I am Giovanni

Chapter 24: The First Follower

Having Katsu and his Machop as training partners yielded excellent results. The two young Pokémon were fierce competitors, neither willing to yield to the other.

Although Katsu's Machop wasn't as strong as Weedle and couldn't defeat it in a spar, it possessed the indomitable spirit unique to Fighting-types—its only answer was to fight harder.

As for their trainers, the roles were reversed. Thanks to his superior physical condition, Katsu could steadily overpower Giovanni in their own sparring sessions. He actually knew formal martial arts and could easily defeat Giovanni. However, he also subtly guided him, correcting his stance and technique.

"When you punch, your waist and stance must be unified," Katsu explained, seeing Giovanni's confused look. "That's how you generate maximum power."

"I'm from Saffron City," he said with a smile. "The Saffron Gym is a Fighting-type Gym, so most people there know some martial arts. I was planning to become an apprentice there before... all this."

Saffron Gym? Giovanni thought. Isn't that Sabrina's Psychic-type Gym?

He quickly realized his mistake— at this point in the timeline, Sabrina probably wasn't even born yet. Her father's power was not yet absolute, so the official Gym in Saffron was still the Fighting Dojo.

"If you wanted to be an apprentice there, why did you come here?" Giovanni asked.

Katsu scratched his head awkwardly. "The apprenticeship fee is fifty thousand Pokédollars. I didn't have it, so they kicked me out."

Giovanni patted the burly youth's arm. "Their loss."

"No, there are many people stronger than me," Katsu said, embarrassed. "I'm just big. My younger brother, now he's the one with real talent..." He launched into a long, rambling story about his brother, clearly a doting sibling.

The enjoyable training time quickly came to an end, and the two boys, the last to leave the training ground as always, went their separate ways.

Back in his room, Giovanni washed up, cleaned his Weedle, and used the power of Viridian to help it recover. Weedle's innate potential was almost fully restored.

It wasn't quite at the peak it could have been, but with Giovanni's power, he could push it even further. After preparing their food, they both ate heartily, replenishing the energy they had burned.

It seemed perfectly timed; just as Giovanni finished washing the dishes, his doorbell rang.

He opened the door. It was the grunt who had been watching him.

"Come in," Giovanni said casually. "Make yourself at home."

The grunt nodded and entered, but he didn't sit. He stood respectfully, waiting. Giovanni closed the door and turned to him. "You wanted to speak with me, sir?"

The grunt dropped to one knee. "I wish to pledge my loyalty to you."

Giovanni narrowed his eyes, a soft "Hmm?" escaping his lips. "Pledge loyalty to me? Aren't you afraid I'll fail? If I'm not mistaken, your strength is at least that of an intermediate trainer."

"I have a premonition that you will be the victor," the grunt answered truthfully. "And you are correct. I am not far from reaching the level of a senior trainer."

"Then for you to pledge allegiance to me, a mere recruit, seems a bit... unreasonable, doesn't it?" Giovanni said, testing him.

The grunt shook his head. "Everyone else sees a recruit, but I see something else. You will become the successor of Team Rocket, and one day, its leader. I was simply lucky enough to meet you before you became great, giving me this opportunity."

Giovanni scoffed. "That's half-truth, half-lie. You believe I have potential, yes. But you're just placing a bet. If I fail and die, it won't affect you. No one else knows you came to me tonight."

His words were like sharp blades, cutting straight to the grunt's true intentions. The man lowered his head, a flush of embarrassment on his face.

"You're not the only smart person in this world," Giovanni said, his voice low and meaningful. "Don't treat everyone else as a fool." He leaned back on the sofa. "But you're right about one thing. I will be the sole victor."

"So I will accept your pledge," Giovanni continued, his voice taking on a new authority. "Because you are, first and foremost, loyal to Team Rocket itself."

The grunt looked up, his eyes complex. "Then...?" He wanted to ask if he would be considered one of Giovanni's own men.

Giovanni cut him off. "What do you want? What do you seek to gain from my future self? Resources? Status? Or money?"

The grunt was silent for a moment, then spoke honestly. "I'm not sure. I just want an opportunity. A chance to prove myself. I want to be at the top of the pyramid."

Giovanni laughed, a genuine, hearty sound. "So you want it all!"

The grunt didn't refute it, his silence a tacit agreement. Giovanni didn't look down on him for his greed. If he lacked that ambition, he wouldn't be worthy. Those who follow me will be worthy of what they deem best. That will be the rule of my Team Rocket.

"Once I become the leader," Giovanni promised, his voice ringing with absolute certainty, "you will get everything you desire."

The grunt realized Giovanni wasn't just placating him. He knelt again, bowing his head fully this time. "Boss." It was the term used for Madame Boss. When she stepped down, the new leader would inherit the title.

Taking on his first subordinate was an unexpected development, but Giovanni knew it was just the beginning.

From this grunt, whose name he now learned was Archer, Giovanni also learned more about Team Rocket's current structure.

At the top was Madame Boss, a trainer whose strength was rumored to be on par with the Elite Four. Below her were her two trusted executives: the formidable Miyamoto, and another named a man named Petrel, who was currently away.

Below them were three captains, all with the strength of Gym Leaders. Two of them were aligned with Petrel and strongly opposed Madame Boss's selection plan, wanting to support Petrel as the next leader— but Madame Boss's grip on the organization was absolute.

For now, they could do nothing.