Chapter 42: He's Gym Leader Giovanni's Son?!
You really only ever think about yourself?
Hearing Mammon's words, Cynthia froze. No one had ever said anything like that to her before.
Poised and elegant. Cool and rational. Reserved and refined. That was the impression Cynthia left on everyone who met her.
And her personality truly was warm and approachable — even after becoming Sinnoh Champion, that hadn't changed. Anyone who'd spent real time with her knew it.
Because that was simply who Cynthia was. Pokémon and Pokémon, Pokémon and people, people and people — no matter who encountered whom, she believed that meeting was a form of fate, and that fate would always give rise to something beautiful.
She championed this conviction. She held it without doubt. She believed in the bond between humans and Pokémon. She believed the future of this world was destined to be bright and radiant.
Responsibility, strength, conviction, intellect — in the eyes of most people in Sinnoh, Cynthia was practically flawless.
Because she was that kind of "perfect." The only crack in the armor was her crippling indecisiveness when confronted with an ice cream menu.
But didn't that just give the cool, elegant Champion an adorable weak spot?
Even her appearance was nearly beyond reproach. Tall, graceful figure — not excessively voluptuous, but with curves exactly where they mattered. Exquisitely beautiful features, fair skin, and a cascade of brilliant golden hair. How many girls envied both that face and that physique?
By all external measures, Cynthia was as close to perfect as a person could be. You genuinely couldn't find a flaw.
And yet here was this Team Rocket operative telling her she only ever thought about herself. In other words — calling her selfish.
Was she selfish?
For the first time, Cynthia fell silent.
"You haven't considered what Caitlin wants, have you? No — actually, you have thought about it. But you went ahead and decided, all on your own, that you know what's best for her."
Mammon's smile hovered somewhere between mockery and pity.
"People like you are always the same. You impose your own will on someone else and dress it up with lines like 'It's for your own good — I don't care if you hate me for it.'"
"What an absolute joke. When you strip it all down, it's just this: because you're the strong one, you get to bulldoze your way into someone else's life and make their decisions for them. Have you ever — truly — treated Caitlin as your equal?"
"Champion Cynthia?"
Mammon's tone wasn't aggressive. It wasn't sharp. But every word cut to the bone.
Caitlin watched Cynthia in silence.
Cynthia's lips pressed into a tight line, her emotions churning. She was as composed as anyone could be — but Mammon's words had landed.
Especially with Caitlin's eyes on her right now.
"That isn't true. I've always considered Caitlin my dear friend. I've never thought of her that way." Cynthia's reply was measured, controlled.
"So this is how you treat your friends?" Mammon shot back with a click of his tongue.
"She's gone down the wrong path. As her friend, it's my duty to bring her back to the right one."
But Cynthia refused to spiral into self-doubt. She took a deep breath and answered with unwavering conviction.
"No matter what you say, I won't give up. I will save Caitlin!"
Mammon raised an eyebrow. Caitlin's gaze dropped, her beautiful eyes downcast — whatever she was thinking, she kept it to herself.
"As expected of Champion Cynthia. I really am growing fonder and fonder of you."
After a long beat, Mammon's mouth split into a grin, his burning gaze settling on Cynthia without an ounce of restraint.
Cynthia was even more beautiful than he'd imagined.
A woman like that — he really wanted to—
Cynthia's brow furrowed. That look in his eyes made her skin crawl.
"Unfortunately, the timing isn't right. But don't worry, Champion Cynthia — we will meet again."
Mammon reined in the surge of possessiveness, his expression smoothing back to its usual easy smile.
Time to go. Staying here to fight Cynthia served no purpose.
Caitlin released Alakazam.
"Wait—!" Cynthia's composure cracked.
"Caitlin, don't—"
"Cynthia."
Caitlin raised her head and looked Cynthia dead in the eye, cutting her off. At some point, that faint blue glow had kindled again in her irises.
"Wait for me. Our battle will come."
Caitlin's voice was calm — but every bit as unyielding as Cynthia's had been.
She knew, with absolute certainty, that she and Cynthia would clash. But not now. The time wasn't right.
"Caitlin…"
Cynthia's expression was tangled with emotion. How did it come to this? But she couldn't just stand there and watch—
"Garchomp!"
The coiled Garchomp exploded forward, rocketing toward Alakazam with blazing Dragon Claws extended.
But before it could close the distance, a Shadow Ball screamed in from the side — Shiny Gengar.
Still wearing that sinister, unrepentant grin, it planted itself between Garchomp and Mammon's group, blocking the dragon's advance.
Garchomp had to dodge the Shadow Ball. In that opening, Alakazam raised its psychic spoon, energy flowing outward—
And in an instant, Mammon and the others vanished. Teleport.
Only Shiny Gengar remained behind — it was the rearguard, ensuring the Teleport went off without interference.
Keh heh heh~
Once the others were safely away, the gray blob gave Cynthia and company a cheerful wave of its stubby little hand, then dove straight into the ground and sped off underground to rejoin Mammon.
Cynthia didn't order a pointless pursuit. She stood in silence, staring at the spot where Caitlin had vanished.
Caitlin…
The name echoed through her mind, and for the first time in as long as she could remember, Cynthia felt drained — body and soul.
She had a feeling that Caitlin's words would prove prophetic. The two of them really were headed for a brutal battle someday.
But that was the last thing Cynthia wanted. How did everything go so wrong?
Nearby, Kukui and the others exchanged uncertain glances, watching the solitary figure of the Sinnoh Champion and debating whether to intrude on her moment.
"Champion Cynthia? Are you alright?"
After a moment's hesitation, Kukui ventured a cautious inquiry.
"I'm sorry — I'm fine."
Cynthia snapped back to the present, turning to offer Kukui a faint smile.
A storm of conflicting emotions churned inside her, but it wasn't right to inflict that on the people around her.
"I'm sure you'll be able to bring Ms. Caitlin around, Champion Cynthia. If there's anything we can do, please don't hesitate to contact us."
Kukui's assurance was earnest and sincere.
Today would have gone much worse without Cynthia's timely arrival. Without her, Mammon's group likely wouldn't have withdrawn so easily.
"Thank you. I hope so." Cynthia returned a thin smile, her voice carrying none of its usual certainty.
"Professor Kukui — do you know anything about this Mammon's background?"
Cynthia shifted the subject. Caitlin was important, but Mammon — a trainer this young operating at Champion-tier — was equally significant.
"I'm afraid not. This was our first encounter with him as well. Although…"
Kukui glanced toward Nanu.
Nanu, having had nothing better to do, had pulled out his phone and run a search through the Kanto regional forums. And he'd actually turned something up.
"Last year's Indigo Conference champion… and the son of Viridian City Gym Leader Giovanni?"
Cynthia stared at the screen, stunned.
Mammon was a Gym Leader's son? Then how on earth had he ended up in Team Rocket?
Cynthia decided the world had officially gone insane.