Pokémon: I’m Really Not a Team Rocket Spy

"So, what are your plans next?"

After wrapping up their discussion about the Cottonee, Lance asked once again with a serious expression.

"What do you mean?"

"Of course, I'm talking about the Indigo League! What else could it be? I practically bent the rules to give you insider information. Shouldn't you be doing something about it right away? You don't even have a single Gym Badge yet, do you?"

The Indigo League has specific entry requirements. No matter how high your battle ranking is, if you don't meet these conditions, you won't be able to participate.

For instance, the Indigo League is primarily a competition for young trainers, which is why it has a strict age limit—every participant must be under 18.

Aside from that, collecting Gym Badges is essential, just as the anime portrays.

"What about you? Don't tell me you've already gathered all eight Gym Badges?"

Maki glanced at Lance. As a League investigator, he had somehow managed to take a two-week leave in Saffron City. Was his job really that laid-back?

"Not really. As much as I'd love to go around challenging Gyms, I don't have the time." Lance shook his head before adding, "But since I graduated from a Pokémon Academy, I'm exempt from the Gym Badge requirement."

Graduating from a Pokémon Academy still required practical battle skills. It wasn't just about theoretical knowledge—otherwise, they'd be raising researchers instead of trainers.

Maki had only received his Charmander recently, so naturally, he hadn't graduated from a Pokémon Academy.

"There's still plenty of time. I'll just gather badges while traveling. Training my Pokémon is my top priority."

Maki spoke nonchalantly, clearly indifferent about collecting badges.

Let's see... Vermilion Gym's Lt. Surge, Fuchsia Gym's Koga, Cinnabar Gym's Blaine, and even Sabrina from Saffron Gym—they were all affiliated with Team Rocket. That's already four.

Not to mention Giovanni himself was the Gym Leader of Viridian City, making it five. That was more than half the requirement taken care of...

"That makes sense."

Lance nodded in agreement. No matter what, strength was always the most important thing.

Of course, he didn't realize that Maki had already figured out where most of his Gym Badges would come from.

"Just don't get too distracted and forget to collect your badges in time for the League."

Lance added a final reminder. After all, there were only two ways to qualify for the Indigo League: either graduate from an Academy or challenge Gyms one by one. There was no such thing as a "Pokémon League Qualification Exam"—that was just nonsense.

After that, Maki and Lance discussed the potential challenges of raising a Charizard. Having raised one himself, Lance had a wealth of practical experience.

No matter how much theory Maki had studied, it would always be just "paper talk." Hearing Lance's firsthand experience was invaluable.

Meanwhile, Charmander was off in the corner, completely absorbed in watching TV. Since these two were busy chatting away, he figured he might as well take the opportunity to relax.

Little did he know that his entire training regimen was already being meticulously planned by the two humans. Oblivious to his fate, he continued grinning at the Charizard on the TV screen.

—Crack!

A crisp sound caught both Maki and Lance's attention. Though engrossed in conversation, they had been keeping an ear out for the Pokémon Egg. Such an obvious sound couldn't escape them.

Realizing that his soon-to-be "little sibling" was about to hatch, Charmander immediately abandoned the remote and scurried over.

"Char!"

"Shh, keep your voice down."

Maki gently reminded his visibly excited Charmander as he leaned in closer to observe the new life about to emerge.

Lance, on the other hand, took a step back, giving Maki space while quietly witnessing the birth of the newborn Pokémon. Maki was too focused on the Cottonee Egg to notice.

The Egg trembled vigorously as cracks spread across its shell like a spiderweb. The initial fissure at the top expanded outward, covering nearly the entire surface.

Eventually, when the network of cracks reached its peak, a small hole broke open at the top.

A tiny pale-green leaf peeked out from the gap, resembling a fresh sprout—the symbol of new life.

The leaf struggled to push further out of the shell, its movements slow and delicate. But Maki didn't interfere, knowing that this was a challenge every newborn Pokémon must face.

Breaking free from the shell that once nurtured its life—now a cage it must escape.

Before long, a young Cottonee fully emerged from the Egg, its orange eyes half-open as it curiously took in the world for the first time.

"Welcome to the world—my partner!"

Though he knew hatching wasn't a major struggle for most Pokémon—especially since this Cottonee had been incubated under optimal conditions—Maki had still been a bit anxious.

Perhaps it was just natural to worry about something you care for.

The newborn Cottonee wasn't much larger than Maki's palm. He gently cupped it under its tiny leafy body, lifting it with care.

"Cotton~"

Feeling itself being lifted, Cottonee focused on the first human it saw upon opening its eyes.

Driven by an instinct buried deep in its genes, the little Pokémon swayed its leaves, as if trying to move closer to Maki.

Understanding its desire, Maki brought Cottonee closer to his face.

"So, little one, do you have something to say to me?"

"Cotton~"

Cottonee affectionately nuzzled Maki's face with its tiny leaf. He couldn't understand exactly what it was trying to say—but maybe that didn't really matter.

"You should touch it too. She's... well, I guess you could say she's your little sister."

Charmander cautiously extended a claw, gently brushing against the small cotton tuft atop Cottonee's head, careful not to use too much force.

Maki wrapped a special scarf around Cottonee's body, securing it gently before cradling it in his arms.

"So? How does it feel?"

Glancing back, Maki finally noticed that Lance had taken a step back, observing with a smile.

"The moment a new life is born... Perhaps that itself is a miracle."

"Is that what you think? But to me... every ordinary day we live through might just be a series of miracles happening one after another."

Looking down at the Cottonee already dozing off in his arms, Maki softly spoke to Lance.

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