After returning to the hotel with Blue, August found that the three Team Rocket grunts had already been taken away by Lance.

  This meant that a rge-scale battle between the League and Team Rocket would soon erupt in Cedon City.

  "It’s time to head to Vermilion City."

  He had no intention of staying in Cedon. With Lance and Bruno handling the situation, his presence wasn’t necessary—sticking around would only risk exposing his identity.

  Even though Lance was currently acting as the temporary head of the International Police's Kanto branch, a permanent supervisor could be appointed at any time.

  August preferred his freedom. He wasn’t about to let someone else be his boss.

  So, his pn was to use Team Rocket’s distraction in Cedon to quietly investigate Lt. Surge in Vermilion City. If he could gather enough evidence, he could secure his pce as the head of the Kanto division himself.

  Would it be more work?

  Maybe.

  But once he recruited a few more capable subordinates like Blue, he could delegate most of the tasks to them!

  August gave himself a mental thumbs-up for his brilliant strategy.

  "Blue, let’s go. We’re heading to Vermilion City."

  "First stop—catching a Pidgey for your desensitization training."

  "What? Afraid of Pidgey? What’s there to be scared of? They’re completely harmless."

  "Don’t worry, I’ll be right there with you. You’re safe with me."

  ---

  As both the Vermilion Gym Leader and a board member of the city’s Shipping Association, Lt. Surge’s schedule was packed.

  Every morning at 6:00 AM, he woke up, washed up, and had breakfast.

  At 6:30 AM, he trained with his Pokémon and assigned tasks to his subordinates.

  At 7:30 AM, he tuned in to the League’s morning news to keep up with major events.

  At 8:00 AM, he arrived at Vermilion Gym, opened its doors, and selected a few lucky rookie trainers to teach them valuable battle techniques.

  But today, something was different.

  When Lt. Surge arrived at the gym’s entrance, he noticed an unusual crowd gathered outside.

  Unlike the usual handful of challengers, a rge group of people was clustered around the front, whispering among themselves.

  Lt. Surge narrowed his eyes.

  One of his subordinates immediately caught on and stepped forward.

  "What are you all standing around for? Move along!" he barked.

  The crowd turned to look at Lt. Surge, their expressions… strange.

  Feeling uneasy under their stares, Lt. Surge walked toward the gym entrance, where the crowd automatically parted for him.

  That’s when he saw what they had been staring at.

  A single sheet of paper, pinned to the gym’s door with a coin.

  Lt. Surge yanked it off and read it.

  His expression darkened instantly.

  Then, he pried the coin from the door.

  The emblem of the Cedon Game Corner glinted under the morning light.

  His grip tightened into a fist.

  He tossed the paper to his subordinate and growled, "Check the security footage. Mobilize everyone. Find the bastard who’s sndering me!"

  The subordinate straightened up immediately. "Yes, sir!"

  As Lt. Surge stormed into the gym, his subordinate exhaled slowly.

  The boss was furious.

  Just what kind of message had triggered this reaction?

  Curious, he unfolded the paper and read the single sentence written on it.

  [Lt. Surge, you’ve betrayed this city.]

  Hiss…

  The subordinate sucked in a sharp breath.

  This was not going to end well.

  ---

  Disguised, August and Blue sat by the window, watching the commotion unfold at the Vermilion Gym.

  On the table beside them, a Pidgey was grooming itself.

  Blue, meanwhile, flinched slightly every time her gaze nded on it.

  But reminding herself that this was part of her therapy, she forced herself to keep looking.

  "Pidge~!"

  Noticing Blue’s attention, Pidgey hopped closer and brushed its wing against her arm in a friendly gesture.

  Blue froze.

  Sensing her distress, Gardevoir’s eyes glowed briefly, soothing her emotions with psychic energy.

  It took a while before Blue finally rexed.

  "…Thanks, Gardevoir."

  "Nai~."

  Gardevoir waved off the gratitude and went back to reading her novel.

  "Do you really think Lt. Surge is part of Team Rocket?" Blue asked, finally able to focus.

  The idea of a Gym Leader working with Team Rocket felt almost surreal.

  August, completely ignoring Pidgey’s indignant chirps as he ruffled its feathers into a mess, replied, "You’ve already made progress with Pidgey."

  "As for whether I’m sure about Lt. Surge…"

  He gestured toward the gym.

  Blue followed his gaze.

  Several trainers wearing Vermilion Gym uniforms were leaving the building, dispersing in different directions across the city.

  "If he wasn’t involved, why the overreaction?" August smirked.

  "After all, my little note didn’t actually accuse him of anything—it just came with a single Cedon Game Corner token."

  That was all it took.

  Blue now fully trusted his judgment.

  "So, what’s next? Should we infiltrate the gym?" she asked, clearly excited by the idea.

  With the gym practically empty, now was the perfect time to sneak in.

  But August shook his head.

  "Not yet."

  "Why not?"

  Because I have a reward to cim first!

  [You have successfully captured six Pokémon, officially stepping into the ranks of Pokémon Trainers. Title earned: "Rookie Trainer."]

  [Select your reward:]

  [Eevee (Elite Four-level potential)]

  [Pikachu (Elite Four-level potential)]

  [Clefairy (Elite Four-level potential)]

  System, are you seriously testing me?

  Do you not know that I raise all my Pokémon myself?

  Is this supposed to be a challenge?

  Because let me tell you—no real trainer would ever say no to this kind of freebie!

  Ugh… but which one do I pick?!

  ---

  T/N: OMGGGG PLEASE CHOOSE PIKACHUUUU PLEASEEEE also hmm caught 6 pokemon? theresss gardevoir, dratini, bagon, mudkip, ....idk pidgey was caught for blue