"Sorry, it seems I've caused you a lot of trouble."
After shaking off the swarm of annoying reporters, Misty slowly released Ryuuske's arm once she noticed he had stopped resisting. The two walked in silence along Cerulean City's picturesque paths before Misty finally spoke up.
"It's not a big deal for me. Most of my time is spent in the wild anyway, so I don't stay in cities much. But for you, Misty, as a well-known figure in Cerulean City and one of the most famous Gym Leaders in Kanto, those reporters are probably already spreading gossip online. That's not great for a girl's reputation."
Ryuuske shrugged. Though his body hadn't fully matured yet, he still stood half a head taller than Misty, making their walk together feel natural.
"Are you looking down on girls?"
Misty's willow-leaf brows furrowed as she shot him a glare.
"Who said anything about looking down on girls? Don't twist my words. I was just dragged out of the Pokémon Center without any explanation—I'm still confused myself."
Ryuuske glared back. Though the girl in front of him was pretty, he wasn't the type to grovel. He had seen plenty of women in his past life, and in this new world, his focus was more on power than romance.
Back in his original world, women were everywhere, but Pokémon and supernatural strength didn't exist. Now that he had access to them, it was only natural that he craved power more.
Misty felt a little guilty upon hearing his words. She had dragged him out without explanation. But as a somewhat spoiled girl, she wasn't about to admit defeat outright. She turned her head away with a light huff.
"...What's so great about staying at a Pokémon Center? My place is way better—better food, better lodging. And if you try to butter me up, I might even let you skip the preliminaries and challenge me, the Gym Leader, directly!"
"Skip the preliminaries and challenge the Gym Leader directly? That's a thing?"
Ryuuske was stunned.
"It's a Gym Leader's privilege—allowing specific individuals to bypass the preliminaries and go straight to the final challenge match."
A glint flashed in Misty's eyes, as if she was eagerly anticipating Ryuuske trying to flatter her.
"Won't people accuse you of abusing your power? And isn't that unfair to the Trainers who work hard in the preliminaries?"
Ryuuske couldn't help but criticize.
"This kind of direct invitation doesn't take away from the regular tournament slots. It's more like an exhibition match—if anything, it means one less competitor for the others. As for abuse of power, that's not an issue. The matches are held in front of tens of thousands of live spectators and even more TV viewers. With so many eyes watching, there's no way to cheat. So? Ryuu, aren't you gonna beg me?"
"No thanks. I'd rather go through the preliminaries. It's just an extra day or two anyway."
Ryuuske refused to take the bait. Begging just to skip the preliminaries? The reward wasn't worth it!
"Tch! Can't you just humor me?"
Seeing that he wasn't falling for it, Misty could only sigh in resignation.
As they walked and chatted, the two maintained a polite distance. Since they weren't particularly close, neither dared to broach overly personal topics, keeping the conversation surface-level.
"We're here. This is my place!"
Before Ryuuske stood a luxurious, palace-like structure built over a tranquil river, connected to the shore by a single pathway. The architecture was distinctly European, exuding elegance.
"This is your house?!"
Ryuuske stared at the villa, which looked more like a noble's estate. Though not in the city center, the land here was undoubtedly expensive. Between the serene waters and the opulent exterior, he never would've guessed the girl beside him was this wealthy.
He took a moment to study Misty again. The energetic, sporty type wasn't exactly his preference, but she was undeniably pretty. Her frequent swimming had given her a toned, healthy figure, especially her long, well-defined legs. Add in her status as a Gym Leader and her formidable strength, and she was practically flawless—aside from her temper and, well, her modest chest.
Misty, completely unfazed by his reaction, simply gestured for him to follow.
"...Come on, this way."
As they walked along the path leading to the river's center, Ryuuske recalled hearing that the previous Cerulean Gym Leader had been Misty's parents. That explained the family's wealth.
Brock used to live a pretty rough life too, but ever since becoming Pewter City's Gym Leader, with all the policy benefits and 'creative accounting,' he's been living the high life.
"Welcome back, Miss Misty!"
A group of servants stood at the entrance, hands clasped in front of them as they bowed in unison.
"This is my friend, Ryuuske. Everyone, say hello."
"Good evening, Mr. Ryuuske!"
The servants bowed again.
After introducing him, Misty led Ryuuske into the villa's living room.
"...I'm going upstairs to change. Dinner won't be ready for a while, so make yourself comfortable here."
Ryuuske sat on the plush sofa, watching as Misty ascended the grand staircase. The villa's interior was nothing short of extravagant—gold-trimmed walls, a grand chandelier, even a fireplace in the center of the living room. The servants had all discreetly vanished, maintaining professionalism by staying out of sight.
As he surveyed his surroundings, Ryuuske helped himself to the fruit platter on the coffee table. The fruits were sprinkled with powdered rare Berries and drizzled with a dressing akin to high-end salad sauce, making every bite a burst of exquisite flavor.
"Living like this too long would kill anyone's ambition."
He muttered to himself. Becoming a Gym Leader practically guaranteed a life of luxury, and many probably lost their drive under such comfort, eventually being dethroned by challengers.
[Ryuuske, she's coming back down.]
At Mewtwo's mental prompt, Ryuuske snapped out of his thoughts and turned toward the staircase—only for his eyes to widen.
Misty descended the stairs like a true noblewoman, her crystal heels clicking softly against the marble steps. Her usual ponytail had been let down, her orange hair cascading over her shoulders. A pure white evening gown hugged her figure, replacing her usual tomboyish energy with an air of refined elegance.
Ryuuske hadn't expected it—outside, she dressed casually, but at home, she carried herself like royalty.
She sat across from him on the sofa, her expression serious as she cut straight to the point.
"...Ryuuske, I'll be frank. There's something I need your help with—it's about Team Rocket."
"...Not long ago, I received reports that Saffron City's Gym Leader, Sabrina, was spotted in Cerulean City. But the witnesses claimed she was wearing a Team Rocket uniform. I can't believe it!"
To be continued…