When dusk began to fall, Matisse, who had gone out to purchase supplies, finally returned. Under the expectant gazes of the young boys, he grinned and blew a breath towards them, confirming there was no scent of alcohol.
"How about it?" he smiled. "I said I wouldn't drink, and I didn't, right?"
"Great!" the boys cheered— but an alcohol addiction is not so easily quit. For now, he was only holding on because of his bet with Giovanni. He suppressed his craving vices and —with a forced smile— said, "Get ready to depart! Our voyage is about to begin!"
"Yes, Captain!" the boys replied happily.
Sensing soone watching him, Matisse looked ahead. At the very front of the ship's cabin, Giovanni stood, quietly observing him.
For so reason, Giovanni's ink-black eyes made Matisse a little afraid. Only after he had truly sobered up did he realize that this boy was sowhat mysterious; the faint killing intent and profound aura about him were not sothing an ordinary trainer possessed.
He could feel the imnse sense of threat Giovanni posed. What kind of person is he, exactly? Matisse wondered. Although he felt flustered, it seed they now had no chance to get off this pirate ship. As a forr soldier, he could still discern that if they dared to refuse, they would surely die without a burial place.
He could only force a smile and nod to Giovanni— but then, Giovanni began to approach him.
"You seem quite nervous," Giovanni said calmly, looking at Matisse, who had clearly taken two steps back.
Upon hearing this, Matisse's chest montarily tightened. He felt as if Giovanni's eyes had scanned him from head to toe. "How could that be?" he said quickly, a drop of sweat trickling down his forehead. "I'm just a bit hot, that's all."
However with the sea at night, the cold wind was quite chilly.
"Why at night? I heard that the S.S. Anne also departs at night." Giovanni said, not pressing him further.
"You noticed?" Matisse sighed.
"You intend to follow behind their route, don't you?" Giovanni stated.
"Yes," Matisse nodded. "Their ship is very large, and they have many capable sailors and trainers. The wild Pokémon in the sea won't attack them. Only this way can we ensure our safety."
Giovanni was not displeased by his opportunism; instead, he found it quite normal. If one lacked strength, then one should use thods that did not require strength.
As long as the goal could be achieved, it didn't matter if it involved unscrupulous or insidious ans.
"If it were the of yesteryear, it would be fine," Matisse said with a bitter laugh, "but now I truly can only rely on others."
"It doesn't matter," Giovanni waved his hand dismissively. "As long as we can safely reach Vermilion City, none of this is a problem."
"Thank you for your understanding," Matisse said, slightly surprised.
Giovanni walked to the bow of the ship, looking at the moonlit sea. "How will this journey unfold?"
— — —
Two hours passed. The cruise ship's horn echoed across the sea as the S.S. Anne sailed forward, its dazzling lights illuminating the water. This was the confidence of a large cruise ship; the number of trainers hired on board was countless, and the expensive ship also had the capability to withstand attacks from quasi-Elite Four level Pokémon.
On the Golden Beauty, Matisse loudly called out, "Get ready to set sail!"
Hearing the commotion, Giovanni, along with Archer and Mars, also ca up. Looking at their small boat, which only dared to move in the dark, he smiled helplessly.
How is this any different from Team Rocket's situation? One can only say that no one should laugh at anyone else.
After coming up, Giovanni glanced at two n and one woman who had also erged from the ship's cabin. He could sense everything on a ship this small.
When the three of them saw Giovanni and Archer, their eyes clearly held aning. Giovanni and Archer's auras were still very strong; anyone who had killed before could sense the danger from them.
The three exchanged glances, communicating. They clearly had ill intentions.
In response, Giovanni rely smiled coldly. He didn't care what they wanted to do— but if they dared to do sothing stupid, then they shouldn't bla him for being rciless.
"Boss," Archer said, bowing, "these three are a bit strange." Though he didn't have Giovanni's power, he was a soldier. He had noticed sothing was amiss.
"I can see it," Giovanni replied casually. "Looking at how they've been observing the S.S. Anne, they're probably setting their sights on it. They look a bit like pirates, scouting."
He glanced at Matisse, Surge, and the others. "It seems soone exaggerated their own importance, which is why these guys are targeting them."
"Do you need to go and deal with them?" Archer asked, lowering his head.
"No hurry," Giovanni waved his hand indifferently. "Let's observe first." He then asked them, "Did you catch the Water-type Pokémon I asked for?"
"We caught them," Archer and Mars nodded. "Nine in total. Even if this Golden Beauty sinks, it won't matter." As ntioned before, Giovanni would not entrust his safety to others again. Taking precautions was necessary.
"Well done," he praised them briefly.
The eerie aura of the two groups on the ship, like two terrifying Pokémon, constantly disturbed Matisse. Sweat dripped from his forehead, a bitterness he couldn't express.
The young boys in his crew, however, still didn't know how much trouble they were in. Each of them was still happy that they had found so many passengers— but the truth was, if they weren't careful, they might be completely wiped out.
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