"Professor Oak, I'm Morning Sun. I want to ask you something... Hello, who are you?"
Eddie turned on the communicator at the Pokémon Center, ready to ask Professor Oak something. However, the person who appeared on the monitor wasn't Professor Oak, but a mature woman with an elegant presence.
She had long brown hair and wore a light green wool sweater beneath a white research coat. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders, giving her an intellectual and refined appearance.
"Hello, I'm Daisy. Are you Morning Sun? You must be looking for my grandpa, right? I'll go get him. Please wait a moment."
Hearing the name, Eddie quickly recalled who she was—Professor Oak's granddaughter and Gary's sister. Unlike Gary, she seemed much more polite and approachable.
After saying that, Daisy left to call Professor Oak.
Eddie and Misty waited patiently; it was normal for Professor Oak to be busy. Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long before a hearty voice rang out.
"Morning Sun, you sure are quick on your journey! Just yesterday, Gary told me you were in Pewter City, and now you're already at Mt. Moon?"
The communicator displayed their location, so Professor Oak didn't need to ask—he already knew Eddie had reached Mt. Moon.
"I just travel fast. Anyway, Professor Oak, I need to consult you about something. I hope you can answer my questions."
Knowing how busy Professor Oak was, Eddie got straight to the point and explained the situation.
"Stealing a Trainer's Pokémon and making it go berserk?"
Professor Oak narrowed his eyes, his expression instantly sharpening.
He pondered for a moment before speaking with certainty.
"If it's just an ordinary thief, they wouldn't steal a Trainer's Pokémon—most thieves wouldn't risk provoking a Trainer's wrath. However, there is one organization that dares to do such things."
"They're the largest underground criminal organization in the entire Kanto region."
"Who are they? What's their name?"
Before Professor Oak could finish, Misty interrupted impatiently. She knew it was rude, but she couldn't contain her anger toward those who had stolen her Pokémon.
"They're called Team Rocket," Professor Oak said gravely. "An underground syndicate that exploits Pokémon, engaging in illegal trafficking. Recently, I've also heard that they're conducting unethical biological experiments on Pokémon."
Professor Oak stopped there, but Misty immediately grasped the implication.
It was obvious—her Gyarados had been stolen by Team Rocket and used in their experiments, which explained its violent behavior.
Eddie, standing by, also grew serious upon hearing this, though internally, he was skeptical.
What Professor Oak mentioned was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to Team Rocket's activities. That organization was involved in much more than just Pokémon trafficking and experimentation.
However, this wasn't something Eddie could deal with right now. He wasn't strong enough to take on Team Rocket, nor did he have the means to stop them. That would have to wait until he became stronger.
"Since they stole my Pokémon, it means they must be operating nearby. Professor Oak, do you have any information on their whereabouts?"
Now that Misty knew Team Rocket was responsible, she was determined to find them.
"They're a very dangerous organization," Professor Oak warned. "I'd strongly advise you not to provoke them… but judging by the look on your face, I doubt that will stop you."
"It just so happens that I recently received a message—Team Rocket seems to be searching for Moon Stones in Mt. Moon. I suspect they either plan to auction them off or use them to enhance their Pokémon. If you head to the cave in Mt. Moon, you might run into them."
Professor Oak didn't want Morning Sun and Misty to overestimate their abilities and seek out Team Rocket on their own. However, judging by Misty's determined expression, it was clear they wouldn't back down. So, rather than trying to dissuade them, he decided to share the information directly.
"If you do find them, only take action within your limits. No matter what happens, your priority should be your own safety. After all, you need to stay alive to accomplish your goals."
Professor Oak spoke earnestly, looking at Eddie and Misty. He wasn't overly optimistic about their chances—even though Misty was the Gym Leader of Cerulean City.
At best, they might cause Team Rocket some minor trouble, but if he forbade them from trying, they would likely never let it go.
Hearing this, Eddie silently gave Professor Oak a thumbs-up in his heart.
The professor's words aligned with his own thoughts perfectly. If things got out of control, he could convince Misty to retreat.
After all, the mission only required him to identify the thief. Now that it was clear Team Rocket was behind it, the next step was simply locating them.
Eddie also knew that three of Team Rocket's Executives were in Mt. Moon. While they were formidable opponents, he wasn't necessarily planning to confront them directly.
When the time came, he would assess the situation and persuade Misty to leave once they gathered enough information. There was no need to face an Executive head-on.
With the discussion settled, Misty and Eddie thanked Professor Oak and didn't take up any more of his time.
After Eddie teleported back the Pokémon he had caught that morning, Professor Oak offered a few final words of advice before ending the call.
As soon as the screen went dark, Eddie and Misty exchanged a glance, nodded, and stepped out of the Pokémon Center.
Without hesitation, they took off toward the cave where Team Rocket was digging for Moon Stones in Mt. Moon.