"Silph Co… you invited so many people. What are you really trying to do…"
If a cigarette magically appeared right now, Grey would've probably lit one.
When it came to Silph Co., he genuinely couldn't read them.
They'd invited so many trainers—and even reached across regions to do it.
This couldn't be as simple as "something something Master Ball," right?
Grey tried to find the common thread among the four trainers he knew had been invited.
Other than being strong… there really wasn't anything else.
"Whatever. Tomorrow's problem is for tomorrow."
Grey sighed. He glanced into the distance one more time, then pulled his gaze back and went to bed.
…
…
The next morning.
It was Sunday, the day most companies took off.
While all of Saffron City was still steeped in that lazy weekend haze, Silph Co.'s glass façade was already reflecting busy silhouettes.
The elevator lobby was packed with employees clutching documents, every pair of eyes lit with a strange kind of excitement.
Grey arrived at Silph Co. with Silver.
He stood at the entrance, feeling oddly sentimental.
This was the first time he'd ever faced Silph Co. head-on—and his mindset had changed completely.
Two weeks ago, he'd only just become a Gym Leader.
Two months before that, he'd still been scraping by in an underground battling club under Silph Co., fighting illegal matches just to make a living.
And now, coming here again, he was already an Elite Four–level trainer.
In Kanto, he had a name.
Not the strongest—but not someone people could casually look down on, either.
"Excuse me—are you Gym Leader Grey?"
A sweet voice suddenly came from beside him.
A receptionist in a beige skirt suit gave a small bow, the name badge on her chest swaying gently with the motion.
It was phrased like a question, but she was already certain the man in front of her was Grey.
After all, he was a local from Saffron City, and lately he'd been far too active for anyone to forget him.
In her head, she couldn't help thinking: This is the VIP the chairman personally ordered us to welcome, so why is he staring at the company logo for so long?
"Yes. Take me in," Grey said, giving a small nod. He adjusted his clothes and led Silver inside.
Tap, tap, tap…
The receptionist's thin high heels clicked as she walked ahead, occasionally turning back to make sure they were still following.
They didn't stop until they reached the elevators.
She scanned a card—only then did the elevator's true access activate.
The elevator rose.
A moment later, they arrived at the top floor of Silph Co.
Grey was the last to arrive. The moment the doors opened, he felt four pairs of eyes snap onto him at once.
Among them were two familiar human aura signatures.
Giovanni. Steven.
They'd both arrived earlier than Grey.
As soon as Grey stepped out, Steven rose before Giovanni did and invited him over. "Gym Leader Grey—sit with me."
Steven's side had a larger couch, enough for four people.
Grey only had two, so it fit perfectly.
Once Grey sat down with Silver, he could feel a subtle shift in Giovanni's aura.
An emotional fluctuation.
Yet Giovanni's face stayed calm—detached, like none of this mattered to him.
He was acting. Forcing down the resentment simmering inside.
The chairman of Silph Co. was sitting right beside him—everyone here was an old fox. Even the tiniest emotional leak could be noticed.
So Giovanni simply drank water in silence.
Grey glanced behind Giovanni.
A purple-haired man sat with his hat pulled low, clearly trying to hide his presence.
Grey's eyebrows lifted.
Oh, come on—Mewtwo's here too?!
Giovanni, you're seriously trying to start something, aren't you?!
Grey didn't stare at Mewtwo for long. He quickly shifted his gaze to the side—where a stern-looking middle-aged man sat upright.
One glance was enough for Grey to recognize him.
The Battle Pyramid King—Brandon.
Regirock's trainer.
Noticing Grey's gaze, Brandon looked back and gave a faint smile.
A silent acknowledgment—one "legendary trainer" recognizing another.
"Mew~" (Where are the snacks? You people just talk without eating anything?)
Little Riolu strolled over at an unhurried pace. Seeing the table completely empty—aside from a few cigarettes—he sounded mildly annoyed.
Last time there'd been food at the meeting.
Why was there nothing this time?!
Whoosh!
A sharp tearing sound cut through the air.
Other than Grey, everyone else's expressions changed in different ways.
"Mew~" (Thanks~)
Little Riolu reached forward—and a packet of small cookies appeared in its palm.
It tore the package open and started nibbling in small bites.
"Sorry—this one's kind of a snack addict. Please don't mind it," Grey said apologetically.
"It's fine," the Silph Co. chairman replied. "Though… Gym Leader Giovanni's friend has impressive hands."
He couldn't help clicking his tongue at what the man behind Giovanni had just done.
That level of skill—he looked like he'd be even fiercer than Elite Four Bruno.
He looked so frail at first glance, yet he had that kind of ability.
Truly—never judge by appearances.
"It's nothing special," Giovanni said with a genial smile. "He just likes working out. Years of effort add up."
Half of that was true.
The part about "years of effort," anyway.
Because without years and years of accumulated experiments, Mewtwo would never have been this perfect.
This was Team Rocket's proud masterpiece. If it wasn't perfect, he wouldn't have brought it here.
"Fair enough," the Silph Co. chairman chuckled. "After all, if he's working under Gym Leader Giovanni, it'd be strange if he didn't have something extraordinary about him."
Then, still smiling, the chairman slowly let his gaze sweep across everyone present.
Only then did he speak, unhurried and deliberate. "Alright. Small talk ends here. I invited you all today for one matter."
Swish!
The curtains closed, plunging everything into darkness.
Clap. Clap.
The Silph Co. chairman applauded—and blinding lights snapped on.
And on the table before them, five Poké Balls appeared.
Each Poké Ball's top half was purple. On the front was a bold "M," and on both sides were raised purple-red panels.
Master Balls.
The Poké Balls said to have a 100% capture rate.
"Everyone," the Silph Co. chairman said, unable to hide the excitement in his voice, "these are Poké Balls our company developed in secret—the Master Ball. A Poké Ball that can capture Pokémon with absolute certainty. I can guarantee you: it is the most perfect Poké Ball in the world!"
These five Master Balls—everything he'd poured his life into—were now sitting right in front of them.
"Oh?" Steven crossed one leg over the other, clearly surprised by the claim. "A Poké Ball that can capture Pokémon with absolute certainty… does that mean it can even capture legendary Pokémon?"
If anyone else had said it, he wouldn't have believed a word.
But this was Silph Co.—the leading force in the Poké Ball industry worldwide.
Even Devon Corporation couldn't match Silph Co. when it came to producing Poké Balls, Great Balls, and Ultra Balls.
"That's right!"
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