In many ways, Kanto was the true technological and financial center of the world.
Unlike the setting in the games, real-world Kanto was highly developed across civil, commercial, and academic sectors. As someone born in Unova, Klein could easily sense the region's strong foundation in humanities and sciences.
To resolve the academy's funding issue, Klein sought Agatha's authorization before considering potential investors.
The problem was… he didn't really have any connections. Running online advertisements wouldn't be very effective either…
Then, he suddenly remembered—he had Giovanni's contact information. Without hesitation, Klein opened his directory and reached out to the leader of Team Rocket.
"You want to secure investment from Silph Co.? What kind of investment are we talking about?"
Giovanni scrutinized the young Sandstorm Elite on the other end of the call. He found it hard to believe that this teenager was in charge of a major League initiative.
"Education."
"…Education?"
Giovanni looked even more skeptical. Klein remained silent for a moment before finally asking coldly, "Is that a problem?"
"Not at all. I'll introduce you, but whether it works out is up to you."
After finalizing the arrangement with Giovanni, Klein boarded a private jet to Saffron City, heading straight for Silph Co.'s headquarters.
Standing before the towering skyscraper, Klein took in the sight of the world's largest manufacturing company, a leader in countless technological fields, and an undeniable global powerhouse.
As a corporate giant, Silph Co. regularly sponsored various events. Shortly after Klein arrived, Giovanni also made his way over from Viridian City. Since the executives had limited time, they exchanged brief greetings before heading upstairs.
Silph Co.'s private reception room was an opulent lounge. A gilded tea tray held a pot of aromatic tea, with six cups neatly arranged on the table. As Klein took his seat, a middle-aged executive at the head of the table examined him with a polite but scrutinizing smile.
Despite the unfavorable rumors surrounding Klein, the executive found the boy surprisingly well-mannered in person.
"Have some tea."
As the executive gestured for him to drink, Klein took the first cup with proper etiquette, responding smoothly and confidently. The exchange was polished, his composure surprisingly mature for his age.
After the second cup, Klein presented the documents he had prepared. The executives skimmed through them, their expressions subtly shifting as they placed the papers back on the table, falling silent.
The middle-aged executive tapped his fingers against the desk thoughtfully. In this setting, Giovanni had no authority to speak and simply observed from the sidelines.
"A simple school… is that really worth our sponsorship?"
After a long pause, the executive finally spoke. Ordinarily, such matters wouldn't require their direct involvement, but given Giovanni's request, they had agreed to meet the young Elite. However, now that they understood the purpose, they found it hard to muster any interest.
"This academy will produce the best of the best from every region. If Silph Co. gets involved in its establishment, you may see significant returns in future regional tournaments."
The executives, seasoned veterans in the business world, immediately understood Klein's underlying message. But the middle-aged man shook his head.
"We never have a shortage of talent. As for our corporate image, we don't need children walking around in uniforms with our logo."
As expected, they refused.
Klein simply nodded, took another sip of tea, and glanced at the tea leaves in his cup with a faintly awkward expression. Setting the cup down, he took a deep breath, as if searching for a way to steer the conversation.
Both Giovanni and the Silph Co. executives watched him curiously, waiting to see how he would respond next.
"Many competitions and events these days require sponsorship. I've heard that the Kamiyama Foundation has been making waves recently—perhaps you could introduce me to them? They might be interested in investing."
The Kamiyama Foundation?
"That's a relatively new investment group, but their portfolio is… strange. They don't seem to care about profits."
Another board member, after thinking for a moment, advised Klein, "Their projects have always been unusual. Your academy wouldn't interest them—they only invest in collecting ancient relics."
Klein raised an eyebrow.
"They've spent years buying up ancient Pokémon fossils at high prices. Nearly 70% of all fossil Pokémon in circulation belong to them. Education? That's not their field. Besides, they're not exactly reputable businessmen."
Not that Giovanni was, either…
The tension in the room eased as the conversation shifted to lighthearted banter. Klein seemed to be making idle conversation, and the executives, perhaps intrigued by his relaxed demeanor, became more willing to chat.
Finally, the middle-aged executive joined in.
"70% might be an exaggeration—Giovanni's own operations control quite a few fossils. But aside from that, the foundation's origins are a mystery. A few years ago, they secretly funded the Hunter's Association in Sinnoh, handling various 'unofficial' tasks for the Sinnoh League."
The Sinnoh League?
Hearing about the Hunter's Association, Giovanni's gaze flickered. "So that's it… I didn't realize the Kamiyama Foundation was backing them."
From the moment the foundation was mentioned, Klein had been mentally noting every detail. To avoid drawing suspicion, he casually steered the conversation toward other industry gossip.
He had to admit—Silph Co.'s executives were incredibly well-informed. Many rumors he had only heard in passing were confirmed with astonishing accuracy.
After some small talk, Klein attempted to bring the discussion back to the academy, but the executives remained firm in their refusal. In the end, he had no choice but to take his leave.
Overall, Silph Co. had been very courteous in receiving him, but their rejection of the sponsorship request was clear. It wasn't arrogance—it was simply that they had the power to refuse.
As Klein stepped out of Silph Co. headquarters, Giovanni glanced at him and chuckled, giving him a pat on the shoulder.
"Personally, I find your proposal quite interesting. How about we continue this conversation over coffee?"
"Oh?"
Giovanni laughed and led Klein to a café in Saffron City. After they sat down, he finally revealed his intentions.
"My son is reaching school age. Your education model is exactly what I've been looking for."
There was a rare hint of excitement in Giovanni's expression. "League-run schools are complete garbage—especially in Kanto. Not a single private academy meets my standards. They teach useless nonsense and fail to provide any real skills."
"I'll sponsor the academy through my company. Additionally, I'll provide some of the teaching staff. In exchange, I want you to personally oversee my son's training."
Running a school with Team Rocket?
Klein found the situation a bit strange, but given Giovanni's enthusiasm, he didn't see any reason to refuse. After all, it was just a matter of making an exception for one talented student.
"Is your son currently traveling or at home?"
Giovanni cleared his throat awkwardly. "Ahem… He's competing in the Silver Conference in Johto. Once it's over, I'll send him to your school."
(End of Chapter)