Chapter 2

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

Archie: "Heh!"

He can't be bothered to pay attention to this clown, Maxie.

He keeps saying Pokémon are useless, yet he wants to borrow the power of Pokémon to expand the land. If this isn't a clown, what is?

Archie doesn't even bother arguing with such a clown.

Wallace: "Even the rats in the sewers dare to speak up?!"

Toward Archie and Maxie, Wallace feels only hatred.

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

Therefore, he knows better than anyone how terrifying Kyogre and Groudon are. For mere humans to delusionally attempt to control Kyogre and Groudon is simply laughable. In Wallace's view, Archie and Maxie are playing with fire and will burn themselves; they will drag Hoenn into the abyss of hell.

Steven says disdainfully: "Hmph, forgive them. They only dare to speak up at times like this."

In a face-to-face conversation, Maxie and Archie wouldn't have the guts. It's only now, relying on the chat room, that they dare 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 isn't even afraid of Groudon; does a mere Champion think he can scare him?

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

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

Archie, Maxie: "..."

The challenges from Wallace and Steven leave the two of them silent.

Their underlings are also in the chat room; not replying makes them look like a joke to their underlings, but if they do reply, how should they reply?

After all, they can't actually go and have a fight with Wallace and Steven.

The two of them still have basic self-awareness. Although their strength is decent, they cannot compare to Champions. If they really went to provoke them, they would likely spend the rest of their lives in prison.

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

Team Rocket headquarters base.

"Rewards."

Giovanni mutters to himself.

Having been depressed due to Mewtwo's defection, he instantly perks up.

He doesn't know if what the system says is true or false, but trying doesn't cost anything.

If he could really "snatch" Mewtwo back through the rewards, wouldn't he just take off?

Giovanni's eyes become firm; he is ready for the viewing quiz.

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

【Ding! Viewing content loaded!】

【Ding! About to start playing!】

【Countdown: three, two, one.】

【Viewing begins—】

The moment the countdown ends, images begin to appear on the white screen.

Video starts—

【A sunny morning, green trees, flowers, and an ordinary countryside house.】

【Rapid footsteps come from inside the house; a boy wearing short sleeves and shorts, full of vitality, is running downstairs.】

【There are clearly stairs in the house, but the boy refuses to take the normal path; he insists on sliding down the banister.】

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

Although the age is different, Bruno recognizes that energetic appearance immediately.

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

Professor Oak: "..."

The person appearing is actually Ash; Professor Oak feels a sense of foreboding.

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

Ash didn't know anything at 5 years old; he was different. He already understood everything at 5.

This system really doesn't know what's good; he is the one more suited to be the protagonist.

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

Brock: "Boys change a lot as they grow up."

Pikachu: "Pika Pika."

Serena: "Ash!!!"

3: Get the poser Goh out of the chat room!

Fortunately, because so many people spoke at the same time, Serena's unusual reaction didn't attract anyone else's attention.

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

Kalos, Vaniville Town.

Grace: "You know him?"

Serena doesn't answer; her eyes are only on the boy in the video, and she has no time to reply to her mother.

If she wants to ask questions, she can wait.

Grace: "..."

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

Back to the chat room.

Delia: "Isn't this our Ash when he was 5? Is this a video from five years ago?"

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

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

Professor Oak: "How is that possible!"

Professor Oak is the first to jump out and deny Steven's speculation.

He met Ash not long ago; Ash's strength is barely enough to qualify for the Indigo League. 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: "Has our former Champion been drinking too much? Is this something a ten-year-old kid could pull off?"

Let alone 10 years old, even if you added 20 more 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 could achieve this.

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

Steven: "Stop yapping, let's have a one-on-one, come on."

Archie, Maxie: "Heh."

They will just keep yapping and won't have a one-on-one. What can Steven do to them?

If he has the ability, he can come through the internet and beat them up.

Steven: "..."

The people in the chat room are chatting heatedly, while the image on the other screen doesn't stop and continues to play.

【Ash, having reached the first floor, rushes into the kitchen holding a poster; he plans to participate in the Pokémon camp hosted by Professor Oak.】

【"It's said to be a camp where we can observe wild Pokémon with Professor Oak." Ash's eyes at 5 years old are full of stars.】

【Delia is still very doting on Ash, and participating in a camp isn't a bad thing, so she quickly agrees to Ash's request.】

【However, Delia has things to do on the morning of the camp, so Ash must wake up by himself.】

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

The current Ash needs them to wake him up every day. Asking a 5-year-old Ash to wake up by himself is really too difficult for him.

Brock: "I can probably guess the development of the story."

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 speaker is a cute girl with braided hair; she is the daughter of Professor Cerise from Vermilion City.】

【"Well, there should be one more child coming," Professor Oak says with a headache.】 ===== CHAPTER 3 =====