Saffron City, inside the Pokémon Center.
Grey handed his two Poké Balls to Nurse Joy, then dropped onto the sofa and went to buy juice for the second time.
"Here—drink."
He tossed a bottle to Gary and started scrolling his phone.
[Lorelei (Ice): Attention, Gym Leaders—Team Rocket executive Petrel was rescued by an unknown individual. If you spot any trace of Petrel, report to the League first.]
[Unova Retired Colonel: F**k, that's a thing now?]
[Celadon Bellossom: Eh?!]
[Cerulean Mermaid: Huh??]
[Poison Elite Four Trainee: Petrel from Team Rocket… the news says he's a Poison-type specialist, right?]
[Pewter Onix: Seems so, but he also uses Electrode and Golem, yeah?]
[Dojo Annihilape: He's not just about poison—he's also a demolition guy. Real threat. We could bump the bounty a bit.]
[Dojo Annihilape: Also I suggest extra rewards beyond cash for whoever nabs Petrel—something practical. Money's just external, y'know.]
[Lorelei (Ice): What does Gym Leader Grey think?]
[Dojo Annihilape: Just an example—if I caught Petrel, you could grant the Fighting Dojo a bit more land or something.]
[Giovanni of the Earth: …Heh. So Gym Leader Grey thinks the dojo's plot is a little small?]
[Dojo Annihilape: Compared to everyone's Gyms, the Fighting Dojo is kinda pitifully small, yeah.]
[Unova Retired Colonel: …]
[Giovanni of the Earth: …]
[…]
The group chat filled with ellipses—no one expected Grey to be that blunt.
"This kid really has no guile, huh…"
Inside the Viridian Gym, Giovanni stared at his screen for a long time before murmuring that.
He skimmed previous messages. Unlike those who beat around the bush, Grey spoke straight.
It fit the stereotype of Fighting-type trainers—like Bruno of the Elite Four: direct, even a bit simple.
For Giovanni, a "reckless" straight-shooter like this doesn't bite on empty promises.
Not long ago, after Petrel had been retrieved, Petrel explained everything from start to finish.
He really had painted a pretty picture for Grey—and delivered nothing.
No wonder Grey didn't bite.
"Hah…"
Giovanni took the tall glass the attendant brought. Purple-red liquid reflected his hard-lined face.
He swirled it, sipped, then poured the wine into the trash. "Matori."
"Boss, I'm here."
Matori approached, adjusted her glasses, and bowed slightly. "Your orders."
"Two things."
Giovanni turned his back and looked into the distance. "First, investigate the Fighting Dojo thoroughly, and profile Grey completely. Avoid making him an enemy if possible. Second…"
His breathing deepened. He took a pocket watch from his jacket.
He flipped it open. In the center, a time-worn photo of a red-haired child beamed with a bright smile.
Giovanni stood silent. When he spoke again, his voice had softened. "Second, increase the search for Silver, but keep it off the League's radar."
"Boss…"
Having followed Giovanni for so long, Matori knew the truth of his situation. Hand at her glasses, she set her arm to her thigh and nodded hard. "We'll find the young master."
"Mm."
—
Inside the Fighting Dojo, lights burned bright.
But at this hour, they weren't taking challengers.
"Coo!" (Human, when are you taking me to get my revenge?)
Articuno stood on the floor, preening its elegant feathers with its beak. It turned its head toward Grey and called, puzzled.
When he captured it, Grey had talked a good game, promising vengeance.
Yet they hadn't even seen Rocket grunts today. It was getting suspicious.
Don't tell it he scammed a legendary bird.
"Hey, there's a saying: rush the tofu and you'll burn your tongue."
Grey waved a hand, eyeing this currently underpowered Articuno up and down. "Iron sharpens iron. You're a legendary Pokémon, sure—but if you can't even handle Blaziken, how are we talking revenge?"
"Coo!" (That's another matter! And you can't just keep dangling promises—we birds starve on that!)
Articuno refused Grey's "vision board," squawking to go bash Team Rocket now.
Even edgier than Annihilape.
When had a noble Articuno ever been treated like this?!
"Poliii." (Big bird, big talk for such a fussy beak.)
Poliwag waddled over, tail swishing at Articuno with a few flicks, mouth full of disdain.
Articuno: ?!
It had only ever heard jokes like "even Incineroar gets pushed around by Arcanine at the gate." Since when did Poliwag look down on it in a dojo?!
"Coo!" (I am—)
"Poliii." (—the Articuno who got chased around by Team Rocket and hid out on the Seafoam Islands to scrape by, right?)
Articuno tried to lean on its credentials—but Poliwag's words stuck in its throat.
It was true. It couldn't refute it.
Damn it!
The legendary bird ground its beak. A mere tadpole talking down to it…
"Coo." (Forget it. A great bird doesn't keep score with a little tadpole. You should go find your mom.)
Articuno turned its head aside. Ice crystals shook from its wings, glittering.
"Poliii." (I don't have a mom.)
Poliwag remembered those lonely days on the Seafoam Islands and pursed its mouth.
Articuno: "…"
"All right, you two—enough bickering."
Grey stepped between the pair and raised a hand.
"Rio." (Right—everyone be friendly. No fighting.)
Riolu mimicked Grey's gesture earnestly. Its black ears bobbed, and the Soothe Bell at its neck chimed.
Jingle, jingle—
The sound washed over them; Articuno and Poliwag both calmed.
"Coo." (Nice little bell.)
Articuno unwound, picked a corner for a nest, leaned against the wall, and closed its eyes.
Poliwag trotted off to Annihilape, practicing forms one move at a time.
Riolu glanced at the little Riolu nearby and found it sipping Moomoo Milk.
"Riolu?" (Want some?)
The small Riolu, halfway through the bottle, winced but offered it over.
"Rio." (I'll pass.)
Catching the pained look, Riolu waved it off.
Blaziken and Breloom joined the top trio for drills. Everything felt on the rise.
Grey stood by the window, cradling a Farfetch'd egg, gazing into the distance.
"Grey."
Sabrina walked up, looking the same way. "While you were at the Pokémon Center, someone was lingering outside."
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