Time shifted into the evening in Viridian City.
"Yo~ Matori, it's really been a long time. Come here, let me see if you've put on any weight lately."
As they entered the Viridian Gym, Damian smiled and reached out both hands toward Matori, who had come to greet them.
"Boss, please behave yourself."
Matori took a step back. She pushed up her glasses and glanced at the three people behind Damian, speaking in a flat tone.
Caitlin's expression did not change. She glanced at the purple-haired girl with glasses and then looked away. Matori was no threat to her.
Meanwhile, Paul and Platinum were busy observing this luxurious and grand Gym.
The Viridian Gym... why would Mr. Damian come here?
Neither Platinum nor Paul was stupid. They both suddenly realized something, and their hearts were filled with incredible shock.
"Tsk~ We haven't seen each other for half a year, and Matori is still so cold."
Damian let out a small clicking sound with his tongue.
Matori secretly rolled her eyes at Damian. It was a look full of charm, but that was for private times; they were currently in front of other people.
"Boss, is it really okay for you to come to the Gym so suddenly? Lord Giovanni's reputation in the League is quite high right now. If you are discovered..."
"Don't worry. Mewtwo checked everything. No one followed us, and the nearby cameras didn't catch us either."
"Fine then. Lord Giovanni is waiting for you inside. Please follow me."
Hearing this, Matori wasn't surprised. She also believed that Damian wouldn't do something so reckless.
Following Matori into Giovanni's office, they saw Giovanni sitting at his desk. His right hand was gently stroking a Persian.
"Yo~ Dad, you look pretty comfortable, don't you?"
Damian sat down without any hesitation and teased Giovanni.
"Mr. Giovanni, it has been a long time. Good evening~"
Caitlin greeted Giovanni politely.
"Actually, it hasn't been that long. After all, we met in Unova not too long ago."
Giovanni wore a mature smile as he nodded to Caitlin. Then, he looked toward Damian.
"I'm not nearly as comfortable as you, Damian. You're the new Boss of Team Rocket, known both at home and abroad."
There was an unavoidable hint of a joke in Giovanni's tone.
It's actually true!!!
Platinum was beyond shocked. The outside world had always rumored that Mr. Damian joined Team Rocket because of the pressure from his original family and public opinion. They thought that was what led the promising Damian down the wrong path.
But clearly, everyone had been fooled by Damian!
There was no such thing as a conflict between Damian and Giovanni as father and son. Everything was just a big lie!
Paul's heart was also racing with emotion, though he kept his face calm.
"Ha~ Well, that's all thanks to you, Dad. Oh right, Dad, let me introduce these two to you."
Damian introduced Platinum and Paul to Giovanni.
"They are genius Trainers I found in the Sinnoh region. They are very talented."
"Hello to you both."
Giovanni smiled and nodded to the two of them. He admired Damian's eye for talent very much.
Back then, weren't Caitlin and Gladion also brought in by Damian?
And facts had proven that Damian's judgment was correct. Caitlin was already Damian's right-hand woman.
Gladion not only had excellent strength but his management skills were also beyond doubt. He was one of Damian's most valued subordinates.
"Hello, Mr. Giovanni," Platinum and Paul replied politely.
"There have been rumors outside that you and Mr. Damian were..."
Platinum looked at Giovanni carefully, unable to stop herself from asking about the doubt in her heart.
Maybe it was because Team Rocket had changed its ways, so Damian and Giovanni had made up in private?
"That was Damian's suggestion. Once I decided to hand Team Rocket over to him, I already cut ties with Team Rocket."
Giovanni's words undoubtedly confirmed that the previous Boss of Team Rocket was indeed Giovanni himself.
So, Mr. Damian was actually... inheriting the family business?!!
Platinum went silent. If you looked at it that way, the League had actually been played by this father and son the entire time.
Moreover, the former Boss of Team Rocket was actually the Gym Leader of the Viridian Gym.
The Viridian Gym was an official League Gym!!
"Dad, Silver went to the park today. Did he tell you about it?"
Damian took a sip of the tea Matori had brought over and asked Giovanni.
"Yes. That child... he is very obsessed with you." Giovanni shook his head.
"Or perhaps you could say he is a bit too obsessed. Damian, you should be mentally prepared."
Giovanni thought for a moment. He felt that if things continued like this, it wouldn't be good for Silver's mental health.
"I understand. When I get a chance, I'll have someone give him some psychological counseling," Damian said as he thought it over.
Silver, oh Silver. If you want to get your brother back, you still have to keep working hard.
"By the way, that child Selene suggested something to me a few days ago. She said the Alola League has been established. Once the Manalo Conference starts, she hopes I can go watch the matches in person. What do you think?"
Giovanni asked Damian with a smile.
The Manalo Conference was the regional tournament for the Alola region, held at the Manalo Stadium.
The Manalo Stadium had been built using funds provided by the Aether Foundation. Of course, the current President of the Alola League was Lusamine, which was the same as the President herself providing the funds to build the venue.
Well, this made Professor Kukui and the others very happy. Choosing this Alola President was truly the right move!
Selene?
Hearing this name, Caitlin suddenly became alert. She sat up straight and put down her teacup.
Sharply noticing this, Giovanni's smile became a little wider. He looked at Damian with a grin.
"She sent me a message too. She hopes I'll go watch the moment she reaches the top of Alola," Damian said with a hint of emotion in his voice.
Yes, so much time had passed in the blink of an eye. Selene was already about to reach the top of Alola.
"I've already promised her. This event is very meaningful for Selene."
"Mm, then I'll promise to go too. For such an important moment in my daughter-in-law's life, I really should go support her in person. However, I plan to go during the finals. After all, I can't be exposed."
Giovanni took a sip of tea and nodded after hearing that.
As for whether Selene could win the championship, that wasn't even something Damian or Giovanni needed to think about.
In a place like Alola, who could stop Selene from reaching the top? Don't be ridiculous.
Unless a few "foreign monsters" like Rosa or Platinum went there. But to be honest, if they actually fought, Damian feared Rosa and Platinum wouldn't be Selene's match either.
After all, the Selene in this world had not only been taken in as a Gym apprentice by Giovanni and personally trained for half a year before her debut, but her Pokémon resources were also top-tier.
She started her journey with a high-talent Dratini. Later, Damian gave her a Nihilego and an Articuno. This treatment was truly elite.
And according to Selene herself, she had already caught Tapu Koko and had her eye on a certain very cool giant lion.
It was said that the giant lion named Solgaleo had been brought from Ultra Megalopolis to the current Alola by Lunala. They were a couple.
However, Lunala was a very important companion and family member to Lillie. Although Selene was interested, she was indeed too embarrassed to say she wanted to catch Nebby.
Of course, according to Nebby itself, its body belonged to Lillie, Damian, and Solgaleo.
It didn't really like Selene much. Who told Selene to bully it so often when it was little?
Now she was interested in it? Too late!
After failing with the Moon Goddess, who was afraid of ghosts, Selene set her sights on the Sun Goddess Solgaleo, who was afraid of fire.
Solgaleo didn't have any bad feelings toward Selene. It even agreed to a capture battle with her. Unfortunately, Selene's current strength clearly still had a certain gap compared to Solgaleo.
Well, the capture failed.
However, Selene didn't give up. She decided to keep improving and challenge it again later. Solgaleo also expressed that it was willing to give her another chance.
One could imagine that in the future, this first Champion of the Alola League would likely lead the Alola region to a major rise.
"Speaking of which, when do you plan to tell Selene about your current identity?"
Giovanni asked Damian.
Selene...
Caitlin's eyebrows knitted slightly. At this moment, the pressure on her suddenly became much heavier.
It seemed that Mr. Giovanni strongly approved of Selene, even calling her his daughter-in-law...
Caitlin bit her lip. This undoubtedly put a lot of pressure on her heart.
"No rush. We'll talk about it after Selene wins the championship," Damian shook his head.
"Fine, as long as you know what you're doing. Either way, it's between the two of you."
Giovanni drank some tea. He didn't plan to interfere in his son's romantic affairs. After all... he knew Damian had a bit of a playboy personality.
However, Giovanni still thought highly of Selene. That girl was indeed a genius. Besides, Selene and Damian had known each other for a long time.
Even though there were many excellent girls around Damian now, Giovanni felt it would be very difficult for anyone to shake Selene's position.
"Dad, when do you plan to have the Elite Four challenge? I'm waiting to watch the show."
Damian crossed his legs and asked Giovanni in a relaxed manner.
That's right! For the second half of the year, this was the most noteworthy thing in Kanto for Damian!
Mr. Giovanni is going to have an Elite Four challenge?
Hearing this, Platinum's eyes widened. This...
"What kind of show are you watching? Watching your dad crush the Kanto Elite Four?"
Giovanni couldn't help but find it a bit funny.
"Except for Lance, who has a bit of a challenge, the other three don't provide much pressure. There really isn't much to see."
Giovanni's right hand gently stroked the Persian's head. His tone was very calm.
"It looks like you're planning to use Groudon, Dad."
Damian didn't agree or disagree.
Without Groudon, it would indeed be hard to say who would win between Giovanni and Lance. But with Groudon, besides Damian, only that old monster in Johto could put up a fight against Giovanni in this world.
"If I want to reach the top as Champion, it's necessary," Giovanni nodded.
"Mr. Goodshow took the eight original special badges from us Gym Leaders earlier. It's said they are going to be used to summon a Legendary Pokémon."
"In other words, Lance will likely be able to get a Legendary Pokémon as his main force."
"I don't plan to hide my strength. Becoming the Kanto Champion would be for the best. We'll just have to see what Legendary Pokémon he gets then."
Giovanni explained. Lance was already strong, and there was a high chance he would get a high-level Legendary Pokémon as a main partner.
Giovanni naturally wouldn't look down on him. Since he had already decided to challenge the Elite Four, the goal was obviously to become the Champion.
"It's either Ho-Oh or Lugia. It won't be enough to threaten you, Dad," Damian shook his head.
In the Pokémon Adventures manga, the Legendary Pokémon that Lance and the others summoned was Lugia. He didn't know if there would be changes in this world.
However, whether it was Lugia or Ho-Oh, asking them to fight Primal Groudon was really asking too much of them.
"Isn't that perfect? Damian, from now on, you'll have to call me the Kanto Champion."
Giovanni leaned back in his office chair. He gently swirled the teacup in his hand and smiled faintly.
Team Rocket's business was being inherited by Damian, and Team Rocket was truly moving up in the world.
And he himself was doing great in the legal world. Silver could also be proud of him.
Giovanni felt that his life was truly perfect~
If there were parallel worlds, the Giovanni of those parallel worlds would probably be jealous to death of him, right? Hahaha~
This world is truly too crazy!
Platinum was completely stunned. The former Boss of Team Rocket, who was hiding his identity, was going to become the Champion of the Kanto League?
Platinum looked at Damian, then at Giovanni. This...
Is this really right?
-------------------------
Want to get a head start on the story?
The story is now available up to Chapter 460 on Patreon.
I'll finish it by the end of this month, so if you want to support me, now's the time.
-------------------------
Want to get a head start on the story?
The story is now available up to Chapter 460 on Patreon.
I'll finish it by the end of this month, so if you want to support me, now's the time.