"Oh, are you the new Trainer this time?"
In Professor Oak's laboratory in Pallet Town, the esteemed professor compared Maki's Trainer ID to the boy standing before him, asking with a curious smile.
'Are all new Trainers this good-looking nowadays? Almost as dashing as I was in my youth,' Professor Oak mused privately.
"Yes, Professor Oak, sir! I'm a huge fan of yours. I've watched all your lectures on TV—they're fantastic! Your recent theory on 'The Influence of Pokémon Types on Move Effectiveness' was particularly enlightening. It's helped me a lot!"
The boy standing there was none other than Maki, recently banished by his father, Giovanni. Now forced into the role of a spy, Maki had done his homework on his new identity.
Maki's "parents" were elite Trainers in the Pokémon League who went missing during a mission a month ago. The League's investigation declared them presumed dead.
With such a backstory, Maki was now a bonafide protégé of the League!
Upon digging deeper into his new persona, Maki had to admit: it was flawless. Even he, as the person living the identity, found it hard to believe he was Giovanni's son.
It was clear that his father had meticulously planned this for a long time. But why had he never mentioned it to him?
The discussion with Professor Oak wasn't just idle chatter. Maki had genuinely read the professor's works.
Though he was a time-traveler with extensive knowledge of the Pokémon world, Maki understood that becoming a great Trainer required far more than familiarity with game mechanics.
During his time with Team Rocket, Giovanni hadn't given Maki or Silver their first Pokémon. But the knowledge? That was another story. Giovanni's collection of books was open for them to study, and Maki had combined that with memories from his past life. This made him an exceptional Pokémon breeder, even at his young age.
"Haha! Is that so? I had no idea I was so famous!"
Professor Oak rubbed his head, his cheeks reddening slightly. He was clearly flattered but also delighted that Maki wasn't just offering empty praise. He could tell the boy genuinely knew his work.
Professor Oak reviewed Maki's personal file and, upon noticing the loss of his parents, felt a pang of sympathy.
As their conversation deepened, Professor Oak began to see Maki as a prodigy. The boy's insights into Pokémon breeding even gave him new ideas.
"Each Pokémon's type is fixed," Oak explained with a smile. "For example, no matter how you train a Charizard, it will never become a Water-type. This unchangeable aspect defines them. That's why moves that align with their type are more powerful—they're more in sync with the Pokémon's nature.
"Take Charizard using Dragon Pulse versus Flamethrower. Without considering training or skill, Flamethrower will always deal more damage. That's the beauty of Pokémon!"
Maki nodded in agreement. It was similar to the "same-type attack bonus" (STAB) in the games, which increased move power by 50%. Reality would be different, but the principle remained.
"Well, let's go take a look at the Pokémon you'll be choosing from. If you're interested in the topics we discussed, you're welcome to stay a few days."
Professor Oak interrupted their chat to lead Maki to the Pokémon selection area. He had taken a liking to the boy and couldn't help but think, 'Why become a Trainer? He'd make an excellent researcher! Plus, he'd be a great companion for my grandson, Gary. It'd humble him a bit.'
Maki smiled, sensing he'd earned Oak's approval. But he didn't expect Oak to want him to stay permanently. If Maki had met the professor upon first arriving, he might've considered becoming a researcher. But fate had led him to Giovanni.
Maki: Rocket Spy Extraordinaire.
The Oak Lab was vast, with simulated environments for various Pokémon habitats—forests, deserts, marshlands—everything a Pokémon could need.
"How do you like it? My lab is pretty big, right?" Professor Oak chuckled. "Most of these Pokémon belong to Trainers from Pallet Town who left them in my care. Some are mine, too."
As they walked through the lab, Maki feigned astonishment at the sight of a massive Venusaur. "Wow! That Venusaur is enormous!"
The Venusaur stood at least 3 meters tall, towering over Maki. It gently used its vines to lift a mischievous Sandshrew out of the grass, lightly tapping its head like a parent scolding a child.
The Sandshrew rubbed its head, unfazed, and darted off, already planning its next escapade. 'This thing could give even a hyperactive Yamper a run for its money,' Maki thought.
"Yes, it's quite impressive, isn't it?" Oak beamed. "It's the alpha of this area. A Venusaur growing to that size isn't easy. Haha!"
Oak led Maki further, showing off Pokémon from various regions. "I even have some rare Pokémon from Kalos—sent by a friend of mine. You won't see them often in Kanto."
Maki couldn't help but be genuinely impressed. Even Team Rocket rarely handled Pokémon from other regions.
But Oak had a plan. He was trying to lure Maki into staying.
"Of course, by League rules, new Trainers can only choose from Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. These are carefully selected to be ideal partners for beginners."
Maki nodded. Getting to choose a Starter Pokémon was already a privilege that placed him among the top one percent of new Trainers.
In the room where the Starter Pokémon were kept, Oak retrieved three Poké Balls from a corner device. Pressing the buttons, he released the Pokémon onto the floor: a cheerful Bulbasaur, an eager Charmander, and a curious Squirtle.
Maki watched, masking his thoughts. 'No dramatic ball throws like in the anime, huh? Makes sense. As cool as that looks, picking them up afterward must be awkward.'
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