The news that Damian, the son of Viridian Gym Leader Giovanni and the winner of last year's Indigo Conference, had joined Team Rocket and become their leader circulated through the Kanto region like a powerful storm.
The digital forums in Kanto were almost entirely filled with discussions about this event. News editors were even working extra hours to produce articles quickly.
Without a doubt, Damian was famous! He was incredibly famous!
"No! My idol... how could this happen?"
"I cannot believe it. Damian is actually that kind of person. Why would he join a wicked organization like Team Rocket!"
"I suggest a serious investigation! Also, do you think there is a possibility that if Damian joined Team Rocket, what about Gym Leader Giovanni?"
"I thought this Damian guy seemed strange last year. Someone that arrogant and proud clearly was not a good person."
"I think Damian must have a reason! Maybe he joined to change Team Rocket from the inside? Team Rocket can become good, too."
"Can these obsessed fans just leave already?"
The internet in Kanto was in a state of complete disorder.
After the announcement ended, Damian led Caitlin and the others out of the Goldenrod Radio Tower. Officer Jenny of Goldenrod City could only observe them leave with her own eyes.
What else could she do? She could do nothing at all.
The Emergency Meeting at Indigo Plateau
At the Indigo Plateau, an emergency meeting was called immediately. After all, the impact caused by Damian and Team Rocket was massive.
To grandly announce his takeover to the whole world using the Goldenrod Radio Tower was simply too arrogant!
Inside the meeting room, Charles Goodshow sat in the head seat and looked around. Almost everyone present was a high-ranking official of the Kanto League. The Elite Four were also all in attendance.
"So, regarding Damian's public announcement, what are your thoughts?" Charles Goodshow asked in a heavy voice.
"It is far too arrogant! This is absolutely unacceptable! To forcibly take over the Goldenrod Radio Tower in broad daylight and give a speech to cause panic! He clearly has no respect for our Kanto League!"
"That is right! The members of Team Rocket are truly a bunch of illegal criminals!"
"An evil organization like Team Rocket should be dealt with more strictly. We should eliminate them all!"
The League councilors were all filled with resentment. Their faces were red and they looked very angry.
This was natural. Team Rocket occupying the radio tower to make a public announcement was a direct challenge to the Kanto League!
If they dared to broadcast to the entire region today, what would they dare to do tomorrow?
However, was not everything they were saying just useless nonsense?
Lance crossed his arms with an expressionless face. Lorelei only gave an inconspicuous, cold smile. Bruno looked straight ahead without blinking. Agatha held a pen and seemed to be browsing through an ancient book.
Charles Goodshow rubbed his temples. He felt a headache coming on.
"Silence. Mio, you speak," Charles Goodshow said, stopping the councilors' chatter. He looked toward the Chief Constable, Officer Jenny Mio.
The meeting room fell silent again.
Officer Jenny Mio stood up. She looked at a file in her hand with a serious expression.
"Everyone, I believe you are all aware of Team Rocket's recent activities in various regions under Damian's leadership, right?" Mio said.
"I have gathered a lot of data. Let's go over it briefly. This will allow us to clearly judge the current scale and strength of Damian and Team Rocket."
Mio walked to the front of the projector screen. Hearing this, the Kanto Elite Four all turned their gazes toward her.
An image of Damian appeared on the screen.
"First, Damian set out on his journey last year at age sixteen. At that time, Damian was still a new trainer. According to Gym Leader Giovanni, Damian was very normal back then. He even returned to the Viridian Gym in the middle of the year."
"It was not until the end of the year that Damian showed incredible, overwhelming strength and crushed all his opponents to win the championship," Mio stated calmly.
"Then, at the beginning of this year, Damian joined Team Rocket through unknown channels and became a top executive."
Mio's voice paused for a moment. With Damian's strength, it was not surprising that he became a top executive.
Even though Damian had not caught any Legendary Pokémon at that time, his strength was already at an extremely powerful Champion level.
Based on information from the Hoenn region, Damian even used a Mega Tyranitar to fight a three-on-one battle against Cynthia, Steven, and Giovanni at the same time.
This showed how powerful Damian's strength was.
Mio believed that perhaps even Lance's best Dragonite could only reach that level of power.
"He led a portion of Team Rocket into the Alola region. Their development there was extremely smooth. He also successfully recruited two trusted allies: Caitlin, the former head of the Sinnoh Battle Castle, and Gladion, the son of Aether Foundation President Lusamine."
"Both of these individuals are very young trainers with immense potential."
The portraits of Caitlin and Gladion appeared on the projector.
"The improvement of Alola Team Rocket was very easy because there is no League in the Alola region. Furthermore, there are not many strong trainers there to resist them. Damian successfully allowed Team Rocket to achieve great results in Alola."
Mio's tone remained calm.
Hearing this, some councilors could not help but curse quietly about how useless the Alola region was.
Charles Goodshow remained silent. Could they really blame Alola? To be fair, Alola at the start of the year was a place without a regional league. They had no way to face someone like Damian.
"Afterward, Damian returned to Kanto for a period. He obtained the Dark Mewtwo created by Team Rocket. Elite Four members Lorelei and Bruno fought him in Celadon City, but they were not his match."
Hearing this, Lorelei's eyebrows moved, but she did not argue.
"Then, for the second time, Damian took his followers to the Hoenn region. He first faced Team Aqua and Team Magma. Then, he recruited the successor of the Draconids, a Champion-level Dragon-type specialist named Zinnia."
Mio's tone became heavier. Zinnia's portrait appeared on the screen.
Lance's eyes moved slightly. A Champion-level Dragon specialist?
"At the same time, Caitlin also reached the Champion level. Most importantly, Damian captured the King of the Sea from Hoenn's myths, Kyogre!"
"At this point, the Team Rocket led by Damian already possessed three Champion-level trainers, including himself! Especially Damian; his strength had reached a terrifying level."
Useless Hoenn League!! The councilors cursed in their hearts.
"And then there was the third time. Damian took his inner circle to the Unova region. They once again took over the local Team Plasma and recruited two more Champion-level trainers."
Two more portraits appeared.
"The former leader of Team Plasma who possesses the Dragon of Ideals, Zekrom, known as N; and the 'Dark Scientist,' Colress. According to Unova intelligence, both are very powerful Champion-level trainers."
"Additionally, Damian captured the Dragon of Truth, Reshiram, as well as a Rayquaza."
"And now, Damian has returned to Kanto with his full power. We estimate there was an internal rebellion. He killed the Team Rocket leader and replaced him."
Mio's voice was heavy.
"In other words, the current Team Rocket possesses a total of five Champion-level trainers!" an elderly councilor said in shock.
"Correct. Furthermore, it is unclear if the original high-ranking executives and members of Team Rocket have also pledged their loyalty to Damian. But regardless, the New Team Rocket is a much more serious threat than the original one."
Mio was certain of this.
This was a simple comparison that required no thought. Just these five Champion-level trainers led by Damian were far more terrifying than the old Team Rocket.
The destructive power of a Champion-level trainer was obvious!
For a simple example, a top Champion like Lance could wipe out the entire Vermilion City in a short time using just his two main Dragonair.
And that is not even mentioning that Damian possesses Primal Kyogre and other Legendary Pokémon, and even his subordinate N has Zekrom.
The entire meeting room went silent.
"So what do we do now?" a councilor asked, his tone completely changed.
"The Hoenn and Unova regions are just too useless! To actually let Damian improve to this extent," another councilor complained.
"Therefore, our main priority now is to find out exactly what Damian's goal is," Mio sighed.
"With the change in Team Rocket's leadership, their organization's goals and policies will definitely change. We really need to clarify this point." The head of the Joy family agreed.
"If they are still the same evil Team Rocket as before, then no matter what, as the Kanto League, we must fight them to the end," Mio said firmly.
Even if the New Team Rocket was strong, if they were still an evil organization, there was no need to hesitate. There would only be battle until Team Rocket was destroyed!
Even if Damian held Kyogre, he had to be eliminated, even if it meant paying a heavy price.
"Well said. Let's increase security in all areas and strictly monitor Team Rocket's movements," Charles Goodshow said after some thought.
"Also, have Gym Leader Giovanni return as soon as possible. Kanto needs him to be stationed here now."
After all, Giovanni possessed Primal Groudon. At the very least, he could counter Primal Kyogre.
On the other side, inside the underground base in Goldenrod City.
Carr had specially prepared rooms for Damian and his group. However, Sird knocked on Damian's door.
"Boss, I am very sorry. I have deceived you."
As soon as she entered the room, Sird bowed her head to apologize to Damian.
"Oh?" Damian raised an eyebrow. He understood.
"I was originally a member of Team Galactic from the Sinnoh region. Cyrus sent me to be a mole inside Team Rocket."
Sird directly revealed her true identity. She was a Team Galactic spy.
"A mole, huh?" Damian narrowed his eyes slightly. "Sird, you really hid yourself."
She indeed hid well. For Sird to become one of the Three Beasts even while hiding her true strength said a lot.
Sird's strength was truly excellent, at least much stronger than Carr's.
"However, I now understand that Team Rocket and you, Boss, are where I truly belong. I shall pledge my loyalty to you!"
Sird knelt on one knee and spoke sincerely to Damian.
Damian looked at Sird with a small smile.
"This is a token of my loyalty to you."
Sird took a Poké Ball out of her pocket.
"This is a Mythical Pokémon I obtained in Sinnoh previously. Its power is too intense for me to control. You, Boss, are its best master."
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