Saffron City.
Lucas and his two companions strode openly into the Silph Co. building. Apart from Green, who wore a disguise, neither Lucas nor Marnie made any effort to conceal themselves.
"He's here! That's the Rocket executive!"
Outside the front gate, a pair of plainclothes police officers who had been on watch stiffened. One of them quickly muttered to his partner, voice low but tense.
"There's no mistake about it. That man is the strongest Team Rocket executive—Lucas Blackthorn and also a legendary Trainer. I can't believe he's actually here…"
Another officer standing by the door muttered softly in disbelief.
"Report it immediately. This information is crucial."
"Lucas, there were two rats watching near the entrance just now."
As soon as they stepped into the Silph Co. building and entered the elevator, Green leaned in slightly and warned Lucas in a low voice.
Reconnaissance and counter-surveilProton had always been her specialty. Though the two officers outside had concealed themselves well, her sharp eyes still caught them.
"Don't worry about them. Let them keep squatting there," Lucas replied casually, his tone calm, as if those spies didn't exist at all.
Green frowned slightly. "Are you really going to go to war with the League? That old man—will he really agree to you tying yourself to Team Rocket like this?"
Her question carried hesitation and unease.
Green knew what was about to unfold in Saffron City, the tension brewing beneath its calm surface. The League and Team Rocket were on the verge of all-out war.
If this had been in the past, Green would've been secretly pleased. She never had any sympathy for criminal organizations.
But this time… it was different.
Because on Team Rocket's side—was Lucas.
And even Karen had joined them, becoming one of their key figures.
"Of course. Isn't that what makes it interesting?" Lucas's lips curved into a faint smile.
"And don't misunderstand, Green. We might be our teacher's students, but once we grew up, the teacher stopped interfering in our choices."
As he said this, Lucas gave her a sidelong gProton filled with disdain, a look so sharp that Green's eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
"So yes—you really are stupid, you know that? With your talent, if you had just followed the teacher properly, you could've easily surpassed Karen by now. But instead, you're still just a small fry."
He exhaled lightly, adding in a flat tone, "And if you want to find your parents, the teacher would never stop you."
Green's face darkened to the color of charcoal.
Yet, despite the insult, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of relief because in his own twisted way, Lucas had acknowledged her talent.
His words might sting, but she didn't take them to heart.
After all, her reason for defecting from the Masked Organization had nothing to do with their rules or hierarchies, it was because their leader had separated her from her parents for ten long years.
Still…
It really brings back memories… Green thought with a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Yes, this was the Lucas she remembered. The one who called everyone "idiot," "fool," and "small fry" with that cold, arrogant smirk.
It had been a long time since she'd felt that familiar mix of irritation and nostalgia.
These days, Lucas wasn't as sharp-tongued or prideful as before. He'd mellowed, become more composed, more gentlemanly—something Green actually preferred.
Once in a while, his venomous remarks were tolerable. But if she had to endure them every day, she'd probably lose her mind just like in the old days.
…
Ding— the elevator doors slid open at the top floor.
"Mr. Lucas."
A neatly dressed young man with green hair immediately approached and bowed respectfully.
Lucas blinked, looking him over carefully before recognition flickered in his eyes.
"Hmm? Proton, is that you? You've gotten even more handsome since I last saw you."
It was Proton, one of Team Rocket's Four Generals.
Before Lucas joined, Proton had been the team's undisputed face. His striking features and sharp gaze could even rival N's charm.
Team Rocket was full of sinister-looking people—Archer, Ariana, Petrel all pale-skinned and shadow-eyed. Even Giovanni himself had that aura of menace.
But Proton? He was an anomaly, so strikingly handsome that in Lucas's past life, he'd have easily been an idol.
"Please don't tease me, Mr. Lucas," Proton said with a bitter smile. "The boss is waiting for you inside."
Lucas chuckled, patted him on the shoulder, and led Green and Marnie toward the office.
Once they were gone, Proton stood frozen for a moment before slowly taking out a small mirror from his pocket.
"Just as I thought… even Mr. Lucas recognizes my looks," he murmured dramatically. Pulling out a comb, he brushed back his perfect hair with a sigh.
"My charm truly knows no bounds…"
…
Inside Giovanni's Office
"Well, well~ everyone's here for once. That's a first," Lucas said lightly as he pushed open the door and entered.
Inside sat Archer, Ariana, Petrel, Sabrina, Lt. Surge, and Koga.
Across the room, Karen was sitting gracefully on a sofa, casually filing her nails, while Will stood quietly by her side.
The Four Generals and the Three Executives—every major figure in Team Rocket's Kanto branch was gathered here.
Even Proton, stationed outside as a guard, made it so that nearly all of Team Rocket's upper echelon was in this very building.
Only the Three Beasts were absent, they were currently operating in Johto. Giovanni hadn't called them back, perhaps to keep an escape route open… or for another reason altogether.
Lucas's gaze swept past the group before finally resting behind Giovanni.
There stood a tall, humanoid figure over two meters in height, its body pale lavender, its eyes deep and emotionless.
Mewtwo.
It was none other than the artificial Legendary Pokémon born from Team Rocket's experiments.
'So… he's accepted Giovanni, for now,' Lucas thought.
It made sense. In the anime, Mewtwo had temporarily followed Giovanni too.
Giovanni's charisma was undeniable—one of the sharpest human minds at the pinnacle of the world.
The ordinary Giovanni in the anime was able to trick Mewtwo into following him for a while, let alone this 'special manga' Giovanni.
If Blaine hadn't betrayed Team Rocket in the special manga and fled with Mewtwo early on, things might've gone very differently.
…
"Lucas, you came back at the perfect time," Giovanni said smoothly, taking a sip of red wine, his tone calm and unhurried. "The League has just issued an order to seal off Saffron City."
His voice was steady, confident—as though even a citywide siege were merely a step in his plan.
"From this moment on, Saffron City is closed, no entry, no exit. By tonight, they'll begin evacuating civilians. By tomorrow…"
He smiled faintly. "Saffron will become an empty fortress."
Everything was proceeding exactly as he'd predicted. Once the evacuation was complete, the League would launch its assault targeting none other than Silph Co. building at the heart of the city.
"So, the offensive begins, huh?" Lucas leaned back in his seat beside Karen. "They've had an entire month to prepare. This won't be an easy fight, Boss."
His words suggested caution, but the glint in his eyes and the curve of his lips betrayed something else entirely—excitement.
Giovanni chuckled. "Isn't this exactly what you've been waiting for, Lucas?"
He knew Lucas far too well. The man had been longing for this moment.
"The Indigo Elite Four are already on their way. The League's closed the entire city, leaving us with only one option—fight."
Giovanni rose slowly, his gaze sweeping across the faces of his subordinates.
"If we lose here, everything we've built will be buried in Saffron City. Our years of effort will vanish overnight."
"I believe none of you wish to see that happen. So, fight with everything you have. If we win this battle…"
"Team Rocket's rise will be unstoppable."
His calm words carried the weight of conviction.
Yes—if they lost here, it would all be over. Their base, their influence, their resources—everything would be shattered. It would take at least a decade to recover.
And the League would never give them that time.
The room fell silent. Ariana, Archer, and the others exchanged grim looks.
"Rest assured, boss! We won't let anyone stand in Team Rocket's way!" Archer declared, slamming a hand to his chest in salute.
He had given everything to the organization and he would not allow it to fall in the heart of Kanto's brightest city.
"You've all done well. I trust you," Giovanni said with a small smile, waving them off. "Go prepare. Make sure you're in peak condition."
The executives filed out one by one. Karen gave Lucas a sidelong glance before leaving with Will.
Marnie and Green, sensing Giovanni wanted a private conversation, also withdrew quietly.
Soon, only Lucas and Giovanni remained.
…
"Lucas," Giovanni said, pouring another glass of wine and sitting beside him, "how much do you think our chances are this time?"
Lucas lit a cigarette and raised an eyebrow. "What's this? Don't tell me you've lost confidence in yourself, old man."
"I've never once acted without confidence," Giovanni replied with his usual poise, swirling the wine in his glass. "But this time is different."
"The Elite Four are coming, along with unknown reinforcements. The League is giving this battle their full focus—every ounce of it."
He exhaled softly.
It was true. Giovanni always planned three steps ahead. His caution, foresight, and shrewdness were what had elevated Team Rocket to its current height.
But this time… he was gambling everything.
"Not even this Mewtwo gives you confidence?" Lucas asked, glancing toward the psychic Pokémon.
Mewtwo's piercing eyes met his, deep and unblinking.
"So, you've guessed it," Giovanni said with a faint smile. "Yes—it's Mewtwo. It awakened completely half a month ago."
He turned to Mewtwo. "This is my friend, Lucas."
Mewtwo nodded slightly, remaining silent but acknowledging him. Giovanni, notably, spoke to it as an equal—not a tool.
"I've already witnessed its power firsthand," Giovanni continued. "It's beyond anything I've ever seen—and it's willing to assist me. That alone makes it the greatest success in Team Rocket's history."
"I believe in Mewtwo's potential. One day, it will surpass Mew itself."
His gaze softened as he looked at the creature, pride and ambition gleaming in his eyes.
But when he turned back to Lucas, his voice lowered.
"Still… that's for the future. You understand what I mean."
Mewtwo's eyes flickered faintly, but it remained quiet.
Lucas nodded slightly. "Every true Legendary takes centuries to reach its peak. Mewtwo just needs time."
He wasn't surprised. A being born of technology and fate, a man-made Pokémon couldn't possibly mature overnight.
Its potential was limitless, yes, but realizing that potential would take patience.
And for now, Mewtwo's control over its own power was still imperfect.
In other words, even with Mewtwo on his side. Giovanni might not be able to change the outcome of the coming war.
Still, Lucas exhaled a small puff of smoke and smirked. "Even so, old man—with Mewtwo helping you, your strength's gone up by a whole tier."
"And I will also be your strength," Lucas said with a faint smile tugging at his lips. He slowly raised his glass of red wine, the deep crimson liquid shimmering under the light. "Together… let's witness for ourselves the true power of the Pokémon League."
Giovanni lowered his gaze at those words and chuckled softly, eyes half-lidded in thought. Then, with a calm, almost ceremonial motion, he lifted his own glass and lightly clinked it against Lucas's.
Clink—
The faint sound of crystal striking crystal echoed through the dimly lit room.
The dark red wine swirled inside the glass, reflecting Giovanni's face—a face half-shrouded in shadow, sharp and enigmatic, filled with a quiet, simmering resolve.
For all these years, the leader of Team Rocket had remained hidden from the public eye. The world had long forgotten what kind of man stood at the helm of the most feared organization in existence.
But perhaps now… it was time.
Time to show the world what the true power of Team Rocket's boss really was.
Giovanni's smile deepened, his voice low and steady, carrying a dangerous, almost thrilling calm.
"Then let them come…"
A soft, chilling laugh escaped him, quiet yet brimming with confidence.
"Let them come—"
"—and see for themselves."
(End of Chapter)