The Numbers

Something's not right.

Even if Amber really liked the Kanto starters, there's no way Dr. Fuji could have collected eight Squirtle, five Bulbasaur, and seven Charmander to make her happy.

And...

Chen Yue stepped forward and noticed a black number on the shell of one of the Squirtle.

[05]

Not just the Squirtle, the Charmander and Bulbasaur also had numbers.

Ranging from 01 to 09.

Amber noticed his silence and asked in confusion, "Big Brother... what's wrong?"

Chen Yue snapped out of his thoughts, touched the ghostly head of Squirtle, and casually said, "It's nothing, it's just that in the Alola region, they don't have Squirtle, Bulbasaur, or Charmander. This is the first time I've seen them, so I'm a bit curious."

He then asked, "By the way, Amber, do you like the sea? I remember Dr. Fuji saying he took you to see the sea in Vermilion City."

A look of confusion crossed Amber's eyes, and she instinctively shook her head. "I've never seen the sea. Is the sea beautiful?"

Chen Yue remained composed. "The sea is very beautiful, especially in the evening when the sun sets. The orange sunlight sprinkles over the sea, and when you stand on the beach and look out, you can see the golden horizon on the edge of the sky."

A look of longing appeared in Amber's eyes. "I really want to see it."

Chen Yue smiled. "If we have the chance, I'll take you to see it."

"But Daddy doesn't let Amber go out..." Amber said sadly.

Chen Yue crouched down and reached out to hold Amber's hand. "It's okay. Someday, when Amber's illness is cured, your dad won't stop you anymore. By then, I can take you to see the sea in Alola, Mount Coronet in Sinnoh, and the Bell Tower in Johto."

"If you don't believe me, come on, let's pinky promise!" Chen Yue said, extending his little finger to hook onto Amber's pinky. "Pinky promise, we won't change for a hundred years!"

Amber chuckled, "Brother, this is something only kids do. You're already an adult!"

Chen Yue raised his eyebrows in a serious manner. "Who said that? I'm only three years old this year! I grew this tall because I ate too much!"

After only knowing each other for half a day, Chen Yue had already taken a liking to this obedient and pitiful little girl.

Perhaps out of sympathy and compassion, Chen Yue didn't want to see her unhappy. So, even though he knew it was unlikely that he could take her to see the sea, he still told this well-intentioned lie.

***

Amber had a very happy day today, and she hadn't been this happy in a long time.

In the evening, Dr. Fuji returned to the mansion after work. Seeing this, Chen Yue said goodbye to Amber and left.

Dr. Fuji keenly picked up on his daughter's emotions and crouched down to ask, "Did Amber have fun today?"

Amber nodded. "Big Brother is a very nice person, and Amber really likes him!"

Dr. Fuji heard this and revealed his sinister side, "So, does Amber want to be with Big Brother forever? Daddy can make sure Big Brother stays with you forever!"

Amber's eyes flickered, and she recalled some unpleasant memories. She shook her head and refused, "No, Daddy. Amber is already very happy like this."

"Alright," Dr. Fuji didn't insist. He prepared dinner for his daughter, watched her fall asleep, and then went to the basement of the mansion alone.

His expression became manic, completely different from the one he showed while telling stories to his daughter.

The basement was decorated in the style of an operating room. Dr. Fuji pressed a switch, and the harsh white light illuminated the entire space.

The room was filled with transparent glass containers containing formaldehyde. In the front row of containers, there were several Charmander and Squirtle immersed in them, each with a black number on their bodies.

But that wasn't Dr. Fuji's purpose. He passed through a row of formaldehyde containers and reached a closer position.

There, there was also a row of glass containers filled with formaldehyde. However, inside these containers were not Squirtle but identical six or seven-year-old girls.

The little girls were not wearing clothes, their skin was lifelessly pale, and their light blue hair scattered in the solution like seaweed.

"Amber... I finally saw you smile again today. It's been two years since Daddy saw you so happy."

Dr. Fuji's pupils dilated as he stared at the girl inside.

"I'm happy, Amber. I'm really happy. It makes Daddy feel that everything he has done is worth it."

"Good daughter, I won't let you leave me, never..."

He muttered to himself, his eyes showing a trace of crazy fanaticism. In the end, he even used his fist to smash the glass, causing a large amount of liquid to flow out.

Dr. Fuji's hands were scratched by the glass, but he seemed not to feel it, just reaching in and holding the girl tightly, crying bitterly.

***

Upstairs in the main house, Amber lay on her bed.

She quietly closed her eyes, a faint smile on her lips.

She had a secret, that when she fell asleep, she could talk to a mysterious person.

She liked to share everything she encountered with him, including today—

"Little Mew, today I met a very nice Big Brother. He played with me all afternoon. We built sandcastles with sand, and he even peeled apples for me. We made a pinky promise to go to Alola together to see the sea in the future."

"Little Mew, have you seen the sea before? I heard the sea is beautiful, and I really want to go see it!"

"Little Mew, when I get better, how about the three of us go to Alola together to see the sea? Is that okay?"

Amber spoke with longing, and Mewtwo listened quietly. It didn't express any words, just silently remembering that a human had made its good friend have a very happy day.

***

When Chen Yue returned to the base, he saw the other three people blocking his room again.

He welcomed them into the room with a blank expression and asked, "Want to exchange information again?"

Gu Jia nodded and said, "Today, I received a hidden mission called [Jessie]. I want to ask if any of you can tell me about Jessie's information?"

"I watched the Pokemon anime when I was a child, and now I can't remember the plot about Jessie. I only know she's one of the Team Rocket trio."

Hearing this, Bai Yunfei widened his eyes and exclaimed, "Are you sure you didn't make a mistake? It's a hidden mission?"

Gu Jia was puzzled, "Yes, why? Is there something special about hidden missions?"

Bai Yunfei sighed with a complicated expression, "Well, hidden missions aren't special themselves, but there's a high chance of getting rare items when you complete them, like evolution stones, Mega Bracelets, Revival Herbs, Soul Dew, and such. These things don't drop in Main Quests, only in hidden missions."

"Sometimes, you can even get exclusive items from the Pokemon games, like PP Up, Calcium, and other rare items."

Chen Yue listened silently on the side and realized that he had also received a hidden mission.

Bai Yunfei and Fatty had become sour like lemons.

Chen Yue looked at Fatty and then at Bai Yunfei, finding that Bai Yunfei looked a bit like Nobita.

Fatty and Nobita combination... truly a perfect match.

He couldn't hold back and burst into laughter, making the other three turn their heads to look at him.

Chen Yue had to change the topic, "Sorry, I thought of something funny. Are you asking about Jessie? I know a little."

Jessie, her mother was an assistant to the previous Team Rocket executive named Miyamoto.

When Jessie was five years old, Miyamoto was ordered to search for Mewtwo and disappeared without a trace.

Five-year-old Jessie lost her mother and was adopted by a poor family. Due to poverty, Jessie often went hungry.

So, when she had no other choice due to lack of food, she could only fill her stomach with dishes made of snow.

Later, Jessie left her hometown and tried to become a Pokemon Nurse, so she entered the Chansey Nursing School to study.

But Jessie couldn't grasp the necessary skills and was forced to leave.

After that, Jessie joined the Team Rocket Academy several times and met James and Meowth there, officially forming the Team Rocket trio.