When Lu Ye saw Gengar's location marked at Saffron Gym, he panicked and immediately rushed out to rescue it.
With Sabrina's strength, if there was no Trainer present, one wrong move and Gengar could end up seriously injured.
The fact that it had snuck off to "farm" Gym challenges could wait.
Right now, the most important thing was the safety of his little ones!
Opening the group chat, Lu Ye sent a private message to Sabrina, but she didn't seem to receive it.
Left with no choice, Teacher Lu hailed a taxi and sped toward Saffron Gym.
"Buddy, no need to rush that much for a Gym challenge!" the driver joked.
"It's not me. My Pokémon went to challenge the Gym on its own."
"…Huh?"
Fortunately, he arrived just in time.
Lu Ye leaned against the Gym's doorway, sensing the strange atmosphere inside, and found himself momentarily stunned.
Wait a minute… Did they already clear the challenge?!
"Gengarr!"
Seeing Lu Ye, Gengar excitedly greeted him with a big, sloppy Lick.
"Awwooo~"
Growlithe lunged forward, attempting to greet him with a full-body Body Slam.
Between two evils, choose the lesser one.
Lu Ye dodged to the side—only to be hit squarely by Gengar's Lick. His body trembled.
…Huh?
After being paralyzed so many times, it actually felt like he was building resistance to it.
"That's the Trainer who raised Gengar?"
All the apprentices turned their eyes toward the handsome young man at the entrance.
"This thing's already at the level of a top-tier League competitor…" one of them muttered in shock.
"But with Gym Leader Sabrina here today, there's no way he's getting a badge that easily!"
Everyone turned expectantly toward Sabrina.
Instead, they watched as she casually tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear and gave Lu Ye a small nod in greeting.
"It's you."
…What's going on?!
The apprentices looked back and forth between the two in disbelief.
Their world-famous Gym Leader, Sabrina, actually knew this guy?!
Lu Ye nodded in return, clearing his throat, "I just found out this guy snuck out on his own."
"No worries," A rare smile tugged at Sabrina's lips as she turned, her black hair swaying slightly," Come sit in the back."
Sit in the back?
To do what?!
The apprentices were stunned for a moment before they clenched their jaws, glaring as they watched Lu Ye leave.
Damn it! So what if he's just a little more handsome than me?!
"Our Gym Leader actually knows a guy this well?"
"Wait, did Sabrina just smile at him?"
"Hmph… nothing special!"
---
Inside the Gym Leader's Office.
A middle-aged man in a hat stood up in surprise, "And who is this?"
"Please step out for a moment. We have something to discuss," Sabrina said.
"Oh! I'll leave right away!" The man grinned, nodding vigorously before quickly making his exit.
As he passed Lu Ye, he even gave him a hearty pat on the shoulder.
This is rare—Sabrina actually brought a man back!
I'd better leave them some alone time!
An awkward silence filled the room.
Lu Ye and Sabrina sat across from each other, the tension palpable.
The teapot on the table floated midair, steaming hot tea pouring itself into two cups under Sabrina's psychic control.
"…Your father seems to have misunderstood something," Lu Ye commented, watching the floating teapot.
"He's getting old. Just wants grandchildren," Sabrina said flatly.
"…?"
"I'm joking," Sabrina's voice was dead serious, even though she had just cracked a joke.
Her deep black eyes locked onto Lu Ye.
"So, tell me. What's your real reason for coming to Saffron Gym? It's not as simple as just collecting a badge, is it?"
Through the group chat, Sabrina already knew that Lu Ye was a high-ranking officer in Team Rocket.
Even Matori—the one who had called him Mentor—revered him.
The mastermind behind Project Rainbow had suddenly shown up at the home of a former Rocket executive.
And conveniently, he just happened to come while she was here?
Sabrina's lips curled into a cold smile.
So Team Rocket really is trying to recruit its old remnants again?
"That's true," Lu Ye nodded, "I'm here to take Gengar home."
Cough!
Sabrina nearly choked.
She had been preparing a whole speech to reject any offer, only for it to be completely unnecessary.
Staring at Lu Ye with a complicated expression, she asked, "…Then what was Gengar here for?"
"You'll have to ask him yourself," Lu Ye was just as confused.
If Gengar was here to challenge the Gym, that didn't seem right—he hadn't shown any particular interest in that.
But storming into the Gym and knocking out a few Trainers out of nowhere? That sounded a lot like picking a fight.
Unless… it really just came here for a side quest?!
"Gengarr!"
Gengar reached into its mysterious, bottomless stomach, rummaged around, and pulled out a tattered piece of paper before slapping it onto the table.
Both Sabrina and Lu Ye leaned in to read the notice.
"Psychic Training Program—Coach Recruitment!"
They both shouted in unison.
Even the ever-cold and emotionless Sabrina momentarily broke character.
So you really came all this way… just to apply for a job?!
This has absolutely nothing to do with Team Rocket or Project Rainbow?!
"That's my job posting!"
A voice suddenly yelled from outside the door.
The middle-aged man peeked in, looking thrilled, "See, Sabrina? I found you some extra help!"
"Stay away."
Wham!
A well-aimed Zen Headbutt descended from the heavens, knocking the man unconscious—his face radiating with the bliss of fatherly pride.
My daughter is finally taking an interest in running the Gym!
The room fell into an awkward silence.
Sabrina coughed lightly, "The Gym is short-staffed right now… I'll think about it."
Lu Ye, however, was still in a daze.
Gengar as a coach?
Why did this plot feel so familiar?
At this rate, wasn't Gengar going to become the Gym Leader of Saffron City in two or three months?!
"Gengarr! (๑`▽´๑)۶"
Gengar happily waved its little fists.
With a paycheck, he could help out at home and ease his Trainer's burdens!
"The salary won't be very high," Sabrina admitted after a long pause, brushing back a strand of black hair, "But I do have some insight into Psychic-type moves."
She glanced at Gengar.
Previously, when she had taught Lu Ye Psychic, she had already sensed Gengar's growing affinity for psychic power.
She had to admit—Lu Ye was exceptionally skilled at training Pokémon of this type.
However, Sabrina herself had mastered a wide range of spatial techniques.
She pondered.
If I teach Gengar Trick and some space-based moves, that would be a fair exchange.
Lu Ye immediately refused, "That's really not necessary!"
"…I see," Sabrina's lips twitched in amusement, an almost-smile forming, "With your strength, I suppose these techniques wouldn't interest you."
"That's not the issue," Lu Ye's expression grew complicated.
He just couldn't exactly say that he was worried about Gengar causing property damage… or that he was afraid of getting even closer to bankruptcy!
Sabrina studied him for a long moment before speaking again, "I agree to let Gengar become a coach at Saffron Gym. But first… we battle."
In just six months, Lu Ye had trained Gengar to this level.
This only deepened Sabrina's curiosity about his real strength.
And in Lu Ye, she saw something familiar—
A shadow of a certain man in a suit.
Perhaps, just as Matori had suggested…
Maybe Lu Ye really is the one who could lead Team Rocket into a new era.
Lu Ye froze.
Battle against Sabrina?!
Gengar, let's just go home. We don't need the paycheck that badly!
"Gengarr!"
Gengar tugged at Lu Ye's sleeve, eyes firm with determination.
No matter how strong the enemy is…
I will fight for my Trainer!
Lu Ye's expression grew even weirder.
You really just want to become a Gym Leader, don't you?!
"…Fine."
After a long sigh, Lu Ye relented.
"Losing doesn't matter, right?"
"Of course," Sabrina nodded, "It's just a friendly match between equals."
"Then I have no problem. Let's not waste time!" Lu Ye said.
"Gengarr! ψ(｀∇´)ψ"
Feeling the bond between them, Sabrina's lips curled into a rare smile.
Having a Pokémon by one's side truly was a blessing.
Following fate's guidance, this battle is inevitable.
Perhaps, even the outcome had already been decided.
But still—
A faint blue glow flickered in Sabrina's eyes.
The Poké Balls floating beside her began to rise.
"Show me what ' The Tactician' is capable of."