In an underground lair more luxurious than a royal palace, the man known as "The Earthbound Giovanni", the strongest Gym Leader, sat upon an extravagant velvet sofa. Though the base wasn't large, it served as Giovanni's private sanctuary, a secret resting palace far removed from the world above. The opulence of its decor was overwhelming, akin to that of a majestic palace.
In front of Giovanni, several large monitors glowed brightly in the dimness. Shrouded in shadows, he listened silently to reports from his subordinates.
"BOSS, the wtwo Project has completely failed. When our support team reached the lab, there was nothing left but wreckage. The entire island, lab included, was destroyed and sank beneath the sea."
One of the monitors displayed a Rocket Squad Captain delivering the report, sweat dripping down his face. Even though he wasn't in the sa room—just speaking through a screen—he felt a deep, genuine fear. Twenty years of Rocket Team's ambition and ticulous planning had crumbled in a single day. He braced for Giovanni's fury.
But contrary to the expectations of the captain—and even of Blaine—Giovanni did not explode in rage. Instead, he remained eerily calm, his voice steady and slow, yet laced with an indescribable pressure. He sounded just as composed as he always did.
"No… our wtwo Project succeeded. It proved its strength. We simply… lost the result to soone else."
Giovanni's eyes fixated on one corner of the screen, where a video from the support team's arrival played. The footage showed floating debris and remnants of equipnt scattered across the open sea—any trace of the island had vanished from maps entirely.
After watching the video for a few seconds, his gaze shifted to another screen. This one displayed a clip of Blaine fighting within the facility. But Giovanni's interest wasn't on the battle. His focus was on a young boy—commanding wtwo to annihilate the entire Rocket research base without rcy.
"Were any of the docunts recovered?"
Giovanni finally asked.
"Apologies, BOSS. All data was lost. However, the project's lead scientist, Blaine, is still alive. If we can locate him, we may yet retrieve what we need. If wtwo was created once, it can be created again! I've already dispatched teams to find him. As for Professor Oak and the boy… they've returned to Pallet Town. Should we...?"
The Rocket Captain's head was bowed so low, he didn't dare make eye contact even through the screen.
Giovanni didn't imdiately respond. He had paid close attention to the wtwo Project—more than anyone else in Rocket. He understood better than his subordinates just how miraculous and improbable the creation of wtwo had been. He didn't believe they could recreate it. And yet, abandoning twenty years of work wasn't a decision he could take lightly. It was enough to make even him feel a wave of silent frustration.
After a pause, he said:
"Tracking Blaine is essential. Even if not for the data, betrayal of Team Rocket must have consequences. Also, double our efforts in tracing w's whereabouts. If we are to revive the wtwo Project, we'll need more of w's DNA. As for the boy and Professor Oak…"
He paused, lowering his head slightly in thought.
"…keep them under surveillance. Oak's field isn't genetics—his research won't aid our cause much. His status is sensitive, so handle him carefully. That boy, though… he now possesses wtwo. Ordinary trainers won't stand a chance. Sending agents recklessly will only drain our limited manpower. Monitor his movents. When the ti cos, I will dispatch the Three Executives—perhaps even handle it myself. A rookie trainer, even with wtwo, is nothing to fear."
Hearing their boss lay out a plan cald the Captain. He offered a quick salute before ending the call.
Giovanni lingered in silence, then connected to another line.
"How is the other mission progressing?"
"BOSS, we've found Zapdos in an abandoned power plant."
"There are signs of Articuno near the Seafoam Islands."
"Moltres is the easiest to track—we've been monitoring it from Indigo Plateau."
Three voices ca from three screens. Giovanni, his face still hidden in shadow, allowed a small smile to form on his lips.
"Once you find an opportunity, capture them imdiately. I trust the three of you are more than a match for these birds. Our secondary experint… is ready."
"Yes, Boss Giovanni!"
After issuing the orders, Giovanni exhaled slowly to calm his nerves. For the first ti, a hint of hesitation appeared on his stern face. But he moved forward and connected to one final call.
"Any discoveries in the Johto region?"
"We're still searching for Lugia and Ho-Oh. No updates yet."
"Keep looking. If needed, I'll dispatch reinforcents from Kanto. What about our cosmic observation lab there?"
"Since discovering the unidentified teorite, we've been monitoring it. Based on our calculations, it may land in the Hoenn region. If there's any breakthrough, we'll notify you imdiately, BOSS!"
Giovanni fell silent. Once all the reports had ended, the lights in the room slowly brightened, revealing his face at last.
There were very few people Giovanni truly trusted. Maintaining secrecy was a necessity. Far too many in Kanto sought him out—so with questions, others with vengeance. No matter how confident he was, he would never willingly place himself in danger.
Never putting all his eggs in one basket—that was Giovanni's creed. The wtwo Project, while the first and most important, was still just one piece of a much larger vision. He had placed heavy bets in many corners of the world, each part of a grander sche.
As silence returned to the base, Giovanni once again sat alone. A deep sigh escaped his lips. The man known for his cold eyes and ruthless ambition, at this mont, revealed a flicker of humanity. It was as if a distant mory had surfaced—one that still clung to his soul, refusing to fade away.
He may have been evil.
But he was undeniably captivating.
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TN:
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