"President, stop trying to fool me!"
"I already know…"
"The Master Ball—it's been completed, hasn't it!?"
On the rooftop of the Silph Co. building in Saffron City, within the Pokémon world.
Taking advantage of nightfall, Red once again brought Robin into the game world.
After successfully training Merry to level 25, Red finally found time to resume advancing the main storyline.
And this—this was the source of confidence that allowed him, with only himself and Robin as his core team, to dare challenge Crocodile head-on!
Having defeated the Team Rocket members on the lower floors, Red and Robin had just arrived at the top floor through the special teleportation panels when they witnessed Giovanni and the Silph president quarreling.
Watching the game's CG cutscene unfold, Red quickly calculated in his mind:
"There are still almost three hours of gameplay time left today. Beating Giovanni and then stopping by the Pokémon Center will take maybe half an hour…"
"With the remaining time, Robin and I can definitely flatten Sabrina and her Saffron Gym!"
Thinking of this, Red's eyes flashed with anticipation.
Once he earned the gym badge, his strength would increase even further—add on a mysterious Psychic-type move…
Unless Crocodile suddenly regained his absurd 1.9-billion strength, Red truly couldn't imagine how he could possibly lose!
"Hiss—! No, I can't let myself get careless!"
Red immediately cut off his dangerous thoughts.
Setting a flag before battle… was the greatest taboo for any adventurer.
That was not a mistake a transmigrator should ever make.
At that moment, the CG cutscene—which had delayed them a full three minutes—finally ended.
The big boss Giovanni and the Silph Co. president seemed to suddenly notice Red and Robin, who had been standing in the office for a long time already.
A cold, sharp smile formed on Giovanni's face.
"Hmph! You again!"
"I still haven't settled the last score with you, and you dare ruin my plans again!?"
"Very well—prepare yourselves for some suffering!"
He was supposed to be the most charismatic villain boss in the entire Pokémon world, yet in the game he was reduced to a petty clown, reciting childish declarations before sending out… a mere level-40 Persian.
"Robin, get ready!"
As the battlefield expanded, Red immediately warned her.
After so many battles against Team Rocket grunts, Robin was already well-accustomed to the mechanics of Pokémon combat.
"Leave it to me~"
A gentle smile appeared on her lips.
But in the next moment, her eyes flashed with a sharp, unyielding resolve.
Why had she suddenly agreed to Red's invitation?
Even Robin herself wasn't sure.
Maybe it was the joyful atmosphere of the Straw Hats making her feel at ease.Maybe it was the overwhelming strength of Luffy and the others giving her an unprecedented sense of safety…Or maybe it was the way Red—this vice-captain—always looked at her, as though he could see straight through her…
One way or another, in a moment of impulse, Robin had accepted his invitation and officially become a Straw Hat.
She didn't know whether this choice was right or wrong…
But she knew clearly—if she bet wrong this time, her life might very well end here.
"Robin! Use Glitzy Glow!"
Just as her emotions surged within her, Red's voice cut in.
Whoosh—!
A burst of shimmering psychic light surged from Robin's body, sweeping toward Giovanni's Persian.
At the same moment, Robin crossed her arms before her chest and called out:
"Treinta Fleur: Heavy Hammer!!!"
Graceful petals swirled around her dancing silhouette.
At the instant her voice fell, countless pale arms blossomed from Persian's body—quickly merging into two massive palms that slammed downward toward its head!
The bizarre sight left Giovanni frozen.
"What kind of move is THAT!?"
Even a battle-hardened villain boss was stunned by Robin's Devil Fruit ability manifesting within a Pokémon battle.
As for Persian—who had yet to receive a command and suddenly found enormous arms sprouting from its own body—it was utterly confused.
The next second—
Robin's Devil Fruit strike and the psychic shock of Glitzy Glow struck together, making Persian howl in pain.
Red, of course, would not waste such an opening.
Before Persian's scream even ended, he immediately commanded:
"Robin—use Psychic!"
Minutes later—
With a final hoarse cry, the Normal-type Persian—unable to withstand Robin's teleportation, Psychic attacks, and Devil Fruit technique—collapsed into red light and was recalled by Giovanni.
"Tch… I underestimated you!"
"But from here on, things won't be so easy!"
"Go, Rhyhorn—show them what real power is!!!"
As Giovanni threw the Poké Ball, a massive steel-skinned Rhyhorn materialized onto the battlefield.
Learning from his previous failure, Giovanni reacted instantly:
"Rhyhorn—use Stomp!!"
"Mooohhh!!"
Rhyhorn raised its massive body, Ground-type power surging beneath its front hooves.
BOOM!!!
The crash shook the entire arena violently.
A jagged crack shot across the Silph Co. floor toward Robin like lightning.
"Oi, oi—using a move like THAT inside a skyscraper…"
"Don't tell me this guy knows he's just a game NPC!?"
Red grumbled internally, then shouted:
"Robin—dodge!"
Of course, she didn't need the reminder.
Already aware of how dangerous the attack was, Robin teleported instantly, avoiding the blow.
She countered without hesitation—another Psychic slamming into Rhyhorn!
Against a non-resistant Pokémon, Psychic-type attacks were overwhelming—nearly a full-tier suppression.
Even levels barely mattered.
And this Rhyhorn was only level 41—one level below Robin.
The outcome was never in doubt.
Though far sturdier than Persian—withstanding three Psychics and a Dark Pulse—it eventually rolled its eyes back and fainted.
Giovanni's final Pokémon was a Nidoqueen equal in level to Robin.
Normally, after two consecutive battles, Robin would be at a disadvantage.
But…
Nidoqueen was Poison-type—completely weak to Robin's Psychic attacks.
Worse yet, despite being female, it somehow triggered Attract under Robin's Devil Fruit abilities, becoming infatuated.
Infatuated Pokémon could still attack… but their hearts held back, weakening every move.
Within minutes, Giovanni's final ace collapsed into red light and was recalled.
"Damn it! I lost again!?"
"No matter… I will temporarily withdraw my plans!"
"But don't think this is over! Team Rocket will NEVER give up!"
"You just wait!!!"
He spat out his loser's lines and stomped down the stairwell.
The grateful Silph president hurried over.
"Thanks to you, both I and my company are saved!"
"I will never forget you—brave trainer and your Pokémon!"
"As thanks, take this. It's the item Team Rocket has been desperately trying to obtain!"
A purple-and-white Poké Ball appeared in his hand.
Red's eyes flashed like Nami spotting treasure.
"The Master Ball!!!"
He snatched it eagerly as a glowing panel appeared before him.
[Item: Master Ball]
[Type: Special Poké Ball]
[Effects (depending on usage):
Use before defeating a wild Pokémon:100% capture rate, +200% EXP, guarantees a never-owned TM drop.
Use after defeating a wild Pokémon:+500% EXP, 3 never-owned TMs, plus a special item (extractable into the real world).
**Can transport the user directly to the real world or another game world without battery usage.In the real world: forcibly adds a target to the Pokémon list.]
Red read through the effects—then grinned uncontrollably.
"As expected of the Master Ball—this thing is broken!"
Though heavily modded by the device, every effect was powerful.
Effect one allowed Red to instantly capture max-level legendaries without fighting, gaining huge EXP and strong TMs.
Effect two was even more outrageous:
Five times EXP!Three TMs!A guaranteed special item!?
So far, only the Master Ball itself had been labeled "Special."
Normal Poké Balls couldn't be extracted into the real world—
Meaning the Master Ball might be the only extractable Poké Ball in the entire game.
And it consumed no battery.
Effect three tempted him slightly, but only slightly.
Adding someone to the Pokémon list didn't guarantee loyalty…
Compared to the first two effects, it wasn't even close.
"But still… finally, this storyline is behind us!"
Seeing Robin's EXP bar only a quarter away from leveling again, Red sighed in satisfaction.
Half a month ago, he'd already reached this storyline…
But too many things had happened, and he needed to train Chopper, Merry, and other newcomers…
So he hadn't progressed further.
Now, they had finally cleared Silph Co.—gaining a massive haul of EXP and TMs.
He opened his TM list.
Compared to before, there were now SIX new TMs:
• Thunder Punch — from the Fighting Dojo
• Flash Cannon — found inside
• Flamethrower — found inside
• Dragon Pulse — found inside
• Self-Destruct — gifted by the office worker woman imprisoned by Team Rocket
• Icy Wind — converted from the rescued Lapras
"Another full day of gains…"
Storing the Master Ball, Red and Robin headed downstairs, rushing toward the Pokémon Center.
Their remaining battery was ample—enough to challenge the Saffron Gym.
Two hours later—
Inside a neon-lit gym atop the city—
A small girl suspended in midair stared at Red in astonishment.
"I didn't expect you to actually defeat me!"
"To validate your victory, take this Marsh Badge."
Sabrina handed him the coin-shaped badge.
Along with it came a new TM.
"And this—your reward for defeating me."
A notification flashed:
[Congratulations! You obtained TM — Calm Mind!]
[Move: Calm Mind]
[Type: Psychic]
[Category: Status]
[Power: —]
[Description: Enhances mental focus by gathering psychic energy. Outside battle, allows the user to meditate, slowly and permanently increasing spiritual power.]
(End of Chapter)