Chapter 164: Giovanni's Offer
The situation was already dire—there was no way Lorelei could be allowed to get any closer.
Giovanni believed that with Sabrina and Ariana working together, they should be able to hold Lorelei back.
On the other side, Asahi, having overheard Giovanni's orders, showed a subtle expression.
This was just…
Asahi wasn't sure how to put his feelings into words.
Hopefully, Giovanni would stay strong when he found out the truth.
Watching Giovanni end his communication with Ariana, Asahi smiled and said, "Giovanni, the last time we met, we were fighting side by side on Mt. Moon. I never thought that our next meeting would be as enemies."
Giovanni glanced at the battle between Beedrill and Mew in the distance before turning back to Asahi.
"I didn't expect that a mere Gym Examiner would become my biggest obstacle."
Not dealing with Asahi on Mt. Moon had been his greatest mistake.
Hearing this, Asahi said, "Why don't we settle that unfinished Gym Challenge here and now?"
Just as he spoke, Asahi's Aura Sense suddenly picked up on a lifeform rapidly approaching from underground.
Without hesitation, he released Salamence and leaped onto its back.
The moment Salamence took off—
WHOOSH!
A massive sand vortex erupted where Asahi had just been standing.
A Dugtrio emerged from the ground, its six eyes fixed on Asahi in midair.
Seeing its attack miss, a flash of regret passed through Giovanni's eyes.
If only Beedrill weren't preoccupied with Mew…
Asahi looked at the ground that had just been swallowed by quicksand, feeling a chill run down his spine. If not for his Aura Sense, he might have been caught in the trap.
He hadn't even noticed when Giovanni had released Dugtrio.
Indeed, fighting Giovanni left no room for carelessness.
Still, Asahi wasn't about to let that show. With a smirk, he said, "Attacking a Trainer without warning—truly fitting for the leader of Team Rocket, Giovanni."
Beside him, Gardevoir's eyes flashed with anger, furious that Asahi had almost been taken down by Dugtrio's ambush.
A surge of Psychic Energy erupted from Gardevoir.
Caught off guard, Golem was once again sent flying, its rocky shell cracking even further.
Giovanni barely spared it a glance before speaking. "Have you ever considered joining Team Rocket?"
"You captured Koga and Lt. Surge, didn't you? With your strength, if you join us, I can give you control over Team Rocket's entire Kanto region."
Hearing this sudden recruitment attempt, Asahi raised an eyebrow.
So now that ambush failed, he was switching to bribery?
Still, this was a hefty offer—Giovanni was willing to trade Kanto's entire Rocket division as a bargaining chip.
At that moment, Blaine's voice came through Asahi's earpiece.
[Asahi, don't do anything crazy…]
Asahi was speechless.
What do you take me for?
Even if Giovanni personally invited him, did he really look like the kind of person who would join an evil organization for a bit of power?
Besides, he had already wrecked Team Rocket's Kanto branch—if he joined now, wouldn't that just mean doubling his workload, since he'd have to rebuild Team Rocket on top of the International Police?
Shoving aside his internal complaints about Blaine, Asahi smiled and said,
"Giovanni, your offer is quite tempting. But I forgot to introduce myself—I'm Asahi, current Chief of the Kanto Division of the International Police."
His tone turned playful. "You want to recruit me? I was just about to ask if you'd rather surrender and join Koga and Lt. Surge in prison. I'm sure they'd love to see their old boss again."
"International Police…"
Hearing this, Giovanni's expression instantly darkened.
With a wave of his hand, Dugtrio's three heads glowed in three different colors—
Yellow, representing Paralysis.
Red, representing Burn.
Blue, representing Freeze.
Three beams of energy shot toward Asahi and Salamence in midair.
At the same time, Persian and Golem launched attacks at Eevee and Gardevoir.
Further away, on Mew and Mewtwo's battlefield, Beedrill, under Aggron's cover, fired a barrage of Pin Missiles toward them.
Despite Giovanni's assault, Asahi's Pokémon didn't need commands to instinctively retaliate.
Eevee nimbly dodged Persian's attack and fired back with a rapid Swift.
Gardevoir, surrounded by levitating stone slabs, obliterated the incoming rock shards with Psychic Energy.
The only problem was Salamence.
Facing Dugtrio's triple-element attack, Salamence retaliated with Dragon Pulse, blasting downward.
BOOM!
The two attacks collided.
The shockwave disrupted Salamence's flight, nearly throwing Asahi off its back.
[Relying on Salamence alone to handle Dugtrio is too much.]
Giovanni's Dugtrio was far stronger than an ordinary Elite Four-level Pokémon.
Seeing that Salamence was struggling, Asahi made a quick decision and tossed another Poké Ball.
"Haxorus, go!"
A long, serpentine Haxorus appeared in midair.
There was no need for honor when fighting Team Rocket!
"Haxorus, Dragon Pulse!"
Under Asahi's command, two Dragon Pulses combined, with Salamence and Haxorus firing together.
The merged attack clashed with Dugtrio's triple-element strike, triggering a massive explosion.
The resulting shockwave rocked both Salamence and Haxorus, while Asahi used his Aura to withstand the force.
However, when the dust settled—Dugtrio was nowhere to be seen.
"Did it hide underground?"
Asahi's Aura Vision flared, revealing the life forces of every Pokémon present.
He quickly located Dugtrio, tunneling rapidly toward…
[Gardevoir, watch out!]
The moment Asahi shouted, the ground behind Gardevoir split open, and Dugtrio's center head lashed out with a Dark-type energy slash.
Night Slash!
Simultaneously, to trap Gardevoir, Golem had laid down Stealth Rock around it.
Facing this ambush, Gardevoir's eyes shone with blue light—a Psychic Barrier formed around it as it teleported away in an instant.
Dugtrio's Night Slash shattered the barrier, but its attack only struck an afterimage, as Gardevoir had already disappeared.
Asahi exhaled in relief before ordering Salamence and Haxorus to unleash Dragon Pulse again.
However, Dugtrio swiftly dodged and disappeared into the sandstorm once more.
[It has the Sand Veil ability… Gardevoir, go assist Eevee!]
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