"Sato, you've made a huge tribution this time. Is there anything you'd like? I even try to get you a pseudo-legendary hatg if you want."

  On the s, Aunt Haruka smiled warmly at Sato.

  The data extracted from the base had now been fully analyzed—all of Team Rocket's Potential Enha Serums shared the same core formu.

  The different bases were merely set up near areas ri test subjects, allowing them to gradually refiheir serum formus.

  For instaheir Bug-type base was located near National Park, ensuring easy access to a variety of Bug Pokémon.

  Likewise, the Fire-type base was set in Johto's northwest, a region home to numerous Fire-type Pokémon, including Houndour packs and Ponyta herds.

  "Thank you, aunt Haruka. If we're talking about pseudo-legendary hatgs, I'd only be ied in Deino or Larvitar—nothing else."

  Sato quickly suppressed any stray thoughts and casually respo the mention of pseudo-legendary hatgs.

  "Fog on Dark-types, huh? That's a solid choice—it's best to find your path early. But you already have a Larvitar, and Deino is all the way in Unova—that might be tricky."

  "No need, no need! My team is already at full capacity. They all have great potential and still need a lot of training. I don't want to add more Pokémon for now."

  Startled, Sato quickly stopped aunt Haruka from pursuing the idea further. Deino was great—but right now, training his current Pokémon was the priority.

  As for Deino—he would cate himself!

  "You don't want a pseudo-legendary hatg? Then what do you need?" Aunt Haruka asked curiously.

  "Help me keep a for a few things: a Toxic Orb, methods to enhance a Poison-type Pokémon's toxioire, and training teiques for Water Pokémon to sustain aerial movement."

  In medie and poison, g and poisoning ofte hand in hand—the more toxins one khe more one uood how to ralize them.

  As for the Toxic Orb, that urely for experimentation.

  And the aerial trainihods—those were for Carvanha. Sato eagerly anticipated the day Carvanha could dominate nd, sea, and air.

  "No problem, but those things are nowhere near as valuable as your tribution. Since you 't think of anything now, I'll keep your reward on hold."

  Uanding his situation, aunt Haruka chose to "let him off the hook" for now before ending the call.

  Not oo waste time, Sato tiraining his Pokémon, occasionally staying at the Pokémoer to find strong oppos for battles.

  After all, why were Trainers called Pokémon Trainers rather than Pokémon Fighters or Pokémon anders?

  Because, as the name suggested—training was always the key to making Pokémon stronger. For Sato, battling was merely a part of training, not the goal itself.

  ------

  Three days ter, Sato received a method for Poison-type Pokémon to adapt to multiple toxins from Kiki.

  Five days ter, the current Water-type Elite Four of Kanto, Lily of Cerulean City, personally sent him video instrus on how Water-type Pokémon could sustain aerial movement.

  A week ter, Spinarak, using Venoshock as a medium, successfully absorbed Arbok's venom and mastered its use.

  At the same time, Aunt Haruka sent over a Toxic Orb, and Spinarak, having just mastered Arbok's venom, immediately started expl the applications of the orb.

  Half a month ter—Carvanha still hadn't mao stay airborne using Aqua Jet.

  But, after prolonged exposure to o whirlpools, it uedly learned Whirlpool, a move it should not have been able to learn naturally.

  And using Whirlpool, Carvanha actally discovered a way to break free from terrairis, allowing it to hover above water for extended periods.

  However, its max altitude was barely three meters. That was more than enough for Sato.

  Moreover, the Aqua Jet training wasn't a waste—bining Whirlpool and Aqua Jet, Carvanha could switch betweewo freely.

  This allowed it to maintain a state simir to Quick Attack, using only minimal stamina to stay tinuously mobile.

  Eveer than expected!

  With that, Sato's business in Oliviy was plete. Training had progressed signifitly, and it was finally time to move on.

  However—Just as Sato was about to say his goodbyes to Joy, he received some unwele news.

  An assassinatianization hired by Team Rocket was already waiting for him iskirts.

  "Don't worry! Anyone who dares tet a member of the Joy family clearly has a death wish!"

  Though Kiki had a bit of a scheming side, her personality was still mostly calm ale. Yet at this moment, she was gring fiercely at Sato as she spoke.

  Oher hand, Sato was lost in thought, sidering the assassins ing after him.

  What rank would they be? How many of them were there? And… would any of them be someone he knew?

  "Hey! Are you so scared you've gone dumb?"

  Rolling his eyes, Sato tightened his backpack straps, bypassed Kiki, and tioward the exit.

  "Stht there! Aren't you going to listen to y sis? Your prote is on the way!"

  Kiki stood with her hands on her hips, raising her voice.

  Beside her, sey mimicked her stance, as if saying, Yeah! I'm mad too!

  Big sis? Sato turned his head, giving Kiki a strange look.

  "Big Sis Kin-kin?"

  "You—!"

  Kiki nearly exploded on the spot.

  Her sharp gre turned into an ed scowl, but she was so mad she couldn't evehe words out.

  She might seem scheming, but cut her open, arue nature was just an overreactive mess?

  "Rex. I'll be fine." Sato said with a smile and tinued.

  " your people follow me forever? The ones after me are assassins, not some brute-force fighters. The more people with me, the more likely they expose their location, ruining the advantage."

  "But they're assassins! 't you just stay here safely? You train anywhere—why does it have to be outside?"

  Looking at Kiki, who was genuinely worried for him, Sato couldn't help but think of his nominal guardian, Joy Lilia, and Aunt Haruka, who had taken care of him so much.

  At least for now—having them in charge of medical resources was a good thing.

  "Enough talk. They're just some pathetiobodies hiding in the shadows. I'm not scared of them!"

  With that, Sato headed downstairs, left the Pokémoer, and walked straight toward the outskirts.

  "Gengar!"

  "Gengengeng~"

  From Sato's shadourple figure with golden eyes slowly emerged—Gengar, grinning mischievously.

  With a pyful expression, it pressed its palms together like a monk, giving a mock prayer gesture that looked pletely out of pce.

  "Spinarak!"

  "Zzzt zzzt!"

  A green spider crawled out from the hidden pocket of his backpad settled onto Sato's shoulder, its tiny eyes brimming with excitement.

  Sato had already traveled through all of western Johto.

  So —his destination was northeast, toward wood Town and Bckthorn City.

  -------

  As he ehe forest, Sato kept a close eye on his surroundings.

  However—nothing seemed out of pce. Still, Sato wasn't in a hurry. If it came down to patience—he had plenty.

  Every hour, he deliberately stopped to rest, ensuring he remained in peak dition.

  At the same time, these breaks were iional—he was leaving traces behind, setting a trap to lure them out.

  Yet, despite this slow, calcuted pace, Sato found no sign of any movement throughout the entire day.

  Kiki had no reason to lie to him—which meant his oppos' patiend resolve might exceed his expectations.