Having lived two lifetimes, Ash's mental fortitude was far stronger than most people imagined.
As a transmigrator—and a psychic—his spiritual strength was exceptionally solid, allowing him to regulate and control his emotions with ease.
Just like when he treated wild Pokémon to cultivate his Viridian Power—through emotional adjustment, he could ensure that when healing Pokémon, his heart carried only pure fondness and goodwill toward them, completely free of ulterior motives or utilitarian thoughts.
The same applied now.
Ash performed a subtle form of self-hypnosis in his mind, convincing himself that the person he had acknowledged as his teacher was Giovanni, the Gym Leader of Viridian Gym—the legendary Trainer known as the man who could not be defeated as long as he stood upon the earth—
And not the leader of Team Rocket.
Once this perspective took root, calling Giovanni "Master" no longer felt awkward or uncomfortable. Instead, Ash's heart brimmed with sincerity—and even a trace of genuine respect and admiration.
Of course, this so-called apprenticeship consisted of nothing more than a respectful ninety-degree bow.
Ash was a modern person of the twenty-first century, not a disciple of some ancient martial sect. He didn't subscribe to that kind of thing.
And as for this master-disciple relationship with Giovanni…
It could be described as pure—so pure that it contained no emotional entanglement whatsoever.
Yet it could also be described as fake—so fake that there wasn't the slightest shred of heartfelt devotion inside it.
It was, in essence, a bond built entirely on interests.
"Good, good, good…"
Seeing Ash truly agree to become his disciple, Giovanni clapped his hands in delight, saying "good" three times in succession.
Inside Viridian Gym, both master and disciple were smiling broadly.
Meanwhile—
Matori, Giovanni's secretary, and Pikachu, Frogadier, and Charizard standing behind Ash were all utterly dumbfounded.
Matori:
Boss… actually took Ash as his disciple?!
Frogadier:
"…?"
Charizard:
"…!"
Pikachu:
"Pika—?!?!"
Ash actually acknowledged Giovanni—the head of the evil organization Team Rocket—as his teacher?!
After the apprenticeship was settled, Ash behaved exactly like a diligent student eager to learn. He pulled out his usual study notebook and began asking Giovanni about problems he had recorded but couldn't fully understand.
And Giovanni, surprisingly, seemed to genuinely embrace the role of mentor.
He patiently answered Ash's questions about Pokémon training and development, generously sharing his own experience and even his original techniques, without the slightest hint of reservation.
Matori and the three Pokémon could only stare at one another in disbelief.
…
"Then, Master, I'll be heading off now," Ash said politely.
"In a couple of days, once Dr. Fuji sends that special Pokémon of yours over, I'll come back to the Gym."
"Alright," Giovanni replied with a nod.
Both of them tacitly avoided mentioning that everything involving Team Rocket and treating Mewtwo was, at its core, nothing more than a transaction—and that Ash had already received his payment.
After Ash bid farewell with humility and led his Pokémon out of the Gym, Matori finally voiced the doubt that had been weighing on her heart.
"Boss… why did you suddenly decide to take Ash as your disciple?" she asked.
"This is far too unbelievable. I still haven't wrapped my head around it."
"Haha," Giovanni chuckled.
"It wasn't me taking Ash as a disciple—it was Giovanni, Gym Leader of Viridian Gym, who took him as a disciple."
For someone who was usually stern and expressionless in front of subordinates, Giovanni's tone now carried a hint of playful humor.
"Boss… is there really any difference?" Matori asked, feeling slightly speechless.
"Of course there is," Giovanni replied matter-of-factly.
"Ash becoming my disciple has nothing to do with Team Rocket. That's the difference."
"But… is that really possible?" Matori pressed.
"Enough," Giovanni waved it off.
"Don't get stuck on this."
"Right now, with the League's attention on him, the backing of the major Kanto families, a Champion-class Charizard guarding him at all times, and Ash's own extraordinary abilities—plus the secrets he holds about Team Rocket…"
"Team Rocket can no longer do anything to him."
"In fact, we have no choice but to actively maintain good relations with him."
"While taking him as a disciple was indeed a personal decision, unrelated to any direct benefits…"
"If we look at it from the perspective of Team Rocket's leader, it's actually a good thing—not a bad one."
Giovanni paused, then continued slowly,
"I wanted to take Ash as my disciple simply because he reminds me of myself from the past."
"But in terms of talent, methods, and potential—he's even more outstanding than I was at his age."
"I want to guide him as a teacher, to help him grow faster as a Trainer."
"Because I'm genuinely curious—no, eager—to see what kind of person he will become in the future."
By the end of his words, Giovanni's eyes had become as deep and boundless as the star-filled cosmos, his face carrying a meaning-laden smile that Matori couldn't decipher.
"…I still don't understand," Matori shook her head.
"Then don't," Giovanni replied calmly.
"Many things in this world don't need to be understood. And you don't need to understand them."
"After the previous attack incident, the League deployed a large number of personnel to protect Pallet Town. Ash has also been extremely cautious, not leaving Pallet Town at all."
"Now that he suddenly came alone—openly—to Viridian Gym, it will definitely arouse the League's suspicion."
"Matori, report today's situation to the League using the Gym's official identity."
"Say that a Pokémon in the Gym fell ill, and ordinary doctors couldn't treat it, so we specifically invited Ash over."
"And also report the matter of me taking Ash as my disciple."
"After that, mobilize our people embedded within the League and clean up today's traces. Don't let anything leak."
"Yes," Matori replied promptly, immediately moving to carry out the orders.
…
While Giovanni was handling matters on his end—
Back in Pallet Town, Ash had just finished handling things when his phone rang.
"Hey! Ash! Where did you go this afternoon?"
"The League's investigation unit stationed around Pallet Town just reported that you left the town's boundaries on your own this afternoon!"
Professor Oak's anxious, worried voice came through the phone the moment the call connected.
"Professor, it's like this…"
"Earlier today, Giovanni, the Gym Leader of Viridian Gym, called me and said that one of the Pokémon in his Gym was sick."
"The doctors there were helpless, and since he knew I possessed healing abilities that could treat Pokémon, he invited me over to help with the treatment."
The ripples—
Had already begun to spread.
--------------
T/N:
Access Advance Chapters on my
P@treon: [email protected]/PokePals