Matt's words silenced Captain Price, but the gloom on his face was a palpable threat. Ank, naturally, was overjoyed, believing Giovanni was now safe.
Matt had not lied, nor had he co specifically to extract Giovanni from the confrontation. Mada Boss, having been inford that Giovanni's injuries were stable, had sent for him. He pushed open the door to her office and stood guard outside as Giovanni stepped within.
Looking at the woman seated on the sofa, Giovanni inclined his head slightly. "Mother."
"Sit," Mada Boss said, gesturing to a nearby sofa.
"Yes," Giovanni replied, seating himself with a straight back.
Her beautiful eyes swept over Giovanni's bandaged form. "How are your injuries?"
"They are manageable," he replied. "You need not have worried."
"Petrel has many subordinates," Mada Boss said, her voice laced with a hint of helplessness. "Maintaining this organization requires my full attention. I cannot always monitor the actions of useless n, which allows him to exploit such openings."
For Mada Boss to offer such an explanation was, in itself, a significant concession. Giovanni knew how to respond. "I understand. You do not need to concern yourself. The matter between him and will be settled when the ti is right. You need not trouble yourself with it."
Mada Boss looked at her son. Even after a near-death experience, he could restrain his anger and not launch a reckless counter-attack against Petrel. She nodded, satisfied. "You have certainly gained much from this recent excursion."
"Even if I were to do more," Giovanni replied, neither obsequious nor arrogant, "there is nothing I could hide from you."
Team Rocket was still far from its peak, but it was a simple matter for Mada Boss to uncover information if she wished. Her primary goal was to observe Giovanni's thods and, when necessary, eliminate needless complications.
"I am not omniscient," she said. "But the boy you sent into the army cannot rely solely on the goodwill of others. I have had our people in the military look after him."
Giovanni was not surprised. "Thank you for your concern."
"You are truly audacious," she continued, "challenging the Saffron Dojo. I had my people monitor your activities to ensure the Alliance did not discover any... irregularities."
"It was rely to fulfill a promise," Giovanni replied, "and to establish a potential fallback."
"A promise?" Mada Boss mused. "To Katsu's younger brother? You are sentintal— but you must rember, as a leader, emotion is the most useless and dangerous of liabilities."
"I have noted it," Giovanni said.
With just a few inquiries, she knew everything he had done, and she understood his intentions perfectly. "That Psychic boy is your fallback," she stated. "You wish for him to gather other Psychics, to form a specialized team for you— a good idea.
Psychics are ostracized by the mundane world. This will be an opportunity to bind them to the organization."
"Yes," Giovanni echoed. "That was my thought. It is rely that I currently lack the resources to give them the support they require."
Mada Boss waved her hand dismissively. "You need not worry about that."
Giovanni rely nodded. He could not change her mind.
Sensing his silence, she stopped beating around the bush. "I have arranged for resources to be provided to them in your na. I have also inserted so of our own organization's Psychics into their community. You need only appear at the right ti."
Giovanni was stunned. This was tantamount to her actively helping him cultivate his own loyal subordinates. "Thank you."
"We are family she chuckled, exasperated. "There is no need for thanks." She then warned him, "I can help you raise and train these people— but rember, if they should ever beco enemies of the organization, you cannot be soft-hearted."
"I know," Giovanni replied without hesitation. Even without her reminder, he would have done the sa.
She then moved to the most crucial question. "And the children you recruited? I hear you value the one nad Proton."
"They are all promising," he replied. "As for Proton, I am betting he can take the top spot in the assessnt."
"You are confident," she shook her head. "Let us see what you will do if you lose."
"I am." Giovanni stated, clenching his fist.
"Have it your way, you stubborn child." After discussing external matters, it was ti to address the day's events. "The man you killed today did indeed report your movents to Petrel. His actions almost led to your death."
It went without saying. If Nick hadn't been a traitor, Giovanni wouldn't have killed him.
"However," Mada Boss continued, her tone hardening, "even with cause, you still violated the rules by acting unilaterally within the base. You must accept punishnt."
"I understand," Giovanni nodded.
Mada Boss clapped her hands gently. Matt imdiately pushed the door open and entered, kneeling on one knee. "Boss."
She turned her head, announcing Giovanni's punishnt. "Matt will be departing to establish a new base on a remote island. Once your Pokémon have mostly recovered, you will go with him. You will learn from him."
It was a punishnt, but also a move. "It may take so ti," she continued, "but it will be beneficial for your growth. It will also silence those within the organization who would use this incident against you."
Matt remained kneeling, without the slightest objection. Giovanni's strength would be a significant asset on such a mission.
"Good," Giovanni nodded. He saw her true intention. This was an opportunity to beco stronger, faster. While he would be with Matt, the captain would essentially be his tutor.
Among the captains, Matt was the strongest.
To ensure Giovanni had no lingering concerns, Mada Boss added, "You need not worry about your subordinates. I will have people watch over them and assign them to assessnt tasks.
No one will be able to harm them in your absence."
Giovanni no longer had any objections. While it was frad as a punishnt, it was, in reality, a form of compensation. With his Pokémon injured, he was vulnerable.
This secret mission, its location known only to her and Matt, was the safest place for him to be.
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