Not Being a Trainer This Time

”Beep beep!”

”You have a new private message, please click to view!”

Three days later, just as Naoki was steaming Grassy Seed for his Gogoat at home, his Rotom Phone suddenly received a notification.

Naoki opened the Pokemon Forum to check it, and then saw a series of private messages from fellow users.

After a quick glance, there were people wanting to discuss the legends of Groudon and Kyogre with him, some asking about follow-up stories, and even a League Investigator seeking more information.

Naoki even saw what seemed like threatening messages from possible members of Team Aqua and Team Magma.

A user named [Fire Fire Fire] said: Brat, I advise you to be sensible and delete this post quickly, or else don’t blame us for being rude!

Naoki replied with a question mark.

Soon, another message came through.

[Fire Fire Fire: If you’ve got the guts, send me your address. You’re looking for trouble, and I’m going to show you what happens to those who obstruct our plans!]

This time, Naoki decided to employ a strategy of sowing discord.

He pretended to be from Team Rocket and replied in Giovanni’s tone:

[Hmph, overestimating yourself, this world ultimately belongs to us, Team Rocket. Little pawns like Team Magma and Team Aqua, let the Hoenn League deal with you once and for all!]

Then the other side began to break character and started cursing.

The gist was that Team Rocket isn’t even worthy of carrying Team Magma’s shoes, and Team Magma is all for the world, or something like that.

They even said Team Rocket is nothing, they’ve never even heard of it.

Naoki: ”...”

Seeing this, he directly replied:

[Team Rocket has been around for decades, while Team Magma only recently emerged these past few years. A mere rookie force dares to challenge Team Rocket. Come to Celadon Street if you have the guts; you won’t get away unscathed!]

Then he added the user to the blacklist, making them unable to reply or comment, leaving them just to stew in frustration.

Celadon Street is a famous street in Celadon City, located in the Kanto Region and a base for Team Rocket.

If a lackey from Team Magma went there to provoke, the scene would surely be entertaining.

Continuing to scroll down, Naoki suddenly noticed a familiar name.

[Steven]

Huh? Steven? Could it be the Steven he knows?

With curiosity, Naoki clicked into the user’s profile and saw the League’s verified badge.

This indicated that he was indeed Steven Stone, the current Champion of the Hoenn League.

[Hello, I am the current Champion of the Hoenn Region, Steven Stone. Regarding your post, I would like to discuss it with you. May we meet?]

Steven wanted to meet him?

Naoki was slightly taken aback, but then quickly realized.

It was obvious that Steven wanted to discuss matters concerning Team Magma and Team Aqua with him.

After a brief thought, Naoki replied: [Hello, I’m sorry, it’s inconvenient for me to meet right now. If you want to know something, let’s chat online!]

And soon, Steven sent a reply.

He didn’t insist on meeting up but instead asked: [Are you with the International Police?]

International Police? A handsome face flashed in Naoki’s mind.

But unfortunately, he was not.

[Stranger 1: No, I’m just an ordinary person.]

Meanwhile, in the Hoenn Region, Mossdeep City.

Steven looked at the reply on his screen and fell into contemplation.

Not wanting to reveal his identity, or is he afraid of retaliation from Team Magma and Team Aqua?

He clicked into the other user’s profile, finding it was a newly registered account named Stranger 1, clearly to deliberately hide their identity.

Given that, he didn’t ask further.

With this in mind, Steven switched to a different question, getting to the point.

[Steven: Is all the content in that post purely your speculation?]

[Stranger 1: Yes, it’s my deduction based on the current situation in the Hoenn Region. Whether you believe it or not is up to you.]

[Steven: To tell you the truth, your speculation is quite accurate. Currently, there are signs of activity from Team Magma and Team Aqua all over Hoenn. Traces have been detected at Slateport City’s shipyard and the Weather Institute left by suspicious individuals.]

[Steven: Before this year, these two organizations were generally perceived by the public as the Nature Conservation Association and the Ocean Conservation Association until they recently revealed their true colors.]

Nature Conservation Association and Ocean Conservation Association?

Reading Steven’s message, Naoki was momentarily at a loss for words.

If only Maxie and Archie weren’t so extreme, perhaps it could really have been that way.

For Team Magma aims to expand the landmass, increasing human activity zones to link human development closely to the world’s overall happiness.

Meanwhile, Team Aqua’s goal is to expand the oceans, reclaiming habitats for the ocean Pokemon lost to human greed.

They believe the ocean is the source of life for all creatures, planning to create an ideal home for Pokemon by expanding the oceans.

But it’s too extreme; both Maxie and Archie are too extreme.

Naoki stared thoughtfully at the message Steven had sent on the screen.

Steven said suspicious activity had been detected at Stern’s Shipyard and the Weather Institute in Slateport City.

This also means that Team Magma and Team Aqua are about to begin their actions.

If they manage to get the Submarine Explorer 1 and use the Weather Institute to pinpoint the locations of the two Super Ancient Pokemon.

Then soon, Groudon and Kyogre will be awakened.

Seeing no response for a long time, Steven asked.

[Are you still there?]

Naoki snapped back to reality, thought carefully, and then told Steven everything.

[Things are just as I predicted. If I’m not mistaken, Team Magma and Team Aqua are about to start moving.

Their goal is indeed those two Legendary Pokemon. Based on the previous activities of these two organizations, Team Magma seems intent on expanding the land mass, while Team Aqua plans to increase the ocean’s size.

It just so happens that Groudon and Kyogre have the power to do this, so they need to catch them.

Next, Team Magma and Team Aqua’s targets might be the Weather Institute and some shipyard.

This is all I know, and from here on, it’s up to your Hoenn League.]

Naoki typed all this out in one go, then exhaled deeply.

This way, the Hoenn League can be on alert.

If they can stop those two organizations’ plans, Groudon and Kyogre won’t wake from their slumber, and the Hoenn Region can continue its stability for several more years.

If they can’t stop them, then coastal cities in the Hoenn Region will have to prepare for evacuation in advance.

Steven carefully read through Stranger No. 1’s response and then thanked him earnestly.

He then prepared to get in touch with the Hoenn League, report this information, and dispatch some competent Trainers to guard the Weather Institute and Stern’s Shipyard in Slateport City.

As for verifying the authenticity of these suspicions...

Steven felt there was no need. If it doesn’t happen, great, but if it does, their preparations will come in handy.

”Phew.”

Steven put away the Rotom Phone, but just then, another private message came through.

Steven clicked to view it and was surprised by its contents.

The message was still from Stranger No. 1, and its content was completely unexpected.

[Stranger No. 1: If Groudon and Kyogre really do awaken, and the Hoenn League can’t handle them, you can contact me. Maybe I can help.]

Steven was slightly taken aback.

Originally, he thought the other party was just a regular person afraid of Team Magma and Team Aqua’s revenge.

But now...

*

Naoki put down his phone, exhaling deeply; now everything should be fine!

He didn’t know the specific time of Groudon’s and Kyogre’s awakening, so he couldn’t go watch the events unfold in the Hoenn Region beforehand.

But as long as he’s linked with Steven, maybe he’ll have the chance to witness the spectacle.

Moreover, Kyogre had once severely injured his Dragonite, and as Dragonite’s Trainer, he had to help his Pokemon regain its dignity.

With the cards he has now, he’s capable of dealing with Groudon and Kyogre even if they team up.

Not to mention Koraidon for now.

A single phone call could summon Giratina and Calyrex.

Even in the worst-case scenario, Dragonite could use Driptrip Dragon Service.

Using the Dragon Scale gifted by the shiny Rayquaza to summon it over.

Considering the number of Poffins and Pokeblocks, Rayquaza would surely be happy to give Kyogre a lesson for Dragonite.

Thinking about it, Naoki suddenly realized something.

He had unknowingly become a Legendary Beast Guy.

If he had a few more Legendary Beasts at home, he could even form a Legendary Beast team and participate in the World Championships and the Eight Great Masters.

Extreme Koraidon, peak double horse Calyrex, Giratina, Mewtwo...

What a fearsome lineup.

It’s even superior to Tobias, the Legendary Beast Guy.

But Naoki could only think about this secretly, because not every Legendary Pokemon likes to battle.

Although given Giratina’s character, it’s likely happy to join the excitement.

Calyrex would surely want to help him with this favor.

But now, Mewtwo, eager for a peaceful life, might not.

After all, Mewtwo is now like Calyrex, turned into a Pokemon farmer who loves peaceful farming in the World Tree...

Never mind, let’s not think about it anymore!

Today is [Role Model Day].

Naoki needs to take his three Gogoats to the World Tree to visit the Skiddo that Mewtwo rescued, who had once been harmed by humanity.