Damaris shook his head once again, "No, we need Champion-level strength to keep an eye on Mewtwo."
"What exactly do you plan to do then?" Mrs. Kiku asked, her patience wearing thin.
After a moment of contemplation, Damaris turned to Caitlin. "Miss Caitlin, could you ask Carl for his opinion once more? He's practically one of us now, isn't he?"
Professor Oak and the others exchanged surprised glances, not expecting Damaris to say such a thing. Caitlin, innocent and oblivious, didn't grasp the underlying meaning but understood she needed to find Carl.
"I'll go ask him right away," Caitlin said, and with a swift teleportation, she vanished.
In the blink of an eye, she appeared outside Carl's room. Ringing the doorbell, she softly inquired, "Sabrina, is Carl awake?"
The door opened slightly, revealing Sabrina's weary face. "He's still resting. Is there something you wish to discuss?"
"Still sleeping? Seems like he knows how to enjoy life," Caitlin remarked with a rare tone of admiration. For someone who cherished sleep herself, it was praiseworthy.
"Though it's impolite to disturb someone while they're resting, the situation is urgent," Caitlin explained. "The League is about to go to war with Team Rocket and wants to know if Carl has any suggestions. Could you pass the message on, Sabrina?"
"Just a moment." Sabrina didn't refuse. She knew that turning Caitlin away would only arouse suspicion.
As Sabrina pondered how to handle Caitlin's inquiry, she considered that since Carl was indifferent about the battle, saying he had no opinion wouldn't be a lie. But before she could respond, Caitlin added, "Chairman Damaris also wants Carl's take on the Safari Zone incident." She proceeded to explain the situation in detail.
Now Sabrina was in a dilemma. Without Carl present, there was no way to provide advice. But would saying she didn't know seem strange? After all, Carl was almost omniscient in everyone's eyes.
Just as she was stuck between a rock and a hard place, a voice suddenly came from behind, "This matter is actually quite simple."
"Have you been discussing it for so long without reaching a conclusion?" Carl pushed open the door to the conference room, naturally taking a seat next to Cynthia. Caitlin, following behind, frowned slightly.
Damaris got straight to the point, "Regarding Mewtwo and Team Rocket, we want your input. We have plans, but your insights could perfect them."
Carl, however, shifted the conversation. "I've seen the gift list, you all are very generous." Damaris understood immediately and handed over a space ring. This high-end equipment was worth a fortune, especially with its rare contents.
"Quite generous indeed." Carl toyed with the ring, satisfied with its space and items. The League's wealth was certainly not exaggerated.
After putting on the ring, Carl said calmly, "There's a saying, 'reciprocate with kindness.' You don't need to worry about the Safari Zone; it's safe."
"Why is that?" Lance asked directly.
"Because of Mewtwo," Carl explained. "You haven't battled with mythical creatures, so you don't understand their power, but Giovanni knows well."
"Even if Team Rocket deploys all their forces and advanced tech, they might still not capture Mewtwo. If you were in their shoes, knowing this, and also facing the League's resistance, what would you do?"
Without waiting for a response, he continued, "Of course, you'd mobilize all your power, even if it only slightly increased your odds of success. So, the Safari Zone is surely a diversion, otherwise, they would be abandoning Mewtwo, which is impossible."
The group nodded thoughtfully. They had indeed underestimated the power of mythical creatures. In their minds, a large enough number of trainers with the right equipment could prevail. But Carl knew Mewtwo was no ordinary creature.
"If you're still concerned, I have a proposal," Carl suggested. "Are Koga and Erika still detained?"
Damaris nodded in confirmation.
"Then have a Champion lead them to the Safari Zone. With Koga and Erika checking things out, you effectively have three Champions' worth of power. Team Rocket can't possibly concentrate such force there."
This proposal brightened the faces of everyone in the room. Koga had been relegated to logistics due to past experiences, and Erika was detained. But by sending them to the Safari Zone under supervision, they could harness significant power, making it unlikely Team Rocket would commit such resources there.
Carl stood up, "Now you have three options. Trust me, don't send anyone and focus on Team Rocket. For a safer bet, do as I suggested. If you don't trust me, do as you please."
At the door, he turned back, adding, "Since you've been very sincere, I'll remind you—ignore Team Rocket, and you'll win." With that, he left the conference room.
In the Pokémon Center's restaurant by the Vermilion City port, the League executives watched the Rocket-occupied docks, restraining themselves from acting, while Carl leisurely enjoyed a late-night snack by the window.
"You really followed my advice?" Carl swallowed a bite of grilled meat, surprised. Ten minutes earlier, he'd casually mentioned wanting to watch the spectacle, not expecting the League to comply.
Professor Oak chuckled, "The Safari Zone was indeed empty, just as you predicted." While they trusted Carl's judgment, they had sent Lorelei to confirm, just in case.
The latest reports showed the Safari Zone was normal, making them more curious about Carl's advice. Suddenly, Damaris produced a Pokémon egg, sliding it over. "This is our token of appreciation."
Carl touched the eggshell, and his system immediately displayed information: [Gible / Dragon + Ground Type / Sand Veil Ability]. His eyes lit up—the League was being quite generous.
Staring at the egg, the system details made him inwardly excited.
[Ability: Rough Skin (Pending Confirmation)]
[Potential: Champion Level]
[Affinity: Undetected]
[Skills: Outrage (Inherited Move)]
[Hatch Cycle: Approximately 30 days]
He remained outwardly calm, but inside, waves of excitement surged. Damaris had indeed been generous, gifting a pseudo-legendary Pokémon egg!
"If I said this was a pseudo-legendary Pokémon egg, would you believe me?" Damaris asked, stroking his beard with a half-smile.
With that, all eyes turned to Carl. A pseudo-legendary Pokémon egg meant the chance to forge bonds and train from a young age, making it far more valuable than a mature Pokémon.
Lance's breathing noticeably intensified. Of the nine known pseudo-legendaries, aside from Tyranitar and Metagross, all were Dragon types. He already had Dragonite, Salamence, and Hydreigon. Adding another Dragon-type pseudo-legendary...
"Of course, why wouldn't I believe?" Carl accepted the egg, gently caressing the shell, half-jokingly, "Even if you said it was a Gible egg, evolving into Garchomp, I'd gladly accept it."
"Trying to keep secrets from me? No chance!"
Damaris's expression froze—because it was indeed a Gible egg. Instinctively, he looked at Cynthia, who shook her head, signaling him. When he turned back to Carl, there was a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Seeing this, Carl feigned shock, "Could this really be a Gible egg? And from Cynthia?"
"You guessed it!" Damaris affirmed, "Were you just guessing?"
"Of course," Carl replied with a smile, "Even professional equipment can't determine the type of Pokémon egg, how could I possibly know by sight?"
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