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Saffron City, the premier modern metropolis in the Kanto region.
"The so-called Saffron, meaning the brilliant golden color, makes this metropolis a truly fitting stage for the decisive battle."
On the top floor of the Silph Co. headquarters building, in this luxurious and spacious office, Mammon held an exquisite stemmed glass, sitting comfortably in the President's chair with his legs crossed.
His gaze lazily looked out over the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows, while Terapagos lay on his lap, happily munching on a berry.
"Mammon, why do you have to do this?"
The Silph President sat on the sofa, sighing. He felt like he was truly suffering an undeserved calamity.
In his heart, he cursed his son, Jill Lu Tai, to death. If it weren't for him seeking out Team Rockets, how could Mammon have used that as an excuse to come directly to them?
A rebellious son! Truly a rebellious son!
"Mr. President, I really don't like what you're saying. Don't worry, I will ensure your safety."
Mammon's lips curved slightly upwards as he turned his head and smiled at the Silph President.
"Back then, I also used Devon Corporation's President, Joseph, to lure Champion Steven and the others into battle, and his personal safety was guaranteed."
So, you're not using a company president as bait for the first time?
The Silph President felt his throat go dry.
"I'm not worried about my own safety. It's just that your choice, I believe, is completely meaningless." After swallowing, the Silph President shook his head, stubbornly.
"Shuko has already sent a message; Kanto League personnel have arrived in Saffron City and have completely surrounded the entire city."
"Mammon, this battle, I'm afraid, is already unavoidable."
The Silph President spoke calmly.
"Is that so? Faster than I expected. Caitlin, send out the notification; we'll have a meeting on the tenth floor."
Mammon chuckled softly, placed Teraapagos on the desk, and lazily stood up to stretch.
"Yes." Caitlin nodded.
"The banquet is about to begin; we need to have a pre-battle mobilization. Mr. President, would you like to observe?"
Mammon picked up the coat from the back of the chair and put it on. This was a new coat made for him by the May sisters.
On the left breast of the coat, there was a large golden letter 'R', indicating the wearer's identity.
"I will not participate in your organization's internal meeting." The Silph President politely refused.
"Alright, then you can rest here for a while."
Mammon patted the Silph President's shoulder and left the luxurious President's office with Caitlin.
"Sigh~"
The Silph President looked at the empty room and couldn't help but sit down again with a sigh.
He didn't think about escaping either. Now the entire Silph Co. Building was occupied by Team Rockets, and it would be a miracle if he, an old man with declining health, could escape.
Moreover, although Mammon had taken over his company building and used him as a 'key' to initiate this battle, Mammon still treated him with relative respect.
But the crucial point was, once Team Rockets and the League started fighting, could Mammon truly guarantee his personal safety?
The Silph President knew that the destructive power of powerful Trainers was incredibly astonishing.
He also wondered what the 'senior' Joseph's situation was like when he was a hostage? Never mind.
The Silph President looked at the fruit plate on the coffee table.
Since things have come to this, let's eat something first.
Saffron Gym, Saffron City.
"Champion Giovanni!"
"Hello, Officer Jenny, all residents of Saffron City have been evacuated, right?"
Giovanni, still wearing his signature black suit, asked the Officer Jenny in charge of Saffron City.
"Yes, all citizens were evacuated by 6 PM yesterday. Currently, Saffron City, apart from our official personnel, only has Team Rockets members."
"And according to surveillance, Team Rockets personnel are only active near Silph Co."
The Officer Jenny in charge answered solemnly.
"Good. Where is the Saffron Gym Leader?" Giovanni glanced at the Saffron Gym with a puzzled look.
"…" The Officer Jenny in charge opened her mouth awkwardly but made no sound.
"The Saffron Gym Leader is Sabrina, right? What happened to her?" Lorelei frowned and asked upon seeing this.
"Um, Gym Leader Sabrina, she…" The Officer Jenny in charge pursed her lips, her voice getting softer and softer: "She joined Team Rockets and should also be over at Silph Co. now."
Silence.
Giovanni was silent, and Champion Steven and the other Champions exchanged glances.
Lorelei's mouth twitched, she pushed up her glasses and looked away. What could she say?
Although the Saffron Gym Leader defecting at the last minute was a bit abstract, a Gym Leader was not that significant.
After all, Unova, Kalos, and Alola even had their regional Champions on the other side.
"Let's go into the Gym first and analyze our attack directions."
Giovanni cleared his throat twice, skipping over the slightly awkward topic, and said to everyone.
Everyone entered the Saffron Gym. As the official Gym of Saffron City, the interior of the Gym was naturally quite spacious.
Officer Jenny had someone bring out a projector, which displayed a map on the wall.
"What we currently know is that Team Rockets boss Mammon is definitely in the Silph Co. headquarters building, most likely on the top floor, and the Silph President should be there too."
"Then, the area around Silph Co. has been completely controlled by Team Rockets members, and the interior of Silph Co. must also have Team Rockets Top Executives guarding it."
"So, I suggest we slowly narrow down our attack circle from the outside, first taking control of the area near Silph Co. If we find any Team Rockets Top Executives, that would be best."
Officer Jenny slowly explained the battle strategy.
"Since we suspect the Team Rockets boss is on the top floor of Silph Co., why don't we just go for the king first?"
Blue asked, puzzled. As everyone knows, isn't it best to catch the leader first?
"Because Mammon is very strong." Steven shook his head: "Going for the king is the most mistaken choice."
"I don't understand." Blue spread his hands, looking innocent.
"With all due respect, we have over twenty Champions here. Can't we take down that Mammon by swarming him?"
"I don't believe it!"
Blue felt that these people had something wrong with their heads.
How many Champion-levels do they have here? Over twenty!
Conservatively speaking, 20 vs 1, with an absolute numerical advantage, how could there still be an accident?
If there was still an accident, Blue would eat this projector on the spot!
"Blue, you don't know how terrifying Mammon's strength is. Even with a numerical advantage, it would be very difficult to take down Mammon."
"So, Ms. officer Jenny's plan is correct. We should start with the other Team Rockets Top Executives and then encircle and attack Mammon."
Giovanni said in a deep voice. He knew Blue was young and arrogant, and this was a battle with such a 'great advantage', but was it really an advantageous battle?
Steven and the others understood that the real advantage was with Mammon's side.
"Tsk~" Blue clicked his tongue, but since Giovanni had said so, he could only shrug and acquiesce.
Though arrogant, Blue still respected Giovanni very much, as Giovanni was genuinely very strong.
"Then the battle plan is set: first take down the other Top Executives, and finally gather all combat power to encircle Mammon!"
After another ten minutes of discussion, Giovanni finalized the battle plan.
"If Mammon enters the battle early, I, Lance, and Steven, the three of us will go to confront Mammon and buy time."
Giovanni continued, as they also had to consider unexpected situations, such as Mammon making an early move.
Steven and Lance nodded, having no objections.
"Good! Then let's go!"
…
Silph Co., tenth floor. There was a huge conference room here.
"Gentlemen, the wind has risen."
Mammon stood at the head of the table, smiling as he looked at everyone seated before him.
"The League has dispatched a large force outside, preparing. According to intelligence, the Champion-level Trainers gathered by the League this time number over twenty."
Mammon's clear voice reached everyone's ears, causing many to show slight changes in their expressions.
Over twenty Champion-levels?!
Some were shocked, some worried, but some were also excited.
"Well~ This is truly, they want to crush us all at once."
Karen leaned back in her chair, her smile wicked and flamboyant.
"They've put in a lot of effort." Colress lightly moved his fingers, chuckling twice.
"No problem! No matter how many people come, I'll take them on!"
Rosa's fighting spirit was very high. She slammed the table, full of vigor.
"You'll take on a hammer, listen to Mammon finish first."
Hilda pulled Rosa down, glaring at her disapprovingly. This woman was truly a show-off.
"Yes, Colress is right, the League is serious this time. They have gathered all the current combat power from all regions."
"But what I want to say is…"
Mammon's lips slowly curved upwards, his smile gradually becoming wild.
"Even if the opponent is strong, the advantage is still ours!"
"Gentlemen, no need to hesitate, no need to waver, I stand behind you!"
"As long as we exert our full strength, believe me, the ultimate victor of this battle will surely be our Team Rockets!"
Mammon's arrogant words echoed clearly in the conference room.
"Team Rockets will not be defeated, not now, and not in the future!"
"Before us! There are no rivals!"
Holy crap! So handsome!!
Selene's eyes almost sparkled like little stars as she looked at the young man in the coat at the very front.
My man is just so handsome!
Caitlin, Rosa, Platinum, and the other girls also felt their hearts racing at this moment.
And Ash, Hop, and other men also felt their blood boil, as such a passionate and confident declaration was truly too inspiring.
"Then I will set a wartime rule: capturing one Champion-level Trainer earns 20,000 Merits, and a regional Champion earns 30,000."
Seeing that everyone's morale had been boosted, Mammon smiled and raised a finger.
"Lance, Steven, either one of them + 50,000."
"Kanto Champion Giovanni, if he can be captured, Merits + 100,000!"
Wow~
Upon hearing this, exclamations from many people rang out in the conference room.
And Selene and others, who knew Mammon's relationship with Giovanni, now looked strange. Was Uncle Giovanni also on the bounty list?
Oh, he's the Kanto Champion, so no problem then.
And a regional Champion actually gets so much more Merits than a regular Champion-level.
Selene and the others exchanged glances and quickly determined their general target. Capturing a Champion, just thinking about it was amazing!
But indeed, it was very tempting!
"Then, gentlemen, let's have one last toast, for this battle…"
Mammon raised the stemmed glass on the conference table.
"To the triumphant song of victory~!"
We… will not lose!
"For Team Rockets!"
Not far outside Silph Co., the League personnel led by Giovanni stopped and set up a temporary command tent.
"Then, according to the plan, launch attacks simultaneously from four directions."
Giovanni pressed the communicator and sent out the signal.
All forces attack!