Chapter Twenty-Five: Sakaki's Wife?

After retrieving the necessary scallion for Farfetch’d in the Evergreen Forest, Heath intended to return to the dormitory with his companion. The day was already drawing to a close, and Heath noticed the light around him had dimmed significantly. Gazing at the lush, verdant expanse of the Evergreen Forest, curiosity stirred within him—could there be an Evergreen Fruit here? Heath still remembered that wondrous ingredient he’d heard about, one that might bestow the power of everlasting vitality upon consumption.

Yet, Heath was hardly a botanist in this world. Surveying the familiar and unfamiliar fruits scattered about, he felt a bit at a loss. “Come to think of it, that ingredient identification device I acquired before is quite useful, though the once-a-day limit is a bit restrictive. I wonder if the cooldown period might be shortened in the future,” Heath mused, recognizing the utility of the ingredient identification glasses.

As Heath departed the forest, he never caught sight of Zorua. The little creature was likely still wary of him, not ready to reveal itself. Heath didn’t mind. Such things couldn't be rushed. He planned to gradually build a rapport with Zorua, much like feeding a stray cat—give it time and patience, and eventually it would warm up to him.

“But isn’t the fox a member of the canine family?” Heath pondered, realizing most of his biological knowledge had faded, leaving only scattered fragments.

Upon seeing Heath, Sister Maple let out a sigh of relief, her expression turning stern as she instructed Heath and Farfetch’d to head back. Heath paid little mind; this was simply her nature. If ever she became indifferent, or even encouraged him to wander about with a cheerful demeanor, then something would truly be amiss.

“Heath, are you still running your food stall?” Not long after returning to Viridian City, Heath encountered a familiar man: Giovanni.

Beside Giovanni was a woman—her black hair striking and her beauty undeniable. Yet her expression was cold, exuding an aura that kept others at a distance. Heath glanced at her curiously. Could this be Giovanni’s wife?

“Not at the moment... but if you’d like something to eat, Mr. Giovanni, I’d be happy to cook for you at your home,” Heath replied, scratching his head apologetically. The icy beauty’s expression remained unchanged, and she didn’t even spare Heath a glance.

“Is that so? That’s wonderful. I’ve invited you before, but you never came,” Giovanni said with a note of delight, patting Heath’s shoulder in a manner reminiscent of an elder with a younger relative.

Heath smiled. He had only just met Giovanni back then, and when Giovanni invited him to his home, Heath was far too nervous to accept, afraid his identity as a transmigrant had been discovered. Thankfully, it was all a misunderstanding.

Noticing Giovanni’s joy, the cold beauty glanced at Heath, as if intrigued by the ordinary man who could evoke such a reaction from Giovanni.

“Oh, right. Let me introduce you. This is Sabrina, the new leader of the Saffron City Gym. She’s here to exchange experience on gym leader training. Don’t be fooled by her aloof demeanor—she’s actually quite nice,” Giovanni explained, chuckling at Heath’s puzzled look.

Heath paused, then flashed a harmless smile and followed Giovanni towards his home. He was genuinely surprised to learn that the beautiful young woman accompanying Giovanni was none other than Sabrina, the Saffron Gym Leader. By that token, Sabrina was likely one of Team Rocket’s executives, and Surge probably was as well.

The Indigo League was truly unfortunate; among its eight gyms, four leaders were infiltrators. How could they ever win under such circumstances?

Heath even suspected that the League eventually uncovered Giovanni’s identity as Team Rocket’s boss, but since Giovanni and Team Rocket had become too entrenched, there was little they could do except slowly gather evidence, eventually toppling Giovanni.

Giovanni’s house was just behind the Viridian Gym—a small, solitary residence resembling a villa from Heath’s previous life. Upon entering, Heath was greeted by a kitchen of astonishing luxury.

There were all kinds of utensils, a vast array of spices, and even ingredients Heath had never seen before. He couldn’t help but marvel at the kitchen’s well-stocked pantry. Did Giovanni prepare all this knowing Heath would visit, or did he simply have a hobby for cooking whenever he had free time?

“After all, I’m the Viridian Gym Leader. Cooking is one of my hobbies, but your culinary skills surpass mine by far, Heath. These ingredients are yours to use as you see fit. Thank you,” Giovanni said with a genial smile, then led Sabrina to the living room.

Heath had no intention of eavesdropping. He simply wanted to cook in peace. Giovanni’s strength was formidable, and with a psychic like Sabrina present, sneaking around would be sheer folly.

“These ingredients... I never imagined Mr. Giovanni had this side to him,” Heath thought, his expression slightly odd. The kitchen was immaculate, with everything arranged neatly—a testament to its owner’s regular culinary pursuits.

It was hard to picture Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, possessing such a gentle hobby. Perhaps this was what people called a ‘gentleman thug.’ But Heath realized he was thinking too narrowly. Who said villains couldn’t have interests?

Even knowing Giovanni was Team Rocket’s boss, from an ordinary person’s perspective, Giovanni was a remarkable figure. He frequently volunteered at orphanages and retirement homes in Viridian City, donating his salary and performing good deeds, never accompanied by media.

No wonder, when Giovanni left and the gym closed for so long, the people of Viridian City had no complaints. To them, Giovanni was practically a saint.

“Forget it, no more speculation. Let’s see what ingredients are here...” Heath shook his head, inspecting the fridge and pantry. The answer to what he would cook quickly came to him.

“Farfetch’d! Come help me out,” Heath called, releasing Farfetch’d.