Chapter 14: I'm a Pretty Generous Guy
The ground floor of the mansion was a powder keg — tension thick enough to cut.
But Mammon looked perfectly relaxed. Sure, they were hopelessly outnumbered, but in his eyes, that didn't matter one bit.
"Who are you calling small fry?"
A deep, gravelly voice rumbled from above.
"Boss!"
"Boss! Finally!"
The Skull grunts lit up with relief, and the owner of that voice began descending the staircase.
"Oh?"
Mammon raised an eyebrow.
The man looked mean. White hair, sunglasses pushed up on his forehead, saggy black pants, a white tee layered under a black jacket. Everything about him screamed delinquent and don't mess with me.
This was Guzma — Team Skull's boss.
The grunts parted. Guzma strolled forward with his hands stuffed in his pockets, his vicious glare carrying genuine weight.
"I'll ask you again, kid. Who'd you just call small fry?"
Guzma stopped right in front of Mammon, leaning forward slightly, his low voice dripping with menace.
"Your Team Skull — mostly small fry, aren't they? You're Guzma, I take it?"
"Damn right I am." Guzma's scowl darkened.
"Kid, you ain't big enough to run your mouth like that. I don't care if you're Team Rocket or Team Whatever — go back where you came from and stop interrupting my nap!"
Guzma's eviction notice was delivered with zero diplomacy and maximum hostility.
Looked like someone had tipped him off.
"Tch. I figured the boss of Team Skull might at least have a functioning brain. Guess not."
Guzma was aggressive, but Mammon wasn't about to humor him.
"Did a door slam on your head, or have you just been throwing your weight around Alola for so long you can't even read the room anymore?"
Guzma's already menacing expression grew even darker.
"Heh heh heh… Didn't expect somebody to come all this way just to get their face caved in."
Guzma grinned — all teeth, no warmth — and popped open a Poké Ball. A massive, armored arthropod of a Pokémon crashed down in front of him.
Golisopod — Bug and Water type. Guzma's ace.
"I'm gonna teach you a lesson, you little punk. Alola ain't some playground for Team Rocket to mess around in."
Guzma cracked his knuckles. He'd made up his mind — this annoying brat was getting a beatdown.
Caitlin's brow furrowed as she studied the fearsome Golisopod. Based on its aura alone, this one was powerful.
That tracked — he was Team Skull's leader, after all. He wouldn't be weak.
Still, Metagross had the type advantage. She could take this fight.
Mammon smacked his lips, stood up, and waved off both Lance and Caitlin before they could step forward.
"Interesting. In that case — let me see what you've got."
A Poké Ball expanded on his fingertip and cracked open.
A wild, gray-white furred Pokémon materialized before Mammon. Its eyes burned a deep, bloody crimson. It tilted its head slightly, staring at Golisopod in eerie silence.
Annihilape.
"Here's your shot. I hope your strength matches that mouth of yours." Mammon grinned right back.
"Then keep your eyes open, kid!" Guzma flashed his teeth.
"Golisopod! First Impression!"
Golisopod let out a low battle cry and launched itself at Annihilape like a cannonball.
"Focus Blast."
Annihilape clenched its right fist. Blue energy condensed and surged — and then it swung.
BOOM!!
Focus Blast collided head-on with First Impression. The impact shook the room, sending a violent shockwave rippling outward.
But a heartbeat later—
Annihilape pushed through. Focus Blast shattered First Impression entirely, and the full force of the blow slammed into Golisopod, launching it backward.
Under the disbelieving stares of Plumeria and every grunt in the room, Golisopod flew back even faster than it had charged in — and cratered straight into the wall.
Silence.
Total, absolute silence.
Guzma's pupils contracted. Caitlin's eyes shone with awe. This Annihilape is insanely strong!!
"That's… impossible." Plumeria whispered, dazed.
How?! This couldn't be happening!
That was Guzma's ace Golisopod! Even the Island Kahunas and Island Queens couldn't steamroll Guzma like that.
"Why would it be impossible?" Mammon chuckled.
He'd caught Plumeria's murmur — the room was dead quiet, after all.
"When you're huddled in your own little corner of the world, playing make-believe, how would you ever know how vast the world outside really is?"
Mammon's tone returned to something smooth and elegant, but his words were razor-sharp as ever.
"Who… are you?"
Guzma's breathing had gone ragged. He fixed Mammon with a stare like a cornered animal ready to lunge.
Something's wrong with this guy!!
Even Kukui's best Pokémon couldn't one-shot his Golisopod like that.
And Kukui was the only Champion-level Trainer in all of Alola.
"Mammon. Team Rocket's Mammon." A small smile.
"So then, Mr. Guzma — ready to have that chat now?"
"…"
Guzma stared at Mammon for a long moment.
"Follow me." His voice was low.
Hot-tempered as he was, Guzma knew when the stakes were real. This was life or death for Team Skull.
"Smart choice."
Mammon followed with Caitlin and Lance in tow.
"Plumeria — you too."
Plumeria bit her lip and fell in behind them.
The Skull grunts were left standing in the wreckage, anxious and uncertain, with no idea what their future held.
Not that it was up to them.
Guzma led the group to a room on the second floor — which looked exactly like the rest of the place. A total mess.
"Not much to sit on. Make do." Guzma dropped onto a wooden crate.
Lance scanned the room, grabbed a stool, and wiped it down with his sleeve so Mammon could sit.
"Tch~ You could at least set up a proper meeting space."
Mammon clicked his tongue as he surveyed the room.
"I don't bother with that stuff." Guzma's brow twitched.
"Mammon, right? What do you actually want?"
Straight to the point.
"Team Rocket is expanding into other regions. Alola is the first target." Mammon regarded Guzma and Plumeria with an air of total composure.
"And Team Skull will be absorbed. That's non-negotiable."
He tilted his head, watching them both.
Guzma's expression was grim.
"But I'm a pretty generous guy, so I'll give you an opportunity."
Mammon produced two silver badges and tossed one to each of them.
"What is this?" Plumeria stared at the ornate silver "R" in her palm.
"I'm sincerely inviting both of you to join Team Rocket — as senior officers. What do you say?"
Mammon's grin was warm and easy.
Team Rocket… senior officers?
Plumeria instinctively glanced at Guzma. He was staring at the silver badge in his hand, his brow knotted tight.