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Taking advantage of the free time before the competition resumed, Kai and Chloe visited a gift shop on the bustling pedestrian street to browse.
Since Chloe rarely had the chance to go out, she decided to buy some gifts for her parents and younger brother to make the trip worthwhile.
After watching Kai's battle with the top-seeded trainer on TV, Chloe's younger brother Parker enthusiastically requested more than a dozen autographs from Kai.
Back in school, when his classmates discovered that Parker not only knew Kai but that his sister was spending time with him, Parker's popularity skyrocketed.
Boys and girls alike, even students from other classes, swarmed him during recess to hear the story he loved retelling.
Those autographs became "debts" he owed for bragging!
When Chloe brought up the request to Kai, she felt a little embarrassed, but Kai generously agreed. "Nah! Don't worry about it!"
That response had etched itself into Chloe's mind. Even now, every time she thought about it, a warm feeling spread through her.
Amid the lively crowd, Kai wore a baseball cap and large sunglasses, blending in with the tourists.
No one would have guessed he was the rising star from the Pokémon League.
To maintain his privacy, Kai had coordinated with a reporter named Rhonda to release an exclusive interview, ensuring that other media outlets wouldn't bother him for the time being.
While this strategy worked temporarily, Kai knew that if he continued to advance, the media frenzy would return with a vengeance.
Standing in front of a glass display, Chloe pointed to a plush Jenny doll and smiled.
"Kai, do you think this would suit Parker?"
Kai took one look and shook his head.
"Parker is a cool kid. I don't think he'd go for something cute . How about the Charizard figure over there instead?"
As he spoke, his phone suddenly rang. Checking the caller ID, Kai saw it was an old friend. He stepped to the side to take the call.
On the other end of the line, the familiar, cheerful voice greeted him. "I saw your match on TV! Advancing to the top 32 is already impressive! But knowing you, your real goal is the championship, right?"
"Obviously," Kai replied, adjusting his sunglasses. As the crowd jostled him, he noticed Chloe had drifted a short distance away. "If I didn't have big dreams, I wouldn't even be here. Anyway, make it quick; this isn't the best place to talk."
The voice on the phone chuckled.
"Judging by the noise, I'd guess you're out shopping with a girl in some busy marketplace?"
Kai scanned the crowd suspiciously. "How do you know that? Are you spying on me?"
"Relax! Just a lucky guess," the voice teased. "You always seem to have girls around you first Sabrina and Erika, and now this. Some guys have all the luck!"
Kai sighed. "Can we skip the commentary and get to the point?"
"Fine, fine," the caller relented, his tone turning serious. "We've made significant progress. Most of Team Rocket's operatives in Kanto have been apprehended. Only a few stragglers remain, and we're hunting them down. I'd say it's only a matter of time before we shut them down entirely."
Kai wasn't convinced. With Giovanni's cunning and Team Rocket's deep resources, there were undoubtedly secrets left undiscovered.
Even by the time of the Sun & Moon series, Giovanni was still operating in the shadows, expanding his influence into new regions.
Still, Kai didn't voice his doubts, instead choosing to encourage his friend. "Sounds like you're doing good work. But I'm guessing you didn't call just to share good news."
"You know me too well," the voice replied with a laugh. "Here's the deal: after the recent crackdown, Rocket's higher-ups fled Kanto and seem to be regrouping in Johto. Once the Indigo Plateau Conference is over, will you be heading there?"
Kai wasn't surprised. Team Rocket's influence in Johto was strong, and even if their Kanto operations were crippled, they could easily rebuild in neighbouring regions. "That's the plan. Why? Are you asking for my help again?"
"Exactly," the voice admitted. "We'll need someone like you to disrupt their operations. You're one of the few trainers who can handle it."
Kai chuckled. "What, am I some kind of Miltank you can keep milking for favours? Don't you international police have your own resources?"
"Come on," the caller said with a grin. "You're my most trusted ally. I know you'll come through for us!"
Kai sighed, knowing he'd likely have to deal with Team Rocket eventually. "Fine. But let me be clear: it'll be a while before I'm in Johto. After the Indigo League, I'm heading to the Orange Islands first."
"That's fine," the voice replied. "We've still got cleanup work to finish here anyway. Once you're done in the Orange Islands, we'll regroup in Johto. And hey best of luck winning that championship!"
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