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Chapter 180 - Team Rocket, the Charitable Organization  

"...It's me." 

A firm, unwavering voice. For Giovanni at this point, there was no need to hide in the shadows anymore. With Team Rocket's assault on and occupation of Saffron City, Giovanni had stepped from the background into the spotlight. 

The former Viridian City Gym Leader, Kanto's strongest Gym Leader, and the mastermind behind Team Rocket—this low-profile yet infamous figure had now captured the attention of every major power in the world. 

"What did you mean by what you just said?" 

Ryuuske gestured for Nanami to stay calm. He had always been cautious when dealing with Giovanni. 

Giovanni was one of the last enemies Ryuuske wanted to face—not only was he incredibly powerful, but he was also a mastermind, endlessly scheming. Battling him was exhausting, both physically and mentally. 

"Exactly what it sounds like. I can tell you where the people of Pallet Town are being held." 

Giovanni's voice remained unhurried, carrying an undeniable weight. 

"Oh? The boss of Team Rocket went through all the trouble to capture those townspeople, and now you're just going to tell me where they are? No traps involved?" 

Ryuuske's eyes narrowed suspiciously. 

"No traps. Those people mean nothing to me. They're currently locked in the underground safe room of the high-rise building west of Silph Co. Apart from Team Rocket's three executives, all combat personnel in this area have been dispatched to the city's transportation hubs to engage the Gym Leaders. So even if you send the girl beside you to rescue them now, she won't encounter any danger." 

Giovanni spoke methodically, his words exuding both pressure and an eerie sense of trustworthiness. 

"Send Nanami to rescue the townspeople... Then what about me?" 

Ryuuske pointed at himself. 

"You, of course, will come to see me. I'm waiting for you in the chairman's office on the top floor of Silph Co." 

With that, the intercom cut off, plunging the surveillance room back into silence. 

"Ryuuske, don't go! This has to be a trap!" 

Nanami grabbed Ryuuske's hand, her palms slick with cold sweat, trembling as she bit her lip and shook her head. 

Seeing Ryuuske lost in thought, she knew he was considering walking straight into the lion's den. 

Snapping out of his contemplation, Ryuuske patted the back of her hand reassuringly. 

"...I just checked. As the Rocket boss said, there really aren't any combat personnel nearby. It should be safe for you to go rescue the townspeople." 

"But what about you?" 

Nanami's voice trembled with fear. 

"I'm going to see Giovanni, of course." 

"No! You can't! It's too dangerous—there has to be another way!" 

Nanami pleaded, terrified that Ryuuske was truly willing to risk himself for her and the townspeople. 

"If I don't go, who knows what Giovanni might do to them? We can't fully trust his word. If I don't comply and anger him, you could be in danger too." 

Ryuuske spoke with heroic resolve, as if ready to march to his doom. 

In truth, he knew Team Rocket was monitoring him. Even if he tried to flee now, Giovanni wouldn't let him go so easily. Since that was the case, he might as well meet him head-on—while also playing up his "sacrifice" for the sake of the hostages. 

The real innocents caught in this mess were Nanami and the townspeople. Giovanni had only targeted them to draw out Ryuuske, Red, and Green. If not for them, Giovanni wouldn't have bothered with ordinary civilians. 

"...Ryuuske!" 

Nanami's eyes reddened, her voice choked with tears. She believed this was a suicide mission, yet despite that, Ryuuske was choosing this path to hell for her sake. 

She tightened her grip on his hand, enunciating every word. 

"...You have to come back safely!" 

She knew there was nothing she could do—only pray. 

"Relax, I'm not going to die... If Green defeats the Rocket executive he's fighting, send him to back me up." 

"Okay! If Green wins, I'll make sure he comes to help you immediately!" 

Without hesitation, Nanami threw her brother under the bus. 

"Then it's settled. Go rescue the townspeople now. This is the nearest underground safe facility in Saffron. Once you free them, head here... By the way, Nanami, do you have any Pokémon that can fight?" 

Ryuuske handed her a pre-prepared map. 

"This Clefable is mine. It's not particularly strong, but it can hold its own in a fight." 

Nanami retrieved her Poké Ball from a nearby table. 

"Good. Having some way to defend yourself is better than nothing. I was going to lend you one of mine, but... I don't know what I'll be facing next. You'll have to rely on yourself." 

Ryuuske spoke softly. 

"It's fine. I'll protect myself... Ryuuske, please be careful... I-I once had a very close friend named Courtney. We promised to enter Contests together when we grew up, but after she left for Hoenn, I never heard from her again. Please... don't make me lose another friend." 

"I'll be careful. Now go!" 

Turning Nanami around, Ryuuske gave her a firm push. 

The girl hesitated, then suddenly stood on her tiptoes and planted a quick kiss on Ryuuske's cheek before darting away. 

"What's with the melodrama? Feels like some cheap soap opera." 

Ryuuske rubbed his cheek where she'd kissed him, muttering to himself. 

Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself. What awaited him next might be the most dangerous battle since his arrival in this world. 

He searched within himself, trying to pinpoint any fear. 

But there was none—no anxiety, no dread. Only a boiling, almost violent excitement, a desire to make everyone bow before him. (Okay Chigga)

Outwardly calm, Ryuuske's heart churned like a raging whirlpool. 

From the moment he chose the path of a Trainer—the hardest road—he had already prepared himself for a life of turbulence. 

He was done with the mundane existence of staying home, working for others. 

If this life of grandeur demanded his death, so be it. 

"Life like a summer flower's blaze, death like autumn leaves' quiet grace." 

Since he was alive now, he would burn as brilliantly as a summer bloom. 

Stepping into Silph Co.'s elevator, he watched as it ascended. Each floor was labeled with its respective department. 

When he saw the words "Finance Department," he paused—then pressed the button. 

--- 

Silph Co. Finance Department 

Dozens of Rocket members well-versed in economics and finance bustled about, sifting through ledgers and typing furiously on rows of computers. 

"How's the data processing coming along?" 

A voice suddenly cut in. 

"Silph Co.'s total market value is ninety-one trillion. While most of that is tied up in stocks and real estate, their liquid assets amount to around seven trillion. We're currently transferring those funds to Team Rocket through legal channels. Once we fully control Kanto, the rest of Silph Co.'s assets will also belong to us." 

The team leader rattled off the figures out of habit before realizing—the voice that had asked wasn't familiar. 

He spun around to see a teenage boy smiling sheepishly at him. 

"...I've been a bit short on cash lately. Mind adding some digits to my bank account?" 

The team leader wanted to refuse—until Jolteon beside the boy flared its electrified mane. 

Sweating profusely, he gulped. 

"...N-No problem! Team Rocket has always been a charitable organization, eager to aid the less fortunate. In fact, we just so happen to have a sum of transferred funds... specifically for helping the poor." 

Hearing this, Ryuuske suddenly wondered if Team Rocket was a charity after all. 

First, they handed him Mewtwo. Then, they threw beautiful women his way. Next, they gifted him an Eevee capable of infinite evolution. And now, they were delivering piles of cash straight into his hands. 

Where else in the world could you find such a magnanimous organization?

To be continued…

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