“Oh right, where’s Meowth?” Aaron asked curiously.
“Meowth.” Lorelei showed a strange expression, and an uneasy feeling instantly rose in Aaron’s heart.
Immediately after, a voice that didn’t sound human at all rang out.
“Come and buy!
Pokémon Competition Wish Charms!
The more you buy, the better your luck, the higher your chance of winning!”
Aaron’s face twitched.
If he wasn’t mistaken, that voice belonged to Meowth.
Sure enough, when he looked over, he saw Meowth dressed up and loudly hawking goods.
“I swear, I’m really starting to regret catching this Pokémon,” Aaron said.
“Then how about you give it to me?” Lorelei teased.
“Pretend I didn’t say anything.” Aaron immediately replied.
He had already lost enough face because of this guy—if he gave up now, wouldn’t all the suffering he endured be for nothing?
Lorelei covered her mouth and chuckled.
“Actually, it’s not bad.
You caught a Pokémon that can earn money.
Maybe it’ll even support you in the future.”
“I’m afraid I won’t live long enough to see that day,” Aaron said dryly.
“Your next match is at 3 PM, so you’ve got plenty of time.
Planning to rest, or go deal with your Meowth?” Lorelei asked.
“Since it finally found a way to make money, if I go interfere now, it’ll probably claw me to death.
Sister Lorelei, just pretend that Pokémon isn’t mine when we’re in public,” Aaron said.
“Huh?
Wait a second… someone seems to be approaching Meowth.
Are they discussing joining forces?” Lorelei said in surprise.
“Joining forces?
Someone actually wants that thing?” Aaron glanced over curiously, then immediately looked away.
Well, who else could it be but Jessie and James?
Aside from those two, there really weren’t many people this unreliable when it came to “business.”
After thinking for a moment, Aaron still walked over.
If it were anyone else, he wouldn’t care, but if it was Jessie and James, things could easily go wrong.
If not handled properly, they might even drag his Meowth away and send it down the irreversible path of Team Rocket.
On the other side, Meowth’s interaction with Jessie and James was far from harmonious.
Because Meowth had been frightened by Jessie earlier, the petty cat refused to let them join its “get-rich plan” no matter what.
By the time Aaron arrived, both sides were already arguing loudly.
“You most un-Pokémon-like Pokémon, why won’t you let me join?” Jessie snapped.
“This is my genius money-making plan!
Why should you get in on it?” Meowth shot back.
“You’re asking for trouble!
You’re a Pokémon—only humans can run businesses!
If you don’t let me in, I’ll report you!” Jessie shouted.
Get lost!” Meowth retorted.
“Old hag—?!”
Jessie’s originally beautiful face instantly twisted into something terrifying and ferocious, more horrifying than a Pokémon’s Scary Face attack.
Aaron, who had originally planned to interrupt, felt a wave of despair at those words.
Calling Jessie an old hag… Meowth, your courage is truly commendable.
Did you not realize the woman in front of you was someone who could go one-on-one with a Seviper and win?
As expected, after that insult, Jessie immediately threw a punch—an explosive, full-force Mega Punch that sent Meowth flying.
She then prepared to follow up with a Mega Kick, but James hurriedly hugged her from behind.
“Jessie, calm down!
Hitting people randomly is illegal!” James shouted.
“Get lost!
I’m not hitting a person, I’m hitting a Pokémon!” Jessie roared in fury and kicked him away as well, sending James crashing beside Meowth.
Jessie clenched her fists and walked step by step toward the two of them, like a terrifying demon king.
Meowth and James, now the future “misery duo,” instinctively huddled together, trembling.
“Illegal assault of Pokémon.
That counts as abuse under Pokémon League law.
Also, when it comes to abuse cases, the owner has to be notified.”
A voice suddenly rang out.
Before Jessie could even react, another voice followed right after.
“Ice Beam.”
And then—there was no “then.”
Jessie was completely frozen solid.
“Boss!”
Seeing Aaron walk in, Meowth—who had been full of resistance just moments ago—now looked at him like a savior.
It ran straight over and hugged his leg, never having shown such affection toward its “oppressive” owner before.
“Boss, someone hit me!” Meowth cried, eyes watery.
Tears came on demand.
Aaron couldn’t help but think that with this level of acting skill, Meowth could probably make a decent career in entertainment.
“Didn’t I already freeze her for you?
Besides, I haven’t even settled the matter of you secretly doing business yet,” Aaron said.
“Boss, I’m doing this all for you!
We split the profits fifty-fifty,” Meowth said.
“Fifty-fifty?
Well, I didn’t expect you to give me even five percent.
Fine, keep going then,” Aaron said with a smile.
“Thank you, boss!” Meowth said.
After its painful lesson from Jessie’s beating, it had realized one truth—if you want to survive well, you need backing.
“Wait, can I also join and make some money?” James raised his hand.
You’re with that old hag.
Rejected,” Meowth said firmly.
“I’m not!
I just came with her—I don’t actually know her!” James quickly clarified.
“Really?” Meowth asked suspiciously.
“Really.
Look.” James suddenly kicked Jessie’s frozen body to prove his innocence.
Aaron’s mouth twitched.
This trio really was the trio—betrayal came without hesitation.
But James… aren’t you a rich second-generation?
Do you really need money this badly?
And aren’t you afraid Jessie will thaw out and kill you later?
“Good kick.
Deal.
We’ll do business together and get rich!” Meowth said.
“Yes, get rich!” James’s eyes lit up as he shook Meowth’s paw.
At that moment, the human and the cat seemed to have found their lifelong partner.
Watching the scene unfold like some kind of twisted law of the world had been activated, Aaron could only sigh helplessly.
Still, worried that Meowth and James forming too strong a bond might lead them down the wrong path, he eventually swallowed his pride and joined the “business team,” loudly calling out to attract customers.
Lorelei, seeing this, silently stepped farther away, as if afraid people would realize she knew him.
Setting up a stall inside the school like this—this was completely unlicensed.
On the third floor of a nearby teaching building, a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy frowned at the scene and said to Professor Uzuki, “Professor, why is someone like that allowed to participate in the competition?
And he’s even running a stall.
He’s completely disgracing our school’s reputation.”
“Brandon, he’s still young.
Young people are allowed a bit of freedom.
Besides, his abilities are indeed outstanding.
I’ve asked Professor Oak and several others—his evaluations are very high.
He may very well become the youngest Pokémon Professor in all of Kanto,” Professor Uzuki replied.
“Is he really that good?” Brandon said coldly.
“Even if he is, that’s just academic talent.
In Pokémon competitions, can he really compete?
He can’t even properly manage his own Pokémon—he’s nothing but average.” He glanced down at Lorelei and then at Aaron shouting below, a hint of jealousy flashing in his eyes.
“Don’t judge people with bias,” Professor Uzuki said calmly.
“He has his own strengths.”
“He’s just some nobody who hasn’t formally studied anything.
I really hope I run into him in the competition.
Though with his level, he’ll probably be eliminated before he even gets to me,” Brandon said arrogantly.
Professor Uzuki shook his head but said nothing more.
Brandon was the top student of the year, so it was natural for him to be proud and look down on others.
And honestly, she also didn’t think Aaron had a high chance of winning against him—after all, Brandon’s main partner was Charizard.