Chapter 155

While the Team Rocket Trio may have never succeeded in capturing Pikachu, their entrepreneurial skills are top-notch. Meowth's translation ability alone is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, if not more. Additionally, their remarkable teamwork and resourcefulness are undeniable. Luke suspects that even if they were given a pile of seemingly worthless items, they could somehow turn it into something valuable.

The fact that they can independently generate income while remaining loyal to their unique antics makes them the kind of employees any capitalist would dream of having. Luke has developed a favorable impression of the trio. Despite their different ideologies, their genuine love for Pokémon, as evidenced by their close relationship with Alola's guardian deity "Bewear," is undeniable.

Ultimately, Luke's primary goal is to assist them and alleviate any hardships they may be facing. "In summary, your current task is to focus on making money. Do you understand?" he asked.

"Oh, yes! What kind of secret mission do you have for us?" Jessie's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

James, however, was quick to cover Jessie's mouth in a panic and interjected, "Don't worry, we've never seen you before!"

"That's right, nya!" Meowth, shivering, leaped onto Jessie's shoulder and whispered in her ear, "I'm inquiring about the Executive's plan, and I might get sent on a mission, nya!"

Luke paused for a moment before responding, "A secret mission... that's correct." It appeared that Giovanni's original intention was to ensure the trio's safety while avoiding the hassle of locating them at the police station. Perhaps Giovanni would be grateful for his assistance.

Upon hearing Luke's words, the trio visibly relaxed and wore expressions of understanding. Being promoted to Executive at such a young age and entrusted with a secret mission must make him a celebrated figure in Giovanni's eyes.

They believed that if they executed the Executive mission flawlessly, they would earn Master Giovanni's approval and finally rid themselves of the troublesome girl with glasses and her Persian. "What a wonderful feeling!" the trio exclaimed simultaneously, their faces beaming with smiles.

Luke cleared his throat to interrupt their daydreaming. "By the way, how did you end up here?" he asked.

In this altered world, the Team Rocket Trio should have been active in different regions. So, why had they come here to pursue Eevee?

"Oh, we heard about a nearby celebration from Meowth, so we decided to try our luck," James explained.

"Word has it that there might be a legendary Pokémon inside a meteorite in Hoenn!" Meowth added, looking rather pleased with himself.

Suddenly, the trio froze, as if they had just realized something alarming, and they trembled as they asked, "Your plan doesn't involve capturing Jirachi, does it?"

Luke was taken aback. He hadn't even revealed the specifics of the secret mission, and they were already jumping to conclusions.

"Don't worry, we'll keep everything a secret," the three of them solemnly vowed.

Luke cleared his throat and delivered a stern message, saying, "If you understand, then get on with your task promptly. I won't repeat myself."

"Yes, we promise to complete the task!" The trio saluted and mysteriously produced a multitude of parts out of thin air. With a puff of smoke and a loud bang, a three-person bicycle materialized before Luke's eyes, leaving him utterly dumbfounded.

Their technical prowess seemed to have transcended the limits of imagination, even breaking through the realms of fantasy. Luke couldn't help but think he had underestimated their engineering skills. Perhaps they could have excelled as Gundam engineers!

"Alright, we'll be on our way!" The trio mounted their bicycle and waved farewell to Luke.

Just before they departed, Luke posed a casual question, "By the way, do any of you happen to know a Trainer named Ash and where he's currently traveling?"

The trio's expressions abruptly turned peculiar upon hearing Ash's name, and they exclaimed in unison, "Little imp!"

Luke's expression became equally complicated. He had simply asked a casual question; could it be that Ash was infamous in this world too?

"What's with the little imp?" James inquired, surprised.

Luke sighed and replied, "Well, his Pikachu is quite crafty."

Tears welled up in the trio's eyes as they shared a sense of camaraderie. Even an Executive like Luke had experienced Pikachu's elusive tactics. Failing to capture it was forgivable.

"I last saw the little imp during the Silver Conference," James recalled, scratching his chin. "And I heard he's headed to Hoenn next. After this holiday season, we're planning to go there as well."

"We're determined to catch Pikachu!" Jessie clenched her fist and ground her teeth.

"Woo~~buffet!" Wobbuffet sprang out of its Poké Ball.

Luke covered his forehead with his hand, letting out a long sigh. "Alright, you can go now. I need some time alone."

"May victory and fortune be with you, ohoho!" The trio laughed and rode off on their bicycle.

As sunlight streamed through the jungle canopy, Luke gazed up at the leaves and muttered, "That fool is challenging Hoenn now? It seems the timeline is quite advanced."

After taking a deep breath, the professionally trained Teacher Luke managed to regain his composure. "Well, it's just Ash traveling alone. That's understandable."

Although Red and Ash were theoretically the same person, the difference in their strength was like night and day. In this world, Red was "The Fighter" of Special Episode in his ultimate form, capable of taking on Legendary Pokémon. Ash, on the other hand, was still a rookie, fumbling through Alliance conferences.

Their appearances and dressing styles were also markedly different: Red typically wore classic red and white clothing, while Ash favored blue attire. In the movie "I Choose You!," Ash's character was reimagined, and his journey lacked companions like Brock and Misty.

In essence, this world seemed to be a blend of the TV series and special episodes.

Nodding in contemplation, Luke couldn't help but chuckle at the situation. "What a peculiar twist!"

"Pallet Town truly is a simple and honest place! It seems both Rookie and The Fighter are on the same world line," he mused.

However, when he thought about it, the special series never mentioned Red's parents. Red had risen to the ranks of "The Fighter" despite hailing from a commoner background, which was truly admirable.

Luke rubbed his chin in thought. "Perhaps I'll encounter that fool when I visit Kanto."

"Yes, indeed. I look forward to meeting Ash, the one who has faced down Legendary Pokémon!" he exclaimed.

...

As evening descended, the town's celebration continued. Luke and the others gathered in the town square, where Ruby and Sapphire were sharing ice cream cones.

"Would you like to try mine?"

"I prefer that flavor. I'll trade with you!"

"If you kiss me, I'll give you a bite." Ruby mischievously teased.

Steven cleared his throat to remind everyone of Jirachi's presence, and Luke also coughed to indicate his single status.

Jirachi, tilting its head, asked, "[Kiss? What is that?]"

Sapphire blushed, lightly pecked Ruby on the cheek when he wasn't looking, and swiftly swapped their ice creams. Jirachi cheered and floated happily around.

"[Kiss, Steven, kiss!]" it suggested.

Luke inquired with curiosity, "Where did you buy this ice cream?"

Ruby replied with a smile, "There's a new stall in town, and it's become quite popular, especially for Mega flavors. The taste is excellent!"

Luke nodded with satisfaction, pleased to see their business taking off. Although it was just a small step at the moment, in the long run, the Team Rocket Trio was likely to turn a tidy profit.

"I should inquire with Matori... whether these three can be assigned to my supervision," Luke mused. "If it's possible, it could be a worthwhile endeavor!"