Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

Back when Bill's project had unexpectedly gained funding, Professor Oak had been impressed by his luck—a project with no commercial potential somehow made it through Silph Co.'s budget review. But with Luo Yuan's recent revelation, Oak now understood how Bill's project had been approved.

A look of realization spread across Professor Oak's face as he said, "Well, if it's about sponsorship, that would be fantastic!"

For researchers, funding is never enough.

Even with Oak's reputation as one of Kanto's top scholars, he often struggled with limited funds for his studies.

Most of his research had no clear commercial value and relied entirely on League grants.

But if Silph Co. was offering support, he was more than happy to accept.

"Then I'll have someone come by in a couple of days to go over the details," Luo Yuan replied.

This arrangement had already been discussed with Silph Co.'s president.

Silph Co. was eager to make Luo Yuan a figurehead to expand its influence.

One way to do this was through publicized deeds like his recent heroics in Dark City.

Another was to sponsor Professor Oak, a scholar renowned in Kanto and beyond, gaining prestige through association with his research.

And while Silph Co. could've sent an agent to negotiate, they'd chosen Luo Yuan, as he was both a former trainee of Professor Oak and someone with ties to his lab. Also, the company president wanted Oak's goodwill to be tied to Luo Yuan's own standing within the League.

Unaware of the larger strategy behind Luo Yuan's sponsorship proposal, Professor Oak was simply delighted to secure more resources for his lab.

With this funding, he took Luo Yuan over to a scanner to begin analyzing Aerodactyl's body data.

"It'll take about a week to finish the full scan and get a detailed analysis, so I'll need to keep Aerodactyl here for a while."

"No problem," Luo Yuan replied.

This was expected.

When Luo Yuan had previously tried to analyze Aerodactyl's data using Rocket's equipment, he'd been given a similar time estimate.

But since New Island's research base had been blown apart by Mewtwo, most of Rocket's advanced tech had been destroyed. Setting up a new research facility would take time, which was why Luo Yuan had come to Professor Oak.

"Oh, by the way, Professor Oak—I heard a rumor about Aerodactyl's Mega Evolution."

"Mega Evolution? I know of it."

As a world-class researcher, Professor Oak was well-versed in this evolution method recently discovered in the Kalos region.

"The rumor claims that Aerodactyl's Mega Evolution form is its true, ancient form," Luo Yuan suggested. "Maybe that could be a good direction for your research."

Professor Oak considered this thoughtfully, nodding.

It was indeed a promising approach, and he planned to consult Professor Sycamore in Kalos to gather more information.

With Aerodactyl's arrangements in place, Luo Yuan was ready to leave the lab.

Professor Oak was about to ask if he'd like to stay for some instant noodles when they heard the door creak open.

Turning, they saw a figure in a black, high-collared coat enter the lab.

"Gary?"

"Gramps… Wait, Luo Yuan? What are you doing here?" Gary looked at Luo Yuan in surprise.

---

"So, you beat Giovanni and earned the Viridian Badge?" Gary asked, staring at Luo Yuan's eight badges.

After listening to Luo Yuan recount his journey since they'd parted ways at Clueless Valley, and hearing about his victory over Giovanni, Gary looked utterly dumbfounded.

Luo Yuan's win over Blaine hadn't surprised Gary.

Back on Cinnabar Island, Gary had battled Blaine himself. Due to his grandfather's connections, he'd been tense before their match, but Blaine turned out to be not nearly as formidable as he'd expected, and Gary had won with ease.

But Giovanni at Viridian Gym was a whole different story.

Just today, Gary had experienced Giovanni's strength firsthand. Giovanni hadn't even needed to send out a second Pokémon; his insanely powerful Beedrill had taken down three of Gary's Pokémon without breaking a sweat.

Gary still couldn't wrap his head around why a Ground-type Gym Leader would use a Bug-and-Poison-type Pokémon in battle. Was it just because Beedrill knew some Ground-type moves?

Meanwhile, listening to Gary vent, Luo Yuan took note of something.

It seemed Giovanni had changed his approach, choosing not to use Mewtwo in front of other Trainers.

In the original story, after creating Mewtwo, Giovanni had become so overconfident that he used Mewtwo in Gym battles, crushing Gary before abandoning his role as Gym Leader altogether, leaving Team Rocket's three stooges to manage the gym.

But this time, things had played out differently.

Giovanni had defeated Gary with Beedrill (taking out some frustration, perhaps?) and hadn't relinquished his Gym Leader position.

"Could it be because I defeated him?" Luo Yuan mused.

Maybe being beaten by Deoxys had snapped Giovanni back to reality.

In that case, his victory over Giovanni might've actually done him some good.

While Luo Yuan was lost in thought, Gary spoke up, "Luo Yuan, let's have a battle!"

"Hm? A battle? Are you sure?" Luo Yuan looked at Gary, a bit puzzled.

He didn't quite understand this stubborn, never-give-up attitude of Gary's.

Could getting beaten down be addictive?

But Gary didn't back down, nodding determinedly. "I want to see how big the gap is between us!"

Gary wanted to know just how strong Luo Yuan had become to take down Giovanni's overpowered Beedrill.

Luo Yuan shrugged, indifferent. "Well, if you insist. Let's head to the battle arena on the hill."

He wasn't sure if getting beat up could be addictive, but he had to admit he was starting to enjoy stomping lesser Trainers.

"Fine by me!" Gary agreed readily.

Just then, Professor Oak, who'd been adjusting the equipment for Aerodactyl's scan, looked over.

"Will you be using Aerodactyl for this match?"

From his observations, Professor Oak could tell that Aerodactyl was immensely powerful—way beyond what a typical rookie's main Pokémon would be.

Gary's eyes widened in realization as he understood that the Aerodactyl Professor Oak had been examining belonged to Luo Yuan.

Luo Yuan shook his head. "The rest of my team will be more than enough."

---

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