Ch. 24 - Invitation

Soon after healing the Pokemon, I sat in the sitting area of the Pokemon Center.

"Now that I am not limited by the 6-hour limit, I can stay in the Pokemon world for as long as I want except when I have to eat, sleep, or excrete." I said.

Since I was not limited by the 6-hour limit, I was finally able to sit back and relax a bit.

'Now that I've wrapped up all the city's storyline elements that I remember from the game, It is time to leave 'Cerulean City' and head to the next city.'

After relaxing for some time, I decided to temporarily exit the Pokémon world to grab a bite to eat and inform my part-time job manager that I would be quitting the job.

Unlike in the past when the window that asked to enter the Pokemon world disappeared after leaving the Pokemon world and only appeared again the next day, the window didn't disappear and was prompting me whether I wanted to enter the Pokemon world.

After a long talk with the manager, while eating instant noodles, I return to the Pokemon world.

"Now what I remember from the game is to get to the next city I would have to enter a house that was burglarized by Team Rocket, who stole the TM for <Dig > from the House Owner."

Looking around the city, I was easily able to find the house since it was the only house that had a Policeman standing in front of it.

"The people here were robbed. It's obvious that Team Rocket is behind this most heinous crime. Even our Police Force has trouble with the Rockets" said the Policeman as I interacted with him.

I didn't gain any additional information that I already didn't know from the Policeman.

After interacting with the Policeman, I entered the house, the inside of the house was in a mess, all the things were thrown around and there were footprints of a Pokemon leading towards a giant hole in the back wall of the house.

There were only two NPCs present inside the house, the owner of the house and a little girl probably the daughter of the house owner.

"Team Rocket must be trying to Dig their way into no good." said the little girl upon interacting.

"Those miserable Rockets. Look what they've done to my house. They stole a TM for teaching Pokemon how to dig holes."

"I was going to use it on a Mankey or Sandshrew. That cost me a bunch, it did." said the house owner following his scripted dialogues.

*Ding*

[New Quest]

[Quest - Recover The Stolen TM

Description - The Team Rocket has stolen a TM from the House Onwer, who wanted to use it on his Pokemon. The Team Rocket Grunt who stole the TM hasn't gotten far. Find the Team Rocket Grunt who stole the TM, Recover the TM, and Return it to the House Owner.

Reward - 1x TM

Deadline - None

Failure - Fail to recover the TM from the Team Rocket Grunt]

[<Accept > <Reject >]

After accepting the quest, I made my way to and through the hole coming out to the backyard of the house where the same Team Rocket Grunt was standing who stole the TM from the House owner.

"Hey, stay out! It's not your yard!" said the Grunt in anger.

"Huh? Aren't you that Trainer who completed the Nugget Bridge challenge by defeating our five best Trainers?" asked the Grunt.

'Huh? That's new. From the memories of the game, I don't think this is how this conversation goes.' I thought.

"Um, Yes, That's me." I replied.

"I've heard quite a few things from my colleagues. So have you thought about joining us?"

Just as he asked me, a window popped up in front of me.

[Do you accept the invitation to join Team Rocket]

[<Accept > <Reject >]

'From what I can remember there was no such option as to join Team Rocket in the games but here it is. I thought that this world strictly follows the games but it seems that this world has a lot more to it than I initially thought.'

'But that is the problem of future Dipper, right now I have to decide what to do, should I accept the invitation? it would be interesting to join Team Rocket but then again it is completely uncharted territory for me and my knowledge of Pokemon wouldn't be helpful.'

'Let's think about it, If I join Team Rocket then evidently I will become an enemy with not only the NPCs but also with all the players.'

'I can't risk this and I also don't know what other effects this might have if I chose to join.'

Even though the temptation of joining Team Rocket was great, but the fear of the unknown and becoming enemies with NPCs and players was even greater, as such, I pressed <Reject >.

"So, you have chosen not to join us, In that case, we can't allow you to grow any further." said the Grunt with a hint of anger in his voice.

[You are challenged by Team Rocket Grunt]

Machop Lv. 17 <Defeated >

Drowzee Lv. 17 <Defeated >

{Image Of Drowzee}

Even though he talked big but it was easy to defeat him.

"Stop, I give up. I'll leave quietly" said the Grunt.

"Wait, return what you stole." I said

"Okay, I'll return the TM I stole." said the Grunt as he handed me the TM.

[You recovered TM28 (Quest Item) from the Team Rocket Grunt]

"I better get moving. Bye!" said the Grunt as he used a smoke bomb catching me off guard.

As the smoke dispersed, the Team Rocket Grunt was nowhere to be found.

After looking around but couldn't find the Grunt, I made my way back through the hole and into the house.

With the TM in my hand, I made my way to the House Owner to return the TM.

"You can keep the TM, I figured what's lost is lost. So, I decided to teach Diglett how to use Dig without TM." said the House Owner.

[Quest - Recover The Stolen TM

Reward - 1x TM

Deadline - None

Failure - Fail to recover the TM from the Team Rocket Grunt]

[COMPLETED]

[You received TM28 from the House Owner]

After putting the TM into my backpack, I once again made my way to and through the hole since it was the only way out of this city.

After walking for a while I came across two paths one leading toward the south of the 'Cerulean City' and another one leading toward East.

I know that I can't go to the East path as It is blocked by a small tree but still, to satisfy my curiosity, I made my way onto the East path, and shortly after I was in front of a small tree blocking the path.

The small tree was small enough for me to jump over or wiggle my way around it. So I put it to the test but just as I tried I was stopped by the red barrier and a notification rang through my ears.

[You can not move past the Small Tree without Cutting it.]

"Oh well, I was worth a try." I said as I turned around but before I could take a step, another notification rang through my ears.

*Ding*

[New Quest]

[Quest - Route 9's Small Tree {Unique}

Description - A Small Tree is blocking the path to 'Route 9'. Find a way to cut the Small Tree and open the path.

Reward - 1x Random Box

Deadline - Until someone else cuts the Small Tree.

Failure - None]

[<Accept > <Reject >]

Looking at the quest description, It was a no-brainer as I pressed <Accept >. Since I need to cut that Small Tree anyway now I am even getting a reward for it.

After accepting the quest I made my way back to the cross section but along the way, I remembered that there was a Small Tree in the 'Cerulean City' too.

'I might be able to get another quest similar to this one.' I thought as made my way back to the 'Cerulean City' after reaching the cross section.

Searching around the city, I was able to find the Small Tree. Just like last time, I tried to move past the Small Tree only to be stopped by the red barrier.

And just like last time, a notification appeared followed by another notification.

[You can not move past the Small Tree without Cutting it.]

*Ding*

[New Quest]

[Quest - Cerulean City's Small Tree {Unique}

Description - A Small Tree is blocking the path of 'Cerulean City' to 'Route 5'. Find a way to cut the Small Tree and open the path.

Reward - 1x Random Box

Deadline - Until someone else cuts the Small Tree.

Failure - None]

[<Accept > <Reject >]

Another quest with the same objective appeared which I accept. After accepting the quest, I started my journey to 'Vermilion City'.

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