Pokemon: I'll Exchange Everything

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After hearing the Gym Leader's explanation, Liam froze in place, utterly stunned.

What?! Giovanni?! 

That man just now was Giovanni?! The legendary leader of Team Rocket, Giovanni?! 

Thinking about it, Giovanni is indeed rumored to have been born in Viridian City, and that piercing gaze of his did seem familiar, but...

What's with that flowing, luscious long hair?! What happened to the supposed "bald genius" image?! Giovanni, what on earth have you gone through?!

"Ahem, are you alright, challenger?" The Gym Leader, seeing Liam standing motionless, coughed lightly to get his attention.

"Uh... nothing, nothing. I just lost my composure for a moment. But I do have a question for you, Gym Leader. Why exactly was Giovanni fighting you just now?" Liam caught himself mid-sentence, nearly addressing Giovanni incorrectly, and quickly corrected himself while wiping the cold sweat from his brow.

The Gym Leader looked slightly regretful as he responded.

"Challenger, you seem quite interested in Giovanni. Do you know him?"

"No, not at all. I'm just curious," Liam denied vehemently, shaking his head like a rattle drum. Inwardly, he thought, Know him? Are you kidding? We've been connected in spirit for ages!

Seeing Liam's firm denial, the Gym Leader didn't press further. A helpless expression appeared on his face as he explained.

"Actually, Giovanni came here to ask for my help. That kid is the leader of a group of local troublemakers. He's got some capable people under him and is quite skilled himself. The battle we just had wasn't easy for me."

"The reason for all this is that a group of poachers has recently entered Viridian Forest. They seem to be part of an organization that specializes in capturing and selling Pokémon, using despicable methods. Many Pokémon in the forest have already fallen victim to them."

"Because of this, Giovanni and his group formed a self-defense squad to stop the poachers. He came to me multiple times, asking me to apply to the League for formal recognition of their team. I had to refuse him every time."

"Why refuse? Isn't it a good thing to see someone putting effort into protecting Pokémon?" Liam asked, puzzled. He hadn't expected Giovanni to be such a righteous person. Who knew Giovanni had such a strong sense of justice?

The Gym Leader gave a bitter smile. 

"This kind of responsibility should fall on adults like us. Failing to stop the poachers is our negligence. Giovanni's squad even includes children. How could I possibly agree to let them take such risks? That's why I've refused him every time. This time, he proposed a wager: if he won, I'd apply for their formal recognition. If he lost, he'd stop bothering me. I won the battle, but I'm still worried they'll act on their own. These poachers are ruthless, and I fear for their safety. How would I face the townspeople if something happened to them?"

As the Gym Leader spoke, Liam recalled the group of people he had encountered earlier in the road. These people had some Pokemon in cages. They must have been the poachers, and the Pokémon in their cages were surely the ones they had captured illegally. 

Regret filled him; he should have stopped them then and there instead of letting those stolen Pokémon be taken away.

"Ah... I've said too much. Forgive me, challenger. Shall we begin your challenge now?" The Gym Leader scratched his head, embarrassed.

Liam thought for a moment, then smiled and replied, "Let's leave it for another day. I suddenly remembered I have some matters to attend to. I'll challenge you next time. I hope you'll give me your guidance then."

With that, Liam gave a slight bow and left the gym, leaving the Gym Leader shaking his head in resignation.

The moment Liam stepped out, he ran toward the Pokémon Center. Bursting in, he hurried to Nurse Joy and asked anxiously, "Nurse Joy! Did a long-haired boy just come in with a Beedrill for treatment? Where is he now?"

Startled by Liam's flustered demeanor, Nurse Joy patted her chest to calm herself before answering, "You must mean Giovanni. He just left with his friends. Is there something you'd like me to tell him?"

Upon learning that Giovanni had already departed, Liam wasted no time bidding farewell and sprinting out.

"If he just left, he shouldn't have gone far," Liam analyzed before starting his search. Eventually, at the outskirts of the town, near some dilapidated houses, he found Giovanni and his group. Their numbers had grown significantly since the last time Liam saw them.

In addition to the man and woman he'd seen earlier, there were now over a dozen young boys and girls. Most of them appeared quite young, with the youngest—a little girl—looking no older than ten. 

Their clothes were tattered, revealing that they came from impoverished backgrounds, or perhaps they were homeless.

Giovanni stood before the group, giving a speech. Liam crept closer to listen.

"This is the situation. I didn't win the Gym Leader's approval today, so I won't ask him again in the future. From now on, we'll rely on ourselves. I will do everything I can to stop the poachers from rampaging in Viridian Forest. I won't let them trample on our home or capture our Pokémon companions!"

Giovanni's words stirred the crowd, and they raised their fists, shouting in unison:

"Self-reliance! Protect our home! Protect our Pokemon!"

Hidden nearby, Liam nodded in admiration. Who would've thought Giovanni would display such leadership at this age? He's a born leader.

Giovanni gestured for the group to calm down.

Turning to the beautiful purple-haired woman beside him, he said, "Sister Miyamoto, this time, only Takeshi and I will go. Stay here to look after the younger ones. Jessie needs your care as well. I'll leave things in your hands."

Miyamoto shook her head. "Don't worry about us. I'll protect everyone here. You two must be careful. If you can't win, don't push yourselves. The kids still need you."

Giovanni paused, then nodded. "...Understood."

With that, Giovanni and Takeshi entered the forest. Liam quickly followed behind.

As the two figures disappeared, Miyamoto sighed and ushered the children back inside. The youngest girl, clutching a Pidgey in her arms, looked up at Miyamoto and asked worriedly, "Sister Miyamoto, will Uncle Giovanni and Uncle Takeshi be in danger?"

Miyamoto knelt down, smiling gently. "Don't worry, Jessie. Uncle Giovanni and Uncle Takeshi are very strong. They'll come back safely."

Jessie nodded, clutching her Pidgey tighter. "I believe in them too."