"Orange Islands? Lugia?"
The moment those words were spoken, all the League higher-ups turned to look at the executive who had said them.
"Right. It's an old story passed down in my hometown. From what I remember, it's about how the three Legendary birds brought some kind of disaster that threw the whole world into chaos, and then a hero stepped forward, summoned Lugia, and drove the three birds away."
That executive briefly explained the outline of the tale.
Everyone listened.
Then looked at each other.
Each with a different expression.
The three Legendary birds plunging the world into chaos?
That was…
Pretty wild.
The Legendary birds were indeed legendary Pokémon, but even among legendary Pokémon, there were levels to this sort of thing.
Compared to Ho-Oh, Lugia, Groudon, and Kyogre, the Legendary birds really were on a completely different tier.
"Haha, well, that's just one version of the story. The Legendary birds destroying the world and all that? No way."
The executive laughed it off himself.
He did not really believe the story either.
That was why, after growing up, he only ever told it to children.
The Kanto League higher-ups talked over a number of other matters. In the end, Damalanchi announced the meeting was adjourned. Once he kept the Kanto Elite Four behind, the rest of the higher-ups all left.
"Chairman Damalanchi, what is it?"
Lorelei adjusted her glasses. She did not pay much mind to the fact that Damalanchi had kept them behind for a smaller meeting.
After all, if he had specifically called them over, it was definitely because there was something he needed them to handle.
As members of the Kanto Elite Four, doing that kind of work came with the job.
"In a few days, Grey will be setting out for the Unova region."
Damalanchi rested his chin on his hands and spoke softly to the four of them.
"What, Chairman Damalanchi, are you worried that Leader Grey might get poached by the Unova League? Heh heh heh."
Grandma Agatha threw out the remark in a mocking tone, feeling that Damalanchi was making far too big a deal out of too small a matter if this was the reason he had kept them behind.
"Do I really look that petty to you?"
Damalanchi nearly lost his composure. Shooting Agatha an annoyed glance, he then said to the four of them, "Alder told me Unova has been a little unstable recently. I'm worried that after Leader Grey arrives there, he might be targeted and retaliated against by local organizations."
"So you want to send someone to secretly take a plane over there and watch over Leader Grey from the shadows?"
Bruno immediately caught the point and asked.
"Something like that. If any of you have time, just treat it as a trip and a bit of a vacation."
Damalanchi nodded. He felt that before someone like Grey had fully matured, it was still necessary to have someone quietly protecting him in the background.
"I don't think that's a good idea."
Lance offered his opinion. "If it were the Johto region, that would be one thing. But for an overseas region like that, I think it's better not to send anyone along."
"If Leader Grey finds out, what will he think of the Kanto League?"
Lance met Damalanchi's eyes. "Chairman Damalanchi, trust Leader Grey. A young eagle has to spread its wings eventually, and a trainer like him needs to keep growing through tempering and hardship."
"You're right. I didn't think that through well enough."
Damalanchi stroked his beard. "Then we'll leave that matter as it is for now. Next, we need to keep an eye on Team Rocket, especially around Saffron City."
"Leader Sabrina and Leader Grey are both about to leave for Unova, and during that time, Saffron City will probably become a major focus for Team Rocket."
"Understood. I'll keep watch."
Lance nodded and committed it to memory.
…
…
Kanto region, Saffron City.
"What? Leader Giovanni, you want to watch my Gym for me? Be the acting Gym Leader?!"
Grey's shocked voice rang through the Fighting Dojo's lounge.
He stared at the middle-aged man walking toward him, unable to believe his own ears.
What had he just heard?
Giovanni had volunteered to be the acting Gym Leader of his dojo?
Was that right?
No, that absolutely was not right!
Grey would never have imagined that after he mentioned he would be heading to Unova with Sabrina and Caitlin, Giovanni would actually volunteer to come help manage the dojo.
If it had been someone else—say, Lt. Surge offering to help—Grey would have gladly accepted.
But the problem was—
The one saying this was Giovanni!
The hidden boss of Team Rocket, and someone who might very well end up becoming the Giovanni of Team Rainbow Rocket!
Seriously, what are you even after here?
Grey really wanted to ask him that.
Of course, Grey knew exactly why Giovanni wanted to be the acting Gym Leader.
Naturally, it was because of Silver.
"Leader Grey, you and Leader Sabrina are about to leave for the Unova region. Team Rocket has been very active these past few days, and Saffron City is the economic lifeline of Kanto. If there isn't a qualified trainer stationed here, I'm afraid Team Rocket may seize the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Saffron City."
Giovanni wore a deeply concerned expression, and even his tone made it sound as though he was sincerely worried about Grey, Sabrina, and the city itself.
That completely threw Grey off balance.
He honestly almost could not hold it together.
Since Grey knew Giovanni's identity, he was already interpreting those words as a threat.
It gave him the overwhelming feeling of, "If you don't let me watch the dojo, then once you leave, I'll have Team Rocket launch a full-scale attack on Saffron City."
It was so absurd it almost wrapped back around to making sense.
"That is true. If Team Rocket uses the chance to launch a major retaliation, Saffron City could suffer heavy losses."
Grey rubbed his chin and pretended to think deeply.
At the moment, he and Team Rocket were already in a full irreconcilable state. Under normal circumstances, once they learned he would be leaving for Unova for quite a while, they would probably start making regular trips to Saffron City.
And given that Silph Co. currently had quite a few employees who had already been replaced by Team Rocket members, the frequency probably would not be low either.
There was a good chance they would show up every few days.
Tch.
The more Giovanni talked, the more Saffron City really did seem to be in grave danger.
Grey and Giovanni looked at each other, each hiding his own thoughts.
"Leader Grey, how about this? I'll gift you a full year of Governor status to show my sincerity."
Giovanni suddenly spoke, and Grey's heart skipped hard.
Damn it, that was the feeling of temptation!
A full year of Governor status—that was nearly 240,000!
Taking money directly would not look very good, so a gift like a Governor subscription was a much more convenient way to do it.
Even after the platform took its cut, he would still pocket around 100,000.
"Leader Giovanni, that's really unnecessary. You helping me watch the Gym is already trouble enough for you. Normally, I ought to be the one paying you for your effort. And now you want to gift me a full year of Governor status too? That's way too much."
Although for Giovanni, paying for a year of Governor status was probably pocket change, basically no different from throwing around a couple hundred.
"So, Leader Grey, does that mean you agree?"
Giovanni smiled faintly.
"At this point, after all Leader Giovanni has offered, if I still kept refusing, that'd be a little inhuman of me."
Grey waved his hand and replied with a light laugh.
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