Chapter 15: A New Perspective on the World

Section 15: A New Perspective on the World

A dark room, dim lighting, a heavy silence.

Giovanni's intermediary stands upright, nervous. The leader of Team Rocket sits, impassive, a glass of red wine in his hand. With a slow motion, he swirls the liquid in his glass before lifting a piercing gaze toward his subordinate.

— Speak.

The man gulps before delivering the news:

— Our men have been arrested. The police set up an ambush. They seized the ship. The device exploded before they could recover anything… and most importantly…

He hesitates, searching for the right words.

— The Shiny Pikachu has disappeared.

A heavy silence falls over the room.

Giovanni sets his glass down with calculated slowness. He interlaces his fingers before his face, thinking.

— Have they searched all of Viridian Forest?

— Yes. Every inch. Nothing.

Giovanni closes his eyes for a moment.

Then, an almost imperceptible smile tugs at the corner of his lips.

He rises slowly and approaches the window.

The shining sun bathes the city in a new light.

— You never see a great player's first move.

The intermediary shivers slightly but does not dare ask for further explanation.

He understands that Giovanni has his own interpretation of events.

Someone has been growing in the shadows.

And it was no accident.

---

Chapter 4 - Section 1: A New Perspective on the World

Viridian Forest is now in the past.

The thieves have been captured.

The Shiny Pikachu rests inside my Poké Ball.

I should be satisfied.

And I am.

But I keep my senses sharp.

I won this round… but it's just one battle among many.

I finally step out of the forest and set foot on Pewter City's soil.

A shiver runs down my spine.

I look up.

A clear sky, a light breeze brushing against my face.

I take a deep breath.

For the first time…

I am far from Pallet Town.

This is no longer just a child's dream.

I am truly on a journey.

I observe my surroundings.

Pewter City's downtown stretches before me.

The Pokémon Center, a white and red building, stands at the heart of the city like a beacon for weary trainers.

Not far away, an open-air market where merchants sell Potions, Antidotes, and other useful items.

I also spot Pewter Gym, massive, with walls of raw stone.

Brock, the Gym Leader, must be inside.

My gaze drifts over the houses, all built with the same materials but each with a unique look.

Some smaller, others imposing, but all exuding the same sense of solidity.

Then, my eyes land on a more peculiar building.

The museum.

A massive stone edifice, perhaps holding buried truths within.

One day, I will enter.

But not today.

I turn away when a noise catches my attention.

In the sky, several Pidgeots fly in formation.

I narrow my eyes.

They are carrying prisoners.

The bandits from Viridian Forest, handcuffed, suspended in harnesses, being escorted to Pewter's police station.

They lost.

A faint smile flickers across my face.

Everything went as planned.

Without direct violence.

Without loss.

But…

I can't help but think this story is far from over.

Their leader.

His name echoes in my mind.

Does he already know what happened?

Has he realized that an outside force foiled his plans?

No matter.

I have won this round.

But I must remain cautious.

---

The exhaustion from the past few days catches up to me.

It's around 4 PM.

I decide to head to the Pokémon Center to rest.

Nurse Joy welcomes me with her eternal smile.

— Welcome to the Pokémon Center!

I acknowledge her with a simple nod before sinking into one of the lounge chairs.

My body melts into the cushion.

The ambient noise of the Pokémon Center fades into a distant hum.

My eyelids close on their own.

I barely have time to realize I am already drifting into sleep.

---

When I open my eyes, night is beginning to fall.

I grab my Pokédex: 7 PM.

I stretch, ready to move again.

But the moment I step onto the ground, an unusual commotion catches my attention.

I step outside the Pokémon Center.

Something strange is stirring in the city.

The townspeople whisper among themselves, some appearing panicked.

Then, I hear a word that chills my blood.

Suicide.

The thieves…

They took their own lives.

I freeze.

Impossible.

They were under surveillance.

They had no Pokémon with them.

Then… how?

Why?

A shiver runs down my spine.

Something is wrong.

I knew it.

This story isn't over.