Ariel did not back down, returning the pressure with an equally steady force from his hand.
The two shook hands in what appeared to be a friendly first meeting, but it was actually a silent contest of strength.
Ariel saw through it clearly.
This Corona was by no means a simple-minded brute.
He had taken control of the conversation by first introducing himself and then Viper.
When Viper was using Taunt on him, Corona chose to watch from the sidelines, only stepping in to mediate after Ariel had explicitly refused her.
This was a very clever move.
He presented himself as the team's peacemaker while quietly exerting pressure on Viper, and finally, he flexed his muscles to Ariel through the handshake.
Everything he did pointed toward a single objective.
A team needs a leader for its operations, and he wanted to be that person.
However, the four of them were not ordinary Trainers, nor were they typical members of an evil organization.
They were four geniuses handpicked by Team Rockets.
And geniuses are called geniuses because they possess extraordinary qualities.
Moreover, everyone's abilities had been forged in the bloodbath of several difficult missions; who would truly submit to another in their heart?
Commanding this team would not be that simple.
"A pleasure to work with you."
Ariel released his grip, his face showing no emotion.
Just then, a door on one side of the hall suddenly opened, and a refined-looking man wearing a white lab coat and gold-rimmed glasses walked out.
His appearance instantly shattered the subtle atmosphere that had just been established in the hall.
Both Corona and Viper immediately stood up straight, their expressions turning serious.
The man pushed up his glasses, his gaze sweeping precisely over the four of them as he spoke:
"Everyone is here. Follow me, Lord Giovanni has a new mission."
His voice was like the man himself: cold and devoid of emotion.
Lord Giovanni.
At the mention of that name, even Corona's eyes flickered with a hint of solemnity.
The group was led into a room.
The moment they stepped inside, the air seemed to turn into a viscous substance, weighing heavily on everyone's shoulders.
This place didn't look like an ordinary room; it was more like a private sanctuary.
The only light source came from behind Giovanni, leaving most of the room hidden in deep shadows.
At the boundary of light and shadow sat a man.
Giovanni.
Dar subconsciously lightened his breathing and straightened his back; his usual delicate air was completely suppressed, replaced by an intensely displayed sense of respect and ambition.
His gaze was firmly Lock-On to that man—the look of a hound seeing its master, yearning for recognition, yearning for orders.
Viper, true to her code name, shrunk into the shadows, minimizing her presence to the lowest possible level.
Her head was slightly lowered, but her eyes looked upward, her peripheral vision quickly scanning every corner of the room like a real snake assessing the dangers of a new environment.
Corona, the largest of them, appeared the most ill at ease at this moment.
His broad shoulders were as tense as stone, his hands hung at his sides, and his fists clenched unconsciously.
In this extremely oppressive environment, the muscles he took so much pride in seemed like a burden, leaving him unsure of how to carry himself.
Ariel's gaze calmly passed over the others and landed on Giovanni.
He wore a well-tailored black suit without a single wrinkle.
His buzz cut made him look even more cold and hard, his facial features as sharp as if carved by a knife or axe.
He didn't deliberately radiate any aura, yet simply by sitting there quietly, he became the absolute center of the entire space.
A Persian lay lazily at his feet, its smooth fur gleaming under the light, the red gem on its forehead shining brightly.
But this elegant pokémon's eyes were as cold as ice, as if it could turn into a bolt of white lightning at any moment to tear out an enemy's throat.
Giovanni's majesty required no words.
However, Ariel's gaze did not linger on Giovanni for long.
His pupils were violently seized by the massive silhouette standing in the shadows behind Giovanni.
It was a humanoid creation, covered entirely in thick and sophisticated silver-gray metal armor.
The lines of the armor were full of power, with complex mechanical structures at the shoulders, elbows, and knees, and several thick energy conduits connecting from the back of its neck to a core device on its back.
Its head was encased in a full-coverage helmet, obscuring its face, with only two beams of eerie purple light emanating from the visor—cold, hollow, and unlike any living thing.
The figure stood there silently, and though it didn't move an inch, it gave off an overwhelming sense of world-destroying pressure.
Others might only think this was some new type of war machine developed by Team Rockets, or special equipment for a powerful Trainer.
But Ariel's blood almost froze at this moment.
Mewtwo!
The name exploded in his mind like a thunderclap.
This was the existence modified from Mew's genes, hailed as the strongest man-made pokémon!
Ariel knew that this seemingly imposing armor was not some kind of power exoskeleton at all, but an extremely precise set of restraints—shackles used by Giovanni to control this supreme, ferocious beast!
To be able to manipulate a Legendary pokémon at will, and even create a monster with the strength of a Tier 1 God based on its blueprint, then bind it with technology... Team Rockets' foundation and madness far exceeded the world's imagination.
"All of you, stand up."
Giovanni's voice rang out, not loud, but carrying an unquestionable sense of command.
The four moved in response.
"The organization has invested a vast amount of resources in you, and we have high expectations for you as well."
Giovanni's gaze slowly swept over the four of them as if inspecting his tools.
"Do not let me, or the organization, down."
"Yes! Lord Giovanni!"
Corona's voice was the loudest as he took a step forward, making no secret of his eagerness. "We shall dedicate everything to the great cause of Team Rockets!"
Giovanni nodded noncommittally, seemingly accustomed to such displays of loyalty.
He pressed a button on the desk.
The wall behind him slid open silently, revealing a massive display screen. The screen lit up, projecting a clear dynamic image.
It was a clear lake, shimmering under the moonlight.
An elegant and agile figure was racing across the water's surface. It was blue all over, wearing a crystal-like hexagonal crown on its head, with two flowing white ribbon-like tails behind it.
With every step it took, a circle of pure ripples bloomed on the water beneath its feet.
Suicune!
The incarnation of the North Wind, the Legendary pokémon capable of purifying polluted waters!
"Hiss—"
The sound of Viper drawing in a sharp breath was exceptionally clear in the silent room.
Dar's eyes also widened, his mouth slightly agape.
Even Corona, who had just been making solemn vows, had a flash of shock on his face.
A Mythical Beast!