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Chapter 180: Giovanni's Frustration
🕑 Added 2025-08-10 17:17:59 +0000 UTCGiovanni sat in his office as he swirled a glass of whisky, the ice clinking softly.
Across from him, Elite Four member Blaine sipped his own glass.
Giovanni's frustration was palpable as he leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes narrowed.
'This boy's becoming a problem. A very big problem,' he thought. Blaine remained silent as Giovanni's voice broke the silence.
"Your grandson has been a thorn in my side, Blaine," Giovanni said, his tone controlled but edged with irritation.
"Now more than ever." Blaine's gaze flickered towards him, but he said nothing.
Giovanni's grip tightened on the glass. "I thought it was childish, cute before, but now he's annoying. Very annoying."
His voice rose, anger seeping through. "Gladion Vortex, barely sixteen, and he's dismantling my operations like it's a game. Maybe it's really a game for that child."
Giovanni leaned forward, "Do you know how many bases I've lost in Johto, Hoenn, and Kanto? Dozens! And the grunts arrested? Hundreds! All before he was even fifteen, Blaine!" His voice cracked with fury, his whisky sloshing.
"The nerve of this kid, tearing through Team Rocket like a Tauros on a rampage. Now he's done it again. All my leverage in the Pokémon League—gone. Every official on my payroll, every minor Gym Leader I helped install, all arrested!"
Blaine wanted to voice out that it was his plans backfiring that led to the arrest of these people. If he had not forced Gladion's hand, he would still have his people working within the League. But he kept quiet about it. It was very few times that he has seen Giovanni so rattled and he did not want to kick the hornet's nest.
Giovanni's fist hit the table, the glass rattling. "And what's it achieved? Nothing! The boy's business empire's so big he could give me a damn loan!" His voice dripped with angry sarcasm, "He has gotten so much money from his social media that it's not even funny. Every fucking company pays them for the data they have gathered as well as to post their ads."
"If that was not enough, he now has a fucking steel mine. He has things going for him since childhood. He is one of the strongest Psychic's out there, he has an alpha Tyranitar with him and he has managed to find the secret third evolution for his Magmar and Electabuzz."
"If things go on like this, he might just get a legendary Pokemon and I would have to declare a kid as Arceus's son." Giovanni said clearly drunk.
Blaine's interest was piqued for the first time. He set his glass down, his voice measured.
"Now that's something I agree with. The boy pulled every trick to keep me from getting a Magmarizer for my Magmar. Thankfully, I negotiated with one of his buyers—peacefully, mind you—and got one. The boy is smart but he is no researcher. I wonder how he managed to develop this item or even know about it's existence."
Giovanni nodded, his anger cooling into resolve. "I've decided to change my approach against him. Violence against him makes him act rashly, and I'd rather avoid that now. I'll hit him head-on—economically. Let's take this fight to business."
'No more grunts or raids,' he thought, his aura sharpening. "I'll crush his empire."
Blaine leaned forward, his eyes glinting. "Smart move. Cooperate with other businesses—Devon Corporation, Silph Co. With their backing, you can pressure him. He'll be too busy dealing with the business pressure to focus on Team Rocket. Even if he doesn't forget team rocket, he'll be swamped."
'Let the kid drown in corporate games,' Blaine slyly.
Giovanni's smirk returned, his thoughts aligning. "I'm targeting his Magmarizer and Electirizer manufacturing. Can you make them?"
Blaine rubbed his chin, his aura thoughtful. "I can make Magmarizers, but I'd need a volcano's heat, which the boy's already monopolizing. I could set up another facility nearby, but his prices are unbeatable. We'd take losses."
Giovanni waved a hand dismissively "We'll eat the losses. It's meant to hinder him. Profits will come from Team Rocket's other operations."
Giovanni took a sip of whisky, his voice turning cold. "Focus more on Project Mewtwo. While I hit him economically, it's not forever. When Mewtwo's ready, the kid will face the consequences of crossing me and Team Rocket."
Blaine nodded, his aura steady. "What do those League officials know? Anything sensitive?"
Giovanni's eyes darkened. "They know my executives' faces. No one knows I'm Team Rocket's leader, so we're safe there. But they spilled details on our illegal deals they were part of. I've ordered agents to shift operations, but it takes time." His aura flared with frustration.
"Koga's ninja and the police are already raiding bases because of these useless people."
Blaine's thoughts turned calculating. "I think the boy's hiding more secrets. I'm considering making amends with my daughter to get closer to her family, see what else he's got up his sleeve."
'Erza's my way in,' he thought coldly.
Giovanni's brow rose, his face impressed. "I didn't think you had it in you, Blaine. Using your own family? My mother would approve."
Blaine's lips curled into a sadistic smile, his voice low. "I have my morals, Giovanni. I won't harm Erza or her kids myself—they carry my blood. But if someone else goes after them, I'll look the other way. The Infinite War taught me one thing: children need to fight for themselves, and parents need to let them be."
