Chapter Thirty-Eight: In the Woods, Father and Son

"The results are indeed impressive, but this kind of treatment feels a bit unscientific."
What kind doctor scares their patient before actually treating them?
Zhu Suihan was just about to sit back down, but then reached to his waist and flicked the Northern Sea Sphere.
"Enough."
"Uwooo!"
Lapras popped out of the ball on its own, fixing Zhu Suihan with a deathly stare.
Singing is such a simple skill—even I can do it. Why not let me help!
"If you hadn’t lost control, I would’ve let you join in. With you and Chansey together, the effect would be even better."
Zhu Suihan calmly raised his hand and recalled Lapras. "For now, your main task is to rest quietly."
After all that commotion, Zhu Suihan suddenly found Goldenrod City rather dull.
Instead of wandering this metropolis, he might as well head for Joy Academy and meet some Pokémon he’d never seen before.
Leaving the Pokémon Center, Zhu Suihan made his way to the Goldenrod Gym.
Everyone knows Whitney’s Miltank is infuriatingly tough, but that’s a testament to Whitney’s exceptional skill in raising it.
As expected, Gym Leaders always have another vocation or two.
After spending a fair sum on the premium version of Moomoo Milk, Zhu Suihan nodded in satisfaction, then reflexively checked his remaining balance.
Hmm, enough.
Time to pay a visit to Team Rocket for some funds.
"Hello, Marston, did you miss me?"
Marston: ?
"Suihan, my friend, do you have more business for me?"
"Indeed. The same as before—lure modules. Electric and Psychic types. Name your price."
Marston couldn’t help but laugh. "Why not just sell me every type of lure module? I’ll make sure the Boss pays you handsomely."
Zhu Suihan, phone in hand, replied, "No need for that. I’m sure you know why I’m only choosing Electric and Psychic."
"Don’t worry, our department won’t shortchange you. I’ll negotiate with Sabrina myself, and you can be sure the price will be generous."
Marston burst out laughing. "Let me tell you a little secret—just between us, all right? Your name’s already reached the Boss. Interested in joining our organization?"
Zhu Suihan raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure this is a secret, and not just your Boss telling you to tell me, and then telling you not to tell anyone else?"
"Well, maybe both. But if someone’s name is mentioned by the Boss even a couple of times, it means they’re destined for great things."
Marston quickly messaged Sabrina, keeping the phone to his ear.
"Same deal as always?"
"Same as before. You get half the modules to inspect, the rest after payment is received."
Zhu Suihan really did have all the lure modules, and he’d even kept a record—they made excellent bedtime reading.
"Oh, Marston,"
Zhu Suihan suddenly asked, "Do you know about Team Dark?"
"Those lawless thugs?"
Marston’s eyes narrowed. "Did you run into them? Do you want me to assign you a bodyguard—maybe a Champion-level Tyranitar?"
To Old Marston, Zhu Suihan was a golden goose, the kind that laid eggs in abundance.
Zhu Suihan answered honestly, "I did run into them—they couldn’t beat me."

"Be careful around those people. Their Dark Balls haven’t breached Silph’s technological defenses yet, so they can’t affect already-captured Pokémon, but the wilds are their domain."
Marston continued, "Stay vigilant. I’d hate to lose a business partner as productive as you."
"Don’t worry, I’m basically treating Team Rocket like my own bank. I want you to thrive, so when I unveil more research, you’ll be able to afford it."
After hanging up, Marston paused, then signaled for Sabrina to wait and pressed a bright red button on his desk.
"Boss?"
"I’m here. What is it?"
"Someone’s spotted Team Dark—same guy who supplies me with lure modules. His last internal login was in Azalea Town."
"I see. Archer and Janine will investigate."
The call ended. Clad in a white tank top that revealed a muscular physique, Giovanni grabbed a towel hanging around his neck and wiped away sweat.
"Team Dark—a pack of reckless fools."
Giovanni sent the information to Janine, instructing her to conduct a field investigation.
Given Team Dark’s nature, if they were in Azalea Town, it must be because of Slowpoke Well.
"To wear the crown is to bear its weight. Bishas, let alone you—your claim is tenuous and your methods vile."
"Father, what are you doing?"
Giovanni looked over, his expression softening.
"Marston just called me—work matters, nothing serious."
The boy’s red hair nearly covered his eyes, but his bearing clearly echoed Giovanni’s own.
"Come, Silver. You haven’t finished your fieldwork for today."
Giovanni swung a hoe onto his shoulder. "Watch closely—observe every tree and blade of grass in Viridian Forest."
Silver grimaced. "Father, I think I’m almost there. Awakening the power of Viridian should happen any day now."
Giovanni replied coolly, "If your fieldwork earns you an ‘excellent’ today, you’ll get an extra half hour of recreation tonight."
Silver: !
"Yes, Father! I’ll do my best!"
"Silver, Viridian Forest wasn’t always like this."
Giovanni handed Silver his water bottle. "When I founded Team Rocket and became the leader of the Viridian Gym… Or rather, when I finally had the power to give back to this forest, it gradually grew into what it is now."
"In a sense, Viridian Forest is another kind of elder to you."
Giovanni hesitated, then shook his head.
Still too young—Silver couldn’t be sent out into the world just yet.
Only by witnessing, by feeling firsthand how hard-won the present peace was, could Silver’s awakening to the power of Viridian reach its full potential—maybe even match Giovanni’s own one day.
In truth, the relationship between the forest and those awakened to its power was one of mutual acknowledgement and growth.
He’d considered letting Janine take Silver out to face the world’s darker side.
But, in the end, he just couldn’t bear to let go.
In Giovanni’s mind, if Silver was to experience the world’s chaos and filth, it would only be safe if he was guiding his son personally.
At the very least, he’d bring his entire main team.
Even if that blockhead Bishas appeared out of nowhere, Giovanni was confident he could subdue him single-handedly and win more prestige for the League.
A single Bishas would be enough to ask the League to expand Viridian Forest’s territory "a little" further—a reasonable request.

Giovanni clicked his tongue in his heart. "Hmph, the League’s old fossils—they can’t even expand Viridian Forest as they please. Don’t they realize it’s for environmental protection?"
If the League heard that, they’d probably run over and cling to Giovanni’s leg, weeping and wailing. The older ones might even start pointing fingers, claiming their seniority.
Expand? Is that what you call it?!
Viridian Forest used to be a beginner’s area—new trainers passed their first trial by making it through.
Now? Unless you stick to the League’s official routes, even a team of champions might not make it out alive!
Give it a rest, Giovanni—there are nothing but monster-level Pokémon out there now!
Sunlight filtered down, and even the most ill-tempered Pokémon paused quietly in the woods, watching this father and son walk the path.
"Father, that lure module is truly useful. Team Rocket needs talents like that."
Silver suddenly spoke up, "The rangers love those modules—they make management much easier."
Giovanni nodded. "That’s what Marston thought too, but the man isn’t interested."
Silver considered. "That makes sense. Someone like that wouldn’t be easily swayed by offers."
Giovanni’s expression grew subtly thoughtful. "I don’t know what kind of person he is, but there’s one thing I can say for certain."
"Whatever his talents or temperament, he definitely spends lavishly."
Back in Goldenrod City, Zhu Suihan—whom Giovanni considered somewhat extravagant—was waiting for the bus.
Yes, a bus, and public transportation at that.
He’d expected Joy Academy to be a highly exclusive private institution, complete with a ‘pink demon’ package for any outsiders who dared approach.
But Goldenrod actually had a dedicated line to Joy Academy; researchers and others would take the bus there as a matter of course.
Of course, just having an invitation wasn’t enough—without one, even if you took the bus, you’d never get past the gate.
It was, after all, more than half a girls’ academy.
"Doesn’t seem much different from the universities in my past life," Zhu Suihan mused as he rode the bus.
The driver was a wiry middle-aged man, but the three Poké Balls lined up on the dashboard were distinctly dull, their surfaces worn—either from age or frequent cleaning.
Clearly, this was a veteran trainer; not just a driver, but likely a member of Joy Academy’s security team.
With the Poké Balls displayed so openly, his partners could emerge at any moment—any troublemaker would be dealt with in a flash.
"But tell me, driver, does anyone really stir up trouble on this bus?"
Zhu Suihan chatted amiably, "Seems a bit beneath you, to be honest."
"No talking while driving," the driver replied curtly.
Zhu Suihan glanced back at the empty vehicle.
"Relax, a little conversation won’t hurt. Honestly, I might be tougher than this bus."
If anything happened, Lapras could just Surf on the spot—fight poison with poison and stop the bus with sheer force if necessary.
Or, given his luck—blessed by fate rather than cursed by the usual ‘main character misfortune’—Zhu Suihan doubted anything would go wrong.
Unless, of course, he went looking for trouble, like with Slowpoke Well.
The driver couldn’t help but glance at Zhu Suihan, wondering if ordinary people really said things like this.