Chapter 330: Chop, Chop, Chop (Mega Combined Chapter!!)

Johto region.

Gender is male, starter Pokémon is Murkrow.

Is there someone like that in Team Rocket? I recall Executive Athena seems to have a Murkrow, but she's a woman…

All Baimu stared at the five talents before him.

Fixed Talent:

【Greenhorn (Pokémon training progress is slow)】

Selectable Talents:

【Clumsy (Pokémon health management is rough)】

【Love Luck (may enter relationships with the opposite sex)】

【Villain (join an evil organization)】

【Sickly (health outlook is not optimistic)】

Honestly, apart from Villain being slightly interesting, the other four weren't even worth a second glance — whichever he picked seemed unlikely to lead anywhere good.

But this was just a normal simulation anyway; not once in all those runs had he ever broken past the Preliminaries to the Championship Tournament, so he might as well pick one that caught his eye—

You, then!

Love Luck!

A greenhorn villain with love luck to spare!

He pressed the Start Simulation button.

The familiar virtual light screen unfolded before him.

【Simulation Start】

In the pixelated background, a bright office came into All Baimu's view.

And the red-haired female sprite sitting in the boss's chair — seemed to be the Team Rocket Executive Athena he'd just been wondering about, though her appearance had some subtle differences. Why was she the first to appear?

Could it be simulating her son?

He recalled that in the games, Athena had been working alongside Giovanni from very early on. Though she never appeared in the anime, like Captain Huoyan, she might still exist.

At her age…

All Baimu watched helplessly as a male sprite in a Team Rocket uniform suddenly appeared, striding quickly toward the red-haired female sprite, and watched helplessly as the two kissed.

All Baimu: "???"

Hold on! Why are they kissing! Athena's husband? She's married?

Before he could look any longer, the screen suddenly went completely black, and only came back on after several seconds.

The two sprites in the picture stood on opposite sides, straightening their clothes.

"……"

For a moment All Baimu didn't know what to say. In all this time, this was the first time he'd seen such a "feral" suggestive scene in the simulator — it was supposed to be a 6+ game, after all.

Putting stuff like this in — weren't they afraid of corrupting the children?

Well, right now the only one watching was a "big child" of sixteen years old in body.

And the simulator deliberately throwing these suggestive scenes at him gave him a certain ominous premonition.

【At eighteen, you still saw no hope of promotion in Team Rocket. In your despair, you obtained a secret plan from your girlfriend — the Infiltrator Plan】

Girlfriend.

The three giant words in the narration were like flashing gold lettering, nearly blinding him.

【You learned that Team Rocket had been having trouble recruiting new members in recent years. Boss Giovanni, for the organization's future, decided to have some outstanding members enter the League Conference to gain fame and personal charisma, quietly developing new contacts in the process】

Hmm? Seems like I've learned some pretty incredible intel!

All Baimu's eyes flickered at this narration, instantly scattering the playful mood in his heart, and he began watching seriously.

Although he had never met any of the simulator's characters in person, having only searched them online, and hadn't confirmed whether the simulated content was truly their real past experiences, it was very likely not fabricated.

If this time was also real…

He might just be able to land a vicious blow on the scheming Giovanni.

In the picture.

The Team Rocket member left his girlfriend's office, looking for all the world like a pretty boy who'd come to deliver his "grain tax."

【You realized that if you could complete this arduous task, you would not only gain fame within Team Rocket, but outside as well. However, the headache was that the plan's chosen candidates had demanding requirements, and even your girlfriend refused to put in a word for you with her mother to pull strings, forcing you to think of other ways】

Girlfriend… mother…

Ah!

Athena's daughter, then! No wonder there were subtle differences!

All Baimu finally figured out the true identity of that red-haired sprite, but still didn't know what to say.

He recalled that many people had guessed Athena was Silver's mother based on hair color and style, and he had once harbored the same suspicion. But this simulation seemed to tell him that, at least in this parallel world, Athena had her own daughter.

But in the blink of an eye.

He saw the Team Rocket member kissing another female Team Rocket member in a small room, the screen went black, and came back on after several seconds.

Oh my god, Team Rocket scumbag!

【After much difficulty, you finally obtained the selection content from your second girlfriend, which made you very happy】

Second girlfriend…

All Baimu watched as a few hearts popped up over the heads of the Team Rocket member and the female Team Rocket member, like a reluctant farewell, before he quickly moved on to another female Team Rocket member with a different hair color.

Familiar routine, familiar content.

【After much difficulty, you finally obtained the examiner for participating in the selection from your third girlfriend, which made you very happy】

Third girlfriend.

The serious mood All Baimu had finally managed to muster was completely shattered by this "playboy"—in just a few short minutes of simulation time, the guy had managed to rendezvous with three women!

But very soon.

He realized he had still underestimated the subject of this simulation. Although he wasn't clear on the simulator's timeline, this guy quickly found a fifth, a sixth…

Could this guy possibly be a Tauros that never tires?

Maybe this is what being young is all about.

All Baimu couldn't help but tremble for him—he truly hadn't expected there to be such a player who kept countless boats in the Shangshi Company.

Worthy of the talent-rich Shangshi Company.

After the trio of great inventors, there's still such a strange existence within.

Speaking of which, the Shangshi Company usually operates in groups of two people and one Pokémon, right? Is this person perhaps a special case? Or maybe it's a characteristic of the Johto branch…

In any case.

Through constant "sleeping persuasion," the Team Rocket member quickly broke through layer after layer of checkpoints and obtained qualification to participate in the Infiltrator Plan.

And behind this was the result of the efforts of his girlfriends—more than he could count on both hands.

The day of departure.

The Team Rocket member showed All Baimu what a top-tier player and time management master looks like, somehow successfully keeping all of his numerous girlfriends happy, not a single one dissatisfied with him.

This skill of walking a tightrope left him in awe.

At the same time, as the one departing, the Team Rocket member also obtained his "starter Pokémon"—Murkrow, given to him by the daughter of Girlfriend Number One, Athena, presumably related to Athena's own Murkrow.

【You have obtained your first Pokémon, Murkrow, but you are not particularly satisfied】

Huh?

All Baimu was seeing this kind of narration for the first time. After his thoughts churned, he understood the Team Rocket member's thinking—this guy thought Murkrow was too weak.

Most Team Rocket members treat Pokémon as tools; people like Jessie and James are the outliers.

In this Team Rocket member's eyes, Murkrow might be a not-so-easy-to-use "tool."

In fact.

Team Rocket internally isn't particularly lacking in various types of powerful Pokémon either. You can tell from how later on they were able to give the trio a Pokémon gacha machine, and the machine even had Tyranitar inside.

Even earlier, when Brock was defending his gym, Team Rocket was already willing to provide the trio with Rhydon and Charizard.

Giving him a Murkrow could indeed be called stingy.

In the scene.

The Team Rocket member left Team Rocket's Johto branch base and arrived at the nearest Ecruteak City.

Abandoned the base in Azalea Town?

Makes sense—that place was probably already scouted by Lance, how could they possibly still keep it.

However, upon arriving at the entrance of the Ecruteak Gym, the Team Rocket member did not enter. After observing for a bit, he took a train and left Ecruteak City, eventually arriving at Azalea Town.

【You understand that you and the others in the plan are all in competition with each other. Only by obtaining the first badge at the fastest speed can you receive subsequent support. Those without results get nothing】

I see, so there's an internal competition mechanism too?

All Baimu wasn't surprised. From a realistic perspective, it's impossible for an internal faction of a "Shangshi Company" like Team Rocket to be all harmony. Plus, Giovanni is a boss with his mind entirely on making big money—how could he tolerate someone squatting on the toilet without taking a shit.

Even though the trio was once expelled from Team Rocket, the reason they were able to successfully return was, on the surface, because Giovanni felt they owed the team too much money.

After arriving at Azalea Town.

The Team Rocket member resolutely began his first gym challenge.

Clearly he understood well the principle of picking the soft persimmon to squeeze. Among all the Johto gym leaders, Bug-type specialist Bugsy was definitely the one he had the best chance of beating with Murkrow as his lead Pokémon.

Facts proved the Team Rocket member's thinking was very correct.

Facing a Team Rocket member without a single badge, Bugsy used Kakuna and Spinarak.

Although the silk threads from these two Pokémon caused Murkrow considerable trouble, relying on sufficiently outstanding fundamentals, it smoothly took down both opponents one-on-two.

Cleared the Azalea Gym in just one attempt.

Its performance also quickly changed the Team Rocket member's view of this Pokémon.

【You have defeated Azalea Gym Leader Bugsy, and obtained the Hive Badge】

【You see the victorious Murkrow and for the first time feel that having it as a partner might not be so bad】

How realistic.

All Baimu couldn't help but roast the other's mentality, but strictly speaking, trainers with this kind of Team Rocket member brain circuit aren't few. The fact that Ash can always pick up Pokémon others don't want is ironclad proof.

While countless people love their own Pokémon, there are also many trainers who constantly consume their Pokémon's feelings in pursuit of power.

Unfortunately, the simulator's narration only shows the psychological changes of the simulation subject, otherwise All Baimu would really like to see what expression Murkrow had at this moment.

At the same time.

The Team Rocket member came to a shop.

【You submitted the gym challenge result to the secret agent and learned that you are the first person to obtain a badge. You happily received a monetary reward and a Pokémon reward】

【You sent a letter to Girlfriend Number Three, and she helped you replace the originally planned Pokémon. You obtained a new Pokémon—Electabuzz. The number of Pokémon that can make your future bright has increased】

Good lord.

Other simulation subjects have travel companions increasing, but this guy has tool Pokémon increasing.

And after this guy left the base, he could actually use the power of those poor-soul girlfriends to swap in Pokémon advantageous for the upcoming gym battles.

All Baimu discontentedly pinched the head that the Dodrio leaning over had brought close.

The Team Rocket member choosing Electabuzz was clearly to take down the Flying-type Violet Gym. Gym Leader Falkner, like Bugsy, belongs to the youngest batch.

In terms of strength, he's easier to overcome than the other gym leaders.

Still taking the train to Violet City, the Team Rocket member began challenging the gym without hesitation.

All Baimu was initially curious—doesn't he need to build rapport with his Pokémon? Later he understood that most of Team Rocket's Pokémon have already been trained until they have no temper of their own.

Whatever the Team Rocket member said, Electabuzz did.

If the trainer didn't give an order, it wouldn't strike back even while taking hits itself — honestly, a Pokémon like that… really has the flavor of a tool.

Quite in line with Team Rocket's philosophy.

Giovanni back then also hoped Mewtwo would become his tool for world conquest, but unfortunately that "tool" was far more capable of independent thought than ordinary Pokémon, and under its fierce rebellion it directly blew up his main base.

At the Gym battle.

Electabuzz's performance was genuinely solid — whether it was Thunderbolt, Thunder Punch, or Thunder, these high-power Electric-type moves all came easily to it.

From these aspects it wasn't hard to see that Team Rocket's breeders were very capable.

The Violet City Gym was also cleared in a single try.

【You have defeated Violet City Gym Leader Falk, and obtained the Zephyr Badge】

Having secured his second Badge, the Team Rocket member — sensing his momentum was good — hurriedly got hold of a Hitmonchan stronger than Electabuzz through his girlfriends back at the base.

And through a Dusk Stone, he evolved his Murkrow into a Honchkrow.

【Your Murkrow has evolved into Honchkrow】

What puzzled All Baimu was why he hadn't evolved Electabuzz into Electivire — was the Power Booster not in stock yet?

In any case, the Team Rocket member quickly pressed forward and arrived at Goldenrod Gym.

Relying on Hitmonchan's Mach Punch, the third Gym also fell very smoothly.

Only after adding a fourth Pokémon, a Crobat, did he suffer his first Waterloo before the Azalea Town Gym.

Even though the team had two Flying-type Pokémon, Bugsy still defeated him with his formidable Bug techniques, delivering the Team Rocket member's first mental shock.

He almost wanted to call his girlfriends for help.

Fortunately.

On his second attempt at the Gym, the Team Rocket member passed Bugsy's mountain-of-flesh gate very smoothly.

This also made him realize that not all the Johto Gym Leaders were as easy to deal with as the first three — there were always a few who were especially tough—

Without a doubt.

This point was confirmed at the Ecruteak Gym.

Three passes through Cianwood Gym, three passes through Ecruteak Gym — the former relying on the newly arrived Houndoom, the latter on Honchkrow and Houndoom. But when it came to the Ecruteak Gym, he couldn't get past it.

Even with the Fire-type Houndoom, Electric-type Electabuzz, and Fighting-type Hitmonchan.

The added sixth Pokémon, Skarmory, not only failed to show its worth but was suppressed by Morty's Lapras.

Five battles, five defeats.

At this point All Baimu also made another discovery.

Normally Pokémon would grow as their trainer challenged Gyms, but the Pokémon in this Team Rocket member's hands could be said to be — making zero progress!

Apart from Honchkrow, the other Pokémon had the same move power at the start as they did later.

It seemed to match the Team Rocket member's talent 【Greenhorn】.

【You find yourself completely unable to pass the Ecruteak Gym, and in your impatience you make a distress call to Girlfriend Number Eight and Girlfriend Number Eleven】

Hmm?

All Baimu gave a slight start.

He then saw two female Team Rocket members appear beside the Team Rocket member — sparks flew as their gazes met, clearly treating each other as enemies.

This is… the boat about to capsize?

He had expected the Team Rocket member's scumbag nature to be exposed, but who would have thought he actually managed to fool those two female Team Rocket members.

The three of them snuck into the Ecruteak Gym — the Team Rocket member went to steal the Badge, one female Team Rocket member directly modified the Gym's back-end trainer registration program, drafting up the Team Rocket member's challenge procedure on it.

The remaining one uploaded an edited battle video to the League network—

"The hell? This is allowed!?"

Seeing the narrator's detailed explanation, All Baimu was shocked — Morty's personal account was cracked just like that, doesn't that make the League's system program look way too dumb?

Although in the anime it was common for the good guys to be lame and need minors like Ash to step in, he hadn't expected the League system to be cracked so easily by a single Team Rocket member.

Surely Team Rocket's internal side wouldn't reward him for this either—

Facts proved All Baimu wrong — those two female Team Rocket members directly kept the matter hidden, causing Team Rocket's internal side to unknowingly give him a reward.

Seeing this, All Baimu only hoped that this guy's situation would be exposed during the preliminary rounds later.

Naturally.

Having tasted such convenience, the Team Rocket member refused to老老实实 challenge Gyms ever again, and specifically picked the most famous Olivine Gym to "challenge."

Unexpectedly, Olivine Gym's defenses were far stricter than Ecruteak Gym's.

Causing the Team Rocket member to fail two consecutive infiltrations.

All Baimu suspected it was the influence brought by that camping kid from before — working with two great thieves, he had boarded the Silver Conference stage with stolen Badges.

With no other choice, the Team Rocket member had to give up on Olivine Gym, because someone else had also obtained the seventh Badge, and if he wanted Giovanni's attention he had to qualify for the Silver Conference as fast as possible.

The last Gym, the Team Rocket member cleared it through his own strength — the opponent's ability was really nothing special.

And having successfully qualified for the Silver Conference as the first, he got his wish of being received by Giovanni, who gave him a large bonus as well as a seventh Pokémon.

【You have obtained a new Pokémon — Tyranitar, the Pokémon that can make your future bright has increased】

Good lord, Tyranitar!

All Baimu couldn't help feeling shocked — Giovanni really spared no expense for this infiltrator plan, actually using this kind of Pokémon as a reward.

One had to know that even in the anime, Tyranitar was an extremely rare Pokémon.

It was also a Pokémon very favored by top-class poachers.

And just like all the previous Pokémon, this Tyranitar was already fully tamed — it would obey every one of the Team Rocket member's commands.

With his team complete, he was about to set out on the journey to participate in the Silver Conference.

——

Seeing this.

All Baimu rubbed his eyes.

He hadn't expected an ordinary simulation to progress to this point — a Rocket Team member who'd obtained Tyranitar, perhaps he could break the curse of ordinary simulations never getting past the preliminaries?

If he trained his Pokémon a bit more, it might just be possible.

After all, they're all very strong!

Unfortunately.

No matter how much All Baimu outside the screen hoped for it, the Rocket Team member's womanizing nature never changed.

Compared to training Pokémon, what the Rocket Team member did more of was maintaining his relationships with those girlfriends — especially Athena's daughter, who had been very passionate lately.

Through All Baimu beside him, he learned that Athena's daughter had finally told her mother about the Rocket Team member's existence, and thanks to the Rocket Team member's outstanding performance in the plan, she received Athena's praise.

This made her very happy.

The Rocket Team member was equally overjoyed.

And then…

Somehow, in a muddled fashion, they agreed to get engaged to Athena's daughter after the Silver Conference ended.

All Baimu outside the screen was stunned, and so was the Rocket Team member inside the screen who'd somehow agreed to it — both sides felt the situation seemed rather ominous.

"Hmm… the womanizer's fish pond seems about to explode?"

All Baimu laughed very unscrupulously.

And after the Rocket Team member discovered the engagement couldn't be taken back, to avoid a cleaver ending, he frantically racked his brain.

【You told your girlfriends that the big bosses up top, seeing your promising future, forced you to get engaged to Athena's daughter. You promised them that once you'd risen to greatness, you'd kick Athena's daughter aside.】

【Your girlfriends believed you.】

T-this freaking works too?!

The Rocket Team member's move shocked All Baimu once again, unaware that this was merely the womanizer's basic technique — there were many more tricks the simulator hadn't displayed.

Because they weren't important.

Not long after.

The Silver Conference began.

Driven by curiosity, All Baimu continued watching. He really wanted to know just how far a contestant like this Rocket Team member, who picked fruit the whole way through, could go on the strength of Team Rocket's funds and power.

The preliminaries.

His opponents generally weren't particularly strong — Tyranitar and Murkrow were enough to handle them, and if needed, a few more could be added.

The Rocket Team member advanced through very smoothly.

When the conference committee checked the Gym challenge records, there were no problems either, which made All Baimu feel a bit sorry for those defeated contestants.

They had clearly reached this point through their own strength — even without challenging the strongest Gyms, they were Trainers who had obtained eight Badges. Who would have thought such a character would appear out of nowhere.

The main tournament.

The Rocket Team member's advance became somewhat difficult — his opponents grew stronger at a visibly rapid pace.

Top sixty-four… Top thirty-two… Top sixteen…

The Victory Tournament was right before his eyes!

All Baimu couldn't help but feel nervous. He still very much hoped to see a simulation subject break through the "law" in an ordinary simulation.

Unfortunately, the simulator was truly cunning and far-seeing.

In the crucial match advancing from the top sixteen to the top eight.

The Rocket Team member ran into the protagonist.

Yes.

His top-eight opponent was none other than the pixel sprite the player controls in the Gold and Silver versions — Atsushi!

Or rather, his name in the anime version — Kenta!

If All Baimu remembered correctly, this guy participated in the Silver Conference one generation before Ash, and appeared in the special edition "Raikou / Legend of Thunder."

Along with the anime version of Kris — Marina, who is not the same person as Crystal — the two are clearly distinguished in the anime.

Seeing Kenta as the Rocket Team member's opponent, All Baimu immediately felt a bad premonition.

Sure enough.

Tyranitar, unbeaten all the way here, stepped onto the field and lost to Kenta's Typhlosion. The combined boost of Bond and first Pokémon turned even a pseudo-legendary into trash.

Seeing his strongest asset gone, the Rocket Team member quickly grew impatient.

Unfortunately, Kenta also had a protagonist's fate — the kind that wouldn't be quietly stabbed in the back by the writers.

So none of the Rocket Team member's subsequent Pokémon could defeat Kenta, whose "protagonist's halo" ran thick. The latter's Pokémon could be called masters of applying the three-word mantra to the extreme, swiftly defeating nearly all of his Pokémon.

Only Murkrow held out for a little longer.

For someone like the Rocket Team member, who only knew how to soak himself in a pile of women and never raised his Pokémon, to only be exposed at this stage was truly extraordinary.

In the end, he also fell to Kenta.

The important thing was.

A garbage result of failing to reach the Victory Tournament certainly couldn't satisfy Giovanni.

The Rocket Team member had absolutely no idea how to explain it to him.

【You lost to Trainer Kenta and stopped at the top sixteen. This result made you very panicked, and soon you received punishment from Giovanni — he took back all your Pokémon.】

【You returned to the branch base disheartened, only to discover that your juggling of n boats had been exposed. Your girlfriends, wanting to comfort you after your defeat and give you a surprise, somehow all ran into each other. After comparing notes, they confirmed your true profession as scumbag.】

【Your number-one girlfriend, learning you'd betrayed her, pulled out a machete…】

【Your story, it seems, is about to end.】

【Simulation Ended】

The screen vanished.

This left All Baimu, who had been excited, very unhappy.

There was clearly a hatchet ending — why wouldn't they let him see the end? Could it be too bloody, unsuitable for young viewers?

Tch.

He pulled out his phone and searched for the top sixteen of Kenta's cohort.

A face of a great-looking guy immediately came into view.

Hmm… no wonder he could juggle so many boats — turns out he had the capital for it. Wonder if he's dead yet… ah, no follow-up reports.

Probably gone for good.

Tsk tsk tsk, how terrifying.

All Baimu looked at the rewards that had popped up.

【Reward Choice One: Any Pokémon raised by four levels (below Lv. 50)】

【Reward Choice Two: A clue to an obtainable Pokémon (fairly outstanding)】

【Reward Choice Three: A TM (type may be specified)】

【Reward Choice Four: Carry the 【Peach Blossom Streak】 talent over to the next simulation round】

What Peach Blossom Streak — it's clearly Hatchet Streak.

He muttered a complaint to himself, but honestly, the villain characters not sticking around was one point that left him rather regretful.

Although he did find these guys annoying, watching them as entertainment was still pretty fun.

"Pokémon are still better — no matter how many companions you have, you don't have to worry about a hatchet ending." All Baimu scooped up a Mawile passing by and settled it in his arms, stroking its head.

"Chee-doh!"

"There's nobody else here — what's wrong with me petting you a couple times?"

"Chee—"

"Fine, fine, fine, I won't pet you anymore, happy?"

Facing Mawile's glowing fist, All Baimu reluctantly raised his hands in surrender.