"Tch, we're just letting them go?" Catherine asked. In truth, if it had been up to her, she would rather have killed them.
"We have no choice but to let them go. I was only bluffing them just now. They don't know we're people without identities, so they don't dare go to the police station. Besides, they hold League positions after all. Killing them would only bring unnecessary trouble upon ourselves," Tetsuya said with a helpless shake of his head.
"But aren't you worried they'll report you to the League for stealing their Fire Stones?" Catherine asked.
"… … … Tehahaha! Not at all! The moment I saw how afraid they were of going to the police station, I stopped worrying. They care too much about their 'reputation'. If they had really wanted to report us to the League, they could have walked into the police station openly and proven they were Rangers.
Now, however, three 'respectable' Rangers were robbed by two children. That's not exactly something they'd want everyone to hear about. Rather than report being robbed in their own patrol area, the three of them would rather pay out of their own pockets to replace the Fire Stones," Tetsuya analyzed.
'Not to mention that, as I said, they know nothing about us; by the time I compete officially, it will be too late anyway.'
"So this really is killing two Pidgey with one Rock Throw… We avoided trouble and got the Fire Stones as well!" Catherine said.
"Mhm. We're almost at Ecruteak City. Once we cross this snowy mountain, we'll be there," Tetsuya said.
North of Ecruteak City lay the Snowtop Mountain range, whose peaks were covered in snow year-round. It was said that Articuno had been sighted there.
Tetsuya was quite familiar with this place.
It was where he had risen to prominence in his previous life. The Articuno that had appeared there had not been particularly strong, probably still a juvenile. Together with Jessie, James, and Meowth, the "Team Rocket trio, the TRio, the JJM" had captured it without much difficulty before selling it at an auction house. Only then had he finally acquired the capital needed to raise Pokémon.
There was no need to visit Snowtop Mountain now. He would simply continue along the road that circled the mountain.
However, this environment was Mamoswine's home turf. Fortunately, it was not far from Ecruteak City. Once Golurk recovered its capacity to move again, he could come here at any time for focused training with Mamoswine.
---◓---
It took another three days to travel around the Snowtop Mountain range before they reached the northern forest near Ecruteak City. Ecruteak City was now right before their eyes…
Given the speed of the delivery service, the Pokéfood he had won in Rikishii Town should have already arrived at Ecruteak Gym. Tetsuya wondered what Matsuba's reaction had been.
Standing at the edge of the forest, Tetsuya could already see Ecruteak City. The city was brilliantly illuminated in the night. He simply stood there in the distance, gazing at its nighttime scenery. He had no intention of entering the city tonight.
'…'
"So… this is your hometown?" Catherine asked, interrupting Tetsuya's thoughts.
"…Yeah, it is." At the mention of the word "hometown," countless emotions welled up within Tetsuya. He had been away from his hometown for more than sixty years. His transmigration had happened without him understanding how, and his rebirth had been even more bewildering…
"Mm, it's really beautiful. It can rival my hometown, Hearthome City… If you ever have the chance, you should definitely come visit Hearthome City, Tetsuya." Catherine said.
Tetsuya nodded. In truth, this was practically Catherine's way of saying goodbye…
"I definitely will! My parents own a house in Hearthome City, so I have a home there too," Tetsuya said.
"That's…-! Wonderful. Mm… that's wonderful…" Catherine said, deliberately hiding the excitement in her voice.
---◓---
Early the next morning, Tetsuya gathered his emotions and headed for Ecruteak City. His destination was Ecruteak Gym!
Nearly four years had passed. Tetsuya had no idea whether Matsuba would still recognize him. But now, the only people he could rely on were Matsuba and Pryce.
He now had a clear understanding of the current political situation within the Johto League. Pryce had retired, the former Johto Champion Siegfried had gone to Kanto, the former Grass-type Elite Four Aoi Maiko had resigned, while Kurokawa Ryosuke and Hattori Tōkichi still retained their Elite Four positions.
However, with Pryce now retired, they would no longer target him. Although Tetsuya had not died, there was no reason for them to continue targeting him either.
At least not so "strongly". After all, They doesn't know that he knows.
However, he had no intention of letting Maiko, Tōkichi, or Ryosuke off the hook. Naturally, the first organization he intended to eliminate was the Shadow Team.
Early the next morning, Tetsuya packed his belongings, grabbed a simple breakfast, and set off for Ecruteak City.
Along the way, Tetsuya walked at an unhurried pace. He had already thought through exactly what he would say upon arriving at Ecruteak Gym. There were many problems that only Matsuba, as the Gym Leader, could help him resolve.
The most important was naturally restoring his identity. As for obtaining the identity of a Pokémon Scholar, he would probably have to make a separate trip to Lyra Town to visit Professor Witherwood.
By the time Tetsuya entered Ecruteak City, it was already close to noon.
Tetsuya and Catherine headed straight toward Ecruteak Gym. The familiar streets stretched before them, and the traditional, old-fashioned Ecruteak Gym soon came into view.
It's been a long time…
Tetsuya drew closer and closer to the entrance of Ecruteak Gym.
He saw a young man around fifteen or sixteen years old and another young "man" about his own age standing at the entrance, looking around. Although more than four years had passed, Tetsuya recognized those familiar faces at a glance.
Ryuto and Morty, Matsuba's pupil and son. After more than four years apart, they had both become much more mature. However, Raine was nowhere to be seen. That was someone Tetsuya still needed to be wary of!
As Tetsuya approached the entrance of Ecruteak Gym, Ryuto and Morty also noticed him. The three of them stared at one another for several seconds.
"…!!!!!"
"…!!?"
"… … …"
"You… y-you're Tetsuya, aren't you…?" Morty, dressed in a blue jacket, asked.
The fact that Morty could immediately call him by name was probably thanks to that package. Otherwise, as someone who had been listed as a missing person, there was no way Morty could have recognized him so quickly.
"Yes, Morty. It's been a long time, huh."
Tetsuya nodded.
Morty and Ryuto hurried over, their eyes already becoming moist. "You're alive… You're really alive! It really is you… It really is you…"
Morty had always been a calm and steady person, but at this moment, his excitement had left him completely incoherent.
"Three days ago, Ecruteak Gym received a package addressed from 'Tetsuya'. Otousan didn't sleep the entire night after that! He immediately informed Elite Four Pryce. Elite Four Pryce arrived at Ecruteak Gym yesterday.
For the past two days, Ryuto and I have been keeping watch outside the Gym. I knew that as long as you were still alive, you would definitely come back to Ecruteak Gym… This is your home!"
After Morty finished speaking, Tetsuya could not help but feel deeply moved… kinda. He had never expected that, even after disappearing for four years, there would still be people thinking about him. Moreover, since Pryce had already come to Ecruteak Gym, it saved him the trouble of making another trip to Mahogany Gym.
"Thank you, Morty… Is the Leader and Elite Four Pryce inside the Gym?" Tetsuya asked.
Morty shook his head and said, "Not right now. The two of them went to Goldenrod City today."