Chapter 19: How Arrogant

The Rosa in front of him quickly dissipated, transforming into a small, pink creature.

It was the mythical Pokémon, Mew—a being said to contain the genetic code of all Pokémon. Due to its ability to turn invisible at will, it could approach humans without ever being detected.

Mew's large eyes blinked as it curiously observed the boy before it. Upon noticing the tear streaks at the corner of his eyes, it seemed to recall a certain moment—back on New Island, when that reckless trainer Ash had intervened in the battle between it and its clone.

A soft, whisper-like sound pulled Klein back to his senses. Seeing Mew's concerned gaze, he reached into his bag and took out some food, offering it to the small Pokémon.

"Sorry about that. I lost my composure."

If Mew could transform into Rosa, that meant one thing—Rosa's last known travel destination had indeed been the Kanto region.

One of Klein's main reasons for coming to Kanto was to search for the missing Rosa. Now, seeing Mew's transformation, he finally had confirmation that his assumption was correct.

The treat he handed Mew was a special fruit biscuit from Unova—a unique regional delicacy even a Pokémon as rare as Mew had likely never tasted before. The moment Mew took a bite, its tiny face lit up with delight as a fresh, fruity aroma filled the air. Within seconds, the biscuit was completely devoured.

As a mythical Pokémon, Mew had a habit of rewarding those—human or Pokémon—who brought it joy. Now that it had eaten something delicious, Mew put its tiny hands on its hips, nodded proudly, and floated in front of Klein, striking a pose as if to say, I approve of you, human!

"Was it good?" Klein teased.

Mew huffed, turning its nose up as if to say, Hmph! I'm a legendary Pokémon! Of course, I've eaten delicious food before!

"I have other flavors too. Want to try them?"

At those words, Mew's expression stiffened slightly. Its face flushed, and it quickly turned away as if uninterested. But from the corner of its eye, it kept sneaking glances at Klein's bag, clearly curious about the other flavors.

What a little tsundere… No wonder it and Mewtwo act the same way.

Klein took out two more biscuits. In a flash, Mew snatched them up and, as if embarrassed to be seen enjoying them, zoomed off before eating.

Just as Mew was about to leave, it seemed to hesitate. Taking free food from a human without giving anything in return felt… unfair.

A thought crossed its mind. With a flicker of movement, a tiny vortex of space formed around it, and three small objects dropped to the ground.

Leaving behind these three incredibly rare berries, Mew quietly disappeared into the distance, leaving Klein staring at the strange fruits in confusion.

"These must be Salac Berries," a voice said.

Klein turned to see Giovanni, who had appeared at some point. The experienced trainer picked up the three berries, inspecting them closely before gazing in the direction Mew had vanished, his eyes filled with a complicated expression.

Green and slightly resembling snake fruit from Klein's original world, these berries were rare even in this one. Known as the "mystic fruit of treasures," they were said to hold the power of the sky in ancient legends.

Salac Berries were nearly extinct in Kanto—and even globally. Their value lay in a special property: when consumed in battle, if a Pokémon's health dropped to a critical level, it would instantly boost its speed, much like the effects of a Pokémon's hidden ability.

As a seasoned trainer, Giovanni knew exactly how to handle such a valuable find. Seeing Klein's hesitation, he offered a suggestion:

"A complete set of three Salac Berries—eating them directly would be a waste. You should plant them and cultivate more."

Klein nodded, carefully stowing the berries away. As he did, he glanced toward the storm in the distance.

"Looks like things on New Island have settled."

"Yeah… it's over."

Before coming here, Giovanni had already received news—Mewtwo had disappeared with its army of clones. Team Rocket's operation on New Island had been a complete bust. At the same time, the local Pokémon League had picked up on Team Rocket's presence, meaning they'd likely take action soon.

Even though Giovanni had lost the chance to reclaim Mewtwo, this trip wasn't a total loss. In just a short time, he had managed to befriend Klein, the young Ground-type Elite—a connection that might prove invaluable.

Likewise, Klein found himself having a favorable impression of Giovanni. The veteran trainer's experience had given him a lot to learn from. Top-tier trainers in Kanto were few and far between, and with their shared preference for Ground-types, they had naturally developed a sense of mutual respect.

Before parting ways, the two exchanged contact information. With that, Klein's journey in Old Shore Wharf came to a smooth conclusion.

[Back at the Pokémon League Headquarters]

"Keeping in touch with Giovanni isn't a bad idea. There will be times when we'll need his help," a voice said over the communicator.

Klein hesitated. "...Giovanni seems to have ties to Team Rocket."

"He is the leader of Team Rocket," the voice replied bluntly. "But he's also a high-ranking executive at Silph Co."

On the other end of the call, Lorelei—Kanto's Ice-type Elite Four—yawned, unfazed. She even sounded somewhat relieved that Klein was finally showing some strategic thinking. She had worried that once he realized Giovanni's true identity, he'd react impulsively and start a fight.

In the original anime, Giovanni's identity as Team Rocket's leader was his defining role, but in this world, his core identity was as a director of Silph Co. It was precisely this corporate influence that allowed Team Rocket to endure despite repeated setbacks.

As part of the Elite Four, Lorelei and the others were tasked with maintaining order in Kanto. While Team Rocket was an enemy, their existence served a purpose—without them, the underworld would spiral into unchecked chaos, which would, in turn, affect the balance of the League itself.

[Meanwhile, the Internet was on fire.]

The upcoming Kanto vs. Johto Elite Four exhibition match had sparked heated debates among trainers from both regions.

Johto Trainer, "Little Sandy":

"Are Kanto trainers always this arrogant? Last time they sent Lance, and now they're sending a rookie against our strongest Elite Four member?"

Kanto Trainer, "May & May":

"Haha, look at this guy coping. Your 'strongest' Elite Four, Will, got wrecked 4-6 by Lance last time. Did he learn nothing from that beating?"

Johto Trainer, "Little Sandy":

"Show some sportsmanship!"

Neutral Trainer, "Snowflake":

"I don't care about regions, but I'm an anti-Klein for life. Let's go, Will!"

Trainer, "Soaring Wings":

"Klein stole my little sister! Can't believe this guy is a lolicon. As an onee-san fan, I'm rooting for Will!"

Amused, Klein suddenly jumped into the thread himself.

[Verified: Klein (Kanto Elite Four, "Sandstorm Elite")]

"Since when was Will an onee-san? Pretty sure you're mistaking him for Karen."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the screen, a certain twin-tailed girl glared at her brother.

"...So you really think Will is an onee-san?"

"Hahaha... How was I supposed to know what's under that mask?"

(End of Chapter)