"Mewtwo is a Pokémon? Didn't the data say it was just an experiment code name? Salted Fish Teacher, what are you talking about? I don't understand anything!"
"Case solved! The gene extraction points to Mew, and combined with the earlier Mew capture operation—this has to be Team Rocket's experimental data!"
"I get it now! Team Rocket's real goal in capturing Mew was to extract its core genetic fragments! Then create an artificial Pokémon!!!"
"So they actually succeeded! And they named the artificial Pokémon after the experiment code—Mewtwo! A Pokémon that surpasses Mew?!"
"You guys are missing the point! According to Salted Fish Teacher's explanation of the game… does that mean Mewtwo exists in our real world too?!"
"A man-made Legendary Pokémon!!!"
The livestream chat erupted into heated discussion.
But it didn't slow the trio down.
After preparing themselves, they arrived at the end of Route 8, at the checkpoint leading into Saffron City.
A guard immediately raised his hand to stop them.
Guard:
"Stop right there! Team Rocket has caused a large-scale riot in Saffron City! The Pokémon League is suppressing it with full force!"
"Any trainer who hasn't collected five Gym Badges is strictly forbidden from entering!"
"Forbidden to enter?"
Red repeated in confusion.
This was the first time he had encountered a hard area restriction in the game.
"Try flying in."
Blue suggested with complete seriousness.
Red thought about it.
Actually… that might work.
He immediately summoned Charizard and shot into the sky.
However—
The moment he attempted to cross the city boundary—
BANG!
Charizard slammed headfirst into a massive transparent energy barrier.
The result?
A spectacular crash landing.
Rei Akagi didn't stop them from experimenting with the boundary.
Only after they tried everything—flying, detouring, even glitching dialogue triggers—and all attempts failed did he finally speak up.
"Alright, stop messing around."
"Saffron City is currently sealed by a full energy barrier. Normal methods won't get you inside."
"Come this way. We'll take the Underground Path to Celadon City first."
The three turned and entered the inconspicuous Underground Path entrance nearby.
Inside, the tunnel stretched long and perfectly straight.
It felt completely different from the colorful world above.
Aside from dim yellow streetlights spaced along the corridor, there was almost no decoration.
Just cold walls.
And a monotonous floor.
The place felt dull and lifeless.
But ridiculously enough—
In this seemingly empty corridor, Blue's character somehow kept pulling hidden items out of the most unbelievable places.
Nuggets, Star Pieces, and other valuable items were one thing.
She even found fresh Berries beside a ventilation duct.
Her efficiency was so outrageous that Rei Akagi started wondering if she had secretly turned on an item-finder cheat.
When Blue finally dug up a glowing Everstone beneath the last loose floor tile near the exit—
The "underground treasure hunt" finally came to a perfect end.
The three emerged from the dim tunnel and stepped onto Route 7, bathed in sunlight.
The road opened wide.
Sparse trees lined both sides.
Straight ahead stood the outline of a colorful metropolis.
Celadon City
"A city of rainbow dreams."
The introduction text appeared as the city revealed itself.
As one of the Kanto region's major trade centers, Celadon City was far larger and more prosperous than any town they had visited before.
Buildings of wildly different styles stood side by side.
Several towering skyscrapers rose into the clouds, silently displaying the city's vitality.
"Even if this is just a game model… this scale is insane."
Blue stared at the bustling streets and countless virtual shops surrounding them.
Red, on the other hand, had no time for admiration.
He only had one mode:
Charge forward.
Based on his extensive gaming experience, big cities like this were guaranteed to contain powerful NPCs and hidden rewards.
But just as he was rubbing his hands together to begin "exploring"—
His eyes locked onto a figure in the middle of the street.
A man wearing a Team Rocket uniform was casually walking through the crowd!
"Team Rocket!"
Red immediately tried to rush forward to trigger a battle.
Fortunately, Rei Akagi stopped him.
"Don't be impulsive!"
"If you attack someone on a main street in the city center without reason, you'll get reported and Officer Jenny will literally drag you to the station!"
Rei Akagi warned quickly.
"Huh? But he's a Team Rocket member—"
Red protested instinctively.
Rei Akagi calmly explained:
"He's just walking down the street right now. He hasn't committed a crime or caused any trouble."
"If you run up and beat him up out of nowhere, you'll be the one in the wrong."
"This isn't the wilderness or a small village."
"The Pokémon League's law enforcement is real here. If someone reports you, officers will actually show up to arrest you."
At that moment, Blue cut into the conversation.
Her voice trembled with barely contained excitement.
"Forget about Team Rocket!"
"I can feel it!"
"There are tons of amazing items hidden all over this city, just waiting for me to take them home!!!"
Red's attention instantly shifted.
His desire to "fight evil" vanished completely.
Instead, the flames of exploration reignited in his eyes.
…Pointless.
Watching the two of them practically vibrating with anticipation, Rei Akagi shook his head helplessly.
Still, he couldn't let them roam freely.
Celadon City was enormous.
If they explored everything blindly, it might take forever.
And he was still streaming.
So after thinking for a moment, he decided to take command.
"Ahem. Everyone look at me—I've got an announcement."
On screen, Red and Blue's characters stopped simultaneously and turned toward Rei.
"To avoid delaying the main storyline, I'll personally guide you through the most important hidden easter eggs in this city."
"Ah~ Salted Fish bro~ you're soooo nice~"
Blue responded immediately in an overly sweet voice.
Her character even moved closer beside Rei.
"There's something like this?! Of course! Salted Fish Teacher is the game developer!"
Red froze for a moment before realizing.
Then he complained bitterly:
"Why didn't I think of that before? Actually—why didn't you tell us earlier?!"
"If I told you everything beforehand, where would the fun of exploring go?"
Rei Akagi replied irritably.
Then he added:
"And Blue—talk normally!"
He guided Rei into an extremely narrow gap between two skyscrapers.
"Stay close. I'll show you something interesting."
Following Rei through the narrow passage, they unexpectedly passed straight through the interior of the building complex.
Suddenly, the view opened up.
They arrived at a small forest clearing surrounded by towering buildings.
A nearly overgrown path led deeper inside.
At the end stood the back side of a building—a blind spot impossible to reach through normal city navigation.
Rei pushed aside a thick clump of weeds.
A half-hidden, old wooden door appeared.
He pushed it open.
Inside was an empty room with nothing but a staircase leading upward.
What followed was a long and exhausting climb.
The spiral staircase seemed endless.
Only the echo of footsteps filled the hollow corridor.
After what felt like ages—
A small door finally appeared at the top.
It led to the rooftop.
When they pushed it open, a cozy rooftop room full of lived-in details came into view.
A small wooden sign hung beside the door.
"Pokémon Studio."
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