Chapter 44: Giovanni: "Impossible! Absolutely Impossible!"
"Mammon, didn't you promise me you wouldn't cause a major incident?"
Giovanni was exhausted. His heart was tired.
How long had Mammon even been in Alola? Barely two months. And now?
He'd managed to pick a fight with the Alolan Island Kahunas — and somehow dragged in the Sinnoh Champion on top of it.
Giovanni couldn't wrap his head around it. Sinnoh and Alola had absolutely nothing to do with each other. How had Mammon ended up throwing hands with Cynthia?
"I mean, yeah. The fact that I didn't tie them all up and dump them in a mineshaft is me being generous. They started it." Mammon clicked his tongue.
He thought he'd shown remarkable restraint, actually. And restraint was necessary — if he went too far, the Pokémon League would never sit back and let Team Rocket run rampant in Alola.
"Fine. I'll handle the Kanto League. But Mammon — are you sure you want to go through with this?"
Giovanni paused to think, then asked.
Mammon had pitched this plan to him a couple of days ago. But Giovanni still had reservations — Mammon's personality, in his estimation, skewed a bit too… flamboyantly aggressive.
"Even if my identity gets exposed, it really doesn't matter. You've still got Sabrina and the others under deep cover."
Even though losing his position as Viridian Gym Leader would be a shame, Giovanni could make that call if necessary.
Between the Gym Leader title and Team Rocket, Team Rocket won every time.
Sabrina?
Hearing Giovanni mention the name, Caitlin's eyes flickered with interest. If she remembered correctly, Sabrina was the Gym Leader of Saffron City in Kanto.
Sabrina was Team Rocket too?
Caitlin was genuinely taken aback. Saffron Gym and Viridian Gym were both official League facilities.
Official Gyms.
And both their Leaders had been compromised by Team Rocket?
No wonder the organization had managed to grow right under the Kanto League's nose. That was seriously impressive.
"Dad, there's zero upside to blowing your cover." Mammon didn't see Giovanni's exposure as beneficial in the slightest.
"And what about yours? If you'd stayed hidden, there'd be plenty of angles to exploit. I told you to use a disguise."
Giovanni rubbed his temples, half-amused.
"That's COMPLETELY different!" Mammon drew himself up with righteous indignation.
"Skulking around in masks and costumes? That's beneath a real man! I have no interest in playing dress-up. I want the entire world to know — loud and clear — that this era belongs to ME. To Mammon. To Team Rocket!"
"Anyone who stands in my way will be crushed with overwhelming force!"
His voice boomed with grandiose conviction.
Caitlin's eyes sparkled. That's Mammon for you!
"Heh heh heh…"
Giovanni's eyelid twitched. He chuckled under his breath. If he had to summarize Mammon's philosophy in a single phrase, it would be:
Nothing complicated — the boy just loves showing off.
"Anyway, Dad, just focus on climbing the League ladder from here on out. Shoot for Champion, or maybe even League President."
"Don't worry. I'll take great care of Team Rocket for you."
Mammon thumped his chest confidently. The mantle of Team Rocket Boss — he'd carry it with pride!
"..." Giovanni found himself lost in thought.
Something felt off. Why did this suddenly feel like one of those ancient kings being strong-armed into abdication by his own heir?
"Whatever. You've got your plans. I'm hanging up — the League people are already here."
Giovanni ended the call. His work phone was already ringing with an incoming call.
"Gym Leader Giovanni, are you currently at the Gym?"
"Of course. Is something the matter, Officer Jenny?"
Giovanni replied in his usual composed, deep baritone.
"Yes — there's a matter we'd like to discuss with you. Could you come to Indigo Plateau?"
"Right now?"
"That's correct. It's urgent."
"Understood. I'll be right there."
Giovanni had to hand it to the Kanto League — they didn't waste time. He hung up and rose from his desk, heading for the office door.
"Matori — if League personnel come to inspect the premises, use your judgment. Don't obstruct them too obviously."
He gave the instruction to Matori as she hurried over. Giovanni was never one to leave loose ends.
The Viridian Gym did have concealed rooms, true — but those were within the bounds of normal. He'd personally checked every computer and piece of equipment. There would be no evidence.
Giovanni was certain that once he left for Indigo Plateau, the League would send people to search the Gym. That was inevitable.
"Yes, sir." Matori nodded respectfully.
Giovanni walked out of the Gym, got into his car, and headed for Indigo Plateau. Viridian City wasn't far — it was the closest city to the Plateau, in fact.
About half an hour later, he arrived.
He stepped out, straightened his suit, tucked one hand in his pocket, and strode into the League headquarters building. A staff member who'd been waiting for him escorted him to a conference room.
"Gym Leader Giovanni."
"President Goodshow. It's been a while."
Giovanni offered a mild smile to the diminutive, white-haired, white-bearded old man seated at the head of the conference table.
This was Charles Goodshow — President of the Kanto League, and also the President of the global Pokémon League. In the anime, Brock had once called him "the greatest man in the Pokémon League."
The Pokémon League had only existed for a little over a century, and Goodshow's contributions to building it into the dominant global institution it was today were immeasurable.
"Sit, sit! Sorry to drag you out here on such short notice."
Goodshow smiled warmly and gestured for Giovanni to take a seat. To his left sat a stern-faced, middle-aged Officer Jenny — the Chief Commander of Kanto's police force.
To Goodshow's right sat an elderly woman in an old-fashioned dress: Agatha.
That's quite the welcoming committee.
"You're too kind, President. My Gym didn't have any challengers today — I was actually about to head out for some field training."
Giovanni betrayed nothing, maintaining his faint smile as he nodded to all three and sat down.
"That's what I like about you, Giovanni. If every Gym Leader in Kanto were half as dedicated as you, this old man could rest a lot easier." Goodshow beamed.
"The reason we asked you here today is to discuss Mammon. Your boy is quite something, Giovanni — sweeping the entire Indigo Conference in his very first year as a trainer."
Goodshow said it with genuine admiration. He'd actually been hoping Mammon would challenge the Kanto Elite Four last year, but Mammon had chosen not to.
"You're too generous, President. That boy still has a long way to go." Giovanni's smile deepened slightly, a hint of unmistakable pride creeping into his voice.
"Ho ho ho~ No need for false modesty, Gym Leader Giovanni. Your Mammon is leading Team Rocket in Alola — he even captured Tapu Fini, one of the region's Island Guardians."
Agatha's raspy voice carried a low, deliberate chuckle. Her clouded eyes fixed on Giovanni like a vice.
"What?" Giovanni's brow furrowed sharply, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Gym Leader Giovanni — your son, Mammon, has joined Team Rocket as a Senior Executive. He's also the commander of their entire Alola operation." Officer Jenny's tone was clipped and grave.
"That's…"
Giovanni fell silent, seemingly stunned. He looked between the three of them, his brow knitting tight, his expression shifting through a cascade of emotions.
Three parts shock. Three parts confusion. Three parts bewilderment. And one part blank disbelief.
"Officer Jenny, there must be some mistake. Mammon isn't that kind of person. He's been well-behaved and sensible since he was a child. I've spent years instilling the League's values in him — how could he possibly join a criminal organization like Team Rocket?"
"This is impossible. Absolutely impossible!"
Giovanni's denial was iron-clad, his voice ringing with conviction.
As if to say: A boy I raised with my own two hands — become a criminal in Team Rocket? Inconceivable.