Strongest Lottery System in Pokémon World

Chapter 10: Optional Task

"Idiot, Team Rocket are bad guys who specialize in stealing other people's Pokémon!" Misty snapped.

"Bad guys?" Ash repeated, looking confused before a wariness took over.

Misty: "…"

Marcel: "…"

Isn't his danger reflex really too slow?

"Yes, we are the bad guys!" Jessie declared proudly, striking a dramatic pose.

Jessie and James stood confidently before the trainers. Jessie grinned maliciously. "Now, hurry up and hand over your Pokémon!"

Nearby, Arbok coiled itself around a helpless Rattata, its hiss sending shivers down the spines of the other trainers.

For the rookie trainers at the Pokémon Center—many of whom could barely qualify as such—Arbok and Weezing were insurmountable threats.

"I won't hand over Pikachu!" Ash shouted defiantly.

Jessie rolled her eyes. "Kid, who cares about your electric rodent? They're everywhere."

James nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we're after rare and cherished Pokémon!"

Marcel smirked. "Well, that's going to age poorly."

"What's so funny, kid? Don't think you're safe just because you applauded us earlier!" Jessie snapped. "Hand over your Pokémon, too!"

"Me? Are you sure?" Marcel asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, you!" Jessie shouted, her patience wearing thin.

At her command, Arbok straightened up, its piercing gaze fixed on Marcel as it slithered toward him in a serpentine motion.

"How about it? Are you scared now?" Meowth taunted.

Ash and Misty exchanged looks, their expressions filled with pity.

"Hey! What's with those looks?!" Jessie yelled. "We're Team Rocket! The most feared organization in Kanto!"

Before she could continue, Marcel chuckled.

"Haha, alright. Metagross, come out and teach them a lesson—just don't knock them out too hard."

"Metagross?" Jessie's brow furrowed. "What kind of Pokémon is that?"

"What is it, Meowth?" Meowth scratched his head, equally puzzled.

James, however, paled. "No! Hurry and—"

Before he could finish saying "run!", a flash of light erupted from Marcel's Poké Ball. When the light faded, a massive, steel-plated Metagross stood before them, its presence radiating immense power.

Arbok had no time to react and crashed headfirst into Metagross, only to knock itself dizzy while the Steel/Psychic-type Pokémon didn't so much as flinch.

"Gulp…"

The trio's confidence evaporated. James stammered, "That's a Metagross—a pseudo-legendary Pokémon from Hoenn! Even the Champion of the Hoenn region uses one!"

Hearing this, Jessie and Meowth's faces turned ghostly pale.

Meanwhile, the trainers in the Pokémon Center erupted in relief.

"We're saved!"

"Metagross looks so strong!"

"There's no way Team Rocket can beat it!"

Marcel didn't let the praise distract him. Smiling faintly, he addressed Team Rocket. "I heard you wanted me to hand over my Pokémon?"

"No! Misunderstanding!"

"We don't want them anymore!"

"Please, let us go!"

The trio's sudden change in attitude left everyone speechless.

Marcel shook his head. "Your sincerity is commendable, but unfortunately, I can't let you off the hook just yet."

Turning to Metagross, Marcel gave the command. "Use Psychic to restrain them!"

In an instant, a powerful psychic force froze Jessie, James, Meowth, Arbok, and Weezing in mid-air. They were completely immobilized, unable to move or speak.

Marcel turned to Nurse Joy, who looked both relieved and grateful. "Please contact Officer Jenny. I recall there's a reward for capturing these three."

The trainers around him cheered, while the Rocket trio paled further.

"No!" Jessie wailed.

"We'd rather be blasted away!" James added.

"This is so humiliating!" Meowth groaned.

Their protests fell on deaf ears. Marcel ignored their whining, focusing instead on his system notification as it pinged with a new task:

[Optional Task: Break Out of Viridian City]

[Details: After this battle, the leader of Team Rocket, Giovanni, has taken notice of you. Prepare to defeat the incoming Team Rocket operatives!]

[Task Progress: (0/10)]

[Reward: Based on completion.]

Marcel frowned. Giovanni…

The fact that Giovanni himself had taken notice wasn't good news. Whether it was because Marcel had defeated the Rocket trio, displayed his strength, or due to his status as a former League Enforcer in training, it didn't matter.

Being on Giovanni's radar is trouble.

"No matter," Marcel muttered to himself. "Even Team Rocket wouldn't dare attack a police station outright."

Satisfied, he looked up to see Officer Jenny arriving at the Pokémon Center.

Marcel smiled and greeted her. "Officer Jenny, we meet again!"