Chapter 247: Giovanni! This Master is coming in!
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
Viridian City.
This city, situated between Pallet Town and Pewter City, was also the very first one Ash had reached. Looking around at the familiar environment, it felt as though everything had come full circle.
But the Ash of today was no longer a rookie; he could even recite the type effectiveness chart seven levels deep.
Viewing his surroundings with a new mindset, this time he could actually sense a raw, chillingly dangerous aura in the air. It was no longer just an unremarkable first stop for a new trainer.
"First, let's go to the Pokémon Center."
This time, Ash's greatest advantage was gone. He had to be cautious about everything. He desperately suppressed the old habit of heading straight for the Gym the moment he arrived in a city.
He wondered if the current Gym Leader was Giovanni himself.
As the boss of a massive multinational corporation, he was incredibly busy; it wasn't a guarantee that he would always be in the Gym to accept challenges.
And even if he really did have to face Giovanni, as long as he didn't casually mention words like "take him down," there probably wouldn't be a problem?
Ash thought to himself.
"Not necessarily. I have a theory as to why Team Rocket would establish a Gym. It's most likely a way to recruit talent for themselves."
Brock patted his shoulder. He always had a unique perspective on things.
"Ordinary trainers are naturally kicked out. But when they encounter a rookie trainer with real Aptitude, they're either recruited into Team Rocket on the spot, or if they refuse... I doubt Team Rocket would just let the Pokémon League have them. They would probably..."
His gaze deepened. With Ash's current Strength, if he were to fully display it, he would definitely reach a level that would attract special attention from Team Rocket.
And considering the number of core executives he had encountered before, he might already be on their blacklist.
Still, for them to be so brazen—with the Viridian Gym located right next to the Indigo Plateau and the Pokémon League Headquarters—it seemed Team Rocket's position in the Kanto Region was far more powerful than they had imagined.
Hearing this, Ash gulped and couldn't help but say to the dozing electric mouse at his feet:
"Pikachu, the Viridian Gym seems to be a Ground-type Gym. You'll have to give it your all this time!"
Pikachu: "?"
A Ground-type Gym, and it still had to clock in for work? How absurd!
With everything ready and all preparations made, Ash and his Pokémon were in peak condition. The time had just struck one in the afternoon when the group set off for the Viridian Gym.
Before long, they could see the Viridian Gym in the distance. It was a small, ochre-colored castle with outer walls made of light-yellow stone bricks and pillars. It looked quite old, possessing a certain classical charm.
On the ground at the main entrance, a wide red silk carpet stretched outward, adding a touch of high-class flair to the classical architecture.
Flanking the red carpet were several symmetrically arranged pedestals, each topped with an identical statue of a cat-shaped Pokémon. One of its paws was raised to its ear, as if beckoning good fortune.
The most absurd part was at the entrance, where two guards in full steel armor stood sentinel. Gripping steel spears, they stood on either side of the gate with stern expressions, staring straight ahead in a Spartan-like fashion.
This was Viridian-style security.
As Ash's group of three approached the Viridian Gym, they noticed a Challenger was already standing at the main gate, seemingly about to enter.
He wore a dark blue long-sleeved shirt and pants that were both casual and idol-like in style, paired with brown Hiker boots. Around his neck hung an egg-shaped pendant, a family heirloom from Professor Oak, and on his back, he carried a backpack that resembled a birdcage.
His handsome face was perpetually fixed in an arrogant smirk, and the brown, spiky hair on his head was truly infuriating.
"Yo, if it isn't my bro Brock and his two underlings?"
The spiky-haired youth noticed the approaching trio. He first feigned ignorance of Ash in the lead, instead walking up to shake Brock's hand enthusiastically. The bond of Three-Star Hikers had made them good brothers.
It was none other than Gary of Pallet Town.
Then, Gary finally turned his attention back to Ash. His eyes narrowed to a slit, a corner of his mouth curled up, and he slung an arm over Ash's shoulder, his posture arrogant and his tone jaunty.
"Well now, I didn't recognize you for a second. Isn't this my fellow townsman, Ash? Why are you late again?"
Ash frowned and shrugged off Gary's arm.
Gary had said and done the exact same thing on the first day of his journey, which left a sour taste in Ash's mouth.
"Gary, you jerk, are you also here for your final Badge?"
"Final Badge? Hahaha, you're hilarious."
Gary laughed with his hands on his hips, then whipped out a badge case from his pocket. He opened it to reveal two neat rows of Badges of various forms and colors, all shimmering with a peculiar light.
"One, two... ten Badges?!"
Ash's eyes widened. The case indeed held a stunning arrangement of ten Badges.
The requirement to compete was eight, yet Gary had already collected a full ten. A few of them were different from Ash's own seven, which meant there were indeed more than eight Gyms in the Kanto Region.
But that speed...
"You're just too fast, Gary."
Ash couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"Hmph, this Master is fast no matter what I do! Ahahaha!"
Gary laughed again with his hands on his hips. He wasn't like Ash; he hadn't come to Viridian City to collect Badges. Since he'd already gathered enough, and the Pokémon League Tournament wasn't for another month and a half, he had found himself a hell-difficulty dungeon.
Take down Giovanni!
He had already investigated in secret. Giovanni was in the Kanto Region these past few days, and his most likely hiding spot was the Viridian Gym right in front of them. Thus, he had specially chosen an auspicious day to come and challenge him.
"Hmph, I was here first. You just stay outside and watch my glorious figure as I take down Giovanni all by myself."
Gary turned and walked toward the main gate. Halfway there, he seemed to think of something, turning to the side and pointing a finger at one of the Persian statues.
"This is a hidden camera, isn't it? Hey, Giovanni, you're back there watching my handsome face right now, aren't you?"
His tone was incredibly arrogant and his words were merciless. He even called Giovanni by name directly, essentially declaring war on the spot.
"Listen up! I, Gary of Pallet Town, am about to go in and take you down! Tomorrow, I'm going to hang you from the flagpole at the Indigo League's gate to air out in the wind! I'm even going to carve 'The Great Gary Was Here' onto your forehead!!"
Ash and the others: "!"
Damn, that's way too savage!
Is that the kind of thing you can say when you have a top player like Green backing you up?!
To be honest, Ash suddenly felt the urge to smash a hammer into the back of Gary's head, take his head to Giovanni to claim credit for subduing such a villain. Doing so would at least earn him a two-stripe rank in Team Rocket, right?
"Giovanni! Get your ass ready, because this Master is coming in! Ahahaha!!"
Gary gave the statue one last middle finger, ignored the two dumbfounded Spartan guards, and pushed open the main doors to enter the Viridian Gym.
"I'm going in too!"
Just as Ash was about to follow, the two guards finally snapped out of it, crossing their sharp spears to block his path.
"Viridian Gym rule!"
"Only one person may enter at a time!"
(end of chapter)