Chapter 94: Goodbye Viridian

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The man who entered was at least 1.9 meters tall, with a massive and muscular frame. His explosive physique couldn't be hidden, even under the loose-fitting suit he wore, and he exuded a powerful aura.

His appearance was intimidating: a perpetually furrowed brow, small eagle-like eyes, a small nose, and a disproportionately large mouth that was always tightly shut and drooping.

Despite his fierce look, there was something unexpectedly soft about him. Perched lazily on his head was a Shuckle, whose yellow tentacles were wrapped tightly around the man's face, and a playful Skiploom was resting on his shoulder. This odd combination softened his fearsome image a bit.

Overall, the man's appearance was strikingly unique, ensuring that anyone who saw him would remember him immediately—though probably not in the most pleasant way.

At that moment, the towering man was staring directly at Sato, scrutinizing him intently. His silent, glaring presence at the doorway made Sato feel a little uneasy.

However, Sato remained calm, not showing any fear despite the man's menacing demeanor. He used his system's scanning function to analyze the man's two Pokémon.

The data on Shuckle and Skiploom was as follows:

Pokémon: Shuckle

Level: 59

Type: Bug /Rock

Ability: Sturdy

Gender: Male

Known Moves: Sticky Web, Withdraw, Wrap, Endure, Rollout, Encore, Constrict, Struggle Bug, Safeguard, Rest, Rock Throw, Rock Slide, Bug Bite, Power Split, Guard Split, Stone Edge, Bide (Egg Move), Toxic (TM), Protect (TM), Knock Off (TM), Sludge Wave (TM), Sandstorm (TM), Rock Tomb (TM), Rock Polish (TM), Gyro Ball (TM), Rock Blast (TM), Stealth Rock (TM), Gastro Acid (TM)

Pokémon: Skiploom

Level: 10

Type: Grass/Flying

Ability: Chlorophyll

Gender: Female

Known Moves: Splash, Synthesis, Tail Whip, Tackle, Fairy Wind, Aromatherapy (Egg Move), Worry Seed (Egg Move)

"A level 59 Shuckle, that's really strong. Why is he here? Did he come just to intimidate me?" Sato thought, growing tense after gathering the information.

The towering man continued to stare at Sato for over a minute, then suddenly, the intense pressure he had been exuding disappeared. He pulled out a photograph, compared the person in the photo to Sato, and then reached into his coat to retrieve a small package, tossing it to Sato before leaving and shutting the door behind him.

Throughout the entire encounter, the man didn't say a single word.

Once the man was gone, Sato didn't immediately focus on the package. Instead, he let out a deep breath and gently patted his Pokémon, who were still on high alert, telling them to relax.

Sato had to admit, the pressure that hulking man had exerted on him and his Pokémon was immense. The feeling of having his life in someone else's hands, where danger seemed to loom at any moment, was truly unsettling.

"Don't be discouraged. He's been training for longer than we have, so it's natural that he's stronger. But remember, we'll keep getting stronger too. As long as we work hard, we'll surpass him one day, and then we'll show everyone what we're made of," Sato said with a smile, comforting his Pokémon, who seemed a bit down after the encounter.

Hearing Sato's words, the four Pokémon visibly perked up, especially Zubat and Growlithe, who both had strong pride. Even as they ate their food, they kept their eyes fixed on the door.

"That man was probably Orm, one of Team Rocket's Beast Trio. What's going on? I'm just a low-level newcomer in Team Rocket, yet I ran into him here. And from his actions, it seems like he came to deliver something to me," Sato thought, confused, as he looked at the package on the table after calming his Pokémon down.

Yes, the towering man from earlier was indeed Orm, one of the Beast Trio, high-ranking members of Team Rocket who were directly under Giovanni's command. Orm was one of the few trainers in Team Rocket capable of rivaling the Elite Four, and his visit was part of a task given to him by Giovanni.

"This is Viridian City, and the only person who can command the Beast Trio is Giovanni. What's the deal? I only eliminated a few gang members in the city, and now Giovanni's taken notice of me?" Sato mused as he pieced together what might have happened.

Once he figured out the situation, the weight of the package in his hands felt even heavier, and he had mixed feelings. On one hand, he was glad that Giovanni had taken notice of him, which could mean unexpected opportunities within Team Rocket. On the other hand, it worried him that he might get more deeply entangled in Team Rocket's affairs, making it harder to leave the organization in the future. After all, Giovanni wouldn't easily let someone he took an interest in slip away.

Of course, Sato didn't think staying with Team Rocket was necessarily a bad thing. After all, gym leaders like Sabrina and Koga had willingly followed Giovanni and remained loyal to him. It was a testament to Giovanni's charisma. If he could continue working under Giovanni, it might not be a bad path.

"Well, there's no point worrying about this now. The important thing is to keep improving my strength. Giovanni seems like a good leader, and if he's noticed me, maybe following him isn't such a bad idea," Sato thought as he carefully unwrapped the package.

The package was small, and inside was just a single item—a nondescript stone. However, Sato, being a Pokémon enthusiast, immediately recognized it for what it was: a Moon Stone.

To confirm his hunch, Sato turned off all the lights in the room, plunging it into darkness. The moment he placed the stone on the table, it began to emit a soft, moon-like glow, illuminating the room.

Judging by the brightness of the glow, this Moon Stone gifted by Giovanni was of excellent quality, at least a top-tier one. Sato couldn't help but appreciate Giovanni's generosity in rewarding him with such a valuable item.

"A Moon Stone, huh? What a surprise. With the Sun Stone, Fire Stone, and now the Moon Stone, I've managed to gather all three in a single day. Now both Growlithe and Nidoran have the chance to evolve whenever they're ready," Sato said excitedly as he gazed at the stone lighting up the room.

The Sun Stone, Fire Stone, and Moon Stone were all items Sato had planned to search for in the near future, but through a series of fortunate events, he had acquired them all. This was undoubtedly great news for him.

Sato suddenly felt an urge to evolve Growlithe into Arcanine and Nidoran into Nidoking right away, knowing it would significantly boost his battle strength.

Having witnessed Bellossom's evolution earlier, Growlithe and Nidoran, who had heard from Sato about the Fire Stone and Moon Stone's potential to evolve them, were now looking at him expectantly.

However, Sato resisted the temptation. He carefully stored the Moon Stone in his spatial equipment.

"We need to be patient. Evolving too early isn't always a good thing. You two are still young, and compared to Bellossom, who's lived for a long time, your foundation is still too shallow. Even with my help, it's better to wait and build up your strength first," Sato said, patting Growlithe and Nidoran on the head with a smile.

Hearing this, Growlithe and Nidoran nodded thoughtfully, temporarily giving up on the idea of evolving right away. They both hopped onto the treadmill and started training hard.

Time passed quickly, and soon, over an hour had gone by. The bus Sato had been waiting for was finally ready to depart, and the signal for departure echoed through the terminal.

"Goodbye, Viridian City," Sato thought to himself as he sat on the bus, watching the city shrink into the distance through the window.

Meanwhile, high above the bus Sato was riding, a Pidgeot flew by swiftly, leaving the bus far behind in an instant.

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