"Let's just let this matter go, alright?"
Inside the car arranged by Matori, Johan wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.
Truth be told, chatting with Giovanni was no small feat.
Even with Giovanni's friendliness, knowing his identity as the leader of Team Rocket made it impossible to treat him like a regular Gym Leader.
"I wonder if Giovanni actually took my advice to heart…"
Johan wasn't sure if Giovanni was swayed.
After all, this was Team Rocket at its strongest—dominating two regions, infiltrating the Pokémon League deeply, and successfully creating Mewtwo.
Other groups like Team Magma, Team Aqua, Team Galactic, or Team Plasma sought the power of legendary Pokémon.
But Team Rocket?
They created one.
And they succeeded.
With such strength, did Giovanni even need Johan's advice?
"Never mind."
He resolved to leave Team Rocket's future to figures like Red and Lance. Maybe Silver's return might even change Giovanni.
"Come to think of it…"
In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Silver was abducted at age two by the Masked Man, who was actually Pryce. Alongside him, other children like Blue, Wally, Karen, and Will were also taken.
"But didn't Karen mention once that she and Lorelei were classmates?"
Johan recalled Lorelei's brief comment.
"So, the timelines are a mess, and I can't tell which part is from Adventures, the anime, or the games…"
But what if the Masked Man didn't exist in this world? Then who had abducted Silver?
"That's a question only finding Silver can answer."
For now, it was enough that there was no Pryce-like figure here.
The Masked Man's power was absurd, his Pokémon lineup terrifying—be it the Delibird, a Swinub that refused to evolve, or the legendary Ho-Oh he had captured.
Shrugging off these thoughts, Johan turned his attention to the small metallic case in his hand—a gift Giovanni had handed him before he left.
This was what Giovanni had promised when Gengar jokingly asked about "rewards" before the battle.
A piece of Metal Coat.
Useful for evolving Onix into Steelix or Scyther into Scizor.
While the Earthquake TM was a great prize, this Metal Coat was of greater immediate value to Johan. He could already imagine Tinkatuff's excitement upon seeing it.
This particular Metal Coat wasn't naturally occurring but artificially compressed, rich in high-grade steel-type minerals. It was rare and highly valuable, likely worth upwards of five million Pokédollars.
"This is the kind of benefit Team Rocket offers…"
No wonder so many people were devoted to them.
The car traveled steadily through Viridian Forest.
Matori had offered to arrange a helicopter, but Johan thought it too ostentatious and opted for a car ride instead.
Finally, they arrived at Pallet Town.
The small, peaceful village brimmed with Blueery, quiet roads, and sparkling rivers where Magikarp and Poliwag frolicked.
Stepping out of the car, Johan breathed in the fresh air, feeling a surge of energy.
By the roadside, a few children were having what could generously be called a Pokémon battle. Their high-pitched voices might have left one questioning how their Pokémon even understood them.
But Johan didn't underestimate them.
This was Pallet Town.
Who knew which of these kids might grow into a legendary "Super Pallet Trainer," a League Champion, or even the famed "Five-Minute Champion"?
What if he bumped into young Red? Should he teach him or prank him?
And if it were young Ash… Perhaps he'd prepare him for the harsh realities of the world before his inevitable misadventures.
Letting his Pokémon out of their balls—Gengar, Vulpix, Tinkatuff, and Dratini—Johan watched as, apart from Gengar, the others fit seamlessly into the playful atmosphere with the children's Pokémon.
"Could it be… I have potential to be a Pallet Town local too?"
With a chuckle, he turned his sights to Professor Oak's Laboratory, a prominent building with a windmill atop a hill.
As he climbed the path to the lab, Gengar's antics began as expected.
"Ka-kah!" it shouted, startling a flock of Pidgey into flight.
"You do realize some strong Pokémon live here, right?" Johan warned.
Gengar waved dismissively.
"How strong could they be?"
"Retired Champion's Pokémon," Johan quipped.
Gengar froze.
"Ka-kah?!"
It immediately fell in line, climbing the steps quietly.
Johan: "Disciplined."
Dratini, as always, tripped over itself trying to ascend the steps, but Johan was used to it. If the day came when Dratini's clumsiness vanished, it would likely signal some great cosmic imbalance.
His real concern lay with Tinkatuff, hammer in hand, eagerly scanning the surroundings for metal.
"Let's hope Professor Oak doesn't have too many steel-types lying around…"
When they reached the lab, Johan knocked on the door.
A familiar face opened it.
"Blue," Johan greeted with a smile. "It's been a while."
Blue froze for a moment.
"Long time no see… Johan, sir."
Since Johan had saved him during the Spear Pillar incident, Blue had researched him thoroughly and learned about his reputation as the "Cunning One."
Hence, even the proud Blue now regarded him with a healthy dose of wariness.
"I'm here on Professor Birch's request to meet Professor Oak," Johan explained.
"My grandfather is in the backyard observing Pokémon. Please follow me."
Blue led Johan past bustling researchers in the chaotic lab, through a side door, and into…
Johan's jaw dropped.
A vast expanse of plains, rolling hills, and shimmering lakes stretched out before him.
Johan: "???"
This was the "backyard"?
Blue scratched his head.
"There's no helping it. This place houses over three thousand Pokémon, not counting the wild ones or the ones my grandfather raises himself."
Three thousand?
Johan nodded mechanically. No wonder Blue was later dubbed the "Breeder," with unparalleled expertise in raising Pokémon.
Raising the Pokémon in this "backyard" alone was an impossible task for most.
"Grandfather is probably near the Kangaskhan. It's not far, so no need for the jeep."
Johan glanced at the row of jeeps parked nearby, his eye twitching.
A backyard that required jeeps. Wonderful.
Following Blue on foot, Johan soon saw a white-coated elderly man crouched on the ground, magnifying glass in hand, observing a feeding Kangaskhan.
"Looks like the little one's teething… No wonder it's weaning," Professor Oak muttered as he lifted the baby Kangaskhan from its mother's pouch.
But before he could examine further…
"Gaaaaroo!"
The Kangaskhan roared, snatched her baby back, and swatted Oak aside with her tail.
Oak soared through the air in a graceful arc before crashing into the grass.
Johan: "…."
Blue, unfazed, continued forward. Clearly, he'd seen this routine far too many times.
"Grandpa!" Blue called out. "Johan is here!"
Oak looked up, spotting Johan, and his eyes lit up.
"Ah, Johan! Birch mentioned you were coming. Thanks for going out of your way."
The two had met during the Mt. Coronet Pokémon Researcher Summit, so they weren't strangers.
"It's no trouble," Johan replied with a smile.
He turned to his shadow and called, "Gengar."
The shadow remained still.
Overhead, a few Murkrow cawed ominously.
"Kaaw—Kaaw—"
Oak and Blue: "?"
Sweat formed on Johan's brow.
Where had Gengar gone?
This backyard housed over three thousand Pokémon…
Suddenly, Gengar emerged from Oak's shadow, pulling a spooky face at the professor.
"Ka-kah!"
Johan exhaled in relief.
Thankfully—
But Oak's expression turned complicated.
In Gengar's confused gaze, the professor gently patted its head.
"Thank you, Gengar," Oak said softly.
"Ka-kah?"
Gengar tilted its head, utterly baffled.
Thank me? For what?
And why didn't my scare work?
Even Blue seemed puzzled by Oak's reaction.
But Johan had a faint understanding.
Oak's words weren't meant for Gengar… but for someone it reminded him of.
Gengar sidled up to Johan, pointing at its head.
"Ka-kah?"
Is this old guy okay in the head?
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Powerstones?
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