Chapter 1

The world belongs to humans, and human development is closely tied to the overall happiness of the world; Pokémon are, at most, just an embellishment.

Archie: "Heh!"

He couldn't be bothered to pay attention to a clown like Maxie.

Always claiming that Pokémon are useless, yet wanting to borrow the power of Pokémon to expand the land—if that isn't a clown, what is?

Archie simply disdained arguing with such a clown.

Wallace: "Do rats in the sewer dare to speak so much?!"

Toward Archie and Maxie, Wallace felt only hatred.

He was born in Sootopolis City, a city born from the great battle between Kyogre and Groudon.

Therefore, he knew better than anyone how terrifying Kyogre and Groudon were. For mere humans to actually harbor delusions of controlling Kyogre and Groudon was simply laughable. In Wallace's view, Archie and Maxie were playing with fire and would burn themselves; they would drag Hoenn into the abyss of hell.

Steven Stone said with disdain: "Hmph, forgive them; they only dare to speak up at times like this."

In a face-to-face conversation, where would Archie and Maxie find the guts? It was only now, taking advantage of the chat room, that they dared to jump out.

Archie: "Bullshit, is there anything in this world that I, Archie, dare not do?"

Maxie: "That's right, that's right, I am Maxie!"

He wasn't even afraid of Groudon; did a mere Champion think he could scare him?

Wallace: "Heh, I'm in Sootopolis City right now. If you two are really as tough as you brag, come to Sootopolis City and let's clash."

Steven Stone: "If you can't go to Sootopolis City, Dewford Town is fine too. I happen to be in Dewford Town."

Archie, Maxie: "..."

The challenge from Wallace and Steven Stone silenced the two of them.

Their underlings were also in the chat room. If they kept quiet, the underlings would watch them become a joke, but if they replied, how should they reply?

After all, they couldn't really go and have a fight with Wallace and Steven Stone.

The two of them still had basic self-awareness. Although their strength was decent, it couldn't compare to a Champion. If they really bit the bullet and provoked them, it was very likely they would spend the rest of their lives in prison.

In the end, Archie and Maxie decided that a wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him. Losing a bit of face wasn't a big deal; losing their lives would be bad.

Team Rocket headquarters base.

"Rewards."

Giovanni muttered to himself.

He, who had been depressed because of Mewtwo's defection, instantly perked up.

He didn't know if what the system said was true or false, but trying wouldn't cost anything.

If he could really "take back" Mewtwo through rewards, wouldn't that be an instant takeoff?

Giovanni's eyes became firm; he was already prepared for the viewing quiz.

At this moment, the system's voice resounded in everyone's minds again.

[Ding! Viewing content loaded!]

[Ding! About to start playing!]

[Countdown, three, two, one.]

[Viewing begins—]

The moment the countdown ended, images began to appear on the white screen.

Video starts—

[A sunny morning, green trees, flowers, and an ordinary country bungalow.]

[Rapid footsteps came from inside the house; a boy wearing short sleeves and shorts, full of vitality, was running downstairs.]

[There were clearly stairs in the house, but the boy insisted on not taking the usual path; he had to slide down the banister.]

Bruno: "Eh, isn't this Ash?"

Although the age was different, Bruno recognized that energetic look immediately.

Chairman Goodshow: "Ash? Is this the child who gives Professor Oak such a headache?"

Professor Oak: "..."

The person who appeared was actually Ash; Professor Oak suddenly felt something was wrong.

Gary Oak: "That shouldn't be. I am clearly more outstanding than Ash; if they were to choose a protagonist, they should have chosen me."

Five-year-old Ash didn't know anything, but he was different; he already understood everything when he was five.

This system really didn't know what was good; he was the one more suited to be the protagonist.

Misty: "Eh? Was Ash that cute when he was little?"

Brock: "A boy changes a lot as he grows up."

Pikachu: "Pika Pika Pika Pika Pika Pika Pika Pika."

Serena: "Ash!!!"

3: That poser Goh, get out of the chat room!

Fortunately, there were enough people speaking at the same time, so Serena's unusual reaction didn't attract anyone else's attention.

Of course, the others here definitely did not include Serena's mother, Grace.

Kalos, Vaniville Town.

Grace: "You know him?"

Serena didn't answer; she only had eyes for the boy in the video now and had no time to reply to her mother.

If she wanted to ask questions, she could ask later.

Grace: "..."

Having a man and forgetting her mother; girls really are hard to raise.

Back to the chat room.

Delia: "Isn't this when our Ash was five years old? Is this a video from five years ago?"

Delia's appearance also let everyone know the timeline of the video being played.

Steven Stone: "Do you think all of this could be the work of that boy named Ash?"

Professor Oak: "How is that possible!"

Professor Oak was the first to jump out and deny Steven Stone's guess.

He had only met Ash not long ago, and Ash's strength was barely enough to participate in the Indigo Plateau Conference. To pull everyone in the world into a chat group and create light screens all over the world—where would he have that kind of ability?

Archie: "Is our former Champion drunk? Is this something a ten-year-old kid can come up with?"

Let alone 10 years old, even if you added 20 years to Ash, he wouldn't have that ability; this is simply not something humans can do.

This is a miracle; only a true god can do this.

Maxie: "No wonder he went from the current Champion to the former; his judgment is truly lacking."

Steven Stone: "Don't blabber, one-on-one, let's have a one-on-one."

Archie, Maxie: "Heh."

They would just blabber, they wouldn't do a one-on-one; what could Steven Stone do to them?

If he had the ability, he could come through the internet cable and beat them up.

Steven Stone: "..."

Everyone in the chat room was chatting hotly, while the image on the other screen didn't stop and was still playing.

[Ash, having reached the first floor, rushed into the kitchen holding a poster; he planned to participate in the Pokémon camp hosted by Professor Oak.]

["They say it's a camp where you can observe wild Pokémon with Professor Oak." Five-year-old Ash's eyes were full of stars.]

[Delia was still very doting on Ash, and participating in a camp wasn't a bad thing, so she quickly agreed to Ash's request.]

[However, Delia had things to do on the morning of the camp, so Ash had to get up by himself.]

Misty: "Get up by himself? Isn't that too difficult for Ash?"

Ash now needed them to wake him up every day; to let five-year-old Ash get up by himself was really too difficult for him.

Brock: "I've probably guessed how the story will develop next."

Professor Oak: "I remember now, Ash seemed to be late for that camp."

Misty, Brock: "As expected."

[The day of the camp.]

["Professor Oak, aren't we leaving yet?" The one who spoke was a cute girl with braided hair; she was the daughter of Professor Cerise from Vermilion City.]

["That, there should be one more child coming." Professor Oak said with a headache.]