After thinking it over—
Red decided to open the three letters.
Their contents were almost identical:
[Dear Trainer,]
[I, the strongest Pokémon Trainer, will be hosting a tournament to determine the strongest trainer. You are specially invited to participate.]
"The strongest Pokémon Trainer?"
Red thought about Mewtwo's strength and couldn't help but complain:
"If Mewtwo becomes a trainer, then of course it's the strongest."
"Who can compete with Mewtwo itself as a trainer?"
He casually tossed the three letters back into the corner.
"A competition with no rewards and full of risks? Who would go?"
Meanwhile—
On a remote island—
Mewtwo sat on a throne inside its castle.
It sensed that the letters had been opened—
And then… nothing.
Mewtwo fell into doubt.
"Why would someone not come?"
"Don't they want to prove they are the strongest trainer?"
Clearly—
Mewtwo's understanding of trainers was still immature.
It couldn't comprehend Red 's mindset:
No profit, no action.
"The sky falls, and someone taller will hold it up."
"Why should I deal with this mess?"
After figuring it out—
Red completely ignored the letters.
Of course—
He was tempted by Mewtwo.
But he also knew his limits.
Tyranitar might rival the weakest Elite Four Pokémon—
Even with unreliable Mega Evolution, maybe it could reach standard Elite Four level.
But Mewtwo?
Even at minimum—
It was above Champion level.
So Red 's stance was firm:
"Mewtwo? Never heard of it."
However—
Out of "respect"—
He still reported it to the Pokémon League.
"A Psychic-type Legendary Pokémon is suspected to be on a certain island."
"Mewtwo, you want to find the strongest trainer?"
"I'll help you."
"The ones I'm sending you are definitely strong enough."
"Better than picking random weaklings and calling yourself the strongest."
"You should learn—there's always someone stronger."
The League took a Gym Leader's report seriously.
After confirming the presence of a Legendary Pokémon—
They immediately dispatched top forces.
Including—
Lance of the Elite Four, along with multiple other Elite Four members.
What happened afterward—
Red didn't know.
He only heard that:
The missing Nurse Joy was rescuedThe League acknowledged Mewtwo's existence
As for what the newly born Mewtwo experienced—
Red didn't care.
But one thing he was sure of:
Facing multiple Elite Four at once—
A young Mewtwo definitely didn't have an easy time.
What Red didn't know was—
The psychic energy embedded in the letters—
Was not only for tracking—
But also for observation.
So Mewtwo quickly learned the truth.
"Songzao Gym Leader… Red …"
"Good. Very good."
"Excellent."
In the ruins of its shattered castle—
A heavily injured Mewtwo roared in human speech.
"You'll come to this island someday."
"You will!"
...
None of that mattered to Red anymore.
Because now—
He had another letter in hand.
Looking at it—
He felt numb.
"I just want to train peacefully…"
"Why is there always something happening?"
"And in a world where Pokémon can be teleported…"
"Why do people still insist on sending letters?"
"Maybe… for formality?"
Xiaowen replied while working.
"And it's not all bad, right?"
"By the way, what does it say?"
Red sighed.
"Basically, it's a Gym Leader exchange match."
"A neighboring Gym Leader invited me for a spar."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
Xiaowen looked curious.
Red held up the envelope—
Stamped with a golden insignia.
"The problem is…"
"This is from the Saffron Gym."
"From Sabrina."
Whether in the anime or the manga—
Sabrina was not easy to deal with.
In the anime—
She turned people into dolls.
In the manga—
She even joined Team Rocket.
Either way—
Trouble.
Even knowing it might be dangerous—
Red still decided to go.
After all—
If he didn't go—
Sabrina might come to him.
As a Gym Leader—
He couldn't avoid it forever.
Besides—
Sabrina had included a small gift.
A bent spoon.
So Red figured —
As fellow Gym Leaders—
She probably wouldn't go too far.
…Probably.
Thus—
Red set out for Saffron City—
Bringing along:
GaryAshThe rest of Ash's group
Leaving Xiaowen behind to manage the Gym.
"Destination: Saffron City."
"Let's see just how formidable this legendary Gym Leader Sabrina really is."
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