Horror movies—especially from certain regions—have always come with a lot of flaws.
Due to the strict mandate of "no feudal superstition," horror movies in that particular region all but died out. What was left became a collection of hastily-produced, low-quality works, infamous for their nonsensical plots.
After watching a few, it was easy to tell the pattern: the plot was either the delusions of someone mentally ill, someone pretending to be a ghost, or it was all just a dream—or even a dream before dying. Despite this, there had still been a few truly excellent horror films produced during that era.
Take, for example, A Wicked Ghost, a film that had become the stuff of nightmares for countless children growing up. The female ghost in that film, Chu Renmei, was the centerpiece of terror for a whole generation.
Edward remembered that there was a sequel to A Wicked Ghost, but it never quite lived up to the first film. As a result, it didn't achieve the same level of fame or recognition.
From a production standpoint, though, it would be quite easy to replicate. For example, there was a lake next to the puppet theater in the Petalburg Forest, and the new hospital was still under construction.
They might even be able to turn it into a themed tourist attraction later on—perhaps have visitors dive into the lake to place a bracelet on Chu Renmei's hand and experience the eerie sensation of being grabbed.
Still, in terms of modern horror standards, A Wicked Ghost wasn't especially scary anymore. The most frightening moment was probably the iconic scene when Chu Renmei's face suddenly transformed.
"But in this world, it might work perfectly," Edward muttered to himself as he scribbled the movie title onto a piece of paper. This film, if reimagined within the world of Pokémon, should work just fine. It even carried some moral value—like discouraging reckless curiosity, letting go of the urge to always help others, and respecting people's destinies. Not to mention, the idea that true love could lift a curse.
Of course, some scenes would need to be reworked to make it scarier and better tailored to the atmosphere of this world. If they were going to shoot it, they might as well do it right and take it to the next level.
Time slipped by like recess between school periods. Before he realized it, evening had arrived.
Edward, in a light and relaxed mood, left work and began walking home. Along the way, he glanced at a TV screen playing in a shop window and noticed a news broadcast.
"...This station reports that the Slateport City Shipyard was attacked today by Team Magma. The number of casualties and the extent of property damage are still under investigation. Officer Jenny's task force urges all trainers in the Hoenn Region to be alert while exploring the wild. If you encounter members of Team Magma or Team Aqua, please evacuate the area immediately and contact the local authorities. The emergency number is—"
On screen, a female reporter delivered the news with a serious expression. Footage of the Slateport shipyard flashed across the screen. Edward frowned slightly. So Team Magma was starting to get active again? Could it be that they had already located Groudon's resting place? According to the game storyline, Edward recalled that Groudon was supposed to be asleep inside Mt. Chimney. But without the appropriate orbs, Groudon couldn't be awakened.
As long as the Red and Blue Orbs were still in safe hands, everything remained within the realm of control. Those orbs were the key to awakening Groudon and Kyogre. Whether it was Team Aqua or Team Magma, both organizations would need them for their ultimate plans. As long as those orbs didn't fall into enemy hands, there was still room to turn the tide.
"Looks like Hoenn isn't so peaceful after all, Gym Leader Roxanne." A deep and magnetic voice called out. Edward turned his head sharply at the mention of that name—Roxanne, the Rock-type Gym Leader from Rustboro City.
In fact, the Rustboro Gym had long been established as the beginner's gym in Hoenn's official League handbook. Of course, a particularly stubborn trainer could choose to challenge gyms in a different order. There wasn't any strict requirement for following a specific sequence.
The Pokémon League gyms operated under a flexible system. Gym Leaders tailored their lineup based on the challenger's strength. Not every challenger even had the chance to battle the Gym Leader directly—most would face elite trainers under the Gym Leader's command. Only those who proved their strength were allowed to face the Gym Leader in person. Furthermore, each Gym Leader maintained two different rosters: a flexible lineup and a full-strength lineup.
Edward had seen Roxanne's full-power team before. Just her Aggron alone was not something any beginner could handle—let alone fossils like Lileep or Armaldo.
He now saw Roxanne in person. Today, she wore casual clothing, but her signature twin-tails hairstyle remained the same. Standing beside her was a man dressed in a black suit with a gray shirt underneath, topped with a black hat. Everything about the man's outfit screamed dark tones—even his facial expression.
Giovanni?
Edward immediately recognized the man.
For reasons unknown, in this world Giovanni was still just a Gym Leader, and his true identity as the head of Team Rocket hadn't been exposed. He was widely respected by the public, often referred to as "Giovanni of the Earth." However, Edward knew better. Giovanni's Beedrill was no joke—its strength was as terrifying as its trainer's secrets.
"Gym Leader Giovanni, please don't laugh at us. These underground criminal organizations are like rats in the sewers—you can never catch them all," Roxanne said, visibly irritated. It was certainly embarrassing to have such a thing happen in front of a visitor from another region.
"Hahaha, I'm sure the League will round up every last one of those rats in the end. Absolutely." Giovanni laughed heartily, sounding genuinely supportive.
Edward touched his own face awkwardly. As expected of Giovanni... Here he was, the biggest "rat" of them all, pretending to cheer for the exterminators. And doing so with a completely straight face!
Still, what was Giovanni doing in Hoenn? Edward was curious.
Then again, given the timing, it made perfect sense. This was the period for the Pokémon League's biennial internal summit. Every two years, all the region's Elites and Champions would gather in one designated region to meet and discuss matters of importance.
Although this meant the strongest trainers were all assembled in one place, it didn't embolden criminal organizations. In fact, it was the exact opposite—security during this time was at its tightest, and any provocations would be met with overwhelming force. Anyone foolish enough to stir up trouble would face the harshest legal consequences.
In recent years, the League had adopted a strict no-leniency policy during this summit period. Crimes that normally carried five to twenty-five years in prison were now sentenced at the maximum—twenty-five years with no possibility of parole. This crackdown had begun after Team Rocket once tried to stir trouble during the summit and ended up losing nearly half its manpower to the resulting crackdown.
Ever since then, all the dark organizations knew better than to act out during this period.
However, the conference wasn't supposed to start for another day or two. Perhaps Team Magma was trying to launch one last major strike before slipping back into the shadows and avoiding the league's dragnet.
"...Edward?" Roxanne had just noticed the direction of his gaze. She smiled and waved. She was well acquainted with the Stone family. In fact, every Gym Leader and Elite in the Hoenn Region knew of the Stones.
"Gym Leader Roxanne, Gym Leader Giovanni. Good afternoon." Edward stepped forward and greeted them politely. Although Giovanni was the leader of Team Rocket, and the organization did have a branch in Hoenn, they had never been able to gain ground against Team Magma and Team Aqua. So, in the grand scheme of things, they weren't a significant threat here.
Giovanni, at least in his public persona, was still very affable. Though he carried a serious expression, he was surprisingly approachable and even displayed a sharp sense of humor when chatting. Edward glanced at him again.
He really is a born actor, Edward thought. If he ever gave up on being a villain, he'd make one hell of a movie star.
(End of Chapter)