After that, everyone began reporting to Giovanni about recent events and the progress of the tasks under their responsibility.
Throughout the entire process, Cain simply listened without saying a word, because, in truth, little of it had any direct relation to him.
When everyone withdrew, Cain remained seated in his place.
To be honest, this meeting did not have much to do with Cain. After all, Team Rocket's main focus was still on Kanto. Team Heaven of the Hoenn League had a certain scale, but compared to Team Rocket, it was practically insignificant.
Unless Giovanni decided someday to establish himself in the Hoenn region, he could let Cain do whatever he wanted with Team Heaven, without worrying too much about it.
Moreover, Hoenn, which had previously been riddled with chaos, had finally been purified by the League, and an external force like Team Rocket could not enter so easily.
And for now, Team Rocket was not interested in it either.
"Were you surprised that I called you back?" Giovanni asked with a smile when he saw Cain sitting there in silence.
Cain nodded slightly, with some doubt in his heart.
"I know that the Nishikawa family may have been influenced by the Sacred Church. The Nishikawa patriarch disappeared in Kanto for a long time, and I did not expect him to end up in the Hoenn region looking for trouble with you."
"Although it seems that his appearance did not cause you too much trouble. The speed at which your strength has increased really surprises me. But... very good." Giovanni spoke at length, explaining why Team Rocket had not warned Cain about the sudden attack by the Nishikawa patriarch.
Even if Cain did not care much, he was no longer the same as before; he was no longer someone that a mere officer could crush. Even Koga, the strongest at the previous meeting, showed fear toward him.
The battle between Cain and the Black Messenger of the Sacred Church had been recorded and uploaded to the internet. Although the recording lacked detail, the sky dyed red with sand and the destroyed island were enough to demonstrate his strength.
Most obvious of all: the Black Messenger had been eliminated. Yes, a third combatant intervened when he tried to escape, but that only happened because, after facing Cain, he no longer had even the basic ability to defend himself.
Within Team Rocket, there was no shortage of people who had fought against Black and White Messengers, and Koga had admitted that he did not have confidence in defeating the Black Messenger. And yet, Cain had achieved victory.
Giovanni's style had always been like this: he appeared strict and distant, but in reality he was a leader with a certain humanity.
It was enough to see that even later on, he repeatedly tolerated the blunders of the duo Jessie and James, helping them time and again.
After hearing the explanation, Cain immediately replied, "It's a good thing he came looking for me. Otherwise, I would have gone to look for him. You know I'm easily frightened, so..."
He raised his hands, indicating that he did not take it seriously.
"But, boss... this Sacred Church appeared so suddenly, and with such strength, covering so many regions at once... didn't the League or Team Rocket have any signs beforehand?" Cain asked, voicing the doubt that had been in his mind for a long time.
Upon hearing this, Giovanni's expression became somewhat more serious.
"It's not that there were no signs. In fact, they started showing themselves a long time ago, but back then they were just a small group of unknown psychics. Yes, they drew some attention because all their members were psychics, but later we discovered that it was all just a façade, so they were forgotten."
"I never imagined that when they reappeared, they would be so unfathomable... and moreover, it seems that all of them possess psychic powers that are far from weak. It's a complex problem. That's why the League immediately launched the plan to divide Kanto."
Giovanni paused briefly.
"In truth, they've had this plan for a long time. What was lacking was the right timing. There are too many geniuses in Kanto, even more than you think, but the positions are few, and many end up frustrated."
"Like the Black Messenger you fought—wasn't he a high-ranking commander? There are many like him, and that makes it easy for the Sacred Church to seduce them by exploiting their weaknesses."
"That's why this division of Kanto is an opportunity to give those underutilized talents a way out, and at the same time, to discover who has already been influenced by the Sacred Church."
"It has to be admitted that the old men of the League are capable. The problem is that their vision is too narrow. Their way of governing is outdated, yet they remain stubborn... a bunch of obstinate old men."
In the end, the explanation turned into a biting complaint against the elite of the Pokémon League.
Observing Giovanni's attitude, Cain understood that he had already had contact with those elders, and clearly, he was dissatisfied with the way they managed things.
Could that be related to the creation of Team Rocket itself...?
While Cain was reflecting, Giovanni suddenly looked at him and said, "You grew up within the League, but as a member of Team Rocket you should see more than they do. Now that you're part of the Elite Four... don't you find the League backward?"
The question, suddenly directed at him, caught him off guard, but he could not deny that it resonated with him. As a civilian who had lived two lives, he had seen both the lowest and the highest aspects of the League, and yes, there were many things done wrong.
If that were not the case, it would not have happened that Erick—born into an elitist League family—ended up abandoning it when his own values collapsed.
Pat, pat!
Giovanni stood up and gave Cain a couple of pats on the shoulder.
"You're already a member of the Elite Four. I'm sure you see many things... or are beginning to see them. I want you to keep rising, to see if you can make the League change. If in Hoenn you manage to make the Hoenn League change, then it will mean that the League is not completely rotten."
"But if you reach the very top and still cannot change it... then I will destroy it. I will create a new order."
The determination emanating from Giovanni did not pressure Cain; on the contrary, it caught him by surprise... and awakened a kind of affinity.
Giovanni suddenly smiled.
"We were all young and impulsive once. And I know you have ambitions, you have ideas of your own. In Team Rocket, no one lacks ambition. Hoenn can be your proving ground. That's why I've kept your secret since back then."
"If the current Team Rocket cannot bring down the League... then I will create an even greater force. One day it will be achieved."
"After the storm, the sun always comes out. And when the most beautiful rainbow in the sky appears after the rain... that will be our name: Team Rainbow Rocket."
Team Rainbow Rocket!
Cain's heart trembled.
So the idea had already been born at this very moment!
(End of chapter)