"I still think my relationship with Groudon is decent enough."
Giovanni speaks with a magnetic smile, and he isn't lying.
After Primal Kyogre "filled Groudon up like a pregnant mon," Groudon's temper was extremely high.
It even Wanted to break out of its Ultra Ball to go clash with Kyogre.
In its words, fat‑headed fish insulted it this much, how could it let it pass?
But Giovanni still did his best to calm it, even arranging a duel on a deserted island just to persuade Groudon.
Of course, Groudon wasn't at Primal Reversion.
And as for the final result, they didn't mention it; after the fight Groudon reluctantly acknowledged that Giovanni was qualified to be its Trainer.
Especially since he learned that Giovanni is Damian's Father, Groudon's respect grew even more.
If you explain it from Groudon's perspective, your Trainer is the Stupid fish's Father, so as Giovanni's Pokémon, isn't Groudon the Stupid fish's Father too?
Rank! Rank is everything!
"As expected, Gym Leader Giovanni." Leon can't help but praise.
"Then it'll be easier this way; Groudon won't go out of control, with our current combat power, taking down Team Plasma isn't a problem." Steven says lightly.
The real pressure against Team Plasma used to be that their man in charge, N, has the Ideals Dragon Zekrom. Now they have not only multiple Champions but also a controllable Groudon, so dealing with Team Plasma should be a piece of cake.
"Then how do we locate Team Plasma's base?" Cynthia raises the key current question.
"I have Ghetsis's contact info." Alder feels he should say something; otherwise he'd seem like an Unova Champion who's just riding along while Steven and others solve everything.
Although he hasn't truly won yet.
"What?" Leon and others freeze. Alder has Ghetsis's contact info?
"He left it when Ghetsis was being rescued by N; he's eager to cooperate with us, first beat Team Rocket." Alder explains, though he's not keen on cooperating with Team Plasma.
He's the Unova Champion; cooperating with evil organizations doesn't sit well.
"Then we should invite them out to negotiate and take them down in one go!" Wallace says without hesitation.
"I'll talk to him." Alder is decisive; he pulls out his phone and dials the number Ghetsis left.
Beep Beep
The line rings only twice before it's connected.
"Who is this?"
Ghetsis's grim voice comes through.
"Ghetsis, it's me."
"Oh? Champion Alder, so you've figured it out."
Ghetsis sounds surprised, but then his tone shifts to a faint smile.
Lately Ghetsis hasn't been in a good mood; Damian of Team Rocket has risen meteoric and humiliated him, and even stole his trusted aide Colress.
Is this something a person can do?
So while Zekrom's being nursed back to health, he's been dispatching people to intensely search for Damian's location.
Because he can't swallow this pride!!
Yes, he knows Damian's strength is very strong, he even easily defeated Zekrom of N, but he still has a trump card!
Colress betrayed him earlier, sending three Genesect to the headquarters, including a Shiny Genesect; that's his current confidence.
Three Genesect plus Zekrom might be enough to go up against Primal Kyogre!
Ghetsis's pride is immense, and he can't endure Damian humiliating Colress again and again.
Humiliating Colress? He can't stand it!!
Ghetsis swears he'll make Damian pay the price, that Colress must know he chose the wrong side!
Team Plasma is stronger than Team Rocket!
"Ghetsis, you don't know about Nimbasa City, do you? Your Zekrom, Damian beat it."
Alder's voice is low; he's not directly stating his aim, as the intent is obvious.
Ghetsis isn't stupid.
"Hohoho…" Ghetsis's smile is fake; clearly he's extremely unhappy at the moment.
"Indeed, Zekrom was defeated by Kyogre, but Champion Alder—"
Ghetsis's cold sneer interrupts him.
"And what makes you think you can mock me? We can't beat Kyogre, can you beat it?"
If Alder really had a way to deal with Damian and his Kyogre, why call him?
"Ghetsis, don't talk to me like that; I'm not here to argue with you."
Alder shows a hint of amusement, but his tone is displeased.
Leon and the others look on in awe; this is a veteran actor, after all.
Ghetsis's face darkens, but not at Alder.
"I don't want to argue with you, Ghetsis; Team Rocket's threat is too great; borrow your Zekrom for us."
"Champion Alder, you're joking again?" Ghetsis laughs coldly.
Alder's meaning is clear: he doesn't want Team Plasma to cooperate, but he needs Zekrom's combat power.
That's not something to steal for nothing.
"Even if I let N assist you, can you deal with Kyogre? Champion Alder, seems you're not serious."
Ghetsis's eyes flicker.
"Then how do you want it to be?"
Alder asks in a deep voice.
"It's not clear over the phone. Let's meet somewhere to talk things out. As long as we cooperate sincerely, we can definitely resolve Team Rocket."
Ghetsis begins; he wants more interests, with Unova League's help, he has confidence to wipe out Damian.
As for Alder's betrayal, he's prepared to strike during the talks.
But not to mention, without Team Plasma, how will Unova League deal with Team Rocket?
Unova League what gives them the right to strike him?? Ha, he has N and three Genesect!!
Ghetsis knows Unova League invited Hoenn's Steven and Wallace, but that's only two more Champion-tier people; they can handle Team Plasma.
"Easier than you think."
Alder hangs up, turning to Steven.
"This Ghetsis is dumber than I thought."
Giovanni can't help but comment; Ghetsis could actually grow Team Plasma to this extent without any crisis sense, openly arranging a meeting with Unova League—crazy.
"But this works in our favor."
Leon smiles, arms folded.
Alder exhales; first deal with Team Plasma, then figure out how to deal with more troublesome Team Rocket.
That's the plan they settled on.
....
Icirrus City.
"Ah! Hydreigon!"
Under the final massive strike of Mega Gyarados, Rosa's Hydreigon can't hold on and loses the ability to fight.
"So strong~!"
Hilda can't help but feel in her heart that although this Hydreigon is Mei's new catch and not fully adapted yet, its strength is impressive.
But the battle was entirely pressured by Mega Gyarados from start to finish. That brutal style of combat delivers a heavy visual impact; even three Hydreons' Dragon Pulses were blown away by Mega Gyarados' Water Tail.
"Mega Evolution, is it really this fierce?"
After the battle, Rosa pulls Hydreigon close to admire Mega Gyarados up close—so imposing!
"Right? And because of Mega Evolution, its typing becomes Water/Dark, which fixes the four-times weakness to Electric."
Damian smiles warmly.
"Hmm—awesome! handsome, how does Mega Evolution work?"
"Requires the Mega Stone corresponding to the Pokémon, and the Trainer's Key Stone."
Damian explains Mega Evolution to Rosa and the other two, and Elesa listens intently as well.
"Ah, I see. That's a bit tricky,"
Rosa rubs her head in worry; the Evolutionary Stone for the Pokémon is not easy to obtain.
"Indeed not easy; you have to first decide which Pokémon you want the Mega Stone for," Damian says with a smile.
Otherwise you'd have to train a main roster Pokémon that matches the Stone, right?
After a while chatting, they bid farewell; Damian and the three intend to return to their hotel.
Then…
Elesa follows Damian into his room, while Caitlin stands at the door with a straight face.
Bah!
"Mr. Damian, do you want to bathe?" Elesa asks, having laid out the bed for him.
"Of course." After replying, Damian grabs his phone and glances at a message from Giovanni.
What the heck, the Unova League is planning to take action against Team Plasma?
"Then I'll run the water."
Elesa heads to the bathroom, but hesitates at the towel she sees.
She's read online guides about maid services that scrub the owner's back, but the key is…
Would this be too awkward? What if Damian suddenly gets lewd?
But if she refuses, what if Damian is unhappy?
"What's wrong?"
Damian walks into the bathroom and finds Elesa staring blankly, puzzled.
"Well… um…"
"Soon I'll scrub your back; after that you can go out."
Damian gives the instruction without hesitation.
"Yes." Elesa lets out a sigh of relief; it seems Damian does have a bottom line, after all.
That's good; her reputation remains intact.
In the bathroom, while Elesa awkwardly rubs Damian's back, she steps out, cheeks flushing.
Because although Damian is wrapped in a towel below, everywhere else is bare and very close.
Then…
Elesa splashes water on her face at the sink, calms herself, takes off her outer coat, and climbs into bed.
She secretly berates herself for lying beside a man…
Elesa can't help burying her head under the covers; she's so humiliated.
Ten minutes later, when Damian finishes bathing, he sees a bed with the covers massed and raised.
"What are you doing?"
Mr. Damian, you've finished bathing.
"Wait a moment; the blanket isn't warm enough yet."
"Who taught you to want a warm bed in the heat of summer?"
Damian finds that Elesa still has a bit of a natural, unguarded aura—he's a little unable to keep it together.
Elesa freezes, then blushes bright.
"And you want me to lift the blanket and show you?"
Elesa blushes further, but still lifts the blanket, lying on her side with the lines of her figure on full display—long legs and a tall, alluring silhouette catch the eye.
"You haven't even changed clothes and you're already in my bed??"
Damian looks puzzled.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to—"
"Forget it, just remember this, though…"
Damian's lips curl into a sly smile as he lays down on the bed.
"From today you'll be my cuddle pillow for today, but… I have a bottom line and won't cross it."
"Eh!"
~~~
Get early access to 100+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
patreon.com/PokemonStoryWeaver
~~~
Every 100 Power Stones = 2 extra chapter