"Elijah, I've got the intel. That guy Anders is planning to take Route 45 to escape from Johto to Kanto."
Two days later, Giovanni glanced at a message on his phone and turned to Elijah.
"Ho~ As expected of Kanto's strongest Gym Leader. Your info network's top-notch."
Elijah, working in a sewing machine, gave a thumbs-up.
Don't get the wrong idea—he wasn't locked up by the League for some scandal. Like Spider-Man, he was crafting a "battle suit" to hide his identity.
"Heh, normally, I'd report this to the League. But that'd let a rare test subject slip away, wouldn't it?"
Giovanni smirked wickedly.
If Anders got nabbed by the League, no question, he'd just rot in a League prison.
That'd waste a perfectly good lab rat.
Better to recycle him for use.
Though, spending so much time with Elijah, Giovanni often forgot he was supposed to be a "just" League Gym Leader on the surface.
That expression just now? Definitely not one a kindhearted Gym Leader should have.
"Obviously."
Elijah stood, pulling out the finished garment from the sewing machine.
It was a black trench coat-style outfit.
Nearby sat a freshly carved white mask with black patterns.
Black coat, white mask, red gloves.
When Elijah put on the full ensemble, anyone from his pre-previous life's otaku culture would've shouted, "Holy crap, that's the protagonist's outfit from Persona 5!"
Yup, it was the look of the Phantom Thieves' leader.
"Yoshi, now no one'll recognize me."
Elijah checked himself in the mirror, thoroughly pleased with his new look.
"Hey, Elijah, just in case, take this with you."
A whooshing sound came, and Elijah reflexively caught the object thrown his way.
Looking down, he grinned. "Looks like you don't trust my skills, Uncle."
"Route 45's pretty close to Blackthorn City, you know."
Giovanni reminded with a smile.
Elijah paused, glancing at the Johto map on the wall, then shrugged with a self-deprecating chuckle.
"Thinking that far ahead, huh? Old ginger's still the spiciest. Thanks, Uncle."
Elijah and Umbreon soon vanished into the pale moonlight.
Giovanni sat down, glancing at the email on his phone again.
The sender was his most trusted subordinate—Apollo.
[Boss, Anders is hoping we'll shelter him in Kanto.]
That's right—Giovanni's intel didn't come from his role as a League Gym Leader.
It came from his position as Team Rocket's boss.
Anders had long been doing business with Team Rocket.
The Pokémon he stole from rookie Trainers?
Some went straight to the black market; others were sold to Team Rocket.
Now that he couldn't survive in Johto, he wanted to seek Team Rocket's protection in Kanto.
"You're getting old, Anders… no longer useful."
Giovanni sneered. "Thirty-five this year, huh? Time to be optimized."
Since he had no more value, why not use him as fodder for Team Rocket's new blood?
…
Route 45.
Huff… huff… huff…
Heavy panting echoed.
A figure dashed along this suburban road south of Blackthorn City.
"Damn… damn it… the phone's not connecting… where's the helicopter?"
Anders collapsed under a tree's shade, slumping onto the grass, cursing as he fiddled with his phone.
The screen showed a message from Team Rocket.
They'd told him to wait on Route 45, where a helicopter would pick him up for Kanto.
But Anders had waited days with no sign of a chopper.
And Team Rocket's phone line was dead.
Those bastards wouldn't double-cross him, would they?
"Son of a—if I go down, you're all coming with me!"
Anders spat angrily.
If the League locked him up, he swore he'd spill every detail of his deals with Team Rocket.
If Giovanni knew Anders' thoughts, he'd probably laugh and say, "You're overthinking it, old man."
Team Rocket's laundry list of crimes was so long, Anders' little transactions wouldn't even make a ripple.
"Mr. Anders, I presume?"
A youthful voice from ahead caught Anders' attention.
Looking up, he saw a kid—barely ten, black hair, clad in a black trench coat, upper face covered by a mask—slowly approaching.
"What, Team Rocket's so short-staffed they're sending a kid to make contact?"
In a foul mood, Anders snapped, slapping his thigh and standing from the grass.
"Where's the helicopter?"
"Huh?"
Elijah blinked, but couldn't be bothered to chat with a lab rat. Smiling, he said, "No idea what you're talking about. But helicopters? Better avoid those—tend to crash."
"What?"
Now it was Anders' turn to be confused.
Before he could process the shock, the masked kid pointed a finger.
A Poké Ball on his waist popped open.
Before the white light even faded, a ghostly black shadow shot toward Anders.
He could just make out sharp claws aiming for his throat.
"Mo—"
Anders yelped, instinctively cursing.
Before he could finish the "-ther," a Pokémon from a Poké Ball on his belt sensed its Trainer's danger.
It burst out on its own, blocking Umbreon's Feint Attack with Metal Claw.
The two clashed for a second or so.
Umbreon gained the upper hand, overpowering Anders' Pokémon and following up with an Iron Tail that sent it flying.
But the Steel-type move didn't seem very effective.
Though knocked back, the Pokémon quickly dug its claws into the ground midair.
After carving two parallel trenches in the grass, it stopped, unscathed.
Elijah now got a clear look at the Pokémon—
Excadrill, from the Unova region!
"But it doesn't look in great shape. Been on the run with you for days, no rest, huh?"
Elijah chuckled.
This Excadrill was likely Anders' ace.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have reacted so quickly to block a near-fatal blow.
But Elijah could tell it was in rough condition.
Probably from dodging and hiding with its Trainer, barely eating or sleeping.
"In that state, you think it can beat my Umbreon?"
Elijah smiled calmly.
Catching this first lab rat would be easier than expected.
"Damn Team Rocket! Trying to cut loose ends, huh!?"
Anders roared, hair practically standing on end.
If he were from Planet Vegeta, he could've gone Super Saiyan.
In that moment, he was convinced Elijah was sent by Team Rocket to "optimize" him.
They must be scared he'd expose their dealings, so they sent this kid to take him out.
Elijah blinked twice under his mask.
Uh… sure, whatever you say.
(End of Chapter)