Saffron City Outskirts.
It was the height of the lightning storm season, and the sweltering summer heat was relentless. A brief drizzle had just passed, offering a momentary reprieve, but it did little to quench the stifling humidity. Standing outside was like being trapped in a giant steamer; it took only moments for one's clothes to be drenched in sweat.
Suddenly, a violent gust of wind swept through, making the leaves rustle and hiss. The gale finally pushed away the stagnant air, followed immediately by a torrential downpour that fell like heavy, silver threads. Pedestrians quickly unfurled their umbrellas.
Through the curtain of rain, a bus with the license plate C15642 slowly pulled into the suburban station.
Feng Che stood calmly under his umbrella. The note had specified today at 9:30 AM, license plate C15642. He glanced at the station clock—exactly 9:30, not a minute early or late.
The bus doors hissed open.
"Kept you waiting, didn't it? Get on," called out a driver with squinted, "smiling" eyes.
Looking at that narrow-eyed smile, Feng Che felt a sudden jolt of electricity run down his spine, his skin prickling with goosebumps.
This man is a master. An absolute master. Otherwise, my body wouldn't react instinctively like this, Feng Che noted inwardly. The "squinty-eyed" types are never simple.
He noticed the driver's hands gripping the steering wheel—they were covered in thick, hard calluses. Several Poké Balls hung from his belt. As the driver turned to check his mirrors, his jacket shifted, revealing the crisp white uniform of Team Rocket underneath.
Something's wrong.
The hierarchy within Team Rocket was strict. Ordinary grunts wore the drab, ugly black uniforms. Only those of elite rank were permitted to wear white.
There's a scheme here. Definitely a scheme, Feng Che mused, his eyes subtly scanning his surroundings while remaining expressionless. An elite Team Rocket member acting as a bus driver? I wouldn't believe there wasn't an ulterior motive if you paid me. He might even be the Head Instructor for this trial, masquerading as a driver.
After a quick survey, he saw that the bus wasn't crowded; passengers were scattered sparsely throughout. His eyes landed on a Meowth dressed in cowboy attire sitting near the front. He deliberately chose a seat close to it.
The Meowth had pale yellow fur that faded into brown at its tail and paws. Its oval face featured prominent whiskers, and a shiny gold coin was affixed to its forehead. Dressed in a cowboy hat, a red neckerchief, and beige boots, it looked remarkably cool.
Pokémon: Meowth
Gender: Male
Potential: Outstanding (Yellow)
Ability: Technician
Level: 44
Type: Normal
Moves: Fake Out, Feint, Scratch, Pay Day, Bite, Taunt, Assurance, Fury Swipes, Screech, Slash, Nasty Plot, Play Rough, Icy Wind, Swift, Shadow Claw, Thunderbolt, Shadow Ball, Throat Chop, Dark Pulse
Status: Joyful
Feng Che noticed the Meowth was staring intently at the pendant in his hand—the one with the 'R' insignia. He focused, listening to the creature's inner voice.
[Meowth: Another foolish human falls into the trap. These people really think holding a token means they're "in" Team Rocket?]
[Meowth: Having that token is just a brick to knock on the door of the reserve program. They're still a hundred thousand miles away from being official members.]
[Meowth: This one looks fairly alert, though. Looking around, picking a strategic position... does he realize what's hidden under his seat? There should be a sharp dagger and a small spatial bracelet.]
Feng Che's heart raced as he gathered the intel. This Meowth is a goldmine of information. It seems the trial starts long before we reach the base.
There are other tests waiting on this road. Only those who pass this preliminary "hidden" trial get to move on to the real evaluation. And the Meowth said there's a dagger and a spatial bracelet under my seat?
Feng Che subtly tapped the base of his chair. It was hollow. He intentionally dropped his pendant, letting it hit the floor with a sharp clack.
Pretending to reach down and retrieve it, he ducked his head and caught sight of a small red button. He pressed it. With a faint pop, a highly concealed sliding panel opened.
He reached in and pulled out a heavy object wrapped in cloth, sliding it into his jacket pocket. It was a smooth, rapid motion. To any observer, he was just picking up his necklace. The low hum of the bus engine perfectly masked the sound of the mechanism.
Only the Meowth saw everything.
[Meowth: Like I said—sharp eyes on this kid.]
[Meowth: But he missed something. He didn't check the windows. The Poke Ball-shaped decorations on the curtains? A few of those are actual Poké Balls. And that emergency hammer near the glass? It's actually a lighter.]
[Meowth: All the essentials for wilderness survival.]
The Meowth looked at Feng Che with a cunning glint. What an interesting human. It had no idea that its every thought was being broadcast directly into Feng Che's mind.
Wilderness survival tools? Feng Che thought. Then the next phase of the trial must be in the wild. That's very "Team Rocket."
Better grab those Poké Balls.
He carefully examined the curtain trimmings. Sure enough, three of the ornaments were cleverly disguised Poké Balls. He plucked them off when he was sure no one was looking.
The hammer is going to be harder to grab without being obvious. I'll have to wait for an opening.
He closed his eyes, keeping his senses sharp and listening for more from the Meowth. However, the cat-like Pokémon merely yawned, leaned against the headrest, and drifted off to sleep.
Feng Che took the opportunity to inspect his haul. Inside the cloth wrap was a professional combat knife, its blade shimmering with a cold, lethal light. It was sharp enough to slice through metal. Beside it was a small bracelet that matched his skin tone perfectly—a spatial bracelet.
He was familiar with these from the game; this one had a capacity of about two cubic meters. Its only drawback was that it couldn't house living creatures; anything that needed to breathe would suffocate, even if kept inside a Poké Ball.
He tucked the dagger and the extra Poké Balls into the bracelet's storage.
The bus eventually reached Vermilion City, but it didn't enter. Instead, it skirted the outskirts, picking up more passengers: a girl in a pure, innocent outfit, a middle-aged man with rat-like features, a heavy-set man constantly eating a drumstick, and a street punk with wild hair.
Once the bus was full, the driver slammed the accelerator, and they sped toward their final destination: Viridian City, the stronghold of Team Rocket.
Strange. Everything has been normal so far, Feng Che thought. When does the "trial" the Meowth mentioned actually start?
It wasn't until the bus entered the dense foliage of the Viridian Forest that Feng Che caught a faint, sweet scent—sleeping gas.
"Not good..."
Struggling against the creeping lethargy, he lunged forward, grabbed the emergency hammer off the window, and shoved it into his bracelet just as his world went black. He slumped into his seat, unconscious.