Chapter 175: Giovanni's Decision
Asahi shrugged, an innocent look on his face. "Isn't Team Rocket already at war with the Masked Army? I just gave you a little… push."
Midori fell silent.
If it had been the old Team Rocket — with Mewtwo under their control — going to war with the Masked Army wouldn't have been an issue.
In fact, Midori believed they could have crushed the Masked Army with ease.
But now, the Mewtwo Project had failed, Giovanni was gravely injured, and their forces were weakened. Even if they could win, the price would be steep.
Not that it mattered — she was a prisoner now.
Midori's voice was steady but wary. "So what now? Are you handing me over to the League?"
She had arranged the release of several Team Rocket members from League custody before — once she was in their prison system, escaping would be simple.
Asahi gave her a baffled look. "Hand you over to the League? Why would I do something so naive? You think I'm stupid? Let you contact Team Rocket and arrange a jailbreak?"
"Surge and Koga ended up in League custody because they were Gym Leaders — the League had to handle them officially. But you? You're just Giovanni's secretary. You don't get that privilege."
"You're staying right here."
With a wave of his hand, Asahi signaled for Gallade to take Midori back to her cell.
Her expression was full of unwillingness, but there was nothing she could do.
Once Midori was gone, only Asahi, Green, and Sabrina remained in the interrogation room.
Green broke the silence. "Asahi… about Silver…"
Asahi knew what she wanted to ask. He nodded. "Yes, it's true — he's Giovanni's son."
Green had already suspected as much from Proton's reaction, but hearing Asahi confirm it made it all the more real.
"...So about inviting him to join the International Police…" Green hesitated.
She still saw Silver as a little brother, but now that they knew his true identity, wouldn't that plan be scrapped?
Asahi shrugged. "So what if he's Giovanni's son? As long as his heart's in the right place, even Giovanni himself could join us. Wasn't Sabrina one of Team Rocket's top executives before?"
"…?"
Sabrina blinked.
Why was she the example here? Blaine was a former Rocket Executive too — why single her out?
Green, after thinking it over, realized Asahi had a point.
Their department wasn't exactly… conventional.
Aside from Asahi, the questionable Minister, and Gary, the so-called normal one, most of their members had complicated pasts.
She herself had been part of the Masked Army, while Sabrina and Blaine were ex-Rocket members…
And yet, despite their pasts, they had dealt some serious blows to Team Rocket.
Asahi, meanwhile, took Midori's tablet and jotted down the email she had used to contact Giovanni, sending the info to Bill to investigate further.
After that, he stretched. "It's late. We've all been working hard today — let's call it a night."
—---
In a secret Team Rocket base outside Fuchsia City
Giovanni lay in a hospital bed, his body covered in bandages. Two Chansey were by his side, continuously using Heal Pulse to ease his pain.
Sitting nearby, Archer watched the scene in silence.
He had rushed over from the Sevii Islands the moment he received word about Giovanni's condition.
By the time he arrived, his leader was already like this — a shadow of his former self.
"...What kind of battle took place on New Island?" Archer muttered. "Even Giovanni ended up so severely injured…"
Giovanni's strength was unquestionable.
In a no-holds-barred fight, even if Archer and the other three Beast Trio members teamed up, they might still struggle against Giovanni.
And yet… he was now reduced to this.
As Archer pondered the situation, Giovanni's eyes slowly opened.
"Boss!" Archer immediately stepped forward, showing his respect.
Giovanni gave a slight nod, then lowered his gaze to his trembling hands. His eyes darkened. "…Mewtwo…"
He never thought the day would come when the very Pokémon he created would turn against him like this.
A sudden coughing fit seized him.
The Chansey hurriedly increased the intensity of their Heal Pulse to stabilize Giovanni's condition.
"...What's happened while I was unconscious?" Giovanni asked, his voice hoarse but commanding.
Archer bowed. "The League has revoked your status as a Gym Leader and issued a warrant for your arrest."
"The Viridian Gym's underground base was destroyed by Lance and his men. Most of our forces there were captured — only a few managed to escape."
"And according to the surviving members from New Island… Sabrina betrayed us. She allied with Lorelei to capture Midori."
A storm of bad news.
The destruction of the base and his loss of status didn't faze Giovanni — those could be rebuilt.
But Sabrina's betrayal and Midori's capture… those were harder pills to swallow.
Team Rocket had always been the infiltrators — for the League to turn the tables like this was a disgrace.
Thinking back, Giovanni realized the "assistant" Sabrina brought with her that day must have been Asahi.
"I really let him fool me…" Giovanni muttered bitterly before another coughing fit overtook him.
Seeing his leader's condition, Archer's concern deepened. "Boss… while you were unconscious, Midori managed to send a message through a secure channel…"
Giovanni's eyes narrowed. "A message? From Midori?"
"Yes — about a lead on Young Master Silver."
Giovanni's pupils constricted. "…Is the information reliable?"
Archer nodded. "According to the message, Silver was kidnapped twelve years ago by the leader of the Masked Army. I cross-checked the description with Young Master Silver's known appearance — it matches."
He handed Giovanni the tablet.
As Giovanni read the contents, his expression darkened even further — not because the description was wrong, but because of the source.
"This intel came from… Asahi?"
Giovanni's jaw tightened.
Though they'd only crossed paths a few times, Giovanni had learned enough about Asahi to know one thing — he was always scheming.
Even if the information was true, Giovanni could clearly see Asahi's intent: to push Team Rocket into an all-out war with the Masked Army.
Archer's voice broke the silence. "Boss… what should we do?"
Giovanni remained silent for a long time, his mind a storm of thoughts.
Finally, his eyes sharpened like a blade.
"Send Domino to investigate this quietly. And notify the Four Generals — tell them to prepare for war with the Masked Army."
This was a trap — Giovanni knew it.
But it was one he had no choice but to step into.
From his pocket, Giovanni pulled out an old, water-stained photograph.
A young boy with red hair, holding a Sneasel, stared back at him.
"...Silver."