Even though Colress's behavior right now could only be described as arrogant, that very arrogance—his complete disregard for everyone else—made his value stand out even more.
In Giovanni's eyes, a genius's obsession and madness were never the problem. The key was how to steer it toward the "right" direction—of course, the kind of "right" he defined.
With that thought, Giovanni glanced at Grey.
Then he noticed Grey's eyes also turned over.
"…"
They made eye contact, and the air instantly got awkward.
"Gym Leader Giovanni, do you think… at this volume, he can hear us?"
Grey stroked his chin and asked in his normal speaking voice.
"Hard to say," Giovanni replied at the exact same volume.
The ruins of Team Rocket's base were spacious. Normally, a conversation at this volume would absolutely carry to Colress.
But—
Colress continued working as if nothing existed outside his own world, looking completely absorbed.
"Gym Leader Grey, I think we shouldn't waste time."
Giovanni frowned slightly. Colress was blatantly acting like they didn't matter.
"Yeah. Let's go in."
Grey, seeing that, shoved the "little Riolu" forward.
"???"
Feeling the sudden push on its back, the "little Riolu" snapped its head around.
Being used as a "scout" like that made it immediately unhappy.
Grey, you only think about yourself!
Giovanni raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected Grey to push the "little Riolu" out so openly.
Was Grey treating him like he wasn't an outsider?
Or was Grey treating him like an idiot—assuming he wouldn't be shocked by how strong this "little Riolu" was?
Or…
Had Grey already noticed something was off?
Had he realized Giovanni was actually Team Rocket's boss?
At that thought, Giovanni couldn't help looking at Grey again.
If Grey truly knew he was Team Rocket's leader, why hadn't he reported Giovanni's real identity to Lance?
If that happened, then in the Gym challenge circuit, Grey would have a high chance of taking the championship.
But Grey hadn't done it…
For a moment, Giovanni's mind spun up scenario after scenario.
Every kind of possibility.
But the problem was, Giovanni simply couldn't reach a conclusion.
Because based on Grey's current situation, none of those theories actually held up!
And that made Giovanni increasingly irritated. To him, Grey was just an Elite Four-level ant.
Yet this ant—no matter what Giovanni did—was a problem he couldn't simply erase.
It was too easy to set himself on fire.
His identity as Team Rocket's boss couldn't be exposed right now. And if he made a move on Grey, suspicion would naturally fall on him first.
So Giovanni decided he had to protect Grey, so that if something went wrong later, Grey wouldn't be the first to come after him.
Besides…
If Grey disappeared, what would happen to Silver?
Giovanni's thoughts abruptly shifted to Silver.
That single thought was like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the killing intent that had just flared up.
Whether as the Viridian Gym Leader or as Team Rocket's boss, suddenly "adopting" a Fighting Dojo apprentice would be far too conspicuous.
League investigators were like Houndooms catching the scent of blood—any abnormality would trigger relentless pursuit.
Once suspicion formed, everything he had built so carefully over the years could collapse overnight.
"Hah…"
Giovanni let out a nearly imperceptible sigh, his fingers loosening from the fist he hadn't realized he'd clenched.
Reason won over impulse in the end.
He had to admit it: killing Grey right now carried far more risk than reward.
That realization made the murderous glint in his eyes fade, restoring the calm, composed expression he always wore.
Clank!
Something changed.
The moment the "little Riolu" stepped into the room, the sound of gears turning suddenly rang out.
Click!
A Steel-type Pokémon made of interlocking gears shot out in a blur. Facing Grey, the energy core embedded in it glowed blue—and beneath the gears, a second red core shimmered as well.
The Gear Pokémon—Klinklang!
[Pokémon: Klinklang]
[Type: Steel]
[Level: 69]
[Ability: Clear Body]
[Moves: (omitted)]
A Klinklang whose strength was close to Champion level.
"Hm?"
Grey and Giovanni both frowned.
A near-Champion Pokémon, right here?
"Riolu, Aura Sphere!"
Grey barked the command.
"Rio!"
The "little Riolu" brought its palms together, its body shimmering with faint blue light.
Aura power rapidly condensed between its hands, forming a round, dense sphere of deep-blue energy!
Then it thrust forward—Aura Sphere streaking toward Klinklang at terrifying speed!
BOOM!!!
The instant it hit, the sphere detonated with a deafening blast.
Klinklang's huge metal body was blasted off its feet and slammed into a far wall. Its components screeched as gears ground against gears, clearly taking heavy damage.
"Interrupting someone while they're doing real work for no reason… aren't you two Gym Leaders from Kanto being a bit rude?"
Colress finally stopped what he was doing. He pulled out a vial of some unknown liquid and tossed it onto Klinklang—its injuries instantly vanished, completely restored.
"Oh?"
Seeing something with an effect similar to a Full Restore, Grey clicked his tongue.
He didn't know if it had side effects. It didn't look like a real Full Restore.
But with Colress's ability, creating a lower-grade substitute—or even a version with minimal side effects—wasn't impossible.
"Colress. Dark scientist. Current Team Plasma scientist." Grey stared at him with amused interest and spoke slowly. "I think you've gotten one thing wrong. This is Kanto."
"Then what?" Colress adjusted his glasses, the lenses flashing coldly in the dim light as his lips curled into a mocking smile. "The core data your Kanto League couldn't find even after throwing everything you had at it… I obtained it effortlessly."
"What, are you going to put on a show of… embarrassed rage?"
"Your Kanto League really is…"
"Hahahahaha!"
Before he could finish, Colress let out a sudden, soft laugh.
Inside the sealed control room, the sound was especially grating.
"So this is how the Kanto League operates. I've learned something today."
The hem of his white lab coat swayed as he turned, his whole body radiating a superior, contemptuous arrogance.
Even facing two powerful opponents, his posture remained relaxed, like he was in his own lab.
"Go ahead and attack if you want," Colress said, spreading his hands like he was offering himself up. "It's not like I can beat you anyway."
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