[Young Man]: Coffee? What's that?
Huh?
Johan blinked.
Was there really soone in the Pokémon world who didn't know what coffee was?
Given that this person seed quite adept with their smartphone, their ignorance of coffee felt... odd.
But he didn't dwell on it.
[Grain in the Field]: It's... a kind of beverage that helps keep you awake.
[Young Man]: A beverage?
For so reason, Johan suddenly felt like he was talking to soone who'd been living under a rock.
[Grain in the Field]: Just try it, and you'll see. By the way, where are you?
[Young Man]: In the Distorted World.
Oh, great.
Johan sighed. He was starting to think this person's contact na should be changed from Young Man to Edgy Young Man.
[Grain in the Field]: Well, can't help you there.
[Grain in the Field]: If you're bored, you could train so Pokémon. Or better yet... watch a show. There's a good one out right now—Adventures of Foam Mouse.
[Young Man]:Adventures of Foam Mouse?
[Young Man]: Understood!
Edgy Young Man probably enjoyed silly entertainnt, similar to Gengar.
Giving him sothing to pass the ti was the best way to drag things out for now.
In the Distorted World, Giratina—its Origin Form hovering in the void—stared at the small screen in front of it, deep in thought.
Johan hadn't finished his sentence earlier, but Giratina understood the implication.
If bored, it should train its Pokémon.
While Giratina considered most Pokémon laughably weak, there were a few that showed promise. Perhaps, in ti...
"Rooooar!"
Giratina abruptly clamped its mouth shut.
No! No thinking about that!
It glanced at the endless void of the Distorted World and muttered to itself.
Foam Mouse, Foam Mouse, Foam Mouse...
Still, it had to admit Johan was right. Soday, having a few dependable Pokémon might be helpful.
And that "small form" of his—Gengar—was quite capable. Its ability to integrate Giratina's energy without issues proved it had potential.
But for now...
Ti to watch Adventures of Foam Mouse.
Three days passed peacefully.
One morning, Johan woke up as usual to Gengar's signature wake-up call—a slimy lick to the face.
After washing up and eating breakfast with his Pokémon, he prepared to head to the academy.
But when he reached the first floor and saw the line outside his café's front door, he froze.
What on earth was going on?
By all logic, his café—located in a less-than-ideal spot, with no advertising—should've seen dwindling business after opening day.
Yet, contrary to his expectations, the number of custors had only increased. On the third day, people were lining up before opening hours.
Sure, Johan was confident in his coffee-making skills, and custor reviews had been glowing. But still, there was no reason for this sudden surge in clientele.
Especially since the café only served coffee and nothing else.
As Johan puzzled over this, Gengar floated past him, visibly pleased with the crowd outside.
Good, Gengar thought. The flyers are working.
"Ka-kah~~"
It slipped into its server uniform, opened the doors, and began welcoming guests with practiced ease.
The other Pokémon—Tinkatuff, Dratini, and Vulpix—also got to work, moving with enthusiasm and familiarity.
They were clearly more invested in the café than Johan was.
anwhile, in a nearby alley, three familiar figures were crouched, peering at the café.
"This is it," Jas said, checking the address on a scrap of paper.
"This is our Team Rocket base in Hoenn? A public café called A Ray of Sunshine?" Jessie looked skeptical.
"'The best place to hide is in plain sight,' nya," owth chid in.
"Wobba~!"
"Whatever! Let's go!" Jessie declared, striding toward the café.
She barely made it a few steps before Jas and owth pulled her back.
"Jessie, we're here to help the Executive Advisor run this café. We can't blow our cover!"
"Exactly, nya! This is our big chance to prove ourselves and expand Team Rocket in Hoenn!"
"Wobba~!"
"Fine, fine!" Jessie huffed, returning Wobbuffet to its Poké Ball.
The trio then executed one of their specialties—disguises.
After serving the morning rush, Gengar tugged on Johan's sleeve as he cleaned the counter.
"Ka-kah!"
It gestured toward the café entrance.
New hires?
Johan looked up, delighted, only for his expression to sour the mont he saw who it was.
Really?
Did they think their disguises would fool anyone besides Ash and his friends?
Two humans and a owth, skulking around...
"Executive Advisor! The coolest of cool, feared even by the girl in the green wig!" Jessie's voice rang out with enthusiasm.
"Shh! We're supposed to be incognito!"
Johan's forehead twitched.
Their not-so-whispered voices could probably be heard across the street.
"Okay, you three." Johan interrupted their huddle, wasting no ti.
Jessie reacted instinctively.
"To protect the world from deva—mmph!"
Jas and owth clamped their hands over her mouth just in ti.
"Jessie, keep it down! We need to stay undercover!"
Jessie blinked, then sheepishly nodded.
A Poké Ball opened with a flash, and Wobbuffet erged.
"Wobba~!"
It struck a pose but hesitated when it realized the motto hadn't been completed. Scratching its head awkwardly, it muttered, "Wobba..."
Wobbuffet? Already?
Johan frowned. Wasn't Wobbuffet supposed to join them later, during a Pokémon Swap event?
Maybe this was fate.
"Hello, Executive Ad—I an, sir! We're here to apply for jobs. Here's our recomndation letter," Jas said, stepping forward.
A recomndation letter?
Johan glanced at the envelope, his expression twitching. He took a deep breath and said, "Excuse for a mont."
He pulled out his phone and dialed.
"Hello, Matori? What's up with these three idiots?"
Idiots?
Were they talking about us?
Jessie, Jas, and owth exchanged nervous glances.
"Um... Johan-sensei, please let explain..." Matori's voice ca through the line, strained.
By now, she had pieced together the unique relationship between Johan and Giovanni.
Johan was, as Giovanni described, a "clear-eyed outsider." Team Rocket needed soone like him to offer objective advice.
"I specifically told them to stay incognito..." Matori groaned.
"They're as incognito as a Skitty in a Pyukumuku tank," Johan deadpanned.
"Uh... they're... Giovanni's relatives? Not great at battling and hoping for work?" Matori ventured.
Johan smirked coldly.
"You think this café is a charity?"
"No, no! They're quite good at making desserts!" Matori added hastily.
"Oh?" Johan turned back to the trio.
"Can any of you make desserts?"
"I-I can bake a little," Jas admitted.
"We can also work as servers, nya!" owth chid in.
"Fine." Johan nodded.
Before they could relax, he added, "Jas, make a dessert that's simultaneously sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy. And brew a rainbow-colored coffee."
The trio gawked.
What kind of culinary nightmare was that?
"See? They're useless," Johan muttered into the phone.
"They're just... untrained!" Matori tried again.
"Two million Pokédollars for training," Johan countered.
"Deal!"
Matori agreed instantly.
Hanging up, Johan sighed inwardly.
Did I ask for too little?
Returning to the trio, he said, "Your salary is five thousand Pokédollars a month. Take it or leave it."
They huddled briefly, whispering.
"Five thousand! That's amazing!"
"We can't let the Executive Advisor down!"
Monts later, they turned back, beaming.
"No problem!"
"Good." Johan allowed himself a small smile.
Though incompetent at their main job (catching Pikachu), the trio had proven resourceful in their side gigs.
"Call Johan-sensei," he said.
"Johan-sensei?"
The na rang a bell for Jas, though he couldn't place it.
"From now on, you'll report to Gengar," Johan added.
"Ka-kah!"
Gengar erged from Johan's shadow, grinning and cackling.
"Ka-kah! Call President Gengar!"
The trio exchanged uneasy glances.
Their new boss was terrifying.
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Powerstones?
For 20 advance Chapters: /michaeltranslates
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