I am Giovanni

Chapter 72: An Uninvited Guest

Giovanni saw through the Meowth's little thoughts. He didn't know what it was worried about, but he was determined to have it. He had just opened his mouth to say, "Go, Beedrill—" when the Meowth let out a sharp, warning hiss, not at him, but at something behind him.

Giovanni's eyelids twitched. He and his Pokémon instantly spun around.

The first thing he saw was a Magneton, radiating a terrifying aura. On top of it stood a gaunt middle-aged man. He looked at Giovanni and his Beedrill, then took two pieces of paper from his pocket. He compared one to Giovanni's face, then grinned.

"That brat Arui and that good-for-nothing Yamaguchi didn't lie," he said, his voice a low rasp. "It really is you. To find two of you at once... my luck is truly too good." He spoke lightly, but his words were full of malice. What was most interesting was that this man was wearing a Team Rocket uniform.

He casually tore up the paper with Giovanni's information on it. "Nice to meet you, Lord Giovanni," he grinned. "My name is Gale. I am here on orders to take your life."

Malice, accompanied by a potent killing intent, rushed towards Giovanni. He looked at the man and his Magneton, and under the crushing pressure, the heart in his chest began to pound uncontrollably. His pupils constricted.

"Run!" was the only word that escaped his mouth.

He, his Pokémon, and even the Meowth immediately turned and fled deeper into the forest.

Gale chuckled, not at all concerned. "Run? I'd like to see where you can run to." The Magneton floated slightly, its aura rising. It was a Gym Leader-level Pokémon.

Crackle! Crackle!

Electric energy surged around the Magneton, forming flashing arcs. Waves of electromagnetic energy spread out— Thunder Wave. The arcs on its body converged, finally forming a huge, crackling bolt of lightning.

BOOM!

A powerful Thunderbolt was released. It slammed into the ground, tearing a trench in the earth as it raced towards the fleeing group— a huge sense of crisis washed over Giovanni.

He kept pressing the signal device on his wrist, not to call Archer to his death, but to alert him that something had gone terribly wrong deep in the forest— but he pressed for a long time without any effect. The electromagnetic waves from the Thunder Wave had affected the magnetic field, rendering the device useless.

Those two bastards... Giovanni cursed Arui and Yamaguchi silently. From Gale's words and the Onix's silence, it was clear they were already gone. This Gale was truly bold. The attacks from Mondo and his squad had just been appetizers. The real feast was here.

Petrel is truly insidious. Only he could command a subordinate of this strength to assassinate a candidate. He had looked down on them, but secretly, he still wanted them dead. To believe the one-sided words of a villain like him would lead to a death without a burial place.

— — —

A moment ago, while Giovanni was exploring the Onix's lair, Arui and Yamaguchi were being chased, fleeing for their lives.

"You bastard!" Arui shrieked, covered in sweat. "You go stop it! Where's your Sandslash?! It's fine if you die, but I can't!"

Yamaguchi gave Arui a cold look. "Shut up. If you don't want me to kill you right now, then shut your stinky mouth. What do you think you are?"

Arui was stunned. Yamaguchi, who usually obeyed him, had suddenly changed his attitude. In terms of raw strength, he was inferior to the squad leader, so he didn't dare to act rashly. "Aren't you afraid I'll complain to Lord Ank?!" he threatened.

"Complain?" Yamaguchi scoffed. He's still just a child. He saw his Sandslash in the distance and no longer showed any respect. "You'd better survive first," he said coldly. Under Arui's disbelieving gaze, he kicked him to the ground.

He then quickly ran to his Sandslash's side. "How is it? Where is he?"

The Sandslash shivered and looked up at the sky. Yamaguchi followed its gaze and saw the slowly descending Magneton, and Gale on top of it.

"Lord Gale!" he said excitedly. "You made the trip yourself!"

The Magneton descended, and the Onix, which had been chasing them, stopped with some apprehension. Arui, not far in front of it, was lucky enough to live a little longer.

The Onix seemed to remember that it was immune to Electric-type moves. Why can't I fight? Gym Leader-level? It's not like I can't try! It roared and was about to continue its charge.

"Foolish." Gale said, throwing out another Poké Ball. "Do you really think I wouldn't bring a Water-type?" A Golduck emerged, an outstanding senior-level Pokémon. "Finish it," Gale commanded. "Golduck, use Hydro Pump!"

The Onix sensed something was wrong and frantically tried to escape by digging a hole— but the Golduck was too fast. It puffed out its cheeks and sprayed a huge, rapid jet of water.

When it hit the Onix, the massive rock snake let out a shrill scream. If it hadn't regularly eaten stones infused with the energy of the Metal Coat, that one move might have finished it.

However, this wasn't a turn-based game. The Golduck's next attack followed closely: Aqua Jet.

BOOM!

The Onix's massive body crashed to the ground with a wail, its eyes spiraling.

"A senior-level one should fetch a good price," Gale said, ever the thrifty poacher. He raised his hand and threw a Poké Ball, easily capturing the unconscious Onix.