Cedon City, one of the rgest cities in the Kanto region, second only to Saffron City to its east in scale.

  "Knock knock knock~""Knock knock!"

  "Who is it! Don't you know people are trying to sleep?"

  Nestled comfortably in his bed, Maki groaned as a series of knocks rudely interrupted his morning slumber. Initially, he pnned to ignore it, hoping the intruder would go away. But the knocking only grew louder.

  "Knock!"

  Still half-asleep, Maki stumbled out of his room to answer the door, only to realize the sound wasn't coming from there.

  Turning back, he saw the real culprit: a Delibird furiously pecking at the window.

  "Alright, alright! Stop already! You're going to break the gss!"

  The window, which could swing outward from the middle, creaked open as the Delibird fpped back to dodge it. Then, with a sudden burst of effort, it flitted inside with a fp of its stubby wings.

  "Spt~"

  The Delibird, its body mostly red with a hollow tail resembling a bag, perched on the windowsill. White feathers covered its face and chest, with two tufts resembling eyebrows above its eyes. Maki couldn't help but think this Pokémon looked like a miniature Santa Cus.

  It was a fitting thought—after all, Maki wasn't originally from this world. He was a true transmigrator, having arrived in this Pokémon world roughly ten years ago. Taken in by his current father, he even gained an annoying younger brother.

  Sure, Maki would've preferred a little sister, but you can't have everything. Besides, it wasn't like he could ask his new dad to have another kid just for him.

  The Delibird pced its pouch-like tail on the table near the window, miming a "wiping sweat" motion before digging through it with its small red hands.

  "Yawwn~ You've got something for me?"

  Maki slouched in the chair at the table, propping his chin on his arms as he yawned, still half-drowsy.

  "Deli, deli!"

  Nodding enthusiastically, the Delibird pulled a small envelope from its pouch and handed it to Maki.

  The Pokémon's tail, a rge fold of skin resembling a sack, transformed into a makeshift bag when carried in its beak or hands.

  "A letter?"

  Curious, Maki sat up straight, taking the envelope. The contents felt hard rather than papery, making him think it might be a card of some sort.

  "Alright, little guy, you're done here. You can go."

  There was no name written on the envelope, neither the sender's nor the recipient's. A bnk ste. But Maki had a good guess about who sent it.

  "Deli!"

  The Delibird didn't leave. Instead, it tugged on Maki's sleeve, then pointed at its pouch.

  "What, there's more?"

  "Deli, deli!"

  The Delibird began stomping on the table in frustration, gring at Maki as if ready to throw a sack over his head.

  "You're asking me for... delivery fees?!"

  Maki stared wide-eyed, incredulous at the cheeky Pokémon.

  "Deli."

  The Delibird nodded smugly, its tiny hands on its hips. Its expression said it all: I don't care who your dad is. Pay up.

  "What the hell?! I am Giovanni's son. Yet, I have zero perks?! This is the most useless 'young master' title ever!"

  Muttering compints, Maki fished a few coins from his pocket and tossed them into the Delibird's bag.

  But the Pokémon was unimpressed.

  "Deli!" (What's this? Spare change?)

  With no choice, Maki added a few higher-value bills.

  "This is the st of it. Take it or leave it."

  He even pulled his pocket inside out to show it was empty.

  "Deli." (Cheapskate.)

  Snorting disdainfully, the Delibird fpped its wings and flew off.

  'Did I just get disrespected by a bird?'

  Maki stared after it, speechless. He had half a mind to grab its little legs and give it a piece of his mind.

  Putting the bird's antics aside, Maki was about to open the envelope when his communicator buzzed from the bedside table.

  "Hmm? Dad?"

  He put the envelope down and picked up the device. A virtual screen popped up, revealing a middle-aged man stroking a Persian resting on his p.

  Giovanni—Viridian City's Gym Leader and the infamous leader of Team Rocket.

  "Did you receive it?"

  Giovanni's deep, resonant voice carried through the communicator. His piercing gaze shifted from the Persian to Maki, making the tter feel like every thought he had was id bare.

  Of course, Giovanni already knew everything about him. After all, this man had raised him for the past decade.

  "Dad, we're rich, right? Can't you afford to turn on a light?"

  Maki pointed at the dimly lit space behind Giovanni, barely illuminated enough to make out his figure.

  "...Don't get cheeky with me. We still need to talk about what happened with Silver. Don't tell me you knew nothing about it."

  "Silver? What did he do?"

  Silver was Giovanni's biological son and Maki's younger brother. While his personality left something to be desired, he was more of a typical tsundere than outright bad.

  Maki wasn't too bothered. Tsunderes could be dealt with—just a good smack would do the trick.

  "Nothing much. The boy left a note st night and ran off, ciming he was 'leaving home.'"

  Giovanni chuckled coldly. Both his sons were a handful, though thankfully, he never intended for either to inherit Team Rocket. Giovanni was confident the organization would achieve global domination in his lifetime.

  If not, there were always grandchildren to raise properly.

  "So, you want me to bring him back?" Maki asked cautiously.

  "No need. That boy thinks leaving the base means I can't track him. At least you're more sensible than him in this regard."

  Leaning back in his chair, Giovanni's expression was one of mild disappointment, though he clearly didn't expect much from Silver.

  "Ahem, Dad, don't worry. I'm loyal to you and Team Rocket! Not like that brat, Silver!"

  Maki made a show of prociming his allegiance.

  Giovanni wasn't buying it.

  "Heh."

  He gestured toward the envelope. "Open it. Keep what's inside safe."

  Intrigued, Maki tore a corner of the envelope, tipping its contents onto the table.

  Out tumbled an ID card, a Trainer license, and a bank card.

  "This is..."

  Maki stared, confused. Was his father kicking him out? Why send him straight into the League's hands?

  "The League needs deeper infiltration. While Sabrina's power is immense, her temperament prevents her from climbing to the highest ranks. As for others, even with strength, they ck the trust necessary to reach the Elite Four.

  "You, however, will become a trusted League member. Your progress as a Trainer will be meticulously documented, ensuring their faith in you."

  Giovanni's tone grew heavy. He csped his hands together, his ambition clear. Though Team Rocket already dominated Kanto and Johto's underworld, Giovanni wasn't satisfied. The Pokémon League was a barrier to his global conquest.

  Listen to this. Just listen!

  Is this something a father would normally say?

  As Giovanni's eldest son, Maki was well aware of Team Rocket's level of infiltration into the League—it was practically Swiss cheese already! And while the infiltration wasn't btantly obvious now, it would become terrifying once Johto and Kanto split.

  Among Johto's Elite Four, three were Rocket operatives! It was like something out of a crime drama, with Giovanni pying the role of a masterful maniputor. Even Gin from Detective Conan would nod in approval, finally finding someone as tragic as himself.

  "You want... me to go?"

  Though Giovanni's expnation was clear, Maki was still coming to terms with the idea. An undercover agent? Really?

  Maki picked up the identity card that had fallen from the envelope and examined it. Most of the details were identical to his real information.

  "Yes. From now on, you are no longer a member of Team Rocket or Giovanni's son. You are Maki, a Pokémon League trainer."

  "What about my Pokémon?" Maki quickly accepted the arrangement and asked.

  "You'll follow the standard League trainer protocol—start with receiving your Pokémon from Professor Oak."

  "Is there at least some kind of allowance?"

  "...No."

  "No allowance? Who would want to be a spy? If you weren't my dad, I'd think you'd embezzled all the perks Team Rocket gave me!"

  "If you're capable, you can inherit Team Rocket someday," Giovanni said coldly. "As long as you achieve satisfactory results, I'll retire and give you the position of leader."

  Giovanni believed he had treated both of his sons equally. If Maki truly had the ability, Giovanni would gdly hand over the reins of Team Rocket. But so far, neither Maki nor Silver had met his expectations.

  …

  After ending the call, Giovanni picked up a wine gss from the desk, swirling the gem-like red liquid inside. Across from him sat another person, one unseen by Maki. This figure had light blue hair, wore a pristine white Team Rocket uniform, and bore a prominent "R" emblem on their chest. Their gaze, filled with admiration and genuine respect, occasionally met Giovanni's.

  "Have you completed the preparations?"

  "Rest assured, we've spent ten years crafting Maki's identity," Apollo said confidently. "Even if Manchi himself investigated, he wouldn't find a single fw."

  "Good work," Giovanni said, a rare smile tugging at his lips. He never hesitated to praise excellence among his subordinates.

  "And Silver?" Giovanni's tone grew heavier at the mention of his younger son.

  "Silver..." Apollo hesitated. "He's gone to Johto on his own."

  Although Kanto and Johto had not yet officially split, it was clear the separation was inevitable. Within a few years, the regions would stand apart.

  "Tell our people to let him do as he pleases there, as long as his safety is guaranteed."

  "Understood. Shall I handle it personally?"

  "No need."

  Giovanni's voice dropped as he rose from his chair. His Persian leapt gracefully to the floor with a soft "meow."

  He approached the bookshelf behind him and pressed a hidden switch. With a soft click, the shelf split open to reveal two Poké Balls. Giovanni retrieved them and tossed them to Apollo.

  "Leave that task to others. I have a more important mission for you."

  -----

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