This was Nozomi's second time working with Lorelei. By now, the two were already well acquainted with each other's methods, and their coordination had become seamless.
Nozomi would act as a Gym challenger, heading to Saffron Gym ahead of time to gather information, while Lorelei coordinated with the League to mobilize support and stand by for a potential confrontation with Team Rocket.
Outside Saffron Gym, Nozomi stood with Misdreavus perched on his shoulder, gazing up at the imposing building.
As the Gym of the wealthy Saffron City, it reflected the same level of affluence as the city itself—a fact evident from its extravagant façade alone.
Even the elegant Cerulean Gym paled in comparison, and the stone-built Pewter Gym couldn't even be mentioned in the same breath.
"Hello, I'm here to challenge the Gym," Nozomi said directly to the attendant at the entrance as he stepped inside.
"A challenger?" The Gym staffer looked him over, not bothering to ask his name before asking instead, "Do you believe in the existence of human psychics?"
"I do," Nozomi replied without a second's hesitation.
"If you don't, then—wait, what?" The young man stopped mid-sentence, realizing what Nozomi had just said.
For a moment, he was stunned.
He had received countless challengers before, and whenever he posed that question, most trainers would pause, hesitate, or give a half-hearted answer.
But someone who so calmly and decisively affirmed their belief in psychics—he'd never met one like that.
"You… really believe psychics exist?" he asked.
"I really do," Nozomi nodded. "In fact, I'm a psychic myself."
"…Right," the young man muttered, at a loss for words. There were tall tales, and then there was that.
"Come on, don't kid around. Becoming a psychic isn't that easy—you think everyone can just be a prodigy like Miss Sabrina? I've been training here at Saffron Gym for three years, and I've only barely managed to tap into psychic energy."
He'd come to Kanto's renowned Psychic-type Gym out of fascination for psychic powers. After three years of relentless effort, he'd finally scratched the surface of psychic ability—and now, this stranger waltzes in claiming to have mastered it? No way.
As he spoke, the young man pulled a spoon from his pocket, focusing his gaze on it.
After several long seconds, the spoon trembled slightly, bending ever so faintly.
"See? That's psychic power!" he declared proudly, showing it off to Nozomi.
It had taken him three years of grueling practice to achieve that small feat, and now, being able to demonstrate it before someone else filled him with pride.
"Oh?"
Nozomi glanced at the inexplicably smug young man, wondering why bending a spoon a few millimeters was supposed to be impressive.
Seeing Nozomi's doubtful expression only made the young man more convinced that this "psychic" was a fraud. In Saffron's psychic circles, spoon-bending was a fundamental test of one's authenticity—any true psychic would know that.
"This," he said, lifting the spoon with authority, "is the mark of a real psychic! Statistics show that only 0.001% of the world's population can use psychic power. In other words, one in ten thousand people might have the gift."
He held the spoon out to Nozomi. "Go on—try it yourself. You'll see how hard it really is."
Inwardly, he smirked. Once you try, you'll realize it's not so simple!
"I don't think it's that hard," Nozomi said, taking the spoon casually.
He activated his telekinesis.
The spoon twisted like soft clay, warping into a ninety-degree bend in the blink of an eye.
The young man's eyes went wide.
"Th–that's impossible…"
He stared in disbelief. The guy he'd just dismissed as a braggart was actually an incredibly powerful psychic!
The spoon in Nozomi's hand was now bent into a perfect spiral, something even the strongest psychics at the Gym couldn't accomplish—aside from Miss Sabrina herself.
"You… you're really… a psychic?"
"Would I lie to you?" Nozomi tossed the spoon back nonchalantly.
He had read online that Saffron Gym was notorious for being exclusive—non-psychic challengers were required to defeat several of the Gym's psychic apprentices before earning the right to face the leader.
Nozomi had no interest in wasting time with those weaklings, so he'd decided to reveal his psychic ability right away.
Judging by the result, it had worked perfectly.
The young man's eyes now gleamed with awe and reverence. In his mind, Nozomi had become another prodigious talent like Miss Sabrina.
"Please follow me, sir, if you wish to challenge the Gym!" the young man said eagerly, hurrying ahead to lead the way.
Nozomi couldn't understand his reaction. Was psychic power really such a big deal?
To him, it was simply a convenient tool—useful for daily life, nothing more. The kind of fanatic admiration these people had for psychic abilities was entirely beyond him.
Still, he didn't bother correcting the misunderstanding. Being admired could make it easier to gather intel on the Gym.
As they walked through the main hall, they passed several apprentices who were training their psychic powers. Each time they saw Nozomi, they instinctively moved to challenge him—until the young man whispered that Nozomi was a powerful psychic. Then their expressions shifted instantly, eyes filled with the same mix of envy and respect.
By the time they reached the inner corridor, Nozomi had formed a clear impression of Saffron Gym's members:
They were all psychic fanatics—devotees who worshiped psychic power and were fiercely loyal to anyone who possessed it.
That wasn't necessarily good news.
If Sabrina chose to side with Team Rocket, these psychic disciples would likely follow her without hesitation, placing themselves squarely against the League.
And given the unique nature of Psychic-type Pokémon…
If these people truly turned their power against the League, things would become very troublesome.
"I need to confirm Sabrina's stance," Nozomi thought. "If she's with Team Rocket, then I'll have no choice but to subdue her first."
He had already prepared for the worst.
"We've arrived, Mr. Nozomi."
The young man stopped before a large ornate door. "Miss Sabrina is inside. I can only take you this far."