Hearing Sabrina's request, Red didn't even think twice—he refused almost immediately.
"Sorry, Gym Leader Sabrina. I didn't bring any Pokémon with me this time. How about we skip the battle?"
It wasn't that Red disliked battling. But he clearly remembered what Ninetales had said—
Sabrina possessed psychic power comparable to Elite Four-level Pokémon.
If he lost, that was fine. But if he won and Sabrina decided to challenge him personally…
That would be a disaster.
So Red decisively refused.
Sabrina tilted her head slightly, looking at Red with a calm expression.
But within her gaze was a subtle trace of dissatisfaction.
"Gym Leader Red , why are you willing to accept Boss Giovanni's gift, but unwilling to battle me?"
"Do you look down on me?"
Her voice was soft, yet carried a quiet pressure.
"Not at all. I accepted Giovanni's gift because it was something I deserved."
"If I saved Team Rocket members but refused compensation, that would actually go against basic principles. What would others think if they saved Team Rocket members afterward?"
"Refusing the gift would only make your boss unhappy."
"I just wanted to get it over with quickly."
Sabrina stared at him coldly.
"You're surprisingly honest."
"That's right! I never lie! It's not that I didn't bring Pokémon—I just don't have confidence in beating you. I don't want to embarrass myself in front of my disciples!"
Red spoke with a completely serious expression—spouting nonsense without hesitation.
Yet after hearing this, Sabrina actually nodded in agreement, her expression softening slightly.
"As fellow Gym Leaders, I can understand your reasoning."
"But this battle must happen."
Seeing Sabrina's face draw closer, Red couldn't help but protest:
"Why?"
For once, Sabrina revealed a faint smile.
"Because I already said—you're an interesting person."
'But I don't want to become an interesting toy…' Red complained inwardly.
Sabrina then continued:
"Don't worry. I won't make you fight for nothing."
"If you win, I'll give you the Psychic Secret Manual of the Saffron Gym."
"And if you lose, you'll teach me the weather techniques of the Songzao Gym. How about it?"
"Psychic Secret Manual?"
Although Red already possessed Viridian Power, who would ever嫌 having more special abilities?
[Ding~ Hidden mission triggered : Rise to Fame.]
[As the Strongest Gym Leader, how can you remain unknown? Defeat the challenger before you.]
[Mission Reward: Beginner Psychic Power]
"Beginner Psychic Power?!"
Red 's eyes lit up.
Unlike the gentle, healing-oriented Viridian Power, Psychic Power was clearly more suited for combat—
And it even included abilities like teleportation.
There was no way Red wasn't tempted.
After thinking for a moment, he nodded.
"Alright. Since Gym Leader Sabrina insists, I'll accept this battle."
Sabrina replied faintly:
"You're obviously after my Saffron Gym's Psychic Secret Manual, yet you still call it 'hard to refuse kindness.'"
Even after being exposed, Red didn't feel embarrassed in the slightest. He grinned:
"If you're willing to stake the Psychic Secret Manual, how is that not hard to refuse?"
Sabrina glanced at him, then stood up and disappeared instantly using Teleport.
Only her voice remained in the room:
"Ten minutes. Battle arena. 2v2."
Red quickly added:
"2v2 is fine—but I want to train my newly captured Pokémon first. I'll use my main team in the second match."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Then Sabrina's voice echoed back.
Red wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Whew… Saffron City really is a dragon's den."
But looking at the feather in his hand, he couldn't help but smile.
"At least this trip wasn't for nothing."
"Even if the energy's drained, a feather from the Lunar Pokémon is still a Legendary item."
"Giovanni really lives up to being Team Rocket's boss—so generous."
Thinking further, Red muttered :
"Come to think of it, even though the Team Rocket trio is unreliable, their backgrounds are pretty insane…"
"Meowth can talk—that alone is ridiculous."
"Jessie is the daughter of a high-ranking Team Rocket operative who disappeared while investigating Mew. That's basically elite lineage."
"And James—even if he has no standing in Team Rocket—is still the heir of a top-tier wealthy family."
"There's no way Team Rocket doesn't take care of them at all."
Looking at the beautiful feather in his hand, Red suddenly wondered :
"Speaking of which… where did those three go?"
Meanwhile, inside Saffron City—
With no sign of Pikachu, the Team Rocket trio wandered aimlessly through the streets.
Just as they were losing all sense of purpose—
James casually glanced at a nearby TV advertisement.
His eyes widened instantly.
"Look at this!"
He grabbed Jessie and Meowth.
On the screen—
It was an announcement for Red and Sabrina's upcoming battle.
"Songzao Gym Leader Red will face our great Psychic Queen of Saffron City—Lady Sabrina—in an exhibition match in ten minutes!"
"All interested viewers, please head to the Saffron Gym to watch!"
Images of Red , Ash, and Gary flashed across the screen.
The moment they saw Ash—
The previously lifeless Team Rocket trio suddenly burst with fighting spirit.
"The brat said we can't catch Pokémon in Songzao City—"
"But he never said we can't target his disciples!"
"And this isn't Songzao City, meow!"
"So, brat and Pikachu—prepare yourselves for our super machine we've been building for half a month!"
"HAHAHAHA!"
Their loud laughter echoed through the busy streets, drawing countless strange looks.
"Mommy, what are those people?" a little girl asked innocently.
Her mother smiled gently.
"Sweetie, those are useless people. They're not normal. Stay away from them."
"Okay, Mommy."
...
Silence.
The Team Rocket trio suffered critical emotional damage.
Ten minutes passed in the blink of an eye.
Thanks to heavy promotion, the Saffron Gym was completely packed.
Almost everyone was cheering for Sabrina.
In the entire arena—
Only Ash and Gary were supporting Red .
Gary couldn't help but comment:
"Gym Leader Sabrina is really popular in Saffron City."
"Of course," Ninetales chimed in, bouncing lightly.
"Who wouldn't like a powerful yet emotionless beauty with that kind of contrast?"
"Master, I understand!"
Red ignored Ninetales' increasingly strange knowledge and said:
"Just watch carefully. Let your master show you how to defeat the Psychic Queen."
"Go, Master!"
Ash and Gary chee Red .
Red glanced at Ninetales' snow-white fur and ruby- Red eyes, then couldn't resist giving its tail a quick rub.
"You're not in good condition. Stay off the field."
"Okay, I'll wait here, Master."
Red silently reminded himself:
She's a Pokémon… she's a Pokémon…
Then he stepped onto the battlefield.
Looking at Sabrina floating in midair, he took a deep breath.
"Gym Leader Sabrina—please."
Sabrina said nothing.
A Poké Ball at her waist opened automatically.
A Kadabra appeared on the battlefield.
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