an octave as her eyes lit up.
"This can become Aerodactyl!?"
Her shout immediately filled the livestream chat with question marks.
"Are you saying that stone is the Aerodactyl fossil from the Pewter Museum?"
"Red himself confirmed it! Sounds legit! But how does a rock turn into a Pokémon?"
"Didn't Teacher Salted Fish and Iono talk about fossil revival technology before? The lab on Cinnabar Island!"
"Old Amber that can revive Aerodactyl? That reward is insanely valuable!"
"Question: The researcher said he found it in Diglett's Cave. Can we dig one up in real life too? Asking for a friend!"
While the chat was still arguing.
The researcher and NPC Blue had already copied the evidence data and hurried out of the Game Corner.
They were likely heading to report to the Pokémon League.
Watching their figures disappear through the doorway, Rei Akagi cleared his throat.
"Alright. We've got the reward, and someone else will deal with Team Rocket's mess."
"It's time to head back to Pokémon Tower."
He controlled Rei to turn toward the neon-lit streets of Celadon City outside the Game Corner.
But then he suddenly changed the subject.
"But before that, let's pick up a badge on the way. The Gym Leader here in Celadon is Erika, the nature-loving princess."
Soon, the trio arrived at the Celadon Gym.
Unlike the surrounding skyscrapers, the gym itself was essentially a massive ecological garden.
Lush vegetation covered the outer walls. Vines curled around the structure, flowers bloomed everywhere, and even the entrance was designed as an ivy-covered archway.
The entire place radiated a strong natural atmosphere.
Inside, sunlight streamed down from a simulated sky.
Rare flowers and exotic plants competed for attention.
Even more eye-catching were the many young female Trainers in fresh, elegant dresses, playing and training with their Grass-type Pokémon among the flower beds.
Their laughter filled the garden with lively energy.
Rei Akagi originally planned to send Red into battle.
But for some reason, Blue suddenly snapped.
"This one's mine!"
With a sharp shout, she controlled Blueand charged fiercely into the "flower field."
"Hey! Wait! Blue! Leave a few for me!"
Red panicked immediately.
Since when were people fighting him for battles?
He quickly summoned his partners and rushed in as well.
Rei Akagi, meanwhile, enjoyed the rare moment of leisure.
While watching the two of them "cut through the flowers" across the garden battlefield, he leisurely walked along the colorful garden path toward the elegant Japanese-style pavilion in the center of the ecological park.
Inside the pavilion sat a woman in a simple kimono.
Her temperament was gentle and refined, like a painting.
She knelt gracefully while sipping tea, quietly watching the tea leaves drift inside the cup as if completely isolated from the surrounding noise.
"Erika: Good day. Today's sunlight is wonderfully gentle… it's so relaxing."
"Erika: Ah—my apologies. I lost myself in thought for a moment. Welcome, challenger."
"Erika: My name is Erika, the Gym Leader of Celadon Gym, and a practitioner of the art of flower arrangement… please be careful."
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