"Your parents' deaths were caused by a Team Rocket mole within the League who betrayed them. If you can accomplish what I need, I will personally capture them and throw them at your feet, leaving their fate in your hands."
Agatha spoke with unwavering confidence, as if capturing members of Team Rocket was a simple matter for her.
In truth, that was indeed the case. Never underestimate the power of an Elite Four member. When she sets her sights on someone, only those with absolute strength could hope to evade her grasp.
Faced with Agatha's proposition, Maki—who hailed from the League—had no room to refuse. He could only press on with his questions.
"So what exactly do you need me to do?"
"Advance to the Top 16 in this year's Indigo Conference."
"Huh?!"
"Don't rush. This is only the first step. There will be more tasks waiting for you afterward. Do you accept?"
"Can I ask what those tasks are?"
"No. But I can absolutely guarantee your safety." Agatha offered no further explanation, sealing her promise with those words.
"Why me?"
Maki couldn't see what made him so special. Aside from his skills as a Breeder, there was nothing particularly remarkable about him. Every year, the League produced countless rookie trainers—he was just one star among many, albeit a slightly brighter one.
"It's your breeding skills, of course. What else could it be? I don't have any granddaughters who might fancy you." Agatha's tone was matter-of-fact, with a hint of teasing.
Having already investigated Maki thoroughly, Agatha had discovered that besides his talents in breeding and training, the young man was quite popular with girls—an unexpected bonus that might come in handy later.
"Naturally, all of this hinges on you fulfilling my request. Fail, and everything is off the table."
"Fine, I accept. But once I complete the task, I want the right to know what comes next—and the right to refuse."
"Agreed." Agatha nodded.
With nothing more to discuss, she rose and left without a word of encouragement. It was as if she didn't care whether Maki succeeded or not.
—
"You're wondering why I chose him?" Agatha asked the Gengar floating beside her.
Though she commanded an entire army of Gengar, this one was by far the strongest—and her oldest companion. Their bond ran deep.
Agatha's eccentric nature didn't extend to her Pokémon—her affection for them was unwavering.
"Geh geh geh!" Gengar chuckled, its face twisted into a peculiar grin.
"It's just a matter of time. If he succeeds, great. If not, we lose nothing." Agatha's gaze fixed forward as she strode into the alleyway.
"The League's current leadership is too conservative. I can feel it—something unprecedented is stirring beneath Kanto. It's time to take the initiative. Waiting for the enemy to knock on our door was never my style."
"Geh geh geh geh!" Gengar laughed again before sinking into Agatha's shadow.
—
After Agatha's departure, Maki sat on his bed, mulling over the details of their conversation. He went about his routine—washing up, preparing Pokéblocks—acting as if nothing unusual had happened.
Originally, he'd planned to ask Giovanni about Cerulean Gym, but that would have to wait. Contacting Team Rocket while under Agatha's watch was a terrible idea—who knew if she was still observing him?
From now on, he'd need to be more careful. But perhaps this was a blessing in disguise.
After all, an undercover agent's primary goal was to draw the League's attention. By that measure, he'd succeeded.
The only downside was that he'd have to limit his contact with Sabrina and Team Rocket. He could only hope Sabrina wouldn't take it the wrong way.
Not his problem—if anyone had to deal with her complaints, it would be Giovanni.
After finishing his tasks, Maki discreetly messaged Giovanni, asking about Cerulean City's situation and informing him of Agatha's visit.
Giovanni admitted he knew nothing and advised Maki to be cautious—Agatha was not to be trifled with.
Maki also sent a message to Sabrina, explaining that he'd be in touch less often. Her response was a barrage of question marks and exclamation points, nearly accusing him of cheating.
Using the excuse that too much messaging might expose him, Maki conveniently ended the conversation—effectively ghosting her.
—
The next morning, Maki headed to Cerulean Gym for a performance before leaving the city. He'd already earned the Cascade Badge, so there was no reason to stay.
Still, it wouldn't feel right to leave without experiencing one of Cerulean's famous shows—just like visiting Celadon City without stopping by the Game Corner.
With Misty's help, he slipped in through the back, skipping the line and saving on the entrance fee.
Don't get the wrong idea—Maki wasn't here for the swimsuit-clad beauties. He was simply observing Water-type Pokémon. Purely academic.
Really.
"Go, Daisy! You're the best!"
"Daisy, I love you!"
"Daisy, I want to have your children!"
"Swimsuit Big Sister is the best!"
"W-White-haired loli is the best!"
...Wait, did something strange sneak in there? Whatever, not worth worrying about.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
The morning performance had ended, and Misty, sitting beside Maki, was giving him a strange look, making him feel uneasy.
Due to yesterday's events, Maki was treated like a VIP upon arriving at the Cerulean Gym. With Misty hanging around bored, she had simply decided to follow Maki along.
Even if the performances didn't particularly interest her, it was still better than sitting around doing nothing.
"I didn't expect you to have such... peculiar tastes, Mr. Maki."
Misty took a deep breath, speaking slowly. It seemed the saying don't judge a book by its cover was indeed true.
"W-White hair isn't so bad, right, Cottonee?"
Maki patted the Cottonee perched on his head. For some reason, this little fellow was even more excited than he was, bouncing up and down energetically.
Maki seriously suspected that this little one might have been born the wrong gender. Oh well, they were both just enjoying the show from an appreciative perspective, nothing more.
"Cotton?"
[Don't drag me into this, okay?]
Cottonee glanced down with tiny eyes, deeply doubting that Maki had chosen her as his Pokémon solely because of the white hair he couldn't have.
"So, Misty, when are you planning to set off on your journey?"
Maki's question caught Misty off guard, making her freeze for a moment.
"That kind of thing is still far off, right?"
It seemed she hadn't considered it seriously before.
"You could always stay at the Cerulean Gym. Daisy and the others may say otherwise, but they still love you. There's no need to leave—there's plenty of opportunity to grow right here."
At that, Misty deflated like a punctured balloon.
"I'd rather be free out there than stay cooped up here."
Honestly, Misty's personality never suited life at the Cerulean Gym. Knowing Daisy and her sisters, they were likely planning to hand over the gym to Misty so they could go off and enjoy themselves.
"When you're traveling, having the right partners is important—something to keep in mind. But I'm sure you'll find the right companions."
Maki thought for a moment. Although Ash's early days were a little unreliable, he was a qualified companion. With Brock acting as the full-time babysitter, their journey was undoubtedly quite comfortable.
"What about you, Mr. Maki?" Misty asked, as if something had just crossed her mind.
"I'm used to being alone. Having someone watching me all the time would probably make me uncomfortable."
Maki shrugged. He wasn't particularly fond of managing interpersonal relationships.
Friendships depended on matching wavelengths. He enjoyed spending time with Lance—who, aside from constantly challenging him to battles, was pleasant company. But if a friendship required constant maintenance, Maki would rather skip it.
That time was better spent training Pokémon.
"I see..." Misty's disappointment was subtle, but the truth was, she hadn't fully decided to leave the Cerulean Gym herself.
"Whatever you choose, it's always best to think carefully before making a decision. There's no harm in being cautious."
After enjoying the Water-type Pokémon performance, Maki completed his task in Cerulean City and set off for his next destination—Pewter City!
Compared to the distance from Saffron City to Celadon City, the journey from Cerulean City to Pewter City was much longer—roughly two to three times the length.
The route also required crossing Mt. Moon. Unless taking a detour, this trek posed a challenge for many trainers.
Mt. Moon wasn't just home to harmless Clefairy. Plenty of fierce Pokémon roamed the caves, making it easy to stumble into danger.
Moreover, Mt. Moon's narrow, winding paths often led travelers astray. Many found themselves lost after just a few steps.
Aside from the Moon Stones, Mt. Moon's greatest fame came from its abundance of fossils. Although the League officially prohibited fossil excavation, such bans did little to deter everyone.
Where profit existed, risk would follow.
With 10% profit, capital would be used freely. With 20%, it would become active. With 50%, it would grow adventurous. With 100%, it would disregard the law. With 300%, it would defy death itself. If chaos and strife could bring profit, it would encourage both.
These principles applied to every world. Mt. Moon attracted numerous Pokémon hunters seeking fossils—not just capturing Pokémon, but making money in any way possible.
Fossil yields had dwindled lately. The easily accessible ones had long been dug up. Now, to strike gold, hunters either relied on sheer luck—hoping a fossil might fall from above—or ventured deep into the mountain's depths.
Deeper into Mt. Moon meant stronger Pokémon. It wasn't unheard of to encounter Ultra Ball-tier or even Elite Four-tier wild Pokémon there, thanks to the mountain's ideal environment for growth.
Clefairy and Jigglypuff, which required Moon Stones to evolve, could sometimes evolve naturally after spending long enough in the caves without even realizing it.
The unique conditions made the Pokémon there incredibly powerful—what some might call a hidden paradise.
Places like Mt. Silver were similarly restricted, with entry barred to anyone below Elite Four or Champion rank. The Pokémon inside were exceptionally strong—any one of them could thrash Maki without breaking a sweat.
On top of that, the resources within were simply too abundant.
Rare minerals and medicinal herbs were commonplace. Pokémon raised in such an environment would naturally grow far stronger.
Take Larvitar, for example—a pseudo-legendary. A Larvitar raised on plain sand versus one fed premium minerals and sharpening its teeth on diamonds—there was no contest.
Maki knew which one would win without needing to ask.
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