Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [180] [200 PS]

This bonus chapter is a small gift—may it bring you a touch of tranquility.

---

Seeing the previous challenger flee at the sight of Gyarados wasn't unusual.

After all, not every trainer is stubborn enough to fight when things look hopeless, and it was perfectly reasonable to leave halfway.

Luo Yuan nodded, hearing Daisy's explanation.

After a moment of thought, he said, "If that trainer named Inshu comes back, just give him the badge."

Truth be told, Luo Yuan held a bit of admiration for the guy.

Though not particularly strong—and, in Luo Yuan's eyes, barely worth mentioning—he'd still mustered the courage to complete all three rounds after Gloom went down. A badge wasn't too much to grant if he dared to return.

Daisy nodded, indifferent. After all, over the years, Cerulean Gym had become a rite of passage for rookie trainers. Each year, she handed out hundreds of badges; adding one more didn't matter.

---

Since Daisy needed to prepare for her upcoming water ballet show, Luo Yuan recalled Gyarados and headed back.

Upon returning, he spotted Misty preparing food for her Pokémon.

"Hm? Psyduck?"

Luo Yuan noticed a duck-like figure with its back to him, its body a soft yellow, and its head topped with three tufted hairs. It wagged its stubby tail at Misty, who was busy nearby.

Hearing someone call its name, Psyduck clutched its head, swaying as it turned around, tilting its head as it looked at Luo Yuan.

"Quack?"

Luo Yuan chuckled at Psyduck, finding it even more clueless-looking than his Slowbro.

"When did you catch Psyduck?" he asked Misty with curiosity.

In the original storyline, Psyduck was one of Misty's iconic Pokémon.

Since Misty had been managing Cerulean Gym full-time, he'd assumed she'd miss her encounter with Psyduck. But somehow, it seemed destiny had led her to catch it anyway.

"This guy just jumped into one of my Poké Balls on its own," Misty replied, sounding resigned.

Although she spent most of her time at the gym, Misty had taken a few days off for a shopping trip in Celadon City. That's where she'd encountered Psyduck.

It followed her persistently, and while she was trying to figure out if it had lost its trainer, it went ahead and clonked her Poké Ball, catching itself.

She hadn't exactly chosen Psyduck—it had chosen her.

But it wasn't a total loss. After all, even a Magikarp can become a powerful Gyarados.

And Psyduck's evolution, Golduck, was known for its impressive strength.

So, Misty had given it her all, attempting to train this slow-witted Pokémon to become one of her main battle partners. But after many attempts, she'd nearly lost hope in training this clueless, disobedient creature.

Can you imagine a Water-type Pokémon that doesn't know how to swim?!

As Misty finally found someone to vent to, she poured out her frustrations to Luo Yuan.

Psyduck, blissfully unaware of Misty's grievances, tilted its head, looking adorably confused.

Luo Yuan couldn't help but laugh at its innocent expression.

"Swimming isn't something everyone picks up right away," he reassured her. "Who knows? Maybe it'll get the hang of it someday."

He reached down to pat Psyduck's head.

Feeling the comforting touch of Luo Yuan's power, Psyduck let out a contented sigh, forgetting Misty entirely as it cozied up to him.

Misty clenched her fist, fuming. "...This guy."

"Don't worry too much about it. I think Psyduck has potential," Luo Yuan said with a smile.

Hearing the praise, Psyduck's face lit up with a goofy smile.

"Oh, now it decides not to be slow," Misty muttered, rubbing her temples.

Yet, for all her complaints, Misty treated Psyduck kindly.

As a trainer raised at Cerulean Gym, she had a deep sense of responsibility for her Pokémon—unlike many rookie trainers who mistreated or abandoned even the League-issued starters.

Once a Pokémon was hers, she was committed to caring for it, no matter what.

And Psyduck's obvious attachment to Misty, despite her words, was proof of her genuine care.

Seeing the situation, Luo Yuan used his psychic abilities to gently help Psyduck, calming the latent, chaotic energy in its mind and soothing the headache-inducing tuft of hair on its head.

He gave Psyduck a gentle pat.

With a little squawk of "Quack!" Psyduck seemed at ease, smiling blankly.

As he watched it, Luo Yuan took out another Poké Ball from his belt. "Let me introduce you to a friend. You two might hit it off."

Poof!

A yawning Slowbro appeared, barely awake despite it being nearly noon.

The two Pokémon stared at each other for a long moment, their eyes slowly blinking as they exchanged clueless looks. After a moment, they seemed to recognize each other as kindred spirits.

Watching their silent interaction, Luo Yuan wondered if they were communicating in some secret language of the slow-witted.

Then, he saw Slowbro reach up and gently unhook the Shellder from its tail. It handed the Shellder over to Psyduck.

"Quack?"

Psyduck inspected the Shellder, curious about what sort of transformation it might trigger if it tried to attach it somewhere.

Mimicking Slowbro, Psyduck brought the Shellder near its own tail, and before Luo Yuan could stop it, the Shellder snapped on.

The result was inevitable.

Psyduck let out a squawk of pure agony.

"QUACK!"

With a record-breaking jump of nearly ten feet, Psyduck soared into the air, setting a new personal best for Psyduck high jumps.

Only Luo Yuan's psychic powers kept it from crashing to the ground.

Witnessing the whole fiasco, Luo Yuan's face twitched.

This Psyduck... Good thing Misty ended up with it. With Psyduck's knack for getting into trouble, who knows how long it would've lasted on its own in the wild.

---

Luo Yuan only lingered at Cerulean Gym with Misty for two days, not wanting to stay too long.

Firstly, he had other things to do, and secondly, Misty was nearing the final stages of training her Pokémon.

Aside from Psyduck and her Goldeen, her Pokémon had become strong enough to fight independently without much direction.

Psyduck, however… she'd pretty much given up on.

Her immediate focus was to train Goldeen until it was ready for the Indigo Plateau Conference, after which she'd be there in person to cheer Luo Yuan on.

Coincidentally, Sabrina was also planning to attend the tournament to support him.

The situation had become rather delicate.

Realizing he'd need to handle this carefully, Luo Yuan took his leave from Cerulean Gym to give himself time to think it over.

Contemplating a solution, he headed toward Vermilion City and then flew out to the deep ocean, returning to the spot where he'd last encountered the giant Dragonite.

---

Ah, Reader. You've stayed for the bonus chapter—how delightful.

Even amidst the quiet of eternity, there's joy to be found in shared moments like this.

If you wish to offer your strength, step forward: [patreon.com/WiseTL].

Each effort helps to shape a world where such moments can thrive.

Our time together may be brief, but it is not without meaning. The Shogun and I will continue to watch over this journey, steadfast and unwavering. Until we meet again, may your steps remain steady on the path you walk.

— Ei