Despite his reservations, Caleb couldn't help but ask, "When he has an episode... does he try to stab people?"
Ariana's eyes darted away, and she coughed lightly.
Caleb: "...."
'Fine. No need to answer. I get it now...' Caleb inwardly cursed in frustration, 'Damn it!'
He couldn't believe it, "This is how you treat new Team Rocket recruits? Sending them home with a psycho who might suddenly snap and murder them?"
Ariana answered honestly, "I didn't expect you to defect so cleanly. If you had refused, I was planning to send you over anyway. Whether he stabbed you or not would've been a win for us either way..."
If he died? Good riddance to a League spy. If he lived? It would keep the doctor calm.
A win-win. No one would refuse that...
Caleb inwardly complemented, '...Impressive. Team Rocket executives really are something else.'
"Can I still refuse now?" He asked.
Ariana shook her head mercilessly, "Too late. He's already locked onto you. If he goes home and doesn't see you, his alter ego might just go on a rampage."
Caleb: "..."
Too exhausted to argue, Caleb numbly took Mimikyu out for training...
....
With the annual Dragon-Type Pokémon Festival approaching, traveling trainers had begun flooding into Celadon City...
For these wild trainers, getting pulled into an impromptu battle at any moment was just part of the journey. So they always kept their strongest Pokémon on hand, ready for a fight.
Every few steps, Caleb saw two complete strangers pairing off and disappearing into the park or empty lots to duke it out in a makeshift battlefield.
After watching for a while, he decided to try his luck.
His goal was clear... he was still a rookie. There was no way could he take on seasoned trainers yet. So he'd start with the easiest targets... ten-year-old kids...
"Hey there, you look like a really strong trainer! Wanna have a thrilling Pokémon battle with me?" Caleb flashed his most innocent smile at a boy in blue shorts.
The rookie trainer had never been approached like this before. Flattered, his face turned red, and without hesitation, he whipped out his starter Pokémon and led Caleb to a nearby clearing...
Six minutes later, the boy was sprinting toward the Pokémon Center while cradling his unconscious Squirtle and sobbing.
The Team Rocket grunt assigned to tail Caleb watched in stunned silence... 'What kind of monster picks on little kids?! Even Team Rocket has standards!'
Caleb didn't care. He reviewed the battle, let Mimikyu rest, then went right back to hunting his next victim.
By afternoon, a new nickname was spreading through Celadon City...
The Child Slayer...
Ten-year-old trainers trembled at the name, whispering about a 'devil' who lured them into battles with sweet talk, only to crush them mercilessly.
Rumors claimed Nurse Joy had treated over fifty crying trainers in a single morning, nearly working her hands to the bone...
When Caleb took Mimikyu to the Pokémon Center for a checkup and overheard this, he nearly choked.
'That's way too exaggerated!'
How was this his fault? If anything, those kids were just too weak.
Just as he turned to leave, the door swung open, and in walked the same boy he'd just defeated, now cradling a fainted Pidgey.
Their eyes met. The boy's lip quivered as fresh tears welled up, 'It's him! The devil!'
Caleb: "...."
Before misunderstandings could pile higher, he bolted...
....
Back at Ariana's office, right on schedule, the Team Rocket executive greeted him with a smirk.
"Nice work today, Child Slayer~..." she mocked.
Caleb deadpanned, "A total fabrication. My lawyer will be in touch."
Ariana burst out laughing, only stopping under Caleb's deadpan stare. She cleared her throat, "Dr. Fuji will be off work soon. Let's go over some ground rules."
Caleb nodded, as he listened carefully.
Ariana held up a finger, "First, keep your Pokémon out of its ball at all times. Second, don't ask unnecessary questions. Third, do exactly what Dr. Fuji tells you. His delusions are severe... never tell him his daughter isn't real, or that she's a hallucination..."
"...Despite being just a scientist, his estate is guarded by powerful Pokémon. That Mimikyu of yours wouldn't stand a chance."
"Got it." Caleb's expression turned serious.
If this world were a game, Team Rocket was his starter zone. As for Dr. Fuji's manor? It was a nightmare-difficulty dungeon.
But it was too late to back out now.
Seeing his tension, Ariana offered some reassurance, "Relax. Outside of his alter ego, Dr. Fuji is a kind and gentle man. You'll be safe with him."
Caleb: '...That makes it even scarier.'
What if he was chatting peacefully with the doc's normal self when, bam!, the psycho alter ego popped out and slit his throat?
The thought alone was terrifying.
Glancing at Mimikyu (now Level 18 after a morning of grinding) Caleb felt slightly better...
...
As they spoke, Dr. Fuji arrived...
Out of his lab coat, he wore a brown tweed overcoat and round gold-rimmed glasses, every inch the refined scholar.
On the surface, no one would guess the severity of his mental illness.
"Go on," Ariana whispered, "Hope I see you again."
Caleb: "...."
"Hello," Dr. Fuji said warmly, as he extended a hand.
Caleb shook it.
The doctor beamed like a proud father, "My daughter is adorable. You'll love her!"
"I'm sure I will," Caleb replied smoothly.
He followed Dr. Fuji out of the base and into his car, leaving the Rainbow Game Corner behind.
Glancing at Mimikyu through the rearview mirror, the doctor remarked casually, "Mimikyu... That's an Alolan Pokémon, isn't it? Are you from there?"
Without missing a beat, Caleb lied, "Yep."
"Ah, I hear Alola has beautiful beaches and oceans. I'll have to take my daughter there someday," Dr. Fuji mused wistfully.
Caleb probed carefully, "She likes the ocean? What's her name? Maybe we'll have things in common."
Dr. Fuji nodded and replied, "Her name is Amber. I took her to Vermilion City once, but the port is too industrialized now, it's nothing but cargo ships and docks. Not pretty at all..."