POKEMON : THE WAY OF PERCEPTION

Outside the Pokémon Center, the police officers had surrounded the area, preventing anyone from leaving. No one, whether staff or trainers, was allowed to exit. Miss Joey was explaining to Officer Jenny what had occurred earlier that day.

"Sure enough, it's Team Rocket..." Officer Jenny said grimly. Viridian City had been experiencing a string of Pokémon kidnappings recently, and Jenny had suspected that Team Rocket was involved. Now, it was confirmed.

"If it weren't for Mr. Ash and Ms. Misty, the Rockets probably would have succeeded today. I just counted the Pokémon they were trying to steal... 127 in total," Miss Joey said, still shaken.

The loss of 127 Pokémon, all carefully raised by trainers, would have been a severe blow to the reputation of the Kanto Alliance. If Team Rocket had succeeded, it would have severely tarnished the Alliance's standing.

"Mr. Ash... Is Miss Misty with him?" Officer Jenny asked, surprised. She remembered the two trainers who had appeared so hastily in the afternoon. They had been the ones who had been attacked by Spearow and had managed to repel the attackers.

"I'll report everything to the Alliance headquarters and ensure that the rewards for Ash and Misty are properly handled," Officer Jenny added as she saluted Miss Joey. She was grateful for the duo's assistance, as their intervention had thwarted Team Rocket's plans.

Word of what had transpired in Viridian City quickly spread throughout the Kanto Alliance, and even other regions were soon aware of Team Rocket's involvement. Meanwhile, Ash and Misty were now gaining attention from several influential figures.

---

In a dimly lit office far away, a man with a commanding presence scowled as he listened to his assistant's report. The Persian at his feet sat silently, not daring to make a sound.

"Those two idiots…" The middle-aged man's voice was cold with anger, his frustration rising as he processed the news. "Why are they so reckless?"

The assistant, a sharp woman with short hair and gold-rimmed glasses, looked at the man cautiously. "Boss, do you want us to expel them from Team Rocket for this failure? Should they be punished?"

After a brief pause, the middle-aged man shook his head. "No, forget it."

The assistant remained silent, confused by her superior's strange tolerance for the two Rocket members, who had failed repeatedly.

"They may be foolish, but this failure might be useful. It could help us mislead the Kanto Alliance," the man continued, his tone softening as he considered the situation. "Viridian City has been quiet for far too long. Perhaps the Rockets need to be more visible for now. Once the Alliance relaxes its guard, we can strike when the time is right."

His assistant nodded, still unsure of the plan, but trusting her leader's judgment.

"Tell Archer to get ready. Once the Alliance lowers its guard, we will act," the man ordered. "Failure is not an option."

"Understood, Leader," the assistant replied.

---

Back at the Indigo Plateau, the news of the Rockets' failed operation in Viridian City reached the Elite Four. Lorelei, the Ice-type Elite, was the first to react. She gathered the other Elite members for a video conference.

"I can't believe Team Rocket was so bold, acting in Viridian City," said Bruno, the burly Fighting-type Elite. His tone was serious, his muscular arms folded across his chest.

"The Rockets are reckless, as always," Agatha, the Ghost-type Elite, remarked dryly. "But we can't ignore what happened in Viridian City."

Du, the young and charismatic Dragon-type Elite, added, "We can't afford to relax our investigation there, especially since the incident might have been orchestrated to mislead us."

Lorelei nodded in agreement. "According to reports, it was a rookie trainer and Misty from the Cerulean Gym who stopped Team Rocket's operation."

The mention of Ash caught the attention of the other Elite members.

"A rookie trainer?" Bruno raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Yes, he became a trainer just yesterday and was recommended by Professor Oak," Lorelei explained. "I've gathered all the details about him. His actions today were nothing short of impressive."

"Professor Oak recommended him?" Agatha, who had known Oak for many years, looked intrigued. "This is interesting."

"Despite being a rookie, Ash's actions were crucial in preventing Team Rocket from succeeding," Lorelei said, her voice steady. "We need to reward him properly for his contribution."

Bruno agreed, "Only by maintaining fairness and justice can the Alliance continue to thrive. We can't let this go unnoticed."

Du, always decisive, spoke next, "Let's elevate his trainer status directly to the Poké Ball level."

In the Alliance, trainers are ranked by levels: Rookie, Formal, Poké Ball, Great Ball, Ultra Ball, and the highest level, Master Ball. Only trainers at the Poké Ball level or above are eligible for subsidies.

Bruno nodded in agreement. "Let's make sure the reward is adequate for Ash. He deserves it."

Lorelei, Bruno, and Agatha agreed that Ash should be promoted to the Poké Ball level, a significant step up from his current rookie status. This would ensure that he received a monthly stipend of 3,000 yen, a substantial amount for a trainer.

As for Misty, Du suggested that the Cerulean Gym, where she trained, should receive a subsidy as well. "The Cerulean Gym is reportedly considering giving up its inheritance. This might be a way to support them."

"Agreed," Lorelei said. "Let's make sure both Ash and Misty are properly recognized for their efforts. After all, if it weren't for them, Team Rocket would have succeeded, and the loss of 127 Pokémon would have been catastrophic."

With that, the decision was made. Ash's promotion to the Poké Ball level was confirmed, and Misty's gym would receive the support it needed.

---

As Ash and Misty's contributions continued to be recognized, their influence within the Kanto region grew. Their quick thinking had saved not only the Pokémon at the center but also the reputation of the entire Alliance. Little did they know, their actions had caught the attention of the highest echelons of the Pokémon world

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