Ash's Pokémon Travel Has Big Problems

Both Rika and the chubby manager felt that Ash's words were practically a provocation to Giovanni.

Where the hell did you get the nerve to talk to Sakaki like that?

I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die... I'm going to die!

"So it's not a question of whether or not we dare to."

"You detained my Pokémon, so I have to stand here."

"This is a trainer's most basic responsibility, regardless of who the opponent is."

"That's all."

After Ash finished speaking, he looked at Giovanni.

Power and responsibility are inseparable.

His words were like a pebble thrown into a stagnant pool... they didn't create ripples, but instead highlighted a deeper stillness.

"!" Lijia felt her heart almost leap out of her chest.

She instinctively reached out to pull Xiaozhi back behind her; the boy had no idea what kind of being he was facing.

Giovanni is not a typical gym leader like Lt. Surge, nor is he a PC that can be challenged at will in the game.

He is a behemoth lurking in the shadows of Kanto, a ruthless figure whom even the Alliance must treat with caution.

Both their strength and influence are extremely terrifying.

Dojo master is a title, not a specific level of strength... Giovanni is one of those who is seriously beyond the level.

If you anger him, the consequences will be unimaginable.

Rika was already rapidly calculating in her mind whether she could teleport Ash out before Giovanni made his move.

Even if the price is that I have to stay behind and deal with the situation...

I might die here, but that's the duty of a gym leader.

You have to do as much as you're entitled to, even if it means risking your life.

This isn't a question of whether it's worth it or not.

It is something that must be done.

The slightly overweight manager had completely collapsed to the ground, snot and tears streaming down his face, but dared not utter a single sob.

This is the majesty of Sakaki.

Especially since Rika has been keeping an eye on the arcade, they haven't been able to take any action... The original person in charge has already been dealt with by Sakaki.

Weakness is not a reason for hesitation or shirking responsibility.

The slightly overweight manager felt doomed when he thought about what happened to his boss.

However, the expected thunderous wrath did not come.

Sakaki remained seated comfortably in that high-backed chair.

His deep gaze fell on Ash, but there was no anger, no mockery, and not even any obvious emotional fluctuation in his eyes.

The former Giovanni was not a shadowy tycoon.

Sakaki was once just an insect-catching boy in the Viridian Forest.

At that time, he even possessed the power of Tokiwa.

Unfortunately, things have changed.

I am no longer who I used to be; I've even lost the power of Eternal Life.

—How melancholy!

—Yes, that's how I was back then.

Giovanni seemed to be looking through Satoshi's young and determined face at something distant—himself from the past.

The pressure in the room did not lessen; instead, it intensified because of the silence.

Like dark clouds gathering before a storm, a devastating thunderstorm could strike at any moment.

Time passes by minute by minute, and every second seems as long as a century.

“…” Rika’s palms were sweating; she had prepared for the worst.

Just then, Sakaki's face twitched almost imperceptibly.

His gaze seemed to drift for a moment, past Xiaozhi, past the room in front of him, and into some unknown time and space.

He recalled many years ago, when he was far from having the power he had today.

Back then, he was just like the boy before him, harboring seemingly unrealistic dreams, facing opponents far stronger than himself, and moving forward step by step with an indomitable courage and unwavering belief.

He is just a bug-catching boy, embarking on a journey with his initial companion, Big Needle.

"Time flies..." Sakaki suddenly chuckled.

Weakness is not a reason to hesitate, so even knowing the danger, we must face it head-on.

—Face the crisis head-on, and do not fear death; use this to spur yourself on.

—A sense of crisis...is my driving force.

He recalled his first encounter with the now legendary Great Snow City.

Back then, I had just taken over the Rockets team and stood fearlessly in front of them.

Even if there is a huge disparity in strength, they will never lower their proud heads.

"Ah……"

A very soft, almost inaudible sneer escaped from Sakaki's throat.

The sound broke the silence, but it made Lijia's heart clench even tighter.

That soft laugh acted as a fuse, igniting an even more intense reaction.

"Ha ha……"

"Hahaha……"

Sakaki actually laughed.

At first, it was a low, suppressed laugh, as if it came from the chest.

But soon, the laughter became loud, cheerful, and even tinged with a hint of appreciation.

"Yes, that's it."

"This is what I want to see."

The laughter echoed in the oppressive room, sounding so abrupt and eerie, completely out of place with the previous tense atmosphere.

The manager turned pale with fright, thinking that his boss was about to lose his temper.

Lijia was completely stunned.

She had never seen or imagined that Sakaki would laugh like that.

Sakaki usually appears very serious.

Just like his nickname—Sakaki of the Earth.

The Pokémon that Giovanni used were mainly Ground-type.

Interestingly, however, Giovanni's ace is Beedrill.

"Interesting...really interesting!"

Sakaki stopped laughing.

Sharp gaze, keen eyes.

His gaze refocused on Ash.

There was indeed a hint of undisguised admiration in his gaze.

Sakaki thought of something interesting.

That was something he acquired when he was young.

He was once a boy with the power of Tokiwa.

He was the chosen one of his time... only he abandoned that identity himself.

"It's been a long time... a very long time since I've met such an interesting young person as you."

Sakaki leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.

He crossed his hands and rested them on his chin, like a certain Commander Ikari.

This posture lacked some of the absolute authority it had before, but gained more of a casualness in conversation. However, this casualness only highlighted its control.

"Responsibility has nothing to do with who the opponent is."

Giovanni repeated Satoshi's words, as if savoring their meaning.

"A very pure idea, so pure it's almost blinding."

The image of my former self appears somewhat blurred in the light of memory.

I can no longer clearly see my former self.

Although Giovanni is currently developing Team Rocket.

However, when he was offered the role of head coach of the Rockets, he actually wanted to refuse.

I have changed.

Looking at Ash in front of him, Giovanni realized this even more clearly.

It was precisely because he changed that he lost the power of eternal life.

Sakaki's tone was calm, yet it carried an overbearing air of standing above all living beings.

The Rockets' niche is the shadow of the Kanto League.

The establishment of the Kanto League was not achieved overnight.

Although theoretically it was Ooki Yukijo who led the strong to establish it.

But in reality, those with lofty ideals are all too virtuous and righteous, while someone always has to do the dirty work behind the scenes—that's the environment that allows the Rockets to thrive.

There are always some fools who don't want to see the alliance formed, aren't there?

"That old man, Da Mu, seems to have discovered a promising talent."

"No, perhaps it wasn't discovered by him, but rather that you already possess this trait."

Giovanni's gaze seemed to penetrate people's hearts, and he increasingly felt that Satoshi in front of him was just like himself in the past.

"Too many people in this world forget their original intentions in the face of power and bend their spines in the face of authority."

"They calculate the gains and losses, weigh the pros and cons, but forget why they started in the first place."

He seemed to be talking to Ash, but it also seemed like he was talking to himself.

"Hold onto that purity, kid."

Even if it seems silly, naive, or even brings you countless dangers and setbacks... it is precisely this kind of thing that has the potential to create a real 'miracle'.

He paused, his tone becoming deep and meaningful.

Giovanni once chose the path of darkness... but what if Ash were to embark on the path of light?

"I hope you can keep going like this."

"I'm really looking forward to seeing how far you can go in the end."

These words were completely unexpected by Rika and Ash.

What was imagined as conflict and crisis has unexpectedly turned into...encouragement from Team Rocket's leader to a young trainer?

This strange development made Rika even more wary; she didn't believe that Sakaki would be so kind.

Xiao Zhi was also stunned. He had anticipated all sorts of possibilities, but he never expected such a response.

He could sense that not all of Sakaki's words were insincere; his admiration seemed genuine.