The Genius Scientist Who Crosses Over Twice

Chapter 13: Giovanni: "You've Been Optimized"



"Victor, I've found out that that guy, Anders, plans to escape from Johto to Kanto via Route 45."

Two days later, Giovanni glanced at the message he received on his phone and turned to Victor.

"Well, well—it's no surprise that the strongest Gym Leader in Kanto has his ears to the ground."

Victor was busy operating the sewing machine and gave a thumbs-up.

Don't get it wrong; he wasn't in trouble with the League for selecting a partner; he was just trying to avoid exposure like Spider-Man by making a "battle suit."

"Hehe, this should have been reported to the League, but if I did that, I'd lose a rare experimental subject, wouldn't I?"

Giovanni said with a sinister smile.

After all, if Anders were caught by the League, the only outcome would be him being thrown into League prison.

In that case, the valuable little test subject would be lost.

It was better to bring him here for recycling.

However, Giovanni often forgot that beneath his façade as a "righteous" League Leader, he had spent too much time with Victor.

The expression he just showed was not something kind-hearted Gym Trainers should display.

"Of course."

Victor stood up with the garment he completed under the sewing machine.

It was a black trench coat-style outfit.

Next to it was a freshly carved black-patterned white mask.

Black coat, white mask, red gloves.

After Victor donned this outfit, if any of his past acquaintances were to see him...

They would undoubtedly shout, "Isn't that the outfit of the protagonist in 'Persona 5'?"

That's right, it was the costume of the leader of the Phantom Thief gang.

"Alright, with this, nobody will recognize me."

Victor checked himself in the mirror, thoroughly satisfied with his new look.

"Hey, Victor, just in case, take this."

As the sound of wind picked up, Victor reflexively reached out as he prepared to step outside.

Looking down at what he caught, he smiled, "Looks like the old man doesn't trust my abilities."

"Route 45 is very close to Ecruteak City."

Giovanni reminded him with a smile.

Victor froze for a moment and glanced at the Johto map on the wall, then shrugged with self-mockery.

"Thinking ahead, huh? Old ginger is spicier. Well then... thanks, old man."

Victor and Umbreon quickly vanished under the bright moonlight.

After Giovanni sat down, he glanced again at the emails on his phone.

The sender was his most trusted subordinate—Apollo.

[BOSS, Anders wishes for us to shelter him in Kanto after he arrives.]

That's right; Giovanni's source of information was not from his position as a League Leader.

It was from his role as the leader of Team Rocket.

Anders had been in business with Team Rocket from the beginning.

After capturing Pokémon from novice Trainers, some were sold directly on the black market, while others were sold to Team Rocket.

Now that he couldn't survive in Johto any longer, he wanted to seek refuge with Team Rocket in Kanto.

"You've aged, Anders... You've lost your value."

Giovanni sneered, "You're 35 this year, right? Time to be optimized."

With no real use anymore, he might as well be used as nutrient for Team Rocket's new blood.

...

Route 45.

"Ha... Ha... Ha..."

Accompanied by heavy gasping sounds, a figure was running down this road located south of Ecruteak City.

"Damn it... Can't get through on the phone... Where's the helicopter?"

Anders collapsed in the shade of a tree, sitting on the grass while cursing into his phone.

The screen showed a message from Team Rocket.

According to the message, they told him to wait at Route 45; a helicopter would come to pick him up.

However, Anders had waited for several days with no sign of the helicopter.

And to make matters worse, he couldn't get through to Team Rocket's phone.

Damn it, wouldn't these guys go back on their word?

"Motherf***ers, if I'm not doing well, you guys won't be doing well either!"

Anders cursed angrily.

If he were really caught by the League, he promised he would expose all those dealings he had with Team Rocket.

If Giovanni knew Anders' thoughts, he would certainly think this old man was overreacting.

Team Rocket was guilty of many crimes.

Just how much of a stir could his little deals cause?

"Are you Mr. Anders?"

A childish voice suddenly came from ahead, capturing Anders' attention.

Looking up, he saw a kid no older than ten, fully clad in a black trench coat with a half-masked face, walking slowly toward him.

"Is Team Rocket out of people? They send a brat like you to pick me up?"

Feeling irritable, Anders stood up and slapped his thigh.

"Where's the helicopter?"

"Huh?"

Victor was momentarily taken aback but didn't bother to waste breath on explanations and cheerfully said, "I don't know what you're talking about, but it's best to avoid helicopters. They crash easily."

"What?"

Now it was Anders' turn to be stunned.

Before he could recover from his surprise, the masked boy pointed, and the Poké Ball at his waist opened.

Before the white light could dissipate, a shadowy figure charged at him at high speed.

He could vaguely see sharp claws aimed straight for his throat. "M—"

Anders gasped involuntarily, cursing reflexively.

Before letting out the last sounds, the Pokémon bound to his belt sensed its master in danger.

It jumped out of the ball, using Metal Claw to block Umbreon's surprise attack.

Both were locked in a stalemate.

In the end, Umbreon had the upper hand, suppressing Anders' Pokémon and following up with Iron Tail to send it flying.

However, the Steel-type move seemed ineffective.

The Pokémon, while being sent flying, quickly dug its claws into the ground, leaving two parallel skid marks on the grass before coming to a halt with no harm done.

At that moment, Victor could finally see the true appearance of that Pokémon—

A Excadrill from Unova!

"But it doesn't seem to be in good condition. You've been running around for a few days without much rest, have you?"

Victor said with a smile.

This Excadrill should be Anders' main Pokémon.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have managed to step in so promptly to help its master dodge a fatal blow.

But soon Victor noticed its condition was poor.

It was likely due to the constant running and lack of food and sleep while hiding with its master.

"In this state, you think you can win against my Umbreon?"

Victor smiled faintly.

It seemed catching this little test subject would be easier than expected. 

"Damn Team Rocket! You want to get rid of me, huh!?"

Anders was fuming, feeling like he could transform into a Super Saiyan in rage if he were from Vegeta's planet.

At that moment, he had utterly convinced himself Victor was sent by Team Rocket to kill him.

Surely, Team Rocket feared he would expose their trading relations, so they sent this kid to "optimize" him.

Victor blinked his eyes beneath the mask.

Emmm... whatever you say, it's fine by me.

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