Chapter 158

Friday, August 28 arrived.

Luke, riding Tropius, descended to the small town at the mountain's base. Sapphire bowed deeply and said, "Teacher Luke, we'll take our leave now!"

Ruby added tearfully, "Please remember to send me a copy of Sylveon's dazzling tournament video, Teacher Luke!"

"Of course, next time," Luke nodded.

"By the way, do you both keep in touch with Red?" he asked.

"Senior Red!" they replied in unison. "Isn't he still training on Mt. Silver?"

"That's a long story," Luke said as he displayed his mobile phone's QR code. "Anyway, would you like to join a group chat to stay in touch?"

These two affectionate friends also owned Pokédexes, and joining a group chat would facilitate communication.

The pair exchanged glances and smiled. "Sure, we'd appreciate that!"

Luke was pleased with their agreement.

Two more members had joined his network!

Gold chimed in on the group chat, "Teacher Luke, when will a new game be released? Miner Gold is itching to dig!"

Wattson, the old master, responded with a grin, "Why not try playing Plants vs. Zombies?"

Gold sighed and replied, "I can't beat that!"

Wattson chuckled heartily. "Hang in there!"

Gold paused for a moment, realizing that perhaps that was the reason indeed?

Meanwhile, the lively water-type specialist, Green, expressed his surprise, "Oh, welcome to the newcomers!"

Gold responded, "Hey, the young couple from Hoenn? Did you guys also run into Teacher Luke?"

In "Special Emerald," ten Pokédex holders had participated in a friendly match against the Frontier Brains. Worth noting was Gold's victory over Sapphire in an official game, while Ruby had lost to Blue.

Ruby and Sapphire exchanged glances, their eyes revealing their surprise at unexpectedly meeting their senior colleagues in this manner.

Blue glanced at the phone, recalling Ruby's appearance from his memory. With his stylish hat and unique battling style, he seemed more impressive than Gold.

Sapphire smiled and said, "Yes, we encountered Teacher Luke while traveling, as well as Senior Steven and Jirachi!"

Gold nodded and replied, "Ah, you met the same one I encountered earlier? That sea monster is a tough opponent!"

Ruby added, "It's actually a different Jirachi, but we've safely returned it to the starry sky."

Gold exclaimed, "Darn it! I wanted to see Jirachi too!"

Sabrina, the psychic-type Gym Leader, remarked, "Teacher Luke didn't even invite Miss Erika, so why would he invite you?"

Erika chuckled, "Well, the young lady has been exploring the Orient for three days and still hasn't said a word about a tour guide."

Teacher Luke made a wise choice by opting out.

Just as Luke's phone rang, it was a call from Matori.

"The team operates directly under the command of Master Giovanni, and I don't have the authority to transfer them. However, you can delegate tasks on his behalf," Matori explained.

Luke regretfully asked, "So I can only assign tasks? Can't I bring them into my organization?"

Matori was exasperated, her frustration showing on her face. Did she have to worry about her three subordinates being poached by him?

Matori took a deep breath and calmly replied, "Jirachi's mission has failed. Please urge them to retreat as soon as possible. I apologize for the inconvenience."

Luke sighed, realizing that while it was unfortunate, Team Rocket also had the mission of collecting experience, especially involving Pikachu.

"Alright, when I meet them next time, I'll...uh, take good care of them for Giovanni!" Luke said with a resigned tone.

The celebration in the small town entered its final day. Meowth's signature ice cream shop continued to thrive.

Luke looked down at Sylveon, who was trailing behind him, and chuckled.

"Vui~..."

Though Sylveon attempted to play coy, her ribbon securely wrapped around Luke's arm told the tale.

Approaching their booth, Luke winked at the trio, prompting Meowth to promptly display the "closed" sign.

"What would you like to order?" Meowth  asked.

"This operation may have failed, but your performance was exceptional and deserving of praise," he said sternly.

The three of them were momentarily bewildered.

"We were just running a stall, meow!" Meowth looked perplexed.

"Yeah, we didn't really do much!" James and Jessie added nervously.

Luke couldn't help but think that if they were making money honestly, Team Rocket might just be a legitimate business!

However, Jessie could retire and get married, James could inherit the family fortune, and Meowth could become a translator. But the fact that they stayed together, united by a common goal, spoke volumes about their idealism.

"In short, have faith in yourself; your talents will never go unnoticed," Luke nodded.

"Thirty percent of the earnings will be transferred to my card. Your next mission is to continue pursuing Pikachu. Do you understand?"

The three of them were momentarily stunned, their eyes welled up with tears. They saluted and said in unison, "Yes, we promise to complete the mission!"

They were determined to succeed, knowing that failure was not an option.

"Very well, you may withdraw," Luke said with a slight smile. "I look forward to our next encounter."

"Yes!" The three replied with excitement.

...

The Jirachi incident had come to a close.

In summary, Luke had created unforgettable memories with Cynthia and the trio of aspiring Team Rocket members. Additionally, Squirtle had learned "Aqua Tail," and Eevee had successfully evolved.

For Pokémon, evolution marked a significant milestone in their lives. However, for Teacher Luke, witnessing his Pokémon grow and evolve was a complex and rewarding experience.

Upon returning to the bustling Magic City, Luke held his snow-white Sylveon, drawing the attention of onlookers.

Luke, maintaining his composure, thought to himself, "What are you staring at? Haven't you ever seen a tough guy before?"

Thanks to Luke's frequent use of high-quality Pokéblocks, Sylveon's fur was exceptionally supple and smooth. Despite the attention, Teacher Luke remained unfazed.

Luke playfully fiddled with Sylveon's two ribbons, tying them into bows and then unraveling them, much to their amusement.

"Vui~! (#｀д´)"

Upon returning home, Haunter put down the bags and leisurely stretched out on the sofa.

"Jie jie~..."

(Finally, back home...)

Luke also lay down on the sofa, sighing, "I'm not cooking today. Let's order takeout!"

"Jie jie~! (≧ω≦)"

Haunter picked up Teacher Luke's phone and eagerly began ordering.

Meanwhile, Squirtle, having returned from patrolling the area, cautiously pushed up his sunglasses.

After confirming that there was no one tailing them, he sighed in relief.

Luke shook his head in amusement. Tomorrow, they would need to organize the materials for the live broadcast and also discuss plans for the new games.

He realized that he needed to work hard to earn money for his Pokémon companions.

The night grew darker, and Luke lay in bed, drifting off to sleep.

Sylveon curled up in its cozy spot, its large blue eyes suddenly opening.

Haunter rubbed its hands together with a mischievous grin.

Sylveon had undergone quite the transformation—now equipped with moves like Shadow Ball, Reflect, and Light Screen, they had a whole new set of training programs to explore.

Sylveon bared its teeth excitedly.

On this day, the Meowths in the neighborhood once again remembered the fear of being dominated by Eevee!