Pokemon: With Title System

Chapter 27: My Rating? Still Not as Good as Gardevoir

In the end, Mew left.

For Mew, finding its companion was the most important thing. However, it promised Asahi that it would return to play with him in the future.

Before it left, Asahi reminded it to be wary of Team Rocket. Whether it listened, he couldn't say.

All he could do was wish Mew good luck.

"Gardevoir, let's go!" Asahi called out.

Just beyond this tunnel lay Cerulean City. After spending a night camping outdoors, Asahi couldn't wait to take a hot shower.

Gardevoir, clutching the Psychic Plate Asahi had just given her, happily followed at his heels.

---

Viridian City – Viridian Gym

Deep within the secret base beneath the gym…

Giovanni reclined in his chair, stroking Persian's head.

"So, the mission failed?"

Giovanni's tone was calm, as if he were discussing something unrelated to him.

But the Team Rocket operative standing before him, well aware of Giovanni's temperament, recognized this as a sign of brewing anger. He grew increasingly nervous.

"Yes, Boss Giovanni," the operative stammered.

"According to reports from Pewter City, the operation encountered 'Demon Ranger' Asahi, a B-rank observation target. He teamed up with Pewter City's Officer Jenny and Gym Leader Brock to foil the mission.

"Two entire squads were wiped out. All personnel are now detained in Pewter City's police station."

"From intel gathered by our informants in the station, it's estimated that Asahi's primary Pokémon, Gardevoir, has likely reached Elite Four-level strength."

The operative quickly reported everything he knew.

Giovanni remained silent.

Tap... tap...

Giovanni's fingers drummed against the armrest of his chair, each tap like a hammer striking the hearts of those present. Sweat beaded on the operative's forehead.

Just as the pressure became unbearable, Giovanni finally spoke:

"I see. You may leave."

Feeling as though he'd been granted a reprieve from death, the operative swiftly left the office, carefully closing the door behind him.

Giovanni picked up the file on Asahi from his desk and skimmed through it.

"Meow~"

Persian stretched lazily, brushing against Giovanni's leg.

Setting the file down, Giovanni stroked Persian's sleek fur before turning his gaze to the shadows.

"Madame Matori, your thoughts?"

From the darkness emerged Matori, Giovanni's secretary, holding a folder.

"I believe this was an intelligence failure," she said, adjusting her glasses.

"According to our reports, Asahi was last seen at the Silph Hotel in Viridian City. Yet, within a single day, he reached Pewter City, and our intelligence team completely lost track of his movements.

"If we'd detected his presence earlier, this mission might not have failed."

Matori placed the blame squarely on the intelligence department, believing they should be held accountable.

Giovanni, however, had a different perspective. "With an Elite Four-level Gardevoir, Asahi likely detected our trackers and deliberately shook them off."

A Gardevoir of that caliber could sense human emotions, making it nearly impossible to follow Asahi unnoticed.

"Should we take action against him?" Matori asked.

After all, Asahi's interference had caused significant losses. The specialized equipment designed to capture Mew was destroyed, and finding Mew again would take who knew how long.

Matori believed Asahi deserved to be taught a lesson.

Giovanni considered this for a moment before shaking his head.

"The events at Mt. Moon were likely a coincidence. Now that he's resigned as a ranger, he has no direct conflict with Team Rocket. Let's not create unnecessary enemies for ourselves."

He continued, "The Mewtwo Project is at a critical stage. We need to focus our resources on that, as well as guarding against the Kanto Alliance. We can't afford to waste manpower on irrelevant individuals."

"Understood!" Matori replied.

"Also, tell Lt. Surge to lay low for now. The incident at Vermilion Harbor caused enough trouble. I don't want to deal with another one."

The recent mishap at Vermilion Harbor had even given Giovanni a headache.

Because of Lt. Surge's smuggling operation being exposed, Giovanni had been forced to take drastic measures to eliminate an entire branch of International Police operatives in Kanto.

Although he'd managed to cover it up, it was only a matter of time before the Alliance uncovered the truth.

However…

"As long as Mewtwo is completed…"

Giovanni's eyes gleamed with ambition as he clenched his fist, seemingly determined to seize the entire world.

---

Asahi, meanwhile, remained blissfully unaware that Giovanni had deemed him a "non-threatening bystander."

Currently, he was still worried about Giovanni causing him trouble, so before entering Cerulean City, he changed his appearance.

Walking through Cerulean City, he noticed posters of the "Cerulean Sisters" everywhere. Vendors lined the streets, selling merchandise related to the trio, and the city buzzed with fan fervor.

"Looks like the Cerulean Sisters are really popular here."

No wonder the Alliance had turned a blind eye to their incompetence as Gym Leaders for years. Their popularity alone explained why they could retain their position.

Picking up a random flyer, Asahi found it featured a swimsuit photo of the sisters.

To be honest, he wasn't all that impressed.

"Meh. Still not as good as my Gardevoir."

After giving his verdict, Asahi was about to check into a hotel when a familiar figure flashed before his eyes.

"Hm?"

His gaze sharpened, and he quickly followed.

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