Celadon City, the offices of Shonen Adventure magazine.
"Editor Kikkawa, someone's here to see you."
At ten in the morning, Kikkawa Maho had just finished organizing the serialization schedule for the latest issue when she heard a colleague call from the doorway.
She looked up, a little puzzled.
"Who is it?"
"He says he's a manga collector and would like to talk to you about Pokémon Adventures."
"A manga collector?"
Kikkawa Maho paused.
Pokémon Adventures had been growing increasingly popular lately, and the release of its first collected volume had gone quite smoothly. The publisher had indeed received quite a few related inquiries.
Some bookstores hoped to hold autograph events, and toy manufacturers had inquired about merchandise licensing.
Even children from a few wealthy families had offered to pay Masuda Senbei to draw a Pokémon illustration just for them.
But this was the first time a collector had come calling.
"Have him wait in the reception room."
"All right."
Kikkawa Maho set down her documents, picked up the latest issue of Shonen Adventure, and headed for the reception room.
When she opened the door, she saw a man in his thirties sitting on the sofa.
He wore a gray suit, his hair was neatly combed, and a black briefcase sat beside him.
Upon seeing Kikkawa Maho, he immediately stood up.
"Hello, are you Editor Kikkawa?"
"Yes, I am."
Kikkawa Maho nodded politely.
"I hear you'd like to know more about Pokémon Adventures?"
"That's right."
The man smiled and extended his hand.
"My name is Murata. I'm a private manga collector. I recently heard about this work in Saffron City and made a special trip to visit."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, they sat down again.
Murata took a hardcover collected volume from his briefcase and gently placed it on the table.
It was the first volume of Pokémon Adventures.
"I'm very fond of this new work your company has released."
"Thank you for your support."
Kikkawa Maho responded with a smile.
"Do you have any suggestions about the work?"
"I wouldn't call them suggestions."
Murata lightly adjusted his glasses.
"I'm mainly interested in this creator, Masuda Senbei."
"Oh?"
"I hear he's still a newcomer to manga?"
"Yes."
"That really is remarkable."
Murata opened the volume to reveal one of its color pages.
"These Pokémon drawings in particular are truly astonishing."
Kikkawa Maho nodded.
"Most of the artwork is done by Mr. Masuda's Smeargle. It really is talented."
"I see."
Murata looked as though understanding had dawned on him.
They went on to discuss manga collecting for a while.
However, Kikkawa Maho gradually noticed that her guest's interests seemed rather strange.
"By the way, Editor Kikkawa."
Murata suddenly asked, "Is Masuda Senbei his real name?"
"Of course it's a pen name."
"Then what's his real name?"
"I'm sorry, but the author has no plans to disclose his real name for now."
"I see."
Murata showed no disappointment and soon moved on to another question.
"I heard he lives in Celadon City. Might there be an opportunity to visit his studio?"
Kikkawa Maho paused slightly.
"His studio?"
"That's right."
Murata explained with a smile, "I've always enjoyed collecting materials from the manga creation process. Being able to see Mr. Masuda's drawing environment in person would be very meaningful to me."
"I'm afraid that wouldn't be convenient."
Kikkawa Maho remained polite.
"Mr. Masuda currently works primarily in a private studio, which isn't open to visitors."
"What about its exact location? I could make an appointment in advance."
"I'm sorry, but we can't provide private addresses."
"Oh..."
Murata picked up the teacup on the table and took a small sip.
"That is rather a shame."
The smile on Kikkawa Maho's face remained unchanged, but she had grown a little wary.
Generally speaking, collectors who truly loved manga tended to ask about first printings, autographs, and the condition of original manuscripts.
The man before her had mentioned these things too, but he seemed more concerned with the manga artist himself.
Especially the location of his studio.
He had already asked several times since sitting down.
"Mr. Murata, if you're interested in collecting, we may release some limited-edition prints in the future."
Kikkawa Maho took the initiative to steer the conversation back.
"For example, signed reproduction artwork or numbered commemorative illustrations."
"That sounds nice."
Murata nodded with a smile.
"But I actually prefer works that haven't been made public yet."
As he spoke, he took a notebook from his briefcase.
"I hear Pokémon Adventures will have more Team Rocket storylines coming up?"
At the mention of Team Rocket, Kikkawa Maho raised her eyes slightly.
"Are you very interested in the Team Rocket storyline?"
"Of course."
Murata answered quite naturally.
"I think the manga's villainous organization is exceptionally well designed, especially its executives."
"Sabrina, Lt. Surge, and Koga."
He slowed his speech a little as he said those names.
"Oh, and the leader called Giovanni."
Kikkawa Maho smiled.
"Giovanni is indeed a very important character in the work."
"How much more of a role will he have?"
"That concerns unpublished storylines, so I can't disclose it at present."
"Has Mr. Masuda already planned out the entire rest of the story?"
"He has some long-term plans."
"Then which characters has he mainly been drawing lately?"
Kikkawa Maho set down her teacup.
"Mr. Murata, specific production arrangements are confidential information."
Murata paused, then smiled and waved a hand.
"Sorry, sorry. As a collector, I just can't help asking a few extra questions about these things."
"That's understandable."
Kikkawa Maho replied politely.
Still, she had already decided that she needed to be more careful for the rest of the conversation.
Half an hour later.
Murata finally made the most important request of his visit.
"Editor Kikkawa, there's actually one other reason I came today."
"Please go ahead."
"I'd like to purchase a few original manuscript pages from Pokémon Adventures."
Kikkawa Maho was a little surprised.
"Original manuscript pages?"
"Yes."
Murata nodded.
"Preferably content involving Team Rocket, especially scenes featuring Giovanni."
"If I could buy unpublished pages, that would be even better."
Kikkawa Maho frowned.
"Mr. Murata, the serialization manuscripts need to go through editing, printing, and other stages. There are currently no plans to sell them."
"The price is negotiable."
As he spoke, Murata took a sheet of paper from his briefcase.
He wrote a figure on it and pushed it toward her.
Kikkawa Maho lowered her gaze to look.
Ten thousand League coins.
Just to buy a few original manga pages?
That price was already far beyond the range of ordinary collectibles.
"If I can buy original pages featuring Giovanni, I can raise the price further."
Murata spoke with a smile.
"After all, I'm a collector. When I find something I like, I can't help getting a little carried away."
Kikkawa Maho pushed the slip of paper back.
"I'm sorry, but I can't agree to that."
"Is there really no room for negotiation?"
"Unpublished manuscripts involve the work's content and the author's rights. The publisher cannot sell them without authorization."
"What if I contact Mr. Masuda directly?"
Murata continued pressing.
"As long as you're willing to introduce us, I can pay an appropriate introduction fee."
Kikkawa Maho's expression finally turned serious.
"Mr. Murata."
"Yes?"
"If Mr. Masuda is willing to publicly accept commissions from collectors in the future, we'll announce it through official channels."
"As for his private contact information, I can't provide it."
Murata looked at her and fell silent for two seconds.
Then he suddenly smiled.
"Haha, I'm sorry. I was too presumptuous."
He put the slip of paper back into his briefcase, stood up, and straightened his clothes.
"I'm very sorry for taking up so much of your time today."
"It's all right."
Kikkawa Maho stood up as well.
"Thank you for supporting the work."
They walked to the reception room door.
Just as he was about to leave, Murata suddenly turned back.
"By the way, Editor Kikkawa."
"Was there something else?"
"If it's convenient, could you pass a message along to Mr. Masuda for me?"
"Go ahead."
Murata smiled faintly.
"Team Rocket is certainly portrayed in a very interesting way in the manga."
"Mr. Giovanni in particular."
"I'm looking forward to seeing what he does next."
With that, the man gave a polite nod, turned, and left.
Kikkawa Maho stood at the door, watching his figure disappear at the end of the hallway.
Only after a moment did she slowly let out a breath.
"What a strange person..."
The staff member handling reception came over.
"Editor Kitsukawa, how did the discussion go?"
"Nothing came of it."
"Was he really here to buy original manga artwork?"
"He said he was."
Kikkawa Maho thought for a moment, then added something.
"If we get any more visitors like him, please ask them to contact us through the publisher's official appointment channels first."
"All right."
The staff member nodded.
Kikkawa Maho returned to her desk and picked up the notes she had taken during their conversation.
Real name.
Studio address.
Work schedule.
Unpublished originals.
Team Rocket.
Giovanni.
Looking at those keywords, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
Finally, she picked up her communicator and dialed Shiraishi Ritsu's number.
Celadon City, manga studio.
"Smeargle, have you finished today's backgrounds?"
"Smeargle!"
Smeargle sat at the workbench and held up the artwork in his paws.
Shiraishi Ritsu took it, looked it over, and nodded in satisfaction.
"Nice!"
"Looks like that Berry pudding I bought yesterday wasn't wasted."
Smeargle wagged his tail proudly.
Then he stretched out a paw and pointed at another sheet of drawing paper on the desk.
A huge pudding was drawn on it.
The smile instantly vanished from Shiraishi Ritsu's face.
"Wait, didn't I just buy you some yesterday?"
"Smeargle!"
"Your appetite just keeps getting bigger!"
Just as the man and Pokémon began bargaining, the communicator on the desk suddenly rang.
Shiraishi Ritsu casually answered it.
"Hello? Miss Maho?"
"Mr. Masuda, is now a good time to talk?"
"Sure. What's up?"
"We had a visitor at the publishing house today."
"A visitor?"
"He called himself a manga collector and wanted to buy your original artwork."
Shiraishi Ritsu immediately perked up.
"Seriously? Someone wants to buy my originals?"
"And he offered a very high price."
"How much?"
"Ten thousand League coins."
"How much?!"
Shiraishi Ritsu nearly jumped out of his chair.
Beside him, Smeargle also jerked his head up.
Ten thousand League coins?!
How much high-grade paint would that buy!
"Miss Maho, is that collector still there? Can I still make it if I head over now?"
"Please hear me out first."
Kikkawa Maho sighed helplessly.
"There was something strange about him."
Then she recounted everything that had happened that day in detail.
From his asking for his real name, to repeatedly inquiring about the studio's location, to offering a high price for unpublished originals.
At first, Shiraishi Ritsu listened with keen interest.
But as Kikkawa Maho continued, the smile gradually faded from his face.
"Wait."
He suddenly interrupted her.
"Miss Maho, did you just say that man was especially interested in the Team Rocket storyline?"
"Yes."
"Giovanni in particular?"
"That's right."
Shiraishi Ritsu fell silent.
In the studio, Smeargle was still beside him studying the sheet with the pudding drawn on it, completely unaware of the change in his trainer's expression.
Shiraishi Ritsu slowly set down the pencil in his hand.
At first, he had thought he had simply encountered an avid collector.
After all, Pokémon Adventures was growing more popular by the day, so it was normal enough for someone to be willing to spend a fortune collecting its original artwork.
But on closer thought, the man's behavior really was rather strange.
Why would an ordinary collector repeatedly ask about a manga artist's home address?
And why would he be particularly interested in the unreleased Team Rocket storyline?
Giovanni in particular.
At the thought of that name, Shiraishi Ritsu's heart suddenly lurched.
Other people might not know.
But he was a transmigrator!
In this world based primarily on the Pokémon anime, Giovanni's true identity was none other than the leader of Team Rocket.
And that fact had not been made public.
When he had first started creating Pokémon Adventures, he had focused only on arranging the characters according to the plot he remembered, never considering this issue at all.
Portraying Sabrina, Lt. Surge, and Koga as Team Rocket executives had already prompted complaints from the people themselves.
But Giovanni was different.
In reality, he really was the boss of Team Rocket!
At that thought, Shiraishi Ritsu suddenly felt a slight chill down his back.
"Mr. Masuda?"
Kikkawa Maho's voice came through the communicator.
"Are you still listening?"
"Yes..."
Shiraishi Ritsu swallowed.
"Miss Maho, did that man leave any contact details?"
"He left a public contact number, but I've already asked my colleagues not to contact him for now."
"That's good."
"Why are you suddenly so nervous?"
"It's nothing."
Despite what Shiraishi Ritsu said, a string of jumbled thoughts had already sprung up in his mind.
If that man really was just an ordinary collector, that would be best, of course.
But what if...
What if Giovanni himself had read the manga?
A criminal organization's leader, hiding behind his identity as the Viridian Gym Leader, suddenly discovered that someone had drawn his secrets into a manga and published it across the entire Kanto region.
That didn't sound good, no matter how he looked at it, did it?
Shiraishi Ritsu lowered his head to look at the workbench.
A piece of artwork Smeargle had just finished lay on the desk.
In it, Giovanni sat in his office with a Persian lying at his feet, his expression imposing.
Shiraishi Ritsu stared at the image for several seconds.
Then he silently turned the artwork facedown.
Smeargle raised his head in confusion.
"Smeargle?"
Shiraishi Ritsu didn't answer.
Holding the communicator, he hesitated for a moment before finally lowering his voice to ask:
"Miss Maho, do you think... the real Team Rocket might be reading my manga too?"