Lumiose Press was not particularly famous in the Kalos region, but it still had a large audience.
The reporter, Alexa, actually had a lot of fans.
After all, Alexa not only had a good figure and looks, but her professional skills were also outstanding. At the same time, her personality was outgoing and friendly.
As everyone knew, Alexa also had a sister named Viola. Viola was the Gym Leader of Santalune City.
The two sisters were actually quite excellent among people their age.
After Alexa published this new interview video on the press's platform, she immediately promoted it on her personal social media account.
Viola did the same.
Lumiose Press also spared no effort to promote it. They spent money! They spent as much as they could!
This was because they firmly believed that this interview video would definitely go viral!
An interview with the boss of a villain team! This was a massive amount of traffic!
And indeed, as soon as this interview video was released, it quickly became popular. Even though the vast majority of Kalos citizens did not know about Team Rocket.
However, this was the age of internet information. Couldn't many things be found out just by searching online?
Of course, detailed information was indeed hard to find, but it was enough just to have a general understanding.
By eleven o'clock that night, more than two hours after the video was released, the discussion about it on the Kalos internet was becoming more and more intense.
On the forums, all sorts of posts were popping up.
"Oh my god!! My heart goes out to Damian! He is truly incredible!!"
"Choosing to throw himself into the underworld alone just to completely solve the shadows of the world? Damian, you guy..."
"'If there must be someone to change the world, why can't it be me?'"
"So cool!! When that sentence came out, the hair on my arms stood up. Oh my god!"
"He is so powerful. From joining Team Rocket to holding great power, it only took half a year! How can he be this strong? He really did it!"
"Nonsense, he's the one who won the Indigo Conference as soon as he started traveling. With this talent and brilliance, I wouldn't be surprised if he was the chosen one."
"So, Lord Damian has already come to Kalos? To be honest, I've had a hero's dream of driving away darkness and saving the world since I was a kid! Please let me join Team Rocket!!"
As she scrolled through post after post and comment after comment, Diantha, who was recovering from her injuries at home, felt her heart pounding with fear.
Damn it!!
"How could this happen..."
Diantha was truly shocked. She had been scrolling for half an hour. However, the vast majority, or rather, ninety-nine percent, of the comments were praising him or expressing admiration.
Occasionally, there were one or two comments questioning whether the 'story' Damian told in the interview was just a 'story,' but they were instantly buried.
The reputation of Team Rocket and Damian was completely positive.
But was this really... right?
"It's not right. It can't be like this!"
Diantha bit her lip. Could the boss of Team Rocket, who threatened her with the safety of Kalos and forced her to offer herself, really be the person in the interview who said things like, 'for the future of the world, for beauty, and to completely drive away the shadows'?
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
This was completely wrong!
"Damian! You really know how to act!!!"
Diantha really hadn't expected that Damian's acting skills would be so excellent.
If she hadn't just been threatened and pushed by Damian earlier that afternoon, she might have even believed the lies he told in the video.
But then Diantha let out another sigh. Even though she believed she knew Damian's true face, what could she do?
Should she run out now and clarify the truth online? Wouldn't that be hitting Damian in the face?
Then her sacrifice this afternoon would have been for nothing?
Furthermore, she would then face Team Rocket's revenge. That was not something the Kalos League could afford.
So...
Since things had come to this, she should apply the medicine first.
Diantha sighed as she took out the medicine to reduce swelling. She needed to recover from her injuries first.
Darn it, I definitely can't faint next time. It's too embarrassing.
After applying the medicine, Diantha fell into a deep sleep. Her mind and spirit had been drained too much over the past two days. She really needed to rest well.
Meanwhile, on the internet, things were becoming more and more heated.
The next day arrived.
"President! Something is wrong!"
Goodshow had just arrived at his office. Before he could even get his seat warm, Chief Officer Jenny Mio ran in urgently.
"What's wrong, Mio?" Goodshow was a bit surprised.
Mio was the Chief Officer Jenny of the Kanto region. She was usually a very calm, rational, and careful person. Seeing her like this was truly rare.
"Take a look at this."
Chief Officer Jenny placed a tablet on Goodshow's desk and clicked play.
'Hello everyone, I am Damian.'
The boy's opening words fell into Goodshow's ears, making his eyes widen in shock.
Wait, this was Damian?! Damian was on TV???
He watched the entire interview video. Once it ended, Goodshow looked at the screen. His grey eyebrows were tightly knit into a frown. His expression was very hard to describe.
"Have Lance and the others come for a meeting!"
After a long time, Goodshow spoke in a low voice. After hesitating for a moment, he added another sentence.
"Call Giovanni over as well."
"Yes!"
In that same familiar meeting room, the Kanto Elite Four were all present. Giovanni was also sitting there.
On the projection screen in front of them, the interview video that had just finished playing was displayed.
The entire meeting room was completely silent.
"We've watched it. So, what do you think?" Goodshow's tone was very serious.
Lance's eyebrows were slightly frowned. He crossed his arms over his chest, and his eyes flickered. No one could tell what he was thinking from his cold face.
Giovanni had a serious face. Likewise, no one could tell what he was thinking.
"Hehehe..." Agatha's laughter was still as eerie as ever.
"What else is there to think?" Lorelei scoffed.
"If everything is truly as Damian said in the video, then even I would want to join his Team Rocket."
Lorelei said calmly. That was right, that was exactly what she thought.
She had joined the Kanto League precisely for the justice in her heart, to eliminate the evil Team Rocket! To eliminate those people with filthy desires.
Back then, she could be said to have been full of passion. However, reality was very cruel.
Because of the League's laws, even if she caught those wicked people from Team Rocket, the League did not have the death penalty. This always lacked a true deterrent.
Over the years, she had seen too much. This had caused her personality to become more and more extreme, leading to her current title as 'Ice Lorelei.'
Without a doubt, if what Damian said in the video was true, Lorelei was truly willing to change jobs.
She had been dissatisfied with the current League for a long time.
A group of useless officials who only knew how to scheme against each other, along with those 'weak' laws. If it weren't for Lance, who shared her goals, and Goodshow, whom she respected out of old friendship, she would have left the League long ago.
"Lorelei..."
Goodshow's voice sounded very helpless.
"President, I am not targeting you. You know that," Lorelei's tone remained very cold.
Goodshow had truly sacrificed a lot for the League and for Kanto. He had also been working hard to mediate. Lorelei understood all of it.
But Lorelei also understood that it was useless.
"Hehe. This is just his side of the story. It can't be fully trusted," Agatha's old voice sounded, acting as a peacemaker.
Bruno rested his chin on his hand. He looked at the projection screen and quietly let out a yawn. To be honest, he felt a bit bored. He wanted to lift weights.
But after thinking it over, Bruno silently pushed that thought away. Finally, he looked at Giovanni.
He didn't know when Giovanni's Elite Four challenge would start. He had been waiting for it.
If he couldn't beat Damian, could it be that he couldn't beat Damian's father?
Ahem, he might actually not be able to beat him. After all, Giovanni had captured Groudon, and Bruno knew that.
But it didn't matter. If he couldn't beat Groudon, could it be that he couldn't beat Giovanni's other main Pokémon? Giovanni couldn't possibly use Groudon right from the start, right?
"Gym Leader Giovanni, is what Damian said true?"
Agatha asked Giovanni.
"I don't know." Giovanni shook his head. His tone was a bit low.
"I don't know what he experienced during his journey last year. However, what he said at the beginning..." Giovanni hesitated for a moment, then let out a sigh.
"It is indeed true. I neglected to care for him when he was a child."
Hearing Giovanni's words, the people present had different expressions.
Officer Jenny Mio wanted to say something several times. But seeing Giovanni's somber expression, she finally kept her mouth shut.
Saying Giovanni was a father who didn't care for his child? What use was that? Besides, Giovanni was busy with work. Wasn't that also to be dutiful to the League?
"I heard that Gym Leader Giovanni recently found another child who had been lost for a long time. Congratulations," Agatha said with a smile.
"However, what Damian said this time is different from the information we got earlier about why he joined Team Rocket. This is worth noting."
"That's right." Lorelei nodded.
"I have reservations about what Damian said in this video. Or rather, I think there is a high probability that this is his disguise."
Lorelei stated firmly.
As someone who had personally interacted with Damian, Lorelei was certain that the Damian in the video, who talked about the world and beauty, was definitely a fake version he had created!
That guy Damian did not seem like that kind of person.
"But this interview was not meant for us. As of now, many citizens have already been misled by his words," Officer Jenny Mio said in a low voice.
"He has ambition and ability, and he knows how to use public opinion to clean up his reputation. This child is truly remarkable."
Agatha narrowed her eyes and praised him with a chuckle.
"But this also counts as sending us a message. Damian is indeed going to change Team Rocket and transform it into a legitimate organization. It does match what he said."
"That is for his own ambition," Lorelei said plainly.
"We can't only consider his original intention for doing this. After all... the result is what it is now." Agatha shook her head.
"Humph!" Lorelei snorted. She crossed her arms over her chest and did not argue.
"President, there's no need to worry about the voices online. Team Rocket's reputation has already begun to turn around recently. This interview video only accelerated the process."
Agatha gave a summary. Even if Team Rocket's reputation turned around, so what?
"Hm. Lance, what do you think?" Seeing that the discussion was mostly over, Goodshow looked at Lance, who had not spoken.
"This guy is very interesting." Lance looked at the image of Damian frozen on the projection screen and spoke calmly.
"?" Goodshow was stunned. What did Lance mean by that?
Forget it. Lance had always been like this, sometimes he was a bit strange.
"Agatha, how are the preparations for Cerise Island going?"
"They are ready. We can start as soon as we pick a good day."
"Fine. Send out notices to each region in advance. Once Damian returns from the Kalos region, we start!"
Goodshow said in a deep voice.
In World Tree Park, several High Executives happened to be gathered for a practice match.
"Oh my, oh my. The boss is truly handsome."
Karen touched her red lips with her hand. The curve of her mouth looked quite wicked.
"The logic is sound, the story is clear, and the ideals are strong. The little story Lord Damian made up is very interesting."
Colress gave his evaluation.
N: "..."
"Is there a possibility that what Damian said is true?" Erika asked tentatively, seeking confirmation.
"Tsk. How could that be? Damian isn't that kind of person. Damian has always been very goal-oriented."
Zinnia took a bite of an apple. She heartlessly shattered the "lover's filter" the Grass-type Gym Leader had for her crush.
"Damian really loves to play. Too bad there's no sequel. Karen, come practice with me some more." Zinnia purely treated this video like a TV drama.
"I'm a bit tired, Zinnia. Go find Mr. Colress." Karen lay lazily on her chair and pulled her sun hat over her face.
"I need to go record Registeel's physical data in a bit. Let N practice with you." Colress shook his head.
"I can do that," N nodded.
However, N still cared about what Damian said in the video. If only it were true...
N felt it was a pity in his heart. But actually, it was almost the same now; it was just that Damian's original intention was not that.
"Zekrom, do you think Damian might really think that way?"
But like Erika, N still held onto a bit of a fantasy.
Zekrom remained silent.
If Damian really had such an ideal, Zekrom felt that it would have flown into Damian's arms while still in its Dark Stone form. Would it have been that white dragon's turn to get lucky?
Hoenn region.
Inside the Champion's office in the Ever Grande City League building.
Steven Stone and Wallace looked at each other. They had also just finished watching the video of Damian's interview.
"Wallace, what do you think?" Steven's expression was extremely strange right now.
"Hehehe..." Wallace only let out a cold laugh.
"If the things said in this video weren't made up by Damian in advance, I'll freaking eat this computer right here!"
"He really has the nerve to say something about making the world clean again. Yeah, right!"
"What a shameless man!"
Wallace was cursing. He didn't have his usual elegance at all.
Well, he especially couldn't take it when he saw the comments and posts online that kept praising Damian.
Particularly, he had used a side account just to say 'this guy really knows how to act,' and as a result, he was argued against for hundreds of replies. Some people even said he was just jealous of Damian's ability and looks?
Ha? Ability was one thing, but when it came to looks, Wallace truly would not accept that!
"Steven, get out of the way! I'm going to fight these brainless fans of Damian!"
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