Chapter 70: Vermillion City & Gym Leader Giovanni!

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"Riding a bike really is the best!"

Liam shouted as he sped down the road on his bicycle.

This high-speed bicycle wasn't something Liam exchanged for—it was a gift from Bill, perfectly suited to Liam's taste. Riding it gave him a rare sense of freedom, completely exposing his true, carefree nature.

Soon, Liam passed by Cerulean Cape. He noticed the lingering ice floes on the sea that hadn't completely melted and the construction team busily working on the lighthouse.

Without stopping to linger, Liam quickly moved on.

His destination this time was Vermilion City—a journey that could be described as long and arduous. Traveling on foot would take nearly a week, but with the high-speed bicycle, Liam raced along, crossing mountains, weaving through forests, and traversing rivers.

Finally, after three grueling days on the bike, including camping out for two nights, Liam arrived at the legendary Vermilion City.

Covered in dust and utterly exhausted, Liam made his way into the city. Without hesitation, he headed straight for the Pokémon Center.

Handing his Pokémon to Nurse Joy for care, he received a room key from her and immediately returned to his room. After a refreshing bath and a change into clean clothes, Liam collapsed onto the bed, watching the sun dip below the horizon, and quickly fell into a peaceful sleep.

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The next morning, Liam allowed himself the luxury of sleeping in. After finishing his morning routine, he went downstairs to collect his PokéBalls from Nurse Joy. Just as he was about to leave, Nurse Joy stopped him and handed him a note.

Taking the note, Liam opened it to read:

"Please contact me as soon as you see this message. Contact number: XXXXXXX. Sender: Giovanni, Gym Leader of Viridian City."

What?! Giovanni has already become the Gym Leader of Viridian City? That's impressive.

Thanking Nurse Joy, Liam left the center and found a secluded communication terminal. Dialing the number on the note, he waited.

"Beep... Hello? Liam?"

The call connected after just one ring, and Giovanni's voice came through, followed by his image on the screen. 

Giovanni sat in a sleek office chair, dressed impeccably in a suit, while a well-groomed Persian dozed lazily by his side. 

This familiar scene almost made Liam leap with excitement—if not for Giovanni's oddly flowing long hair, which introduced a jarring note of absurdity.

"Long time no see, Giovanni. What's the occasion? Are you celebrating becoming a Gym Leader?" Liam asked with a grin.

"Haha, that's nothing worth mentioning. I became Viridian City's Gym Leader half a month ago. No need to bother you with such trivial news. I contacted you for something else," Giovanni said with a sly smile, his tone composed yet carrying a sense of importance.

"Oh? What's the matter?"

Liam's curiosity was piqued. What could be more significant than Giovanni becoming a Gym Leader?

"Our organization, Team Rocket, has been established and is now fully operational. The evolution stones you provided have been sold through various channels, securing funds for us. We're currently recruiting talent, and many like-minded individuals have already joined. As one of the founding members, I thought you should know," Giovanni explained with a broad smile, his excitement barely concealed.

"Really? That fast? Giovanni, you're truly talented in this area. With you leading Team Rocket, I can rest easy," Liam said, his eyes lighting up with admiration. 

Giovanni's efficiency in turning dreams into reality was genuinely impressive.

"Haha. By the way, give me your address and stay put for a couple of days. I'll have something delivered to you," Giovanni said.

"Hmm? What is it? Is it important?" Liam asked, intrigued.

"It's fairly significant. Just wait a couple of days," Giovanni replied mysteriously.

"Alright, I'm currently in Vermilion City. I'm planning to challenge the Gym here, so I'll stay put for now. But tell them to hurry—I won't wait too long," Liam agreed after a moment's thought.

"Don't worry, it won't take long. I'll send him immediately," Giovanni assured.

"Alright, then. If anything comes up, contact me. I'll get back to my own tasks," Liam said, ending the call.

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By noon, Liam had finished lunch and pinpointed the location of Vermilion Gym. Heading over, he soon found the building, its military-style architecture exuding a stern, disciplined air.

Pushing open the door, Liam stepped inside to see a group of muscular men and women engaged in rigorous training. Each bore a distinct military demeanor, suggesting they were all ex-soldiers.

"Hello! I'm Liam, here to challenge the Gym. Is the Gym Leader available for a battle?" Liam asked directly, his own energy seemingly boosted by the Gym's militant atmosphere.

The trainees paused their activities, looking at Liam with warm, friendly smiles—a stark contrast to their intense training vibe.

"Young man, here for a Gym challenge? Excellent! We're rooting for you. Make sure to give our Gym Leader a good lesson—he's been skimping on our meals lately!" a burly man said with a laugh, eliciting hearty laughter from the others and instantly easing the tension.

"Oh? Rorke, are you saying the food here isn't good? Does that mean you're skipping dinner tonight?"

A commanding voice rang out from the Gym's interior. A blond-haired youth with spiked hair, wearing sunglasses and dog tags, emerged. Dressed in military pants and a tank top, he radiated confidence as he strode forward.

"Captain! You must have misheard me! I would never say that!" the burly man, Rorke, protested with a sheepish grin.

"Hmm, fine. Go run five kilometers with weights. Don't come back until you're done," the blond-haired youth ordered.

"Yes, sir! Ugh..." Rorke saluted and reluctantly jogged off, leaving behind more laughter from the group.

"Apologies for the commotion. I'm Lt. Surge, the Gym Leader of Vermilion Gym, specializing in Electric-types. I hope you're ready for this challenge," Lt. Surge said, turning to Liam with a respectful nod.

"Of course. I'm Liam, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to challenge you. But I have one request—I'd like to face your strongest Pokémon in this battle. Can you grant me that?" Liam asked, his voice steady and confident.