Team Rocket's Second-in-Command!-Chapter 333: Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! []

Giovanni's speech left everyone at the meeting in a daze.

Some wanted to question the validity of his statements, but most of the information he shared was publicly accessible.

As for the rest, they could be confirmed by contacting the Kanto League.

In terms of credibility, Giovanni's words were indisputable.

However, if Team Rocket truly operated as Giovanni described, did this mean the Hoenn region had no choice but to lie flat and accept their invasion?

Giovanni scanned the room, satisfied to see everyone deep in thought, and finally took his seat.

At the head of the table, Steven found himself at a loss.

All he'd done was invite Giovanni to give a brief talk, yet it had upended the entire meeting. Looking at the distracted attendees, Steven didn't know how to proceed.

But the meeting had to go on, and as the host, he forced himself to continue.

Despite Steven's efforts to steer the discussion back to the agenda, Giovanni's revelations had been too shocking.

Everyone was preoccupied, contemplating how to deal with Team Rocket's presence in Hoenn.

In the end, the meeting concluded hastily.

---

After the meeting

Steven approached Giovanni and Luo Yuan, who were packing up their things.

"Mr. Giovanni, about what you said during the meeting..." Steven hesitated.

He wanted to complain, but Giovanni had traveled all this way to help Hoenn fend off Groudon and Kyogre. It didn't feel right to voice his grievances.

Giovanni, noticing Steven's somewhat resentful expression, offered an apologetic smile.

"I must apologize. I should have phrased things more delicately. My bluntness disrupted the meeting—I'm terribly sorry for that."

Luo Yuan, standing nearby, couldn't help but marvel at Giovanni's performance. His boss's acting skills were truly Oscar-worthy.

As Team Rocket's second-in-command, Luo Yuan would never believe that Giovanni's remarks hadn't been deliberate.

But Steven had no idea.

Believing Giovanni's bluntness to be unintentional, Steven's resentment subsided significantly.

Shifting the topic, Steven asked, "Mr. Giovanni, is Team Rocket really as you described?"

His primary reason for seeking Giovanni out wasn't to complain but to verify the information shared during the meeting.

If it were true, he needed to prepare in advance.

"Not entirely," Giovanni admitted after a brief pause, bringing Steven some relief.

In his mind, Steven began to imagine that Giovanni had exaggerated Team Rocket's threat to make Hoenn take them seriously.

However, Giovanni's next words made Steven's heart sink.

"In fact, I left out some key details about Team Rocket during the meeting," Giovanni continued.

"What I'm about to share comes from unofficial sources and hasn't been verified. I can't guarantee its accuracy, and I ask that Champion Steven keeps it confidential."

"Go ahead." Steven's unease grew with every word of Giovanni's disclaimer.

"Did you notice the Pokémon known as Mewtwo that appeared alongside the 'Tech Hunter' in Sootopolis City?" Giovanni asked.

"Of course!"

Ever since that battle, the Hoenn League, led by Professor Birch and a team of Pokémon researchers, had been analyzing footage of the three Legendary Pokémon used by the Tech Hunter.

Mewtwo's ability to face Groudon head-on had left them all astounded.

After consulting with Professor Oak, Birch concluded that Mewtwo's power was second only to Rayquaza.

"According to my sources," Giovanni continued, "that Mewtwo might have been created by Team Rocket using genetic engineering, reverse-engineered from Mew's DNA fragments."

The simple statement sent shockwaves through Steven.

"A man-made Legendary Pokémon..."

Steven, as Champion, knew exactly what that meant.

While the Hoenn League was still lamenting their failed attempt to control Rayquaza, and while Team Magma and Team Aqua were scheming to awaken Groudon and Kyogre, Team Rocket had already created their own Legendary Pokémon.

This revelation placed Team Rocket on a completely different level from the rest of them.

At that moment, Steven finally understood why the Kanto League had chosen to surrender in the face of Team Rocket.

Forget resisting Team Rocket—he now wanted to lie down and give up entirely.

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"This is... this is..." Steven was at a loss for words.

Leaving behind a mentally overwhelmed Steven, Giovanni and Luo Yuan exited the Hoenn Pokémon Association headquarters.

Their mission as League Champions had officially ended.

---

After reuniting with Matori, Luo Yuan recounted the events of the meeting.

Even with her usual stern demeanor, Matori struggled to suppress her laughter.

"So, what will the Hoenn League do?" Matori asked.

"If they could just stop resisting, that would be ideal," Luo Yuan replied.

"Don't be ridiculous. Lying down isn't an option for them. The Hoenn League is an officially recognized regional organization of the League, not some backwater like the Orange Islands," Luo Yuan explained.

While Hoenn had suffered severe economic losses, their overall strength remained intact.

"However, after Giovanni's revelation about Mewtwo, as long as we don't provoke them, they probably won't dare challenge us," Luo Yuan added.

From Steven's reaction, it was clear he wouldn't move against Team Rocket anytime soon.

Truthfully, this was partly Luo Yuan's fault.

Unlike their covert infiltration of Kalos, where Team Rocket had quietly absorbed Team Flare, this time, their operation had been brazenly high-profile.

Luo Yuan's declaration in Sootopolis City had undoubtedly boosted Team Rocket's prestige, but it had also trampled all over the Hoenn League's dignity.

If not for the overwhelming display of power Luo Yuan had shown in Sootopolis, Steven would have already led a team to attack Team Rocket instead of holding a discussion.

The League's restraint was already a significant concession.

"So, what's next?" Matori asked. She was accustomed to consulting Luo Yuan on such matters.

These days, Giovanni typically relayed his instructions through Luo Yuan, leaving Matori to communicate with him directly. Their close relationship was no secret.

"I feel more like Luo Yuan's secretary than Giovanni's," Matori often complained.

"Giovanni will return to Kanto to handle internal affairs," Luo Yuan said. "But I still have one more task to complete in Hoenn...

"...Finding Celebi!"