Chapter 192

Misty received many useful items, while Ash watched eagerly from the side, his eyes already filled with longing.

"Here, take this."

Guangtai was not stingy; although he didn't have the "Light Ball," Pikachu's signature item, on hand, he had other alternatives that were just as effective.

"I know what you want, so take these. They are canned electric nutritional drinks that can increase the base speed stat of Electric-type Pokémon."

"At the same time, there is also 'Black Sludge.' I cannot tell you the origin of this powder, but it can help Electric and Dragon-type Pokémon grow better and increase the power of their moves! You just need to carry it on you."

Besides these, an Electirizer was also a good item. Guangtai tossed a small Electirizer to Ash; it looked like a square power bank on the outside, but it was empty inside and contained no Electric-type energy.

It needed to be charged by the user. By using it in conjunction with a corresponding amplification box for training, it could force an Electric-type Pokémon into a burst state, allowing it to break through its own limits!

"Break through my own limits?"

"Yes, though you'll need professional training methods. But if you have already passed the assessment at Mount Tensei, and the bond between you and Pikachu is already unbreakable, then just train in your own way."

"Believe in your Pokémon, and believe in yourself. Take this too, as a gift from me." Guangtai handed a new Courage Charm to Ash. Ash couldn't help but glance at Makoto, who was talking to Delia in the back.

The Courage Charm. Ash gripped the charm tightly.

He would definitely not lose his courage; he would definitely win the Johto League championship!

"Thank you, Mr. Guangtai!"

"You're welcome. Move forward toward your ideals. Ah, and take the Charcoal that Charizard is holding as well. If you need any items before participating in the tournament, you can contact me at any time; just follow my shop on your Pokégear. Although I will likely be traveling while you are in the tournament, making items isn't troublesome, and I will ask my familiar Pokémon friends to deliver them to you."

Of course, considering Ash's limited pocket money, Guangtai told him to choose suitable items based on actual battle situations, or... adopt an "item rental" approach.

Incidentally, Guangtai also learned about the specific situation of the assessment from Ash.

The content of the theatrical version was no longer very clear, but from Ash, one could analyze the full picture of the entire assessment from the "first-person perspective of a victim."

At that time, Ash met a boy and a girl named Souji and Makoto. They first met while chasing Entei, then traveled together briefly. There was also a guy named Cross during the same period, whose personality was very nasty and who was obsessed with power, which once made Ash lose his passion for battling.

In that assessment, a huge problem actually occurred in the end because the boy named Cross had an evil heart and polluted the Rainbow Wing. Not only did they not see Ho-Oh, but they instead caused Ho-Oh's messenger, Marshadow, to appear, and it wanted to correct everything—meaning to kill everyone.

"Marshadow controlled many Pokémon... anyway, I think I died." Ash scratched his head and said uncertainly, but regardless, he eventually met Pikachu again, and the Rainbow Wing returned to normal. That might have been Ho-Oh's power bringing him back to life.

When the flowers on Rainbow Rock bloomed, Ho-Oh also appeared before everyone and had a test battle with Ash.

Hmm... Ash's death is not uncommon; he also died once when fighting Mewtwo.

But now, in terms of his physical body, aside from his Super Pallet Towner constitution... Ash can also be considered to be on the same level as the three legendary beasts. After all, they were all resurrected by Ho-Oh, so being a secondary legendary is no problem at all.

"Thanks, these experiences are very helpful to me. The Pokémon on Mount Tensei will gather at the summit to obtain Ho-Oh's power... Marshadow will control those Pokémon to launch attacks during the assessment... It's not safe at all."

"However, I don't have the Rainbow Wing, so the proctor in the shadows shouldn't attack me."

What's more... Guangtai mused.

He is not a hero!

But Marshadow's typing perfectly counters Doublade... If the assessment starts, it will definitely be full of difficulties. But if it really comes to a fight... my Sticky Glob might not be at a disadvantage! Let Marshadow see the fighting style of a Hisuian!

As for Brock, Guangtai certainly wouldn't forget him, and Brock's items were the easiest to give: Hard Stone and Metal Coat!

The Hard Stone previously used for Gouging Fire seemed to have been forgotten by that guy; it was perfect to sell to Brock, and the Metal Coat could allow Brock's ace, Onix, to evolve into Steelix ahead of schedule!

"Speaking of Rock, I have quite a few good things here."

"Hmm... hmm? Wait!" Brock suddenly remembered something: "... Mr. Guangtai, do you know Steven, the Champion of the Hoenn region?"

"Why, has he met you?"

"Ah, actually, my father held a fossil seminar at the Pewter Museum last month. Because I couldn't attend, I entrusted my father to go on my behalf. It is said that he met Mr. Steven, the Champion of the Hoenn region. He claimed to have important business to attend to and was going to visit a professional who is very knowledgeable about the Rock type..."

"Could it be?"

"Expert is too strong a word; Steven is more proficient in petrology than I am." Guangtai shook his head, while also acknowledging the identity Steven mentioned, which made Brock immediately show great respect!

As a Rock-type Gym Leader, one of Brock's hobbies used to be digging for stones near Mt. Moon, which actually coincided with Steven's! Moreover, he was an amateur geologist, and now, he was moving toward his dream of becoming a Pokémon Breeder.

In the games, Brock's title is "The Rock-Hard Man"!

Of course, it is somewhat different from his image in the anime. The Brock in the games is more serious and stoic, full of a tough-guy style, but he also has a hidden setting: once he starts laughing, he can't stop. Compared to the Brock in the anime, he lacks a bit of his gentle quality.

And Brock also has a hidden "Pickup" trait. He once claimed, "Walking in the mountains, I often find discarded man-made items. It wouldn't be good if they affected Pokémon if left alone, so I pick them up."

"Take this too." Guangtai sold Brock another very valuable move, and that move was the "gospel" for all Steel-type Pokémon!

"Body Press? What kind of move is that? I've never heard of it."

Brock was confused and looked serious, but after hearing about the application scenarios and effects of Body Press, he completely lost his composure.

Using defense instead of attack, the higher the defense, the higher the power? Is there such a move!

Then wouldn't Steelix be invincible!

Oh, I also have a Forretress! And it's the noble Bug/Steel type!

Although the selling price is a bit expensive, it is necessary for his Steel-type Pokémon!

"The move is powerful, but you have to hit the target; if you miss, it's meaningless. But as long as you can learn Body Press and incorporate its usage into your daily attacks, you can deal a devastating, unexpected blow to the opponent at a critical moment. It works even better when used with 'Iron Defense'!"

Woo-woo—

The sound of vehicles came from outside the Snowden mansion. Professor Oak, the local Officer Jenny, and assistant researchers arrived at the mansion in a hurry by vehicle as soon as the crystallization phenomenon ended!

The people in the house then left, looking at the morning sun that had fully risen in the distance and the lush, green, refreshing wilderness, sighing: "This is the true green meadow."

Molly looked up and saw the clouds in the sky, which gathered into the shape of Entei, making her eyes slightly moist.

"Thank you..." the child whispered, thanking her "father" from the bottom of her heart.

When everything settled down, it was another sunny and beautiful day!

Then, the next one to appear is Professor Oak.

A large number of onlookers and reporters gathered, wanting to investigate the ins and outs of what happened here, while the reporters intended to get the first-hand news after the incident ended. Guangtai quietly returned to the house and walked toward the tower of the Snowden mansion, following his memory.

This is the way back.

When he was halfway there, he heard movement coming from the tower.

"There are police everywhere below."

"Even if we want to go down, we can't."

"Wobbuffet!"

The Team Rocket trio looked at the crowd gathered below from the window at the very top of the tower and sighed helplessly.

"But no matter what."

"There is one less lonely girl in this world, but there is one more lonely woman here, Jessie."

"And a young man facing a lonely heart... James!"

"The moon is always alone, Meowth!"

"Look, the wind is blowing across this green wilderness!"

"Even if we are alone, we are partners!"

"Just feels like... a wonderful feeling!"

"I'm sorry to interrupt your poetic mood." Guangtai's voice suddenly came from below: "If you have such good literary talent, why not write a book? It might be very popular."

The Team Rocket trio's bodies suddenly stiffened.

Ah, it's that very strange "freak" who can control Entei and appeared suddenly!

"I came here to ask you some things." Guangtai looked at the trio. Although they had fought side-by-side just now, the trio was still a bit nervous facing Guangtai, a character of unknown identity.

"Wh-what do you want?" Jessie stared at Guangtai vigilantly, and James also gripped his Poké Ball, but quickly self-deprecatingly added: "Hey, the gap in strength is too big; even if we fight, we have no chance of winning!"

Guangtai thought for a moment.

If he asked them directly about that "green-skin technology," these three guys would definitely not tell the truth, so he needed a little trick. Anyway, although the trio were cute and charming villains, their positioning was still "villains." So using a little means wouldn't be a problem, and there was no moral pressure.

At this time, he had to use...

"See this? Can you recognize it?"

Guangtai took out a card with a blood-red 'R' drawn on it!

An electronic card for a Team Rocket base! However, its function was the same as the "Team Rocket Base Elevator Key" item in the game!

"Th-that is! It's the special elevator card for the headquarters base!"

Jessie and James were elites after all. When they saw this card... they were deceived by the mystic credential craft and concluded that this card was the most important elevator card in the original base!

Although it sounded low-class, in fact, this card key was the only way to "Giovanni's Room"! Everyone who possessed the key was a high-level executive of Team Rocket!

"You... you are an executive of our Team Rocket?!"

This reversal was truly dramatic. The trio didn't expect that the mysterious character who suddenly appeared before them would actually have a connection to Team Rocket!

Could it be that the mysterious person in front of them was a new executive recruited by Boss Giovanni while he was training abroad!

"Cough, some things don't need to be said so clearly; you might as well be a bit vague."

Guangtai coughed lightly, putting on a pretentious air of authority, trying his best to look serious.

The lighting in the tower was not good. By just adjusting his position slightly so that he was facing the light near the window, he could create a sense of oppression with "half his face hidden in the shadows."

Guangtai activated the ability "Pressure."

The Team Rocket trio felt a wave of pressure!

"Although this is our first meeting, your work seems to be done quite well..."

"Not at all, we didn't help at all!" The trio all showed fawning expressions and began rubbing their hands like flies, but quickly turned their backs to Guangtai and started whispering.

Jessie's expression was full of suspicion: "Do you guys think this person is really a Team Rocket executive?"

James's face was full of speculation: "Come to think of it, since the Boss left the headquarters temporarily, Team Rocket hasn't recruited any executives for a long time, right?"

Meowth helplessly held the coin on his forehead: "We've been chasing the brat, so we don't really know about the headquarters' affairs, Meowth."

"But!" the trio said in unison!

"That card is indeed the headquarters' elevator card..."

"That guy's pressure is also real. He looked righteous just now, but now he doesn't look like a good person."

"Just like a villain, Meowth."

"Cough!" Guangtai deliberately made a sound, interrupting the trio's whispering: "It seems you have some doubts about this card. Do you need to verify my identity?"

Just kidding, the Team Rocket trio had no way to verify anything at all, which was why he dared to say that.

"Team Rocket may be hidden beside anyone... don't you recognize Giovanni?" Guangtai whispered, adding a new "setting" for himself!

Anyway, even in the original timeline, the trio didn't contact Giovanni that often in the early stages; it was usually Giovanni and his secretary who contacted them. Although Boss Giovanni had a high appearance rate, most of them appeared in Meowth's fantasies.

And in the current timeline, Giovanni followed some of the settings in the game. After being defeated by Red and Ethan one after another, he embarked on a path of re-training. Even Mewtwo didn't know where Giovanni was now, and the remnants of Team Rocket didn't know either.

People whose whereabouts are unclear are the most convenient to take the blame!

(End of chapter)