Chapter 317: Chapter 316: Giovanni's Favour? (Bonus Chapter)
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Nidoran was currently inside a room charged with high-voltage electricity. The room was approximately 100 square meters, and suspended on the walls to the north, south, east, and west were four Magneton.
These four Magneton were connected by visible golden electrical currents, forming a current loop that encased Nidoran within it.
At the same time, they used the move Electric Terrain, causing the concentration of Electric-type energy in the room to skyrocket to a terrifying level.
In this meticulously crafted Electric Terrain, Nidoran was practicing the move Thunderbolt. While Nidoran could already perform Thunderbolt, the power it generated was equivalent to a weak Thunder Shock.
This was because Nidoran lacked control over Electric-type energy, unable to concentrate enough to unleash a full-power Thunderbolt.
Now, surrounded by the massive Electric-type energy in this room, Nidoran could clearly sense the energy's presence.
This was a stark contrast to before, when it took ages just to grasp even a faint amount of Electric energy.
Thin golden currents began flowing along Nidoran's single horn, and under its control, a thumb-thick stream of golden electricity shot from its horn, striking a lightning rod-like machine placed in front of it.
The machine remained unaffected by the attack. Instead, a voltage meter on its surface began to register activity.
After absorbing the electricity from Nidoran, the meter's numbers quickly climbed, finally stopping at 8,912 volts.
Yes, this was currently the maximum voltage of Nidoran's Thunderbolt. It hadn't even reached 10,000 volts, which made it clear that Nidoran had a long way to go before achieving the true power of Thunderbolt.
Of course, part of the reason for Nidoran's low power output was its unevolved state. Its base Special Attack stat was naturally low, and its Hustle ability didn't enhance special moves like Thunderbolt.
Thus, this performance was normal.
Once Nidoran evolved into Nidoking, it would undergo a transformative rebirth. If Sato managed to procure a Life Orb for it, a Nidoking with the Sheer Force ability could unleash devastating power with moves that have secondary effects.
At that point, the hierarchy within Sato's team might need to be re-evaluated.
For now, it was essential to lay a solid foundation while Nidoran was still young, preparing it for its eventual evolution into Nidoking.
Additionally, Sato had yet to find an exceptional Moon Stone for Nidoran's evolution.
Having learned that high-quality evolutionary stones could enhance a Pokémon's potential, Sato was determined to use a top-tier Moon Stone to boost Nidoran's capabilities.
The thought of obtaining a Nidoking with golden-tier potential and the Sheer Force ability made Sato's excitement palpable.
Sato was aware of a lead on such a Moon Stone. If his guess was correct, the cave that Ash and his companions had entered in the anime, guided by a Clefairy from Mount Moon, housed a massive Moon Stone.
Sato vividly remembered the scene: a giant Moon Stone that had been bathed in moonlight for countless years, guarded and worshipped by a tribe of Clefairy.
He was confident that this enormous Moon Stone was extraordinary—at least of top-tier quality. If Nidorino could evolve using that Moon Stone, it would undoubtedly reap immense benefits.
Thus, visiting Mount Moon was an integral part of Sato's return to Kanto.
As for the Life Orb, a treasure of such rarity, Sato currently had no leads. He speculated that items of this caliber were likely hoarded rather than sold, as owners would fear letting their possession be known.
He suspected that obtaining a Life Orb would require a significant stroke of luck or a rare opportunity. That said, he did know of someone who definitely possessed a Life Orb: Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket.
Giovanni was a Ground-type Pokémon expert, with Nidoking and Nidoqueen as his signature Pokémon.
Given Giovanni's expertise and status, it was likely that his Nidoking and Nidoqueen had the Sheer Force ability. And knowing Giovanni's penchant for maximizing his Pokémon's power, they were undoubtedly equipped with Life Orbs.
It wasn't clear whether Giovanni had spare Life Orbs among his collection, but Sato believed this could be an opportunity.
Giovanni was known for his generosity toward capable subordinates and had a knack for inspiring loyalty.
These traits made him an exemplary leader of a dark organization, attracting many who would willingly serve him.
For now, this was all wishful thinking for Sato. To even meet Giovanni, he needed to prove himself as a potential recruit worth investing in.
Thus, in the upcoming rookie tournament jointly hosted by the Team Rocket bases in Pewter City, Cerulean City, and Viridian City, Sato planned to seize this golden opportunity to make a lasting impression.
After all, the Viridian City Team Rocket base was involved, and Giovanni, being the Viridian Gym Leader, might take an interest in the event.
If Sato could stand out in the tournament, there was a chance he could catch Giovanni's eye. Being recognized by Giovanni would mean guaranteed support and mentorship, with the possibility of a direct meeting.
Sato understood that aligning himself with Giovanni would significantly increase his safety within Team Rocket and smoothen his path to advancement.
However, he also knew the tournament wouldn't be easy. The promise of Giovanni's attention was sure to attract a host of other talented "rookies."
Everyone in Team Rocket understood that earning Giovanni's favor meant skipping years of hard work and rising quickly through the ranks.
Sato anticipated that the tournament would be rife with hidden powerhouses, with their instructors all trying to make sure that it was their promising recruits that secured the championship.
Breaking through this competition would be no small feat.
Therefore, he needed to focus on improving his strength during this time to prepare for the fierce battles ahead.