"I'm back."
Zhang Tianyu opened the door and called out as usual, expecting a reply that never came. What greeted him was cold, empty silence.
There was no one at home.
"Not home again," Zhang Tianyu muttered, his voice hollow. He sighed and walked toward his room, dragging his feet. He couldn't even remember the last time this house had truly felt like home. His parents were always busy with their own careers, leaving him alone in this vast, empty space. Day after day, the same thing—no one to talk to, no one to care.
Tonight was no different. He had hoped, just maybe, that today would be special. After all, he had scored 89 points in his Pokémon combat exam—something he had worked hard for. But there was no one to share his joy, no one who even cared enough to ask about his results. His parents hadn't said a word about his exam, too consumed with their own lives.
Just as he was about to shut his door, a soft knock echoed through the room.
"Who's there?"
His heart raced slightly. Who would visit at this hour?
Zhang Tianyu hesitated before approaching the door and opening it cautiously. To his surprise, no one stood outside. Instead, an envelope slipped through the crack and landed at his feet.
Frowning, he picked it up. The front bore three bold words: Team Rocket Invitation.
"Team Rocket? What is that?"
He had never heard the name before. His eyes darted up and down the corridor, hoping to catch sight of whoever left the letter. But the hallway was deserted, bathed only in the pale glow of the street lamps outside.
Confused but curious, he closed the door and returned to his room, tearing open the envelope. Inside was a simple note:
> If you want to become stronger and defeat Renjiro, add this contact information.
At the bottom was a red R logo, striking and ominous.
The name Renjiro made Zhang Tianyu's blood boil. His mind flashed back to that humiliating day—the day Renjiro had utterly crushed him, forcing him to kneel and apologize in front of everyone. That memory burned in his heart like a scar that wouldn't fade.
His hands trembled slightly as he gripped the letter. Without thinking twice, he grabbed his phone and entered the contact information provided.
[The other party has agreed to add you as a friend.]
The acceptance was almost instant. The sender's ID was simply "Team Rocket."
[Team Rocket: Zhang Tianyu?]
It was a Penguin (QQ) account that Zhang Xuewei had set up for the specific purpose of recruiting new members to Team Rocket.
[Zhang Tianyu: Can you really help me defeat Renjiro?]
His fingers flew across the screen as he typed the question that consumed his every thought. He didn't care who this was—as long as they could give him the power to take Renjiro down.
[Team Rocket: Since we at Team Rocket said so, you can trust us to do it.]
Zhang Xuewei replied confidently. He knew of Renjiro's terrifying strength, but in his mind, Boss Giovanni was a man who could make anything possible.
[Zhang Tianyu: Fine. As long as I can beat Renjiro, I'll do anything!]
His hatred blazed in his eyes. His pride, shattered by Renjiro, demanded retribution.
[Team Rocket: You don't need to do anything except be loyal to Team Rocket.]
Satisfied with Zhang Tianyu's eagerness, Zhang Xuewei invited him into Team Rocket's group chat.
[Zhang Tianyu has joined the group chat.]
A notification appeared in the chat window.
[Cao Ruifeng: Whoa, you joined Team Rocket too, Zhang Tianyu?!]
Cao Ruifeng, a recent recruit, was surprised to see the name pop up. Like Zhang Tianyu, he too had suffered at Renjiro's hands.
[Zhang Tianyu: Who are you? How do you know me?]
Zhang Tianyu frowned, puzzled that someone recognized him right away.
[Team Rocket: He's Renjiro's classmate. Renjiro shaved his head during today's Pokémon battle. He only scored three points.]
Zhang Xuewei explained, amused by the situation. Renjiro's trail of defeated enemies was growing, and now two of them had found their way into Team Rocket's ranks.
[Zhang Tianyu: Three points?!]
Zhang Tianyu couldn't help but snicker. Three points? That had to be a record low! But then the smirk faded from his face as he realized—if he faced Renjiro again, he'd probably fare no better.
[Zhang Tianyu: I see. Renjiro is truly formidable.]
That was an understatement. Against Renjiro, they didn't stand a chance on their own. That's why Zhang Tianyu had clung to the hope that Team Rocket could give him the strength he needed.
[Cao Ruifeng: Finally! Someone who understands me! You don't know how much these guys in the group made fun of me for my three points...]
Cao Ruifeng seemed relieved, as if he'd found a kindred spirit. He had been the laughingstock of the group until now.
[Zhang Tianyu: Let's chat privately.]
Zhang Tianyu added Cao Ruifeng as a friend to learn more.
[Zhang Tianyu: You're really Renjiro's classmate?]
[Cao Ruifeng: Of course! I bullied him for three years—until he humiliated me and shaved my head.]
There was regret in Cao Ruifeng's words. Who would've thought the boy he used to torment would rise to such heights?
[Zhang Tianyu: No wonder.]
The pieces fit together. Renjiro's actions made sense now.
[Zhang Tianyu: Do you think Team Rocket can really make us stronger?]
Zhang Tianyu asked, hoping for reassurance.
[Cao Ruifeng: I'm not sure. I just joined. But another guy I know has been in the group longer—he says there's supposed to be a training camp soon. We'll get Pokémon and resources. That's when we'll see if this is the real deal.]
A training camp? That sounded promising. If it could truly help him defeat Renjiro, Zhang Tianyu would wait.
"After a while, huh?" Zhang Tianyu thought. He would bide his time, but his resolve was firm. He would seize any chance to rise above Renjiro.
Later that night, Zhang Tianyu shut off his phone, opened his laptop, and began watching Renjiro's battle recordings. Every move, every strategy—he studied them all, determined to find a weakness.
---
Behind the Scenes: Team Rocket's Plot
This was all part of Zhang Xuewei's plan. He had investigated Zhang Tianyu thoroughly. He knew of Tianyu's privileged yet lonely background—neglected by his powerful parents, left to his own devices, and desperate for recognition.
When Zhang Xuewei learned of Zhang Tianyu's humiliating defeat at Renjiro's hands, he knew he had found the perfect pawn. He had toyed with the idea of recruiting Renjiro himself. But the young trainer's brilliance was too great. Renjiro would outshine him, maybe even challenge his authority in Team Rocket. So instead, he focused on those with grudges—like Zhang Tianyu and Cao Ruifeng.
To Zhang Xuewei, Boss Giovanni was a godlike figure—an omnipotent leader who could give them all the power they craved. As long as they served loyally, there was nothing Team Rocket couldn't achieve.
But what Zhang Tianyu and Cao Ruifeng didn't know was that they were just pawns in a much bigger game. Their hatred for Renjiro made them easy to manipulate, their desire for strength a perfect tool for Team Rocket's rise.
The Storm to Come
As Zhang Tianyu continued to watch Renjiro's battles late into the night, he felt his anger and determination harden into something sharper, more focused. He replayed footage of Renjiro's Beedrill dodging attacks, Renjiro's quick commands, his flawless tactics. He watched again and again, searching for any sign of vulnerability.
Meanwhile, Zhang Xuewei prepared the next phase of his plan. He would gather more disillusioned youths, all with one thing in common—a desire for revenge, power, or recognition. Together, under Team Rocket's banner, they would grow stronger. And one day, perhaps, they would finally have the strength to take down the boy genius who had humiliated them all—Renjiro.
But Renjiro was no ordinary opponent. And the path that Zhang Tianyu and his new allies had chosen would lead them into far deeper and darker waters than they could possibly imagine.
---