The air on the mansion's first floor was wound tight, ready to snap.
Yet Damian remained perfectly at ease. Even though they were completely outnumbered, it didn't seem to affect him in the slightest.
"Who the hell are you calling trash?"
Suddenly, a deep, heavy male voice drifted down from above.
"Boss!"
"Boss! You're finally here!"
The Team Skull members cried out in delight as the owner of the voice slowly descended the stairs.
"Oh?"
Damian raised an eyebrow.
The man walking down looked fierce. He had white hair, sunglasses perched on his forehead, baggy black pants, and a black jacket over a white tee. Everything about him screamed trouble.
This was Guzma, Team Skull's boss.
The Team Skull grunts stepped aside to let him pass. Guzma walked forward slowly with his hands in his pockets, his menacing gaze pressing down like a weight.
"Kid, who the hell are you calling trash?"
Guzma stopped right in front of Damian, leaning forward slightly as he questioned him in a low, gravelly voice.
"Isn't Team Skull made up of small fry? You must be Guzma, right?"
"That's right. Big bad Guzma himself," Guzma's expression grew even more vicious. "Kid, you've got a big mouth for someone so small. I don't care who you are—you don't walk into my turf and talk like you own it. Beat it, kid. Crawl back into whatever hole you came from—you're cutting into my nap, and I'm a nightmare when I'm tired."
Guzma didn't hesitate. His voice was all teeth. It seemed a Team Skull member had already informed him of the situation.
"Tch. I figured the boss of Team Skull might have at least a few working brain cells. Guess I overshot it."
Guzma was acting tough, but Damian didn't indulge him at all, responding with a mocking tone.
"When you hole up in your tiny corner, playing king of the sandbox, you lose track of how wide the world really is."
"Did a door slam on your head? Or have you been bullying Alola for so long that you can't even read the situation anymore?"
Hearing this, Guzma's already fierce expression darkened even further.
"Heheh... I didn't think anyone would come all this way just to get beaten down by me."
Guzma grinned savagely as he opened a Poké Ball. A hulking, isopod-like Pokémon dropped in front of him. This was Golisopod, a Bug- and Water-type, and Guzma's ace Pokémon.
"Punk, I'm gonna fix you up real good. This ain't a playground for your Team Rocket tantrums."
Guzma bared his teeth; he had decided to thoroughly punish this annoying kid.
Caitlin knit her brows slightly, looking at the menacing Golisopod with a serious expression. Judging by its aura, this Golisopod was very strong. It made sense; as the leader of Team Skull, his strength definitely wasn't lacking.
However, Metagross had a type advantage, so she could win this fight.
Damian clicked his tongue and stood up, reaching out to stop Proton and Caitlin, who were about to step forward.
"Interesting. In that case, let me test your level myself."
A Poké Ball expanded in Damian's hand and snapped open.
A wild-looking Pokémon with flowing grayish-white fur and blood-red eyes appeared in front of Damian. It tilted its head slightly, staring quietly at Golisopod.
It was Annihilape!
"Come on. I'll give you a chance. I hope your strength is as wild as your mouth," Damian grinned as well.
"Then you'd better watch closely, kid!" Guzma flashed his white teeth. "Golisopod! First Impression!"
Golisopod let out a low cry and shot toward Annihilape like a cannonball.
"Focus Punch."
Annihilape tightened its right fist as blue energy began to condense within it, then it swung with all its might.
Boom!!
Focus Punch met First Impression head-on. The impact roared, a shockwave blasting out that rained dust from the ceiling.
But in the next second...
Annihilape exerted even more force. The Focus Punch shattered the First Impression and sent Golisopod flying back with incredible force.
Under the disbelieving eyes of Plumeria and the others, Golisopod shot back faster than it charged in—a massive wreck of armor cratering the wall in a spray of debris.
Silence!
The entire room went dead quiet instantly.
Guzma's pupils shrank. Caitlin's eyes lit up. This Annihilape wasn't just strong—it was a monster.
"This... how is this possible?" Plumeria muttered, lost in shock.
How could this be?! It was impossible! This was Guzma's ace, Golisopod! Even an Island Kahuna shouldn't be able to overwhelm Guzma like that.
"Why is it impossible?" Damian laughed softly.
He had heard Plumeria's voice; after all, it was quiet enough in the mansion now.
"Worthless trash like you, playing king in your little corner, can't possibly understand how big the world really is."
Damian's tone returned to being warm and elegant, but his words remained sharp and unyielding.
"You... who are you, exactly?"
Guzma's breathing was noticeably heavy as he stared fixedly at Damian. His eyes were hard, searching for an opening.
This guy was on another level!!
Even Kukui's best shouldn't be able to do that in a single blow. And Kukui was the only Champion-level Trainer in the Alola Region!
"Damian. The Damian, from Team Rocket," Damian said with a slight smile. "Now then, Guzma, are you interested in having a proper talk with us?"
"..."
Guzma stared at Damian for a long time.
"Follow me," Guzma said in a low voice.
Despite his explosive temper, Guzma knew when to be serious. This was a moment that would decide the survival of Team Skull.
"A wise choice."
Damian, followed by Caitlin and Proton, trailed after Guzma.
"Plumeria, you come in too."
Plumeria bit her lip and followed as well. Only the Team Skull grunts were left standing there anxiously, unsure of what their future held. Not that it was theirs to decide.
Guzma led them to a room on the second floor. It was in the same style as the rest of the building—completely messy.
"There isn't much to sit on. Just make yourselves at home," Guzma said calmly, sitting down on a wooden crate.
Proton looked around, took a stool, and wiped it with his sleeve so Damian could sit.
"Tsk. You could at least maintain a proper place for conversations," Damian remarked as he looked around the room.
"I don't do manners," Guzma's brow twitched. "Damian, right? What exactly do you want?"
Guzma went straight to the point.
"Team Rocket is expanding into other Regions, and Alola is our first target," Damian said calmly, looking at Guzma and Plumeria. "As for Team Skull, we're absolutely folding you in. Your sovereignty ended the second I walked through that door. It's not a negotiation."
Damian tilted his head as he looked at the two of them. Guzma's face was dark.
"I'm the merciful type. I'm handing you a way out—don't be stupid enough to throw it away."
Damian took out two silver badges and tossed them to Guzma and Plumeria.
"What is this?" Plumeria looked at the badge in her hand, which had a large 'R' on it.
"I am sincerely inviting you both to join Team Rocket as executives. What do you say?"
Damian spoke with a smile.
Team Rocket... executives?
Plumeria instinctively glanced at Guzma and saw that he was frowning, staring intensely at the silver badge in his hand.