Although Team Rocket's trio has never managed to catch Pikachu, their business skills are absolutely top-notch.
Not to mention, Meowth's translation abilities are worth billions.
And let's not forget their terrifying assembly skills… Natsume suspects that even with a pile of scrap metal, they could probably build a Gundam.
They can fund themselves, possess unique skills, and are fiercely loyal—these are the kind of employees every capitalist dreams of!
Natsume also has a soft spot for the trio.
Despite their differing ideals, there's no denying their love for Pokémon.
Otherwise, the guardian deity of Alola, Bewear, wouldn't have been so affectionate toward them.
Natsume thought to himself that the share of profits wasn't really the point.
The main goal was to help them avoid unnecessary hardship!
"In any case, your current task is to focus on earning funds. Got it?"
"Ohhh! Are you on some kind of secret mission?" Jessie's eyes lit up.
James quickly covered Jessie's mouth, panicking. "Don't worry, sir! We've never seen you before!"
"Yeah, meow!" Meowth trembled, hopping onto Jessie's shoulder and whispering into her ear, "Asking about an Executive's plans could get us reassigned, meow!"
"Mmmph!" (Let go of me, you two!)
Natsume pondered for a moment.
"A secret mission… Well, that's not entirely wrong."
Giovanni's original plan seemed to be ensuring the trio's safety.
Besides, saving Giovanni the trouble of bailing them out of jail might even earn me his gratitude!
Hearing Natsume's words, the trio breathed a sigh of relief, their expressions saying, "We knew it!"
To be promoted to Executive at such a young age and entrusted with a secret mission… He must be a favorite of the Boss!
If we can successfully complete the Executive's mission—
We'll definitely earn Lord Giovanni's recognition and get rid of that annoying glasses girl and Persian!
"What a great feeling!" the trio said in unison, grinning foolishly.
Natsume coughed lightly, interrupting their daydream.
"By the way, why are you guys here?"
Even with the Worldline shift, Team Rocket's trio should still be active in other leagues.
Instead of chasing Ash Ketchum's Pikachu, why are they here eyeing Eevee?
"Oh! Meowth said there'd be a festival nearby, so we came to try our luck," James explained.
"It's Hoenn news, meow! There might be a Legendary Pokémon in the Meteorite!" Meowth said proudly.
Suddenly, the trio froze, as if realizing something, and began trembling. "Your plan… isn't to catch Jirachi, is it?!"
Natsume was slightly taken aback.
I haven't even mentioned what the secret mission is, and you've already filled in the details yourselves?
"Don't worry, we won't leak a single word!" the trio vowed solemnly.
Natsume cleared his throat, putting on a stern face. "If you understand, then get to work. Don't make me repeat myself!"
"Yes, sir! We'll complete the mission!"
The trio saluted, then pulled out a bunch of parts from who-knows-where. Amidst smoke and some hammering, a three-person bicycle appeared out of thin air, leaving Natsume utterly stunned.
Their technical skills are out of this world!
It's a shame they're not working as Gundam engineers!
"Well then, we'll take our leave!" The trio hopped onto the bicycle and waved at Natsume.
Natsume nodded, then suddenly asked, "By the way, do you know a Trainer named Ash Ketchum? Where is he in his journey now?"
Hearing the name, the trio's expressions turned strange. "Th-that twerp!"
Natsume's expression also became complicated.
I was just casually asking, but this world actually has that kid?!
What kind of stitched-together Pokémon world is this?!
"How do you know the twerp's name?" James asked, surprised.
Natsume: "Oh, his Pikachu is quite troublesome."
The trio burst into tears, looking like they'd found a kindred spirit.
Even an Executive has had trouble with Pikachu! It's no wonder we can't catch it!
"The last time we saw the twerp, he was at the Silver Conference," James said, stroking his chin.
"We heard he's heading to Hoenn, meow. Once this vacation is over, we're planning to go there too."
"We'll definitely catch that Pikachu!" Jessie clenched her fists, gritting her teeth.
"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet popped out of its Poké Ball.
Natsume held his forehead and let out a long sigh.
"Alright, you can go now. I need some time alone."
"Wishing you victory and great fortune, ohohoho!" The trio laughed as they rode off on their bicycle, disappearing in a flash.
Sunlight poured through the trees, and Natsume looked up at the leaves, muttering, "That kid… is he challenging Hoenn right now? Seems like the timeline is still early."
Taking a deep breath, Natsume-sensei, with his professional training, gradually calmed down.
"Hmm… so it's just Ash Ketchum traveling alone! That makes sense!"
While Red and Ash Ketchum are theoretically the same person, their strength is worlds apart.
In this world, Red is the Battler from the Special Editions, already in his ultimate form, capable of taking down Legendary Pokémon.
Meanwhile, Ash Ketchum is still a rookie struggling through league tournaments.
Their clothing styles are also quite different: Red's outfit is the classic red and white, while Ash Ketchum's is primarily blue.
In the movie I Choose You!, Ash Ketchum's story was reset, and he traveled without Brock and Misty as companions.
In short, it's like the TV world and the Special Editions world have merged into this reality.
Natsume nodded slowly, then suddenly wanted to flip a table. "This is such a scam!"
"Pallet Town really has a unique charm! The superhuman and the Battler are in the same timeline!"
But thinking about it, the Special Editions never mentioned Red's parents.
Red, coming from an ordinary background, still achieved the title of 'The Battler,' which is even more admirable.
Natsume-sensei stroked his chin, muttering, "I wonder if I'll run into that kid when I go to Kanto."
"Hmm… Ash Ketchum, who can tank Legendary Pokémon's ultimate moves, is something to look forward to!"
...
As dusk fell, the festival in the small town continued.
Natsume met up with the others at the square. Ruby and Sapphire each had an ice cream cone, flirting shamelessly.
"Do you want to try mine?"
"Ah, I like that flavor more. Let's swap!"
"Only if you give me a kiss," Ruby said with a sly grin.
Steven coughed, reminding them that Jirachi was still around.
Natsume also coughed, reminding them that there were single people present.
[What's a kiss?] Jirachi tilted its head.
Sapphire's face turned red, and while Ruby wasn't looking, she pecked him on the cheek and snatched the ice cream.
Jirachi floated around cheerfully.
[Kiss, Steven, kiss!]
Natsume asked curiously, "Where did you two get that ice cream?"
Ruby smiled. "From a new stall that's super popular. The taste is really good!"
Natsume nodded in satisfaction.
It seems their business is already on track.
While it's just a drop in the bucket for now, in the long run, Team Rocket's trio is definitely a goldmine.
"I should ask Matori… if I can have these three transferred under me."
Natsume muttered, "If that's possible, it'd be a huge win!"
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