The whistling wind blew across Aoki's cheeks as he rode on the back of Flygon, soaring through the skies toward Mahogany Town. The Pokemon's wings hummed steadily, carrying both Aoki and his traveling companion, Phoebe, through the crisp air.
A month had passed since Aoki had arrived in Verdanturf Town to train his Pokemon. Had it not been for the urgent summons, he would have gladly continued honing their skills in the peaceful countryside. However, duty called, and so he had no choice but to depart.
Fortunately, Phoebe had grown somewhat restless in Verdanturf Town as well. During this time, Matsuda had returned, allowing Aoki to throw Phoebe to him. He had been less than thrilled when Aoki abruptly left her in his care, but he had no choice but to accept the responsibility. To his credit, Matsuda had taught Phoebe a great deal about Pokemon training and battling, helping her pass the time productively.
Now, as Flygon descended toward Mahogany Town, Aoki had two objectives in mind. The first was to deliver Phoebe to Steven, who would serve as her temporary supervisor. Given Steven's high standing, Aoki doubted he could refuse the request. Before leaving, Aoki had even called ahead to confirm Steven's presence in Mahogany Town, ensuring a smooth handoff.
The second reason for the journey was far more pressing. From Mahogany Town, Aoki would board a flight to the Kanto region—specifically, to Goldenrod City. The call had come from Giovanni himself, summoning him for a critical Team Rocket operation.
Giovanni rarely reached out personally, and when he did, it was never for trivial matters. Given Aoki's recent ascension to Champion-level strength, it seemed the Team Rocket leader had a mission suited for his capabilities. Whitney, of course, could not be involved in such affairs, which was why Aoki had arranged for Steven to look after her.
Phoebe was thrilled by the experience of riding Flygon, her first time aboard the desert dragon Pokemon. Three hours later, they touched down in Mahogany Town, where Steven awaited them. He greeted them warmly, insisting on treating them to an extravagant dinner.
Midway through the meal, Aoki excused himself to the restroom and sent Steven a discreet message explaining his imminent departure for Kanto. He requested Steven's assistance in supervising Phoebe and signed the message with his official title: Chief Investigator of the Hoenn Region, Aoki.
Whatever happened next between Steven and Phoebe was no longer Aoki's concern. By the time they finished their meal, he was already aboard a flight bound for Goldenrod City.
As the plane hummed through the night sky, Aoki reflected on Giovanni's cryptic message.
"It seems Team Rocket has hit a major roadblock in their research on Mew's genetic material," Aoki mused. "Of course, replicating Mew was never going to be easy. If it were, the world would have descended into chaos long ago."
Giovanni had mentioned that this mission required the involvement of high-ranking operatives. Though Aoki was a newly promoted Champion and likely wouldn't play a decisive role, Giovanni clearly had plans for him.
This suited Aoki perfectly. Gaining access to Team Rocket's research on Mew's DNA had always been one of his objectives. If he could secure even a fraction of their data, it would prove invaluable to his own system.
"Slowking, Mismagius, Gengar, Florges, Altaria, Honchkrow—all of them have reached Champion level now," Aoki thought with satisfaction.
Indeed, after a month of relentless training, even Honchkrow, Weavile, and Drapion had broken through to Champion-tier strength. With his entire core team now at this level, Aoki's influence within both the League and Team Rocket had grown considerably.
"Let's hope this mission proves interesting," Aoki murmured, reclining in his first-class seat. He closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment of rest. The past month had been grueling—not just for his Pokemon, but for him as well.
His fingers brushed against the strange ring on his hand, its smooth surface reassuring. Within moments, he was asleep.
"Unbelievable! He's not picking up? That damn Aoki!"
Back in Mahogany Town, Steven was fuming. He had waited patiently for Aoki to return from the restroom, only to realize he had been duped.
Phoebe, meanwhile, swung her legs idly from her chair, entirely unsurprised. Aoki had warned her beforehand that he had urgent business to attend to and that Steven would be looking after her for a while. She was perfectly content with the arrangement.
Steven, however, was less than pleased.
"Chief Investigator Aoki, you absolute bastard. Just you wait—next time we meet, I'll make you pay for this," he muttered through gritted teeth.
Aoki had left a small box on his chair. Steven had initially assumed it was a gift, but now it was clear the contents were meant for him. Inside, he found a note and an unusual stone—one he recognized. Aoki had obtained it from him some time ago.
The note read:
"I came across another one of these stones. Consider it a gift. Take good care of Phoebe. When I return, we'll battle—consider it your chance to vent. Don't lose."
Steven scowled. "That smug tone… He planned this from the start."
He pocketed the stone and the note, silently vowing to give Aoki the thrashing of a lifetime when they next crossed paths.
"Alright, Phoebe," Steven said, forcing a smile. "How about I show you around Devon Corporation?"
"Yay!" Phoebe cheered, hopping to her feet. Though she wasn't as close to Steven as she was to Aoki, she had spent enough time with him to feel at ease. Happily, she followed him out of the restaurant.
"It's been a while since I last visited Goldenrod City," Aoki mused as he stepped out of the airport, taking in the bustling streets and the glow of streetlights flickering to life.
He wondered if Sabrina was in the city. The thought made him uneasy—her unpredictable nature was something even a Champion had to respect.
Not that he was afraid. His strength had reached a level where, though he might not defeat her, he could at least hold his own. His fingers brushed against the ring on his left hand, the smooth surface of the embedded Pokeball reassuring.
With renewed confidence, he strode forward, releasing Slowking beside him. In an instant, they vanished from the streets of Goldenrod City, teleporting away in a flash of light.
"Tch. That brat's growing stronger at an alarming rate. Now he dares to teleport right under my nose? Impressive."
In the Goldenrod City Gym, Sabrina lounged on a chair woven from psychic energy, her chin resting lazily on one hand. Her eyes glowed faintly with psychic power as she tracked the fading energy signature of Aoki's departure.
"Hmph. The boss must have summoned him. With Giovanni's backing, he's gotten bold. How amusing." A slow smirk curled her lips.
It was as if she had found a new plaything.
Aoki, now miles away from Goldenrod City, shuddered involuntarily.
"Ugh. Was Sabrina really in the city just now?" he muttered, glancing at Slowking beside him.
The royal Pokemon gave a resigned nod.
During their teleportation, Slowking had sensed a familiar psychic presence—one that had not only detected their departure but had traced their trajectory effortlessly.
Though Aoki had reached Champion level and no longer feared Sabrina as he once did, an uneasy chill still crept down his spine.