Even Sinnoh champions have to work hard.

"Yes, I need you to go there and take a look. After all, the company doesn't have enough manpower right now, and only experts in this field can solve the problem. I still need you to go there and handle it. After all, it's the Pokémon Center in Viridian City. If things go wrong at this time, our company's image with the Nurse Joy family will be greatly damaged."

Looking at the president's 'sincere' gaze, Kazama Shiromo held back for a long time but couldn't help but complain: "Excuse me for being blunt, President Sa, banging on doors is an old acquaintance. Can you come up with a better reason if you're lying? I have no knowledge of things like the Elf Healing Device that involve high-end black technology, and you say I'm a professional? Excuse me?"

Sephiroth, sitting opposite him, gave him a doting... I mean, caring smile: "Bai Mo, I have complete faith in your abilities. After all, you've always been one of the company's best employees."

"I remember when you first joined the company, you lied to me about working three all-nighters, and that's what you said too!"

Didn't I pay you overtime pay later?

"That little bit of overtime pay is barely enough to order takeout at night, okay?"

"There was nothing I could do. You were just an intern back then, and I couldn't break the rules by only giving you this much."

"You make it sound so real! Do you know that Rie looks at me like she wants to eat me alive after I haven't been home for three days?!"

"Oh, isn't that great? Absence makes the heart grow fonder. I've effectively improved your marital relationship. Shouldn't you be happy to have such an understanding CEO like me?"

"When I say 'eat,' I mean the literal sense of eating, the kind where the food is chopped up on a cutting board."

Sephiroth's eyes were still smiling, but they had turned cold. Kazama Shiramo wondered if it was just his imagination, but he felt the air around him tense up.

Oh, right, although CEO Sa is stunningly beautiful... I mean, handsome and charming, and incredibly wealthy, he is surprisingly single, with not a single scandal involving him, leading the company's employees to secretly speculate whether their boss is gay.

However, even if he really is gay, a single, aristocratic lone wolf will always unconsciously feel hatred when faced with a couple who are showing off their love. It's like a village dog guarding the gate will always feel the urge to have a good time with a big, barking white goose.

Someone's three days of overtime work was the karmic retribution for showing off their love, and although the person in question was completely unaware of how many times they had offended their boss.

"Can you please stop giving me that gay look? It's making me feel uneasy. And let me remind you again, I, Bai Mo, am a married man!"

"But no matter how much you try to shirk your responsibilities, you're definitely going to Tokiwa City!" A hint of hatred flashed in Boss Sa's eyes. He was certain once again that this guy had truly lost his will to live. He'd just have to arrange a few more all-nighters of overtime for him when he got back, let him show off, let him keep showing off.

Unaware that he had already fallen into the hell of overtime in the future, Kazama Shiro frowned. He had no time to think. He knew Viridian City all too well. Since retiring, his partners had all parted ways with him. Among them, his strongest partner's starter Pokémon did not want to be too far away from him and chose to live in Viridian in the Kanto region. Over the years, he and Rie would visit Viridian Forest every year to see their old friend who had accompanied him from rookie to champion.

Sephiroth, Pokémon Center, Viridian City—these simple names combined suggest that this is definitely not a simple matter. And the fact that he was specifically chosen to go there makes it seem like there's something fishy going on.

"I think I might have a fake boss."

"Don't you feel hopeless? No matter how fake I am as your boss, you still have to go on business trips obediently."

"I know the business trip you've arranged for me isn't going to be simple, but could you at least give me a heads-up so I can make the necessary arrangements?"

"If I don't tell you, do you think you can just not go?"

"What can you do to me if I don't go? Are you going to try and cut me with a forty-meter-long knife?"

"Sometimes it's not that I don't have this urge."

Kazama Shiramo glanced at Sephiroth, giving him a look that said, "I don't believe you."

Mr. Sa twitched his brow. Sometimes he really didn't know what to do with an idiot, and besides, arguing with this idiot here was pointless.

"Just got some news from the league. The Rockets have been making some strange moves lately. Apparently, they're conducting research on replicating Dream Team, and they've made significant progress, possibly even succeeding. And recently, neither Shiba nor Kona has been free, so..."

"I refuse, I'd rather die than go." Completely oblivious to the boss sitting opposite him, Kazama Shiromo turned his handsome face and shamelessly imitated his wife's expression, but his awkward and arrogant face looked utterly smug.

"Where's that red-haired Lance? Is that Flying-type Elite Four member just wasting his time hiding in some corner, picking up girls?"

"Du returned to Chengdu a month ago. After all, he is still the Chengdu champion. He just can't spare enough high-end players recently, otherwise why would he need to ask you for help?"

"The league often turns a blind eye to things involving the Rockets, which makes me wonder if the league is secretly making some kind of deal with the Rockets."

"That's because the Rockets haven't done anything too outrageous. At most, they do petty theft. Sometimes, Giovanni even does some rather silly things, so the League hasn't interfered much." Sephiroth took a sip of coffee, his eyes filled with a smile, a hint of nostalgia and contemplation. "Light is always beautiful, but even under the light, there are always dark corners. Even if the League can easily deal with the Rockets, it won't be long before some car team or plane team pops up again. Fortunately, it's better to let the Rockets, which are actually quite low-risk, continue to exist. It's actually a good thing, and by comparison, it can also indirectly show the League's righteous image to the public."

"But Team Rocket went a bit too far this time, didn't they?" Kazama Shiramo certainly understood the League's meaning. He had interacted with Mew, the legendary origin of all things, though not for long, but he was very clear about Mew's combat power. Although Mew wasn't a battle-type Pokémon, it was definitely a top-tier legendary Pokémon. In fact, given Mew's bizarre abilities, given a suitable trainer, Kazama Shiramo had no doubt that Mew could rival Ho-Oh and Lugia.

If Team Rocket's research is successful, even if the clone of Mew doesn't have the same combat power as the original Mew, it will definitely not be lower than a level 2 legendary.

This level of combat power is enough to cause unrest.

Image: "", Location: "Images/125900-15666.jpg"

P.S. I will always love the Tanabata Bluebird, so please give me a vote!

P.S. Dear readers, while you're letting your books grow, please don't forget to vote with recommendations or monthly tickets. I'd be extremely grateful, as many new books are often "killed off" because they're too short.

Chapter 4 The Senior's Child

"So you understand now, there's really no other way this time. There are only a handful of people in the entire Kanto region with this kind of fighting power, and they're all too busy to spare any more time."

"I won't go, I'd rather die than go."

"Your salary will double this month." Boss Sa had already anticipated this guy's scumbag behavior.

"What do you take me for!"

"three times."

"I've been thinking about it lately, and I feel like I need to start saving up for baby formula."

"Four times."

“I can’t always live off Rie. Although Rie’s income as a voice actress is indeed very high, I also need money, don’t I?”

Five times

"Don't do that, I'm not that kind of person."

"Seven times, Mr. Kazama, this is already the bottom line. Don't go too far."

"Ten times, how about a fixed price?" Kazama Shiromo grinned slyly. He was being offered a freebie, and he believed that only a fool would pass up a chance to make money.

"Mr. Kazama, don't you think your appetite is a bit too big? Aren't you afraid of getting fired?"

"Oh, really? I'm sorry, Mr. Sa, I don't understand what you're saying at all. As an ordinary Kanto office worker, I have every reason to refuse your unreasonable request. After all, I'm just an ordinary citizen of Vermilion City. I don't understand why you would send an ordinary person like me, who doesn't even have a single Pokémon, to participate in such a dangerous matter. Rocket is really scary!"

Sephiroth looked at the idiot's exaggerated acting and strange voice. This fool, who had been bragging about how cute his lovely voice actress wife was ever since he married her, had no Herculean mentality whatsoever. He knew it would turn into this stupid situation where he would ask for an exorbitant price and refuse to let anyone bargain.

"I think you'll go willingly, Mr. Commoner of Fallen Leaf." Sephiroth looked at the idiot in front of him with a dangerous smile and a strange smile. Whether it was discussing business, working, or having a company party, his IQ and EQ were clearly normal. Why was he acting like a jerk like Chen Chichi at this moment?

Going against your boss? Do you really think you'll have a good life?

"What a joke!" Kazama Shiromo declared with the spirit of a Heisei era man: "Even if I, Kazama Shiromo, get fired this time, live off my wife, have her pinch my cheeks and laugh at me for being a gigolo, and live a humiliating and shameful comfortable gigolo life, I would never do this kind of unpaid work!"

"Really? But do you know that the start date is just around the corner!" President Sa was clearly in a bad mood, his handsome face showing an indescribable displeasure.

"Oh, it's that time of year again when those ten-year-old brats go on their trip. It's so unpleasant. Every year, we corporate slaves are so busy with logistical support that we wish we could squeeze out twenty-five hours a day to keep them safe." Kazama Shiramo sighed with a mix of emotion and nostalgia. "But this tradition does give the kids a very profound experience. After all, Rie and I plan to make our child a genius trainer, and hopefully he can easily win the Kanto Championship so our ordinary family can also benefit from his success."

Looking at this idiot employee who was showing off in front of him again, if he could, he really wanted to give him a 40-meter-long sword.

"I have to mention something to you. That senior and Hanako-neechan's child is already ten years old this year!"

"Yes, how could I forget my senior's children? After all, it was something my senior entrusted to me. Rie and I go back to Pallet Town every year... to visit them..."

"Have you remembered yet?" Sa smiled at the guy in front of him whose forehead was already sweating. "Your child is going on a trip this year. I contacted the League staff early on and sent the best starter Pokémon to Pallet Town. Among them, Squirtle has the potential to be at least Champion level. I hope Ash has the foresight."

"Do you need me to remind you of the exact distance between Pallet Town and Viridian City? Or should I tell you again about the fact that the Gym Leader of Viridian City is actually Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket?"

"Um, Mr. Sa, will I still get a raise when I go on business trips now? I don't ask for much, just double the salary you mentioned would be fine."

"Don't worry, double is still for you. After all, the only thing our senior asked of us before he passed away was to take good care of his wife and children. If we can't even do that, we won't have the face to meet our senior in the underworld after we die, you know?"

"I know! I watched Ash grow up. I'll tell those guys that anyone who doesn't take good care of Ash along the way is disrespecting me!" Seeing Sephiroth's clearly serious tone, Kazama Shiramo also expressed his determination to get this done. He instructed Lorelei and her group to pretend to casually nurture the kid. After all, he's a senior's child; his talent is bound to be exceptional. With proper training, he might just be a future champion!

"By the way, I know your Gardevoir is still around, but just to be on the safe side, you should still go to Viridian Forest. After all, we both know how strong Mew is, so it's better to be cautious!"

"I know, don't worry. Gardevoir has mastered Mega Evolution very well. After evolving, it will definitely be a top-tier Elite Four Pokémon. It should be able to handle even Mew itself." Compared to Sephiroth's worries, Kazama Shiramo was very confident. This stemmed from her absolute confidence in her own strength. The combination of a top-tier Elite Four Pokémon and a Champion Trainer meant that she could easily take on a Flying-type Elite Four member. After all, Fairy-type Pokémon are dragon slayers. No matter what, a mere Team Rocket with a second-tier legendary Pokémon couldn't possibly have the strength to keep her in check.

"That's the Rockets' home base after all, there are too many unknown factors there, so don't let your guard down, you know?" Sephiroth didn't think that a Rockets team could pose any threat to the former champions, but he still gave them a heads-up just to be on the safe side.

"Okay, I got it." It would be nice to treat it as a trip to the Rockets team to relive some old memories.

As Kazama Shiromoto thought this, he looked out the window at a soaring figure, a slight smile playing on his lips.

With it, I will not be defeated!

How have you been lately, my old buddy—the desert dragonfly!

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P.S. Qingmian Bird's Request for Votes: Please, please! Don't you have any leftover recommendation tickets or monthly tickets from your New Year's lucky bags?!

Chapter 5 Comfort Before Departure

"Isn't this a bit too much, senior?" Kirito looked at the things his senior had handed him—a whole quarter's financial summary—and felt like he'd eaten his fill at the steamed bun shop next door but his girlfriend dragged him to KFC and forced him to eat a family bucket.

The world is so unfriendly!

"Study hard, you know!" It wasn't some dirty trick like deliberately making things difficult for a junior or passing on one's work to an intern. Kazama Shiramo didn't consider himself a senior who was stupid enough to follow seniority. It was just that this guy really should do it!

His girlfriend, Yuuki Asuna, who was in the same cohort as him, had already learned these things much earlier. Although his girlfriend could teach him these things slowly in the future, how could a man always lack independent thinking? Judging from Kiritani's current state, Kazama Shiramo felt that he probably wouldn't even know how to hide his secret stash of money in the future.

"Understood, senpai." Although Kirigaya Kazuto's face was as dark as if he were picking up girls in a bar but saw the Bulgarian Demon King performing on stage, he also knew that the Demon King was a handsome man in every sense of the word. Uh, no, it's because senpai did this for his own good.

Despite not being very good at communicating with people, Kirito still deeply trusts and is grateful to his senior who has helped him so much.

"Alright, Kiritani-kun, I need to pack my things. I'm going on a business trip for a while. During this time, if there's anything you don't understand, ask your girlfriend. Although it's true that a man can't always rely on his girlfriend, his partner should be the person he can trust the most. You and Yuki are both good kids, so cherish this relationship, okay!"

"Senior, you're about the same age as us, so why do you always look like an old man?"

"That's the composure of married people, you know?"

"don't know!"

"Well, Kiritani-kun is quite an honest kid. I'll let him train a little longer this time and come back later," Kazama Shiramo thought, showing his consideration for his junior.

Kazama Shiramo left the office with a satisfied smile after packing his things.

Business trips are entirely dependent on the circumstances. In certain specific jobs, business trips can indeed be equated with tourism.

For example, right now.

All I need to do is go to Viridian Forest to catch up with my old friends, explore Team Rocket's base, and do some of the dark desires that I, as a positive character, can only unleash in games, such as demolishing things, destroying bases, robbing, and other very interesting things. Then I can let Flygon unleash a Draco Meteor at Team Rocket's base to test its feel.

Just thinking about it gives me the thrill of wielding a Gatling gun and firing away in a police station!

It's a trip! Traveling is so much fun, especially traveling with triple pay – that's really exciting!

Kazama Shiramo was immersed in the pleasure of being on paid leave, feeling as if he had drunk Vita Lemon Tea and was even tempted to have sex.

The only regret is that I can't bring Rie along, which is a real shame.

however……

"President..." Asuna Yuuki looked at the smiling silver-haired man with a hint of hesitation. Although she had always thought so, looking at him closely now, President Sephiroth really was a true demon king, in every sense of the word...