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While Sam brought the three women back to the Sinnoh, the Unova Alliance issued an official public announcement.
The announcement informed the public of the complete destruction of the evil organization, Team Plasma, and the successful arrest of its mastermind, Ghetsis.
As for the League Headquarters that was attacked, they simply stated it was undergoing "routine renovations."
After all, having the ultimate symbol of the League nearly collapse from an attack wasn't something to brag about.
The Unova Alliance also took the opportunity to publicly thank Cynthia, Diantha, and the others who participated in the extermination of Team Plasma.
In particular, they expressed their deepest gratitude to Professor Samuel.
However, the details regarding Mega Rayquaza and Black Kyurem were strictly classified.
That terrifying information only circulated among the highest echelons of the Alliance.
The downfall of Team Plasma brought joy to the people of Unova.
Because of the League's glowing announcement, public interest in the name "Professor Samuel" skyrocketed, sparking a massive online discussion.
But alongside Sam's rising popularity as a hero, a piece of juicy gossip occupied the trending lists even faster than the news of Team Plasma's destruction.
"#New Unova Champion Sabrina Has Fallen!"
"#Sabrina Follows Sam to Celestic Town!"
"#Three Female Regional Champions Kidnapped by One Man?! Hopeless!!"
"#Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos: Countless Men's Dreams Shattered!"
Under these trending topics, a massive number of male netizens were wailing in absolute despair.
"It was bad enough when Goddess Cynthia was taken off the market!"
"But then Miss Diantha of Kalos started hanging around him all the time!"
"And now even the new Champion, Miss Sabrina, has moved to Sinnoh?! All the female Champions have been abducted by Professor Sam!
The comments section was a sea of heartbreak.
"Damn it! When Miss Cynthia was taken, I bore it because I still had Miss Diantha!"
"When Miss Diantha started visiting Sinnoh, I bore it because we still had the cold and mysterious Miss Sabrina!"
"Now even Miss Sabrina is living there! God damn it!"
"I have nothing left to dream about! With all three Champions taken, I feel like the sky has lost its color! There is no hope in life! No goal to strive for!"
"I officially declare Professor Sam the public enemy of all men!!"
"He is the ultimate template for a man's success! If there is a next life, I want to be reincarnated as Sam!"
(Of course, the internet was just wildly gossiping. While Cynthia fiercely guarded her fiancée, Diantha was just a supportive friend, and Sabrina was a stubborn rival who refused to give up. But the public didn't know that, they just saw one man traveling with three incredibly powerful, beautiful women.)
Soon, the wailing of the male netizens was drowned out by the fierce defense of the female netizens.
"A good bird chooses a good tree to nest in, do you understand?!"
"Professor Sam is super handsome!"
"He just saved the world again! He's so powerful!"
"What kind of woman wouldn't like a man like that?!"
"I'm starting an official Professor Sam Fan Club! Reply to join!"
"I want to join!"
"+1"
"+2"
"+10086"
While the internet was buzzing with lighthearted gossip and fan clubs, various dark forces were watching Sam closely.
—--------
Kanto Region. Team Rocket's Secret Headquarters.
Giovanni, sitting on a luxurious leather sofa, looked meaningfully at the imposing, red-haired man standing in front of his mahogany desk.
This man was the leader of Team Flare from the Kalos Region: Lysandre.
Lysandre surveyed Giovanni's office. The facilities were incredibly luxurious, befitting an emperor of the underworld.
But what truly shocked Lysandre were the people standing in the shadows behind Giovanni's desk.
Maxie and Archie from Hoenn. Cyrus from Sinnoh. And now... Ghetsis and Colress from Unova.
The leaders and top elites of four major regional evil organizations were all gathered in this one room.
And they all stood with their heads bowed, showing absolute deference to Giovanni.
Giovanni was pleased with the flash of shock in Lysandre's eyes.
Except for Colress, all of these men had failed in their respective master plans.
And in their moments of ultimate defeat and ruin, they had all been collected and subjugated by Giovanni.
Giovanni spoke lightly, breaking the silence.
"Lysandre. You came all this way to see me. What is the matter?"
Lysandre suppressed his surprise and spoke slowly.
"I will be blunt. I have taken control of the cocoon of Yveltal."
"My plan to cleanse the world has reached its most critical moment. I have come to ask for your help."
Giovanni tapped his fingers rhythmically on his desk. He stared at Lysandre, his eyes cold and calculating.
"How do you want me to help? And what price are you willing to pay?"
Lysandre averted Giovanni's piercing gaze.
After a moment of silence, he spoke the name that had ruined every man standing behind that desk.
"When I begin my final operation... Professor Samuel will definitely intervene to stop me," Lysandre said grimly.
"I need you to hold him off. I need you to stop Sam."
"As for my price... name your condition. I will give you anything I have."
Giovanni's fingers stopped tapping. A disdainful smile played at the corner of his mouth.
"Lysandre. Your plan to 'cleanse' the world looks incredibly stupid to me. It is fundamentally flawed and doomed to fail. But you... You aren't going to give up, are you?"
Lysandre's face turned incredibly ugly at the blunt insult.
However, since he had come to Kanto alone to seek out the Underworld Emperor, he was prepared to be squeezed.
He gritted his teeth and said bluntly, "Just tell me if you are willing to help!"
Giovanni chuckled, deciding to stop mocking the desperate man.
"No problem. I can help you." Giovanni leaned forward, steepling his fingers.
"But my condition..."
Giovanni whispered a few words into the quiet room.
Lysandre was stunned when he heard Giovanni's terms.
He looked past Giovanni, at the line of defeated, subjugated leaders standing silently in the shadows like obedient soldiers.
He realized exactly what Giovanni was building.
Gritting his teeth, Lysandre nodded slowly.
"Okay. I accept your terms."