Seeing Dr. Fuji suddenly struck down by Ash, the two research assistants standing beside him flew into a rage and instinctively tried to rush toward Ash.
But at that very moment—
"ROAR!!"
The Charizard behind Ash threw its head back and released a thunderous roar.
A Champion-class aura erupted outward without restraint, instantly crushing the two assistants in place. Their faces turned deathly pale, chests tightening as if the air itself had been ripped away from them.
"Ash, what are you—"
Just a moment ago, the atmosphere had been cordial. In the next instant, Ash had turned hostile and attacked without warning. Even Giovanni and Matori were caught completely off guard.
"Uncle Giovanni," Ash said pleasantly, turning around with a bright, harmless smile, as if nothing had happened.
"Your subordinate here is quite rude. Just now, he was thinking about capturing me, strapping me to an operating table, and dissecting me for research."
After smashing Dr. Fuji with the baseball bat, Ash's cold, ruthless expression vanished as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by gentle innocence.
Then—
As if flipping a switch, Ash turned back toward the man who harbored intense malice toward him, his gaze icy.
"Dr. Fuji, right?"
"I hear you've been trying to revive your daughter… Amber."
"I can't help you resurrect her," Ash continued calmly.
"But I do happen to possess the ability to make a soul completely disappear."
"Would you like me to bring your daughter to an operating table and test it out?"
"NO!!"
Hearing Ash's words—like whispers from a demon—Dr. Fuji screamed in terror.
"Of course," Ash added with a gentle smile,
"I'd prefer not to do something like that either."
"But that assumes, Dr. Fuji, that you put away those extremely impolite thoughts of yours."
"Otherwise," Ash said softly,
"I'll also become very impolite."
At first, Giovanni had assumed Ash's attack on Fuji was meant as a warning directed at him.
But the moment Ash spoke of Fuji's deceased daughter—something known to only a handful of people even within Team Rocket—Giovanni immediately believed him.
Fuji had harbored malicious intent first.
Ash's retaliation was justified.
"Just like James… he can read thoughts and eavesdrop on inner voices?"
Giovanni's heart tightened slightly as he looked at the six-year-old boy before him, a new layer of wariness forming.
"Dr. Fuji," Giovanni said coldly, authority pressing down like iron,
"Ash is a distinguished guest I personally invited here to treat a special Pokémon of mine."
"How dare you entertain such disrespectful thoughts?"
"Apologize to Ash immediately and beg for his forgiveness."
"I—I didn't know this brat could read minds…"
Dr. Fuji complained bitterly in his heart—but remembering Ash's terrifying ability, he no longer dared to let his thoughts run wild.
Struggling to his feet, Fuji lowered his head and spoke apologetically,
"Ash… I deeply apologize for my earlier offense. Please be magnanimous and forgive me."
The one who had been beaten apologizing to the one who struck him—
It was humiliating beyond words.
But Fuji knew it was his own fault.
And more importantly—
Ash's threat involving Amber had crushed his pride completely.
"Mm." Ash nodded, not pursuing the matter further.
He hadn't attacked Fuji over a single malicious thought merely out of anger.
Beyond safeguarding his own safety, Ash wanted Giovanni—and Team Rocket as a whole—to understand his stance.
Kindness invites exploitation.
Excessive tolerance breeds contempt.
Sometimes, showing a bit of sharpness earned far more respect.
With a thought, the baseball bat in Ash's hand—used moments ago to strike Fuji—vanished without a trace.
Giovanni, Matori, and the others, who had been too focused on the sudden attack to notice the weapon earlier, now watched in shock as it disappeared.
Their pupils shrank violently.
That single action added several layers of mystery—and danger—to Ash's image in their minds.
Ash offered no explanation.
When dealing with the League, a force of the "light," one had to mind appearances. Being too abnormal only invited suspicion.
But when dealing with Team Rocket, a force of the underworld—
The more mysterious and dangerous he appeared, the more respect he commanded.
And the best part?
He didn't need to fabricate any excuses afterward.
…
"Gym Leader Giovanni," Ash said calmly, shifting back to business.
"This Rattata—is it the 'special Pokémon' you mentioned?"
As he pulled back the white cloth covering the flatbed cart, Ash frowned.
Lying there was a Rattata, sprawled on its back, face twisted in pain, body weak and frail, its skin riddled with needle marks.
"Yes… that's right," Giovanni explained seriously.
"This Rattata suffers from the same condition as the other special Pokémon I mentioned."
"Both were being treated in Dr. Fuji's laboratory."
"You said you were coming today on short notice, and transferring the other Pokémon wasn't convenient, so we brought Rattata here first for treatment."
Hearing Giovanni's words, Ash instantly understood the deeper meaning.
It was caution.
Just as Ash had worried about danger coming to Viridian Gym, Giovanni also worried that Ash might bring the League along.
There was also the practical issue—transporting Mewtwo from New Island to Viridian City was no simple task.
Most importantly—
They hadn't yet confirmed whether Ash's healing ability would work on Mewtwo's "condition."
"I see," Ash said calmly.
"Then I'll start by treating this Rattata."
Extending his hand, Ash mobilized the Viridian Power within him and activated Healing Grace, beginning the treatment.
Healing Grace.
A low hum filled the room.
Under the astonished gazes of Giovanni, Matori, and the others, Ash's hovering hand emitted a dense emerald-green glow, brimming with life.
That vibrant energy poured into Rattata's weakened body.
Before their very eyes, the bleeding needle wounds and corpse-like blotches on Rattata's skin healed and faded at a visible rate.
The Pokémon's expression—once twisted in agony—gradually relaxed.
Seeing that Ash's healing power was effective against the "disease," Dr. Fuji and the two research assistants trembled with excitement.
"I've done everything I can," Ash said calmly after finishing.
"I've treated Rattata to the maximum extent possible."
"Gym Leader Giovanni, would you like Dr. Fuji to take it for a full medical examination?"
Noticing that his Viridian Power hadn't increased in the slightest, Ash turned to Giovanni as he spoke.
"Dr. Fuji."
"Y-Yes! Gym Leader!"
"I'll take Rattata down immediately for a full examination!"
Dr. Fuji, along with the two assistants, hurriedly pushed the cart away—rushing Rattata to the underground laboratory beneath Viridian Gym.
The experiment had begun.
And for the first time—
Hope had taken shape.
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T/N:
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