"Champion Wallace, we've received the replies."
Jenny's commander stepped into Wallace's office, only to see Wallace and Steven jump apart like they'd just been caught doing something shady.
That left Jenny's commander puzzled. She'd clearly observed Wallace's forced composure and awkwardness, as well as the strange, subtle look on Steven's face.
"Champion Wallace, Mr. Steven, did something happen?"
Jenny's commander asked curiously.
"Ahem, nothing at all. Officer Jenny, go on."
Wallace coughed lightly, closed the forum window on his computer screen, then schooled his expression and spoke.
"Sinnoh, Galar, and Paldea have all replied. Champion Cynthia will come in person. Champion Leon is currently training out in the wild and can't be reached. Once we can contact him, Champion Leon can come assist as well."
Jenny's commander's face grew serious.
"As for Paldea, Geeta, the Chief Champion, can't get away, but she's already notified Champion Nemona, and Champion Nemona is willing to help."
"As for Kalos, Champion Diantha won't be able to come for now. Kanto's Elite Four are also tied up. However, Chairman Goodshow says he can send a Gym Leader over to help."
Jenny's commander hesitated a little.
"A Gym Leader?" Wallace was startled. They needed Champion‑tier strength here. If it wasn't Champion‑tier, they couldn't really help.
Sure, Wallace himself had been Sootopolis's Gym Leader before, but he figured he was a special case, right?
Did other regions actually have Champion‑tier Gym Leaders too??
"It's, uh, Viridian Gym's Gym Leader Giovanni. Chairman Goodshow can confirm that Gym Leader Giovanni is Champion‑tier in strength."
Wallace fell into thought. Giovanni? Why did that name sound a bit familiar?
"Gym Leader Giovanni is Damian's father, right?" Steven's expression turned subtly complicated.
"Oh, right!" Wallace suddenly got it. No wonder Giovanni sounded familiar.
"Giovanni's Damian's dad! He's the one who gave birth to that born‑evil Damian!" Wallace was clearly injecting some personal emotion into that line.
At the end of the day, without Giovanni there wouldn't be a Damian!
"Champion Wallace, please watch your words."
Jenny's commander stared at Wallace, speechless.
"Gym Leader Giovanni is a very capable and responsible Gym Leader. As for Damian, Gym Leader Giovanni knew nothing about any of that beforehand."
Jenny's commander explained helplessly. That was what Indigo League had guaranteed, sworn up and down. Naturally, Jenny's commander trusted Indigo League's judgment.
"Is that so?" Wallace sounded doubtful.
He still felt that anyone who could give birth to and train someone like Damian, the "born evil" guy, was highly suspicious.
"Mm. According to the intel, Damian joining Team Rocket likely has a lot to do with Gym Leader Giovanni's overly strict education and training methods. But given how things are now, this is not what Gym Leader Giovanni himself wanted—he's always been trying to bring Damian back onto the right path."
Jenny's commander could only answer like that. She hadn't had any personal contact with Giovanni or Damian. She was just passing on what her relative, Kanto's Jenny commander, had told her.
"A textbook case of educational failure."
Steven sighed at that.
No wonder Damian's personality was that weird and awful. What kind of normal person was into forcibly shooting "artistic photos" of people—and forcing grown men into girls' outfits for the shoot, at that?
Now it made sense. He'd probably had his personality warped by Giovanni's harsh training and education.
And even so, Damian hadn't completely sunk to the point of losing all humanity. Maybe there was still some hope for him…?
Honestly, Steven didn't particularly hate Damian. Sure, his twisted sense of fun was pretty nasty, but the fact that he'd kept his word and let Steven and Wallace go both times said a lot.
Damian hadn't abused his power to do whatever he wanted. He hadn't hurt them. That was the best possible proof.
If he'd really wanted to, as a member of an evil organization, he could've simply imprisoned both him and Wallace. That way, Hoenn League would've lost two Champions outright and taken a huge blow, making it even harder for them to stop Team Rocket's growth.
So—in the end, was it all just Giovanni's failure as a father? A boy with such a bright future had stepped into an evil organization.
Steven sighed silently in his heart. How tragic was that?
"If Gym Leader Giovanni's willing to come help, that'd be the best scenario." Steven spoke up.
Whether it was from the standpoint of Giovanni's strength or his identity, Steven felt they had no reason to refuse.
"Exactly. That's what I think too. If Gym Leader Giovanni can convince Damian to turn back, that'd be the ideal outcome."
Jenny's commander agreed completely. You needed the one who tied the knot to untie it.
"That gives us three clearly confirmed powerhouses joining us. Have we contacted Senior Brandon?"
"We have, and Mr. Brandon's also successfully caught Registeel." Jenny's commander replied with a smile.
"As expected of Senior Brandon." Wallace praised.
"That makes six Champion‑tier fighters on our side! Let's see how Team Rocket plans to stand against us now."
Wallace felt the victory was already in the bag.
Six Champion‑tier! And if Champion Leon could make it over, that'd be seven Champion‑tier!
What did that even mean? Basically unbeatable!
Hoenn's Team Rocket was strong, sure—but how many Champion‑tier Trainers could they possibly take on?
Heh heh! Damian! Let's see how arrogant you are this time!!
Once he caught Damian, he was absolutely going to slap cat ears and a cat tail on him, stuff him into a maid outfit, and ruthlessly shoot at least a hundred photos!
Just picturing it made Wallace hum under his breath in satisfaction.
"I'll go send a reply to Chairman Goodshow then." Jenny's commander nodded.
Once Jenny's commander left the office, Wallace immediately pulled the forum back up. He'd just been looking at "cameraman Damian's" new thread with Steven.
And the thread's title was: "Shocking! The Two Hoenn Champions Are Actually in This Kind of Relationship!"
Clickbait piece of trash! Damian, you really deserve to die!
Just reading that title, Wallace couldn't help cursing him in his heart.
The thread's content was, of course, their "couples photos."
But this time, Wallace's mindset was a lot more stable. He'd already mentally prepared himself. Besides, after the first time, the second time was a lot easier to handle. He felt like his mentality was now rock‑solid, utterly unbreakable.
He even had the mood to start evaluating the photos themselves.
Wallace scrolled through them one by one. Steven sat on another stool, watching along with him.
"I know this might sound a bit off, but Wallace, you really do look stunning when you crossdress."
Steven couldn't help giving that heartfelt praise. And Damian's photography skills were genuinely excellent—the angles, the lighting, the backdrop, the posing, the expressions, everything was captured perfectly.
Steven was already handsome, and with Wallace crossdressing and wearing makeup, Wallace's looks were downright top‑tier. Together, the two of them in a shot looked incredible.
"Well, it is me we're talking about."
Maybe it was because he'd been looking at so many deranged fan comments, or maybe it was because he was already picturing their inevitable "victory" over Team Rocket, but compared to all that, Steven's little compliment was nothing. Wallace actually had the mood to respond that narcissistically.
"With looks this good, this elegant and noble… I really wonder what girl will have the courage to even approach me in the future."
Once he reached the end of the thread, Wallace couldn't help sighing deeply.
He couldn't help it—he really was too good‑looking.
Any girl who saw him would probably feel inferior, right? After all, whose girlfriend wanted their boyfriend to be prettier than they were? Who wouldn't feel pressure from that?
Steven's expression turned a bit… off as he looked at Wallace.
Bro, did you just accept your own crossdressing?
Weren't you the one who swore up and down you'd never crossdress again in this lifetime?
Beep beep~
Right then, Wallace's phone rang.
He glanced at the caller ID, and the smug look on his face immediately turned hesitant.
"Not gonna pick up?" Steven checked the name too, his handsome face turning teasing.
Winona—Fortree Gym's Gym Leader.
Wallace and Winona had once been a couple, but Winona had felt that Wallace was just too exceptional—so exceptional it felt suffocating. So she'd broken up with him.
Wallace had respected her decision, and they hadn't contacted each other since.
Wallace shot Steven a look, then still answered the call.
"Winona."
"Wallace."
On the line, Winona's tone was hesitant.
"Men… can't have a future with men."
"?" Wallace's face was full of question marks.
"You two will never have a child together. I hope you can walk back onto the right path."
"???"
Wallace felt like he'd just been struck by lightning.
Lilycove City.
"So, Maxie, have you thought it over?"
Damian sat by the bed, looking at Maxie, whose body was covered in casts, voice relaxed and casual.
"Give it up. I'm not interested in joining Team Rocket."
Maxie spoke weakly, but his tone was very calm.
"I'm not like Archie—that muscle‑brained idiot. I have a dream."
Even after getting pounded half‑paralyzed by Archie, Maxie was still clearly looking down on him.
"Oh? Not even if it means a chance to settle the score with Archie?" Damian's smile turned meaningful.
"…" Maxie went silent.
"Maxie, like you said, you're smarter than Archie. Team Magma has already been swallowed by Team Rocket."
Damian spoke slowly, almost lazily.
"You're a lone wolf now. I won't lie to you—your strength isn't bad. But what I value more is your intelligence. As long as you nod, I can promote you to executive."
"This is a chance I'm giving you. If you work hard and climb, both in power and in authority, once you surpass Archie, you'll naturally have a way to pay him back for these injuries."
"As for your dream—hehe～"
At this, Damian's tone turned openly mocking.
"I don't personally care whether land or sea is more important, and I'm not interested in laughing at your ideology. But if you're expecting Groudon to help you create land, that's just not happening."
"You're just like that Archie moron. Your power and your narrow view limit your understanding. You really think that once you find an Orb, you can control Groudon and Kyogre?"
"What a laughable, stupid idea. Groudon and Kyogre's power is way beyond what you can even imagine. If you really awaken those two super‑ancient Legendaries, the only thing waiting for you will be despair and regret—because you'll be the sinners who doomed the entire Hoenn Region."
Damian's mocking words made Maxie's face twitch and contort—but he still fell into thought.
"Lord Maxie, Lord Damian isn't lying to you. I really do hope you'll join Team Rocket and put your intelligence to use."
Standing behind Damian, Courtney spoke to Maxie with sincere earnestness.
Maxie instinctively tried to push at his glasses—but his arm wouldn't lift, so he had to give up.
He took a deep look at Courtney. This loyal subordinate of his from before… chances were, all their other organization members had already joined Team Rocket now too, right?
Maxie sighed inwardly.
"I'll join Team Rocket.
I'll prove to you that I'm far more capable than that brainless idiot Archie."
Maxie said it in a low, steady voice.
His dream was already in ruins.
So now, his only goal—was to step on Archie's head.
"Of course. You're very welcome here."
The corners of Damian's mouth slowly curled upward.
"Once your injuries are healed, I'll assign you a position that suits you."
After leaving Maxie's hospital room, Damian's phone rang.
"I got it."
A moment later, Damian hung up, his expression a bit… odd.
"Damian, what is it?" Caitlin looked at him curiously. It was rare to see Damian with that particular look.
"Hoenn League called in some Champion‑tier backup from other regions to deal with us."
Damian found it kind of funny.
"Oh? How many Champion‑tier?" Caitlin froze.
"Right now they've confirmed three. But—one of them is my dad."
Damian couldn't help laughing.
They'd gone and "called someone in to beat him"—only to end up calling in Giovanni.
Caitlin's refined features turned a bit odd.
Now that was interesting.
Should they put on another performance of "I will stand above the heavens" in front of the old man and those Champions?
Or maybe redo that bit from when he'd faced Red and Green: "Giovanni, I've already surpassed you"?
Damian gave it very serious thought.
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