I am Giovanni

Chapter 73: Grim Reality

When the Golduck easily defeated the Onix, a hint of envy appeared in Yamaguchi's eyes, but it quickly vanished. He fawned over Gale. "You are truly skilled, my lord. As expected of you."

Gale, however, was indifferent. "It's just a wild Pokémon. Nothing to boast about." He then looked towards Arui's location, taking out a piece of paper with the boy's information on it. After carefully comparing it, he asked Yamaguchi, "Is this him?"

"Yes, it's him," Yamaguchi nodded repeatedly. "Lord Ank, that traitor, told me to protect him, wanting to control him after he became the successor. Little did he know that his every move couldn't escape Lord Petrel's notice."

Gale lightly tore up the data. "That man won't live much longer. He's only useful for now."

On the other side, Arui, seeing the Onix defeated, felt the stone that had been weighing on his heart finally fall. He struggled to his feet, letting out a heavy sigh.

He hadn't heard what Gale and Yamaguchi had just said, but seeing Gale in a Team Rocket uniform, he thanked him.

"Thank you. I, Arui, will remember what happened today and will definitely return the favor in the future." He was much more restrained now, not daring to argue with Yamaguchi, but deep in his eyes, there was still extreme resentment.

If he found an opportunity, he would take fierce revenge.

However, he quickly saw the mockery in Yamaguchi's eyes. "Save you?" Yamaguchi sneered. "You pathetic kid. You're really dreaming."

Arui suddenly felt a sense of unease, his hand unconsciously gripping the Poké Ball at his waist— but then, he felt his head spin, and a sharp pain shot through his neck.

The feeling of his hand on the Poké Ball disappeared as his entire body went numb. He saw the Golduck shaking blood from its claws. He saw a familiar headless body lying twisted on the ground, blood gushing from its neck.

Finally, there was endless darkness.

Arui died just like that, an abrupt and insignificant death. He had been one of Giovanni's main competitors, someone who had a chance to become the leader of Team Rocket— but this is the reality of a dark world.

No matter who it is, if their luck is not good enough, a slight misstep can send them plummeting into an abyss, never to recover. Arui just didn't have enough luck and enough strength.

He fell on this unfinished path. And even if he had survived, with his personality, he would only have been a pawn in Ank's hands.

The Golduck spat, cleaning the blood from its paw. It then picked up the Poké Ball from Arui's corpse and quickly walked up to Gale, handing it to him. Under Yamaguchi's envious gaze, Gale locked Arui's Wartortle's Poké Ball and placed it at his waist.

"Starter Pokémon are not something these kids can control."

Though Yamaguchi was envious, he knew what to touch and what not to touch. He chuckled awkwardly. "Yes, Lord Gale, you are absolutely right. A starter would only be wasted in the hands of a kid like that. Only you can bring out its true potential."

Gale chuckled twice, his eyes narrowing. "You did very well this time. Killing this kid is partly your credit."

"My lord, what are you saying?" Yamaguchi quickly waved his hand. "It was all your doing. If it weren't for you, I would have died in the mouth of that Onix just now."

"You are truly a clever person," Gale laughed heartily, his narrowed eyes growing colder. "And your words are pleasant to hear. You have a boundless future."

"That all depends on your and Lord Petrel's patronage," Yamaguchi said, lowering his head. He suddenly thought of Giovanni. That was also a merit. "Oh, by the way, Lord Gale," he said quickly, "that kid named Giovanni is also in this operation. That Onix just now was his doing; I was almost ambushed by that kid."

Gale's eyes flickered. "Is that so? This is truly a great achievement. So that kid is deeper in the forest?"

"Yes!" Yamaguchi said, eager to show off. "I'll take you."

"No need to trouble yourself," Gale shook his head. The Magneton beside him floated slightly forward, looking at Yamaguchi mockingly.

"Lord Gale," Yamaguchi said, taking two steps back, his voice suddenly flustered. "What does this mean?"

Gale grinned, revealing a row of white teeth. "You are too smart. You make me feel a little threatened."

Yamaguchi's eyelids twitched incessantly. He still hoped to change Gale's mind. "My lord, what are you saying? We all serve Lord Petrel. There's no threat. You will definitely be his right-hand man in the future. I'm just a mere pawn. Lord Petrel cherishes his subordinates, haven't you forgotten?"

But Gale had no intention of changing his mind. "Have you never considered," he said, aiming to pierce his heart, "that without Lord Petrel's tacit approval, would I dare to kill you?"

Yamaguchi was stunned, disbelieving. "Impossible. Lord Petrel... No, why?"

"Fool," Gale chuckled, pointing to Arui's corpse. "Someone always has to take the blame. And you are the chosen one. From the very beginning, you were destined to die. Then the Boss's wrath will shift to that good-for-nothing Ank."

"I can smear Ank!" Yamaguchi shouted hastily. "I can do it!"

"No," Gale shook his head. "You have to understand, no one can lie in front of the Boss. Only the dead can conceal the truth."

Yamaguchi's face turned ashen. He knew he was finished. He was just extremely unwilling. He had thought that by latching onto a powerful figure, he finally had a chance to climb to that coveted position— but in the end, after taking such a big risk, all he got was death.

"I refuse!"

Boom!

A flash of lightning, and all that remained of Yamaguchi's location was a scorched patch. His body was scattered, a pile of charcoal. His Sandslash was also captured by Gale. It would likely be sold along with the others.

Gale recalled his Golduck, lightly jumped, and stepped onto his Magneton. Following the path where the Onix had come from, he commanded his Magneton to fly quickly over.