Chapter 37: You Inherently Evil Team Rocket Brat!
"Oh~ numerical advantage, is it? That's the source of your confidence?"
The mockery on Mammon's face deepened, sending a fresh surge of nameless rage through Olivia's chest.
This guy was insufferable!
"No matter how many small fry you stack up, they're still small fry. You actually look proud of it, too. Should I throw in a few words of praise?"
Mammon tilted his head with leisurely indifference, the casual stream of damage continuing to land.
Here it comes! Here it comes!!
Caitlin and Lance watched as Nanu, Kukui, and the others' faces twisted into expressions of utter discomfort. Mammon's (the Boss's) signature venomous tongue is OUT in full force!
Late, but certainly delivered!
Every time they went out on official business with Mammon, they got to enjoy his trademark "brutal verbal damage." As his side, it was honestly a delight.
The opposing side, of course, had a very different take.
"YOU—!!"
Olivia's broad chest heaved with anger. She, an Island Queen — being called small fry to her face?!
The proud Olivia looked ready to burst from sheer fury!
"No need to sputter. I'm not particularly fond of dirtying my hands on small fry, but my mood is genuinely fine today — I can humor you."
Mammon flexed his hand, signaling Tapu Fini to step forward.
Tapu Fini discreetly pursed her lips, slowly floating in front of Mammon. Her gaze gradually shifted into something cold and aloof as she fixed her eyes on Olivia's group.
"Let's use Tapu Fini to play with you, then. As one of Alola's island guardians — perhaps you've never personally experienced their power before?"
"You see, I'm a kind person."
Mammon's lips slowly curved upward, baring a row of pristine white teeth.
Though to Olivia and the others, that smile dripped with pure malice.
"You inherently evil Team Rocket brat!"
Olivia could no longer hold it in. She erupted with a furious shout. Bastard!
This insufferable jerk hadn't been satisfied with calling them small fry over and over.
Now he wanted to use Tapu Fini to fight them?! That was Alola's guardian!
How could the world possibly produce such a — such a born villain?!
"Hm?" Mammon froze for a beat. The line had a very familiar ring to it.
"I'm going to personally—"
Olivia couldn't take it anymore. She drew two Poké Balls.
"Calm down, Olivia." Kukui's steady voice brought Olivia's reason briefly back online.
"Haaah…" Nanu pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed once again.
"That's right. Stay calm. He's deliberately trying to provoke us." Hala said in his low, grave voice.
"Don't lose your composure over this Mammon's words. We can't ignore Caitlin and Lance — those two senior executives — either."
Hala's tone was deeply serious as his gaze shifted to Caitlin, standing behind Mammon's right.
After all, he himself had been defeated by Caitlin last time. He knew firsthand just how powerful this beautiful, refined-looking girl was.
As for Lance on the other side — they hadn't crossed swords with him before, but as one of Team Rocket's Four Generals, his strength was guaranteed to be considerable.
Seeing Kukui's group break into hushed discussion, Mammon pulled out a nail clipper and started trimming his nails.
Mm. Let them strategize.
"Nanu, you specialize in Dark-types. You handle Caitlin."
"…Fine. But I can't make any guarantees. That girl looks like a serious problem."
Nanu wore his usual half-dead, listless expression, but he nodded all the same.
"We believe in you."
Nanu: "..."
What good does your belief do me? I don't even believe in myself!
Nanu slapped his own forehead. This was the girl who had put Hala in the hospital. With supposedly only two of her main team, no less.
Honestly speaking, even with a complete type advantage, Nanu had zero confidence. His own strength was already on the lower end of the Elite-Four-tier spectrum.
"As for that Lance fellow — leave him to this old man. Kukui, Olivia, you two handle Mammon." Hala's sharp gaze locked onto Lance.
"Got it!"
Olivia agreed instantly. With Kukui backing her up — wasn't that a guaranteed win?
This arrogant evil Team Rocket brat — today, she was going to beat him into the ground. She was going to make him kneel!
"Then let's go with that."
Kukui mulled it over briefly. The arrangement was sound.
The most critical question, however, was…
Kukui looked at the handsome, sinister-looking Mammon and the Tapu Fini floating in front of him. His brow furrowed deeply.
Was this really just arrogance born of an overbearing personality? Or was it because…
"Done strategizing yet? If you haven't settled your tactics, I can give you a bit more time."
Seeing that Kukui's group seemed ready, Mammon lazily called out.
How thoughtful of him.
"You really are arrogant beyond belief."
Watching Mammon's utterly contemptuous demeanor, Olivia gritted her teeth.
She had never in her entire life met someone this insufferable!
"Arrogant? No no no, Queen Olivia. You seem to be misunderstanding." Mammon raised an eyebrow.
"Have you ever seen an adult who actually took a few children seriously?"
Mammon spoke without the slightest concern, his tone effortless and casual.
"FINE FINE FINE!! Lycanroc! Gigalith!"
Olivia laughed in pure rage and threw two Poké Balls.
Two flashes of white light, and a Lycanroc (Midnight Form) — bipedal, with blood-red eyes — and a Gigalith landed in front of Olivia.
Both pure Rock-types.
Olivia specialized in Rock-types, which was actually a poor matchup against Tapu Fini. But with Kukui at her side, Olivia wasn't worried.
Kukui sent out an Electric/Steel Magnezone and a Normal/Flying Braviary.
Meanwhile, Nanu and Hala had each engaged Caitlin and Lance respectively.
"I see. So that earlier discussion was about who would handle whom."
Mammon glanced over both flanks and couldn't help smiling.
Caitlin watched Nanu and offered him a faint, polite smile in greeting.
Lance, watching the elderly but commanding Hala, let a serious expression settle into his eyes.
His opponent was an Island Kahuna. Lance felt he needed to play it safe.
He absolutely couldn't drag the Boss and Lady Caitlin down!
"Strut while you can. After we capture you, let's see what kind of nonsense you're still spouting."
Olivia felt victory was already in her grasp.
"Weak little small fry always say that. What exactly gave you the courage to face me — me, the trainer of Tapu Fini?" Mammon shook his head with a soft sigh.
"Have you no awareness of your own status as small fry?"
"Fini."
Without bothering to acknowledge Olivia's darkening expression, Mammon called Tapu Fini's name softly.
"Qi-qi~"
Shell Lady spread her arms wide. A ring of pink radiance bloomed from her body, the pink light spreading outward at incredible speed. A pink mist settled across the ground.
The Misty Surge ability auto-deploying Misty Terrain!
Tapu Fini lowered her arms, her cold gaze fixed on the four Pokémon ahead. Backed by the pale pink mist, the former guardian of Akala Island looked nobly aloof and breathtaking.
"Come. Let me show you the strength of Tapu Fini."