"You ghosts, your tactics are always so dirty!"
"You hit me, but you can't actually hurt me—nah nah nah~~. Hey everyone, am I doing a good impression?"
"My 40-foot broadsword almost couldn't stay put."
"Um... I'm a student from the Orange/Grape Academy in Paldea, and this tactic... I think I can use it!"
"To the person above, I suggest you act like a decent human!"
"I propose we get Professor Johan to teach at our Orange/Grape Academy! @Clavell_Principal."
"Professor Johan belongs to Hoenn!"
"..."
Since this was just a routine instructor assessment for the academy's top-eight round, the livestream was only popular within Hoenn.
However, as the battle progressed, interest skyrocketed—especially when the "Baton Pass" tactic took center stage. The hype grew exponentially, and many people had to watch the replay to see the full extent of the strategy.
When they finished watching, they couldn't help but head to the bathroom to wash their faces and rinse their eyes.
After all, dirt should be washed away.
But there was one consensus across the internet.
Although there were previously videos of Johan's tactical gameplay, like his "Substitute and Toxic" Skarmory strategy or Lapras's "Perish Song" strategy, those battles weren't enough to earn him the title of "Tactical Master"—not even close.
This battle, however, left everyone completely convinced of Johan's strategic brilliance.
In a random 12-to-3 Pokémon selection, with bad luck, his opponent had drawn a hand with type advantage, while Johan's choices were nearly all disadvantaged.
Olive-doll Dolliv was doubly weak to Fire, and Frosmoth was four times weak to Fire.
Yet, despite such a massive disadvantage, he achieved a four-fold type resistance reversal with perfect strategy and insight!
This was not the type of battle tactics that the average trainer possessed.
Just this one match earned Johan the title of "Tactical Master."
This title was officially cemented by one comment from Hoenn's veteran Elite Four member, Drake:
"This... is possible?"
Even though most Dragon-type specialists are not known for complex tactics, Drake's stature carried enough weight.
Following this, the Jennys made a collective statement.
They revealed part of the "Encirclement Strategy," crediting Johan for its design as a tactical foundation provided for their unit by him as an instructor.
The internet exploded with responses.
So, what was once a high but manageable level of popularity suddenly soared, driven by such high-profile endorsements.
People across Hoenn started to acknowledge that "Professor Johan is a true Tactical Master."
Of course, Johan himself, just finishing the battle, had no idea.
If he did, he would probably shout in exasperation:
"They're killing me with kindness!"
This was nothing short of putting him on an impossible pedestal!
"Professor Johan, so you're actually the true Master of Reverse Typing!"
As Johan returned to the stands, Flannery couldn't help but exclaim.
Since Carl specialized in Fire-types and Flannery did as well, she felt a particular attachment to this matchup.
Master of Reverse Typing?
They hadn't seen a true master yet.
Battling with full boosts was far from true "Reverse Typing."
True masters fought with raw resilience, tanking super-effective hits and turning the tables even when disadvantaged. That was real "Reverse Typing."
Meanwhile, Haunter and the others were still holding their cheerleading pom-poms as they ran up.
"Ka-kah~~"
"See? It's all because we cheered so hard!"
Haunter's face radiated a "Praise me" expression.
Vulpix and Tinkatink, meanwhile, appeared to be in deep thought.
"What's on your mind?" Johan asked, kneeling down and petting Vulpix.
"Oowu!!"
Vulpix suddenly let out an excited bark as if it had just come to a realization.
I get it!
Grabbing Johan's hand, it barked again.
"Oowu~ Oowu!"
So the safest way to battle is... to knock out the opponent immediately!
That way, there's nothing to worry about, right?
It had reached this "enlightenment" from watching Frosmoth's sweep—being an Ice-type itself, it felt an affinity with the strategy.
Johan: "..."
He had thought Vulpix was disappointed about missing this round of battles.
Now he realized he had completely misread the situation.
"And you?" Johan asked, looking at the pondering Tinkatink beside him.
Tinkatink raised its head and scratched the back of its neck.
"Chu?"
That big moth... isn't a bird, right?
You literally called it a moth—how could it be a bird?
Johan sighed, watching the strange thoughts swirl around his Pokémon.
"Congratulations, Professor."
Steven and Roxanne, finally recovered from the shock of the battle, greeted him with congratulations.
"Are you thinking about tactics?" Roxanne opened her notebook, prepared to take notes, while Steven asked:
"Professor Johan, if we were up against your 'Baton Pass' strategy, how should we respond? Would 'Red Card' work?"
[Red Card: Forces the attacker to switch out upon hitting the user.]
"No."
Johan shook his head without hesitation.
Huh?
"Drifloon never attacks from start to finish."
Minimize, Calm Mind, Baton Pass, and Strength Sap weren't offensive moves.
"So what about when it's Frosmoth's turn?" Steven pressed on.
Johan smiled.
"Frosmoth has Substitute, right?"
With Substitute, Red Card could never activate against it.
Besides, who would think to equip their Pokémon with a Red Card without advance knowledge of a Baton Pass strategy?
"Then how could we counter it?" Roxanne asked eagerly.
"Carl did the right thing. The key is to disrupt the chain by taking out Dolliv or Drifloon as early as possible," Johan said.
Easier said than done.
A well-trained Baton Pass user was incredibly difficult to eliminate.
"Alternatively, you could use Taunt."
But then, Taunt could be blocked by moves like Protect, making it unreliable against Baton Pass.
In truth, there were ways to counter Baton Pass, though the details could fill an entire lecture.
Take, for example, the "Parting Shot" move from a certain big-headed tiger.
[Parting Shot: Reduces the target's Attack and Special Attack, then switches the user out with a teammate.]
Or dealing with Drifloon's Minimize by using weight-based moves for a clean KO.
But just like with Red Card, countermeasures could feel overly specific and situational.
In a world where move slots were unrestricted, many tactics had a wide variety of counters but also an array of ways to prevent them.
He clapped his hands.
"Come on, let's go get some food."
In a large, dimly lit office, a single lamp illuminated the desk, casting a soft glow over its surface.
A faint rustling of pen strokes broke the silence.
"Boss!"
Holding a tablet, Matori entered quickly, suddenly realizing she was still wearing her apron. Hastily, she removed it.
When she looked up, she met Giovanni's gaze.
"Forgive me, sir!" Matori quickly stood at attention and raised her voice.
Giovanni's calm expression softened as he put his pen down.
Matori wasn't necessarily the best secretary, but she was one of the few "excuses" he had to unwind during a busy day.
"What is it?" Giovanni asked.
Relieved by the lack of anger in Giovanni's voice, Matori approached and handed over the tablet, explaining as she did:
"It's Professor Johan."
"Oh?"
Giovanni took the tablet, his interest piqued. He pressed play on a video.
After watching, he petted his Persian, whose jeweled collar glistened in the lamplight.
"An impressive strategy," he remarked.
Matori felt a chill.
To receive such praise from Giovanni indicated just how high Johan's tactical level was.
No wonder Giovanni held Professor Johan in such regard.
She was well aware of how much Giovanni valued talent.
"Boss, there's also this report." Matori quickly handed over another document.
"Jenny unit, Encirclement Tactics?"
After a quick glance, Giovanni chuckled.
Matori bit her lip, nervously voicing her concern: "Boss, will this affect us...?"
Giovanni's eyes glinted as he looked over the report.
Of course, there would be an effect. A significant one.
But, truthfully, Rocket's current scope and ambitions couldn't be contained by a few Jennys from Kanto and Johto.
Besides, it would take time for the Encirclement Tactic to spread and be used widely.
There was a limited supply of Pokémon like Arcanine with the hidden ability Justified.
Setting the report aside, Giovanni rested his chin on his hands.
Matori seemed slightly uneasy.
Truthfully, she respected Professor Johan.
After a moment of contemplation, Giovanni's smile returned.
"Alright then. Send him a million Pokédollars, as payment for Nidoking's care and congratulations for advancing in the tournament."
"But sir, I thought you were going to..." Matori paused, blinking.
"A million...?"
She had just been preparing to vouch for Johan, but now she was frozen.
"Remember what I've told you before, Matori."
Giovanni polished the onyx ring on his finger, spreading his palm open slowly.
"The bigger picture, Matori. The bigger picture."
"The... bigger picture?" Matori murmured, lowering her gaze.
Giovanni's smile grew.
"If the
League can offer him something, I can match it. And if the League can't offer something, I still can. A clever man will know how to choose."
"But sir, isn't he actually helping the League with this tactic...?" Matori whispered, conflicted.
"He's shown his value—that's enough. If the League can make use of it, why shouldn't we?"
She nodded slowly.
"However, doesn't Professor Johan still have no idea who we really are?"
Giovanni stood, his gaze shifting to the office's floor-to-ceiling windows.
"Matori, do you know why it's always the just who triumph in the end?"
The just?
The League?
What did he mean?
Giovanni answered, his voice clear and resolute:
"Because only the victor is entitled to define 'justice'!"
Matori stood, struck with awe, staring at Giovanni in admiration.
This was the Giovanni she knew...
"Has Mewtwo calmed down yet?" Giovanni asked suddenly.
She snapped back, quickly replying,
"Yes, sir. Mewtwo's stability has recently improved. Miss Sabrina has been invaluable in assisting."
Though she took quite a few hits for it...
Giovanni smirked.
"Tell it, if it assists with this, I'll arrange for it to meet with '[Grain in the Field].'"
"Yes, sir!"
In Matori's mind, a tiny "inner Matori" blinked in confusion.
So... when did Professor Johan become Rocket's "incentive" for Mewtwo?
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates