'Money… a phone number… pull a job together?'
The few Team Rocket members froze for a moment, then quickly reacted.
This was a kidnapping. They were short on cash.
How could they possibly refuse?
Silver, standing to the side, stared at Axel with wide eyes, his clear gaze filled with confusion.
What was going on?
Was this guy a bad guy too?
But… this guy even knew his dad's phone number. He clearly knew his dad was Giovanni, and he still dared to team up with Team Rocket to kidnap him.
Had the world gone crazy?
Silver thought for a moment, then decided not to explain anything.
As long as Team Rocket paid a price, he'd be happy, no matter whether the one paying was his father or these Team Rocket grunts.
Right now, if he just stayed silent, it could create a crack inside Team Rocket itself.
Even if that crack was insignificant to Giovanni, it still cost him nothing.
A guaranteed profit with no loss.
Seeing that both sides reacted just as he expected, Axel nudged Gary's arm, signaling him to go explain their identities and intentions to Silver.
Meanwhile, he jumped onto a tree branch and sat down beside the Team Rocket squad leader.
"Brother, I'll give you the number. You make the call."
"Me?", The squad leader looked reluctant, "According to League law, if the mastermind gets caught, the prison sentence is really long."
Axel waved it off, "It's fine. Worst case, we just give you a bigger cut."
"You saw it too, this is a Rotom. The phone has video. You don't want the League putting out a wanted notice with your face on it, right?"
The squad leader thought for a moment, "Then we take eight… no, ninety percent."
"Deal!", Axel didn't give him any time to react. He hooked pinkies with him, then immediately used his phone to dial Giovanni's number.
Squad leader: "???"
'No bargaining at all?'
———
[Viridian City]
Giovanni leaned back in his chair, holding a lazy Persian in his arms, looking at the data on the computer in front of him.
"Madame Boss."
"Boss, I'm here," Standing beside Giovanni, Madame Boss, dressed in a purple suit skirt with black stockings on her legs, quickly set aside her work and stood behind him.
"The situation in the underground world is very severe now. Most regions' villain organizations have already been wiped out, and Lance is becoming more and more aggressive."
"I have a feeling he might join forces with champions from other regions to come after Team Rocket."
"How is the research on the Sky Carrier Project you're in charge of?"
"Boss, it's almost done," Madame Boss quickly opened her tablet and pulled up a presentation in front of Giovanni.
"The Sky Carrier already has combat capability. A few days ago, with help from our trainers, it managed to injure Lugia."
"Also, when we tested its maximum flight altitude, we found some strange genetic material in outer space. We're currently trying to see if we can replicate a Pokémon from it."
"Only…"
Seeing her hesitate, Giovanni frowned slightly, "Only what?"
"Only the Three Executives and the Three Beasts all want control of the Sky Carrier. The internal divide is getting bigger. I can't make the decision, so I was planning to hold a vote across the entire Team Rocket. What do you think…"
"That's fine. Let it be a vote," Giovanni agreed without much thought.
He knew Team Rocket's problem well. Aside from everyone being loyal to him as the leader, the organization itself had already split into several factions.
They competed over resources and money constantly, sometimes even coming to blows.
Of course, there were limits. No one would go as far as betrayal.
In that situation, voting was a relatively good solution.
"Madame Boss, let me ask you something. If one day I'm no longer with Team Rocket, who do you think could command everyone?", Giovanni suddenly said.
"What?", Hearing this question, Madame Boss felt a sudden panic.
"You are the soul of Team Rocket. Without you, no one can lead it."
"Whether it's Apollo, Lt. Surge, or Ariana, none of them can take your place."
"Don't be afraid," Seeing her frightened expression, Giovanni smiled and shook his head.
"What I meant is, do you think Silver can still be brought back?"
Hearing that, Madame Boss let out a deep breath, her heaving chest finally calming down.
She had thought Giovanni was really planning to pass on leadership. It had nearly made her heart stop.
But now it seemed… the boss just missed the young master.
Her tone became firm, "If it's Young Master Silver, he can definitely command everyone, because he is your son."
"If anyone refuses, I would pay any price to make them lose the right to speak."
As she spoke, she cautiously looked at Giovanni, "Now that our Sky Carrier Project has succeeded, should we send a few thousand people to look for Young Master Silver?"
Hearing this, Giovanni's hand tightened slightly, making Persian cry out in pain. He was clearly tempted, but after thinking about Team Rocket's current situation, he still shook his head helplessly.
"Forget it. The situation for Team Rocket still isn't very optimistic."
"Focus on researching those extraterrestrial genes first. See if we can create something like Mewtwo, a Pokémon comparable to legendary ones. Only then can Team Rocket truly rest easy."
"My son… can only come back when Team Rocket is safe enough."
"Wise as always, boss," Madame Boss offered a small bit of flattery and continued, "Then I'll go assemble a research team now and gather all the scientists from the Mewtwo Project to study that extraterrestrial gene?"
"Go ahead," Giovanni waved his hand, closing his eyes deeply, planning to lean back and rest for a while.
Madame Boss took out a blanket, just about to cover him.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Suddenly, a sharp phone ringing sounded.
"How annoying," Madame Boss felt dissatisfied. The boss handled countless affairs every day, and now that he finally had a moment to rest, someone was calling at a time like this?
She glanced at the caller ID. It was an unknown number, and she was about to hang up.
"Answer it. Let's see what it is," Giovanni stopped her and casually explained.
"Some time ago, Sabrina went to the Paldea region for an exchange. I asked her to see if the Explorers could form an alliance with us. This might be them calling."
"They're not very capable, but they have information on a few Legendary Pokémon. That's useful to us."
"Understood, boss. I'll step out then," Madame Boss didn't dare delay. She quickly answered the call and placed it beside Giovanni before leaving the room.
Giovanni rubbed his brow, putting on the smile he usually used in his role as the Viridian Gym Leader, "Hello, may I ask who this is?"
["Heh! Heh! Heh! I'm the one who's about to take your son's life!"]
["If you want him alive, bring five hundred thousand to ransom him!"]
Giovanni: "???"
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