Raylen had gotten his little revenge, and it felt amazing. If you refused a free benefit, you'd have to be an idiot—and he certainly wasn't one.
A pretty woman willingly came right up to him; pretending to be noble about it would've been the real hypocrisy. Raylen wasn't the type to deny human nature.
His gaze lingered openly on Officer Jenny, admiration clear in his eyes.
"Big sis, how am I supposed to find you from now on?"
He even added a deliberate hint of obedient sweetness.
Any grudge? Gone.
Any resentment? Evaporated.
Right now, the more he looked at Officer Jenny, the more pleasing she became—tight uniform, long hair loosely tied behind her head.
Raylen clicked his tongue inwardly. If only the timing and place were right, he'd absolutely chat with her until midnight.
"I'm usually patrolling around town. You'll have no trouble finding me."
Officer Jenny smiled warmly, eyes crinkling with gentleness.
Seeing how quickly Raylen forgave her, she sighed inwardly. This baby really did have such a pure, kind heart.
And ever since she learned he was a Level 1 Pokémon, she found him even more adorable. Her indulgent attitude only made Raylen more determined that being Level 1 was awesome.
You had to squeeze every benefit out of it.
"Help me tell his trainer something. If he makes mistakes or acts mischievous, they shouldn't get mad. They can come to me."
Before leaving, Officer Jenny even asked the young prodigy to pass along a message.
This world had both good and evil legendary Pokémon. The evil ones caused no end of chaos.
Not long ago, the Sinnoh Elite Four barely managed to fend off a Dark-type legendary Pokémon called Blackbeard that tried to destroy an entire city.
The devastation of that battle was still unforgettable.
Remembering it, Officer Jenny's expression turned solemn. Looking at the small legendary Pokémon before her, a sudden sense of responsibility rose in her chest.
Right then, she made a decision: she would guide Raylen properly and help him walk the right path.
But she had no idea that this seemingly kind intention would bring her a future full of chaotic, unexpected trouble.
"I understand."
Dolores finally let out a long breath, her stiff shoulders relaxing. Instinctively, she pulled Raylen behind her, scanning the surroundings with wary eyes.
She kept feeling that countless ill-intentioned gazes were stuck to her Pokémon. She hurried Raylen away immediately.
Meanwhile, in a tall building on the other side of the city—
Inside a dim little room lit only by a yellow desk lamp, Mewtwo lounged on a leather sofa, legs crossed, a cigarette between his fingers.
Ash flicked onto the carpet with complete disregard.
"No problem, leave it to us!" "Piece of cake!" "It's all small stuff!"
He boasted into the phone with full confidence, fist tapping triumphantly on the armrest.
Finally—work. They hadn't taken a single job in nearly three years.
The Team Rocket branch he founded was basically starving. The reason was simple: Strong Pokémon were too strong—they couldn't catch them. Weak Pokémon? Nobody wanted them.
And with the League tightening regulations and Pokémon quality improving…Business was dead. It was almost impossible to make a living as a villain anymore.
"Two hundred thousand Pokécoins!"
Mewtwo hung up and slapped his thigh, eyes blazing with pure greed.
"Ha! We're getting rich!"
Creak—
The heavy wooden door pushed open.
"Boss, you called me?"
A Meowth in a worn-out little suit walked in on tiptoe, eyes full of anticipation.
"Go bring me that Level 1 Pokémon. Steal it, grab it, whatever—you choose."
Mewtwo flicked his cigarette ash, tone casual.
"A mission?"
Meowth's ears shot straight up, voice trembling.
Three full years—he had finally waited long enough.
Thinking about all the misery he'd endured, his eyes instantly reddened. He almost cried from sheer emotion.
"You're the best asset our Team Rocket has!" Mewtwo gave him a lazy, half-hearted compliment.
"Boss… you haven't paid me in five years. There's only you and me left in the whole organization. You don't have to butter me up."
Meowth rolled his eyes, stabbing straight through the illusion.
He wasn't stupid—he had just made a terrible miscalculation years ago. The reason he'd never left was the message his teammates left before they quit three years ago:
"You want your two months' unpaid salary? Then ask for it right when a mission comes in—otherwise, forget it."
"Great idea!"
Back then, Meowth had smacked his forehead. From that day on, he waited every single day for a mission.
He waited a year. Then another. By the third year, he was ready to break.
And just when he was about to give up—A mission finally arrived.
"Boss! If you don't pay the two months you owe me, I'm not doing this!"
Meowth threw his head back and shouted, chest rising and falling.Four years of suppressed resentment burst out, loud enough to shake dust from the walls.
He needed this outburst to justify every bit of loyalty he'd stubbornly held on to.
"Why are you yelling? Annoying!"
Mewtwo frowned, waving a hand dismissively.
He pulled a stack of Pokécoins from his pocket and tossed it onto the table in front of Meowth.
"Here."
He'd just gotten a twenty-thousand advance. Feeling generous, he threw Meowth two thousand.
"Work hard for me and there'll be more for you later."
Mewtwo leaned back, arrogance returning.
"Woohoo—thank you, boss!"
Meowth's eyes shone instantly. All his anger vanished on the spot.
He bolted out the door before Mewtwo could change his mind.