As soon as those words left his mouth, Jessie and James froze. A brat who had just joined dared to demand the rank of "Elite" right off the bat?
Dr. Zager was also momentarily stunned. He stared into Hora's eyes for a long time, as if trying to peer through those young pupils to see the ambition hidden behind them.
Finally, he took a deep breath and tapped rapidly on his keyboard, switching the monitor to Team Rocket's internal member registration system. On the dark interface, the "R" logo flickered with a cold light. He quickly typed in the name "Hora," selected the clearance for "Research Support Staff," pulled a silver "R" badge from a drawer, and tossed it over.
"Kid, I don't care if you're joining Team Rocket sincerely or not. That's a headache for the Intelligence Department, not my research."
Dr. Zager's voice returned to its usual indifference, but it carried a note of tacit approval. "You solved a core issue in my meteorite validation and can help me avoid future risks. As a researcher, granting your wish to 'join' is only logical." He paused, the gaze behind his lenses sharpening again. "But I must warn you: Team Rocket is no playground. If you want to be an Elite, you must prove you have the corresponding value."
Hora caught the badge, the cold metal texture pressing against his fingertips. This small silver "R" was his first step into Team Rocket and the starting point of his path to becoming an Elite.
He bowed his head slightly, his tone calm yet firm. "Rest assured, Doctor. I never let 'valueless' people remain in valuable positions."
Dr. Zager said no more, turning his attention back to the meteorite data on the screen and waving him away. "Go. If I have need of you, I will have Jessie and James contact you."
Jessie and James followed Hora out of the lab. Looking at the "R" badge in his hand, their expressions were complicated. They never expected this former "opponent" would actually use "value" to convince Dr. Zager, let alone set a goal as high as becoming an Elite.
As they walked down the dim passage back toward the warehouse, the usually silent James finally couldn't help but ask, his voice full of curiosity, "Hora, how exactly did you know what was wrong with Dr. Zager's energy conversion device?" Jessie and Meowth immediately pricked up their ears.
Hora glanced at James, a bit surprised by the question, but quickly looked away and shook his head. His tone was flat, carrying a hint of distant detachment. "That is my secret. It's not convenient to disclose."
He couldn't exactly say that this knowledge came from "online analysis" in another world. In his past life, he was a hardcore Pokémon fan; to understand Team Rocket's tech settings, he had scoured dedicated forums and read every related post.
Experts on those forums had deconstructed Dr. Zager's research trajectory, from early energy devices to late-stage meteorite analysis. Details like "coil matching frequency" and "insulation material defects" had been broken down, and some had even calculated optimal parameters based on anime frames. What he had once viewed as a mere "interest" had now become his stepping stone into Team Rocket.
Furthermore, Dr. Zager held a unique scientific status. His research results practically propped up half of Team Rocket's high-tech weapon development—from containment devices for Electric-types to interference systems that could paralyze city traffic. Hora remembered someone on the forum saying Zager's research "always failed in the final details," and that was the perfect opening to win him over.
Seeing Hora's firm stance, James opened his mouth but ultimately swallowed his words. He wasn't the type to force others; since Hora didn't want to speak, there was no point in prying.
Though Jessie was still somewhat indignant, the sight of the "R" badge and Zager's approval forced her to simply pout and remain silent. Meowth flicked his tail, not particularly caring. He had just crouched by the door while the three went in; after all, he was Giovanni's Pokémon.
Hora gripped the badge tightly, a faint, imperceptible smile appearing on his face. The first step of joining Team Rocket was complete. Next would be moving toward that "Elite" goal, one step at a time.
The next day at daybreak, Viridian City was still wrapped in a hazy morning mist. Inside the Pokémon Center guest room, Ash was still sound asleep clutching Pikachu, mumbling about "becoming a Pokémon Master" in his dreams.
Hora, however, was already dressed and ready. With his pack checked and his dark travel boots treading over dew-dampened steps, he headed straight into the depths of Viridian Forest.
Compared to the scattered woods along Route 1, Viridian Forest was a boundless sea of green. The branches of ancient trees interlaced to form a natural canopy, allowing only thin slivers of morning light to filter down onto the leaf-strewn ground.
This was not only a paradise for Bug-type Pokémon in Kanto but also a sacred training ground for Bug Catchers. The air was filled with the scents of fresh grass and damp earth, punctuated by a constant chorus of buzzing and chirping.
To Hora, this was more than just a place to level up Bulbasaur and Beedrill; it was a "resource bank" to prepare for his next stop: the Pewter Gym.
"Come out, everyone." Hora pressed his Poké Balls. With flashes of red light, Bulbasaur and Beedrill appeared.
Bulbasaur affectionately rubbed against his palm, the seed pod on its back rising and falling with its breath. Beedrill hovered in the air, its twin stingers vigilantly scanning for any movement.
Hora crouched down, pointing to the Weedle and Caterpie crawling on nearby branches. "We train as we move."
"Bulbasaur, practice the precision of your Vine Whip; control your strength so you don't hurt them. Beedrill, use Fury Cutter to find a rhythm—avoid counterattacks while ending battles quickly."
After giving his orders, his gaze swept toward the heart of the forest. He remembered that a Samurai often trained in this area. While the man's overall strength wasn't top-tier, his Pinsir was a "powerhouse benchmark," with incredible horn impact and close-quarters grappling ability.
"If I run into him, it'll be a good chance for Bulbasaur to practice its endurance and adapt to the heavy offensives of power-type Pokémon," he calculated silently.
Brock, the leader of the Pewter Gym, was famous for his "rock-hard" willpower and Rock-type Pokémon. Against such opponents, Water, Grass, and Ground types were the best choices.
He had Bulbasaur for Grass-type coverage, but the thought of Water-types made Hora frown. Three years of fishing without catching a single thing had left him with a strange, inexplicable aversion to Water-type Pokémon.
Fortunately, Viridian Forest was a habitat for Nidoran♀ and Nidoran♂. These Poison/Ground types were not only strong against Rock-types but had great growth potential. "If I can catch one with B-rank potential or higher, my chances at the Pewter Gym go up by at least thirty percent."
Of course, beyond practical considerations, Hora had a "personal goal"—Scyther.
In his past life, the scythe-wielding, lightning-fast Bug/Flying type had haunted his dreams. Now that he was in the Pokémon world, he naturally wanted to fulfill that childhood obsession.
"Scyther's speed and attack power are excellent. Even if I don't need it immediately, it can become a core member with proper training." He touched the Great Ball in his pack, his eyes filled with anticipation.
As for Bulbasaur's evolution, the System had already confirmed: "Using a Leaf Stone at any evolutionary stage will increase Bulbasaur's potential." Since that was the case, there was no need to rush.
The shop at the Viridian City Pokémon Center only sold Fire and Water Stones for 50,000 League Credits each; a Leaf Stone would likely cost the same. With his current finances, he could easily afford it, but "building a strong foundation before evolving" was the optimal solution.
He scanned his balance on the System screen: 83,000 League Credits. The 50,000 from his mother plus years of saved allowance made him quite wealthy compared to other rookie trainers. While he couldn't compete with "trust-fund kids" like Gary Oak—who had drivers, sports cars, cheerleaders, and the money to buy high-end items on a whim—it was more than enough to support his current plans.
With these thoughts in mind, the trainer and his two Pokémon ventured deeper into Viridian Forest. Behind them lay a trail of fainted Bug-type Pokémon; if any Bug Catcher were to pass by, they would likely mistake it for a divine blessing.