I am Giovanni

Chapter 47: The Insidious Captain

Fuchsia City.

Compared to other cities, Fuchsia had an older, more traditional feel. The city's Gym, in particular, leaned into a retro, feudal style. Here, the trainers didn't just train Pokémon; they also learned the art of ninjutsu.

The current Gym Leader Aye was an old man, but his talent was limited, and he had no hope of reaching the Elite Four. So, he put everything into his disciple— Aki —and was very strict with him. Most Gyms were passed down through a single lineage, much like noble families. So it was very difficult for a commoner to become a Gym Leader.

A Pidgeot descended from the night sky, its wings beating silently. Outside the Fuchsia Gym, a small child with spiky black hair, dressed in a ninja-in-training uniform, was sweeping the courtyard late at night. It was part of what his master called "tempering."

When the child saw the Pidgeot, he was startled, but then he saw the note attached to its leg and heard its urgent cry. He intelligently understood that something was wrong. He quickly put down his broom and ran inside with the letter, soon arriving at the training hall where Aki was meditating.

He slid open the door. The old master looked up, frowning at the breathless child.

Aki, however, was furious. "Ryū, are you looking for death?" he scolded. "Is this a place you can just barge into?"

Ryū, clearly terrified of Aki, shrank back. "Forgive me, Senior Brother," he said timidly. "A Pidgeot delivered this letter. It has the Safari Zone emblem on it."

Hearing this, the old master appeared in front of Ryū in a blur of motion. He took the letter, and after scanning it for only a few seconds, his face darkened. "Poachers have entered the Safari Zone." He patted Ryū's shoulder. "You did well, Ryū. You and your Senior Brother will watch the Gym. I will be back soon."

"Yes, Master," Ryū nodded. The old master released a Crobat and was carried off into the night, rushing towards the Safari Zone.

Aki, however, glared at Ryū. "You're quite the sycophant, aren't you? But no matter how much you try to curry favor, I will be the one to inherit the Master's teachings." He shoved the frightened boy aside and headed for the exit.

"Senior Brother!" Ryū scrambled up, chasing after him. "Master said we should watch the Gym!"

"If you're a coward, then stay put!" Aki shouted back. "Don't try to control me! I want to make Master proud!"

Ryū had no choice but to bite the bullet and follow. If something happened to Aki, he would be the one to face their master's wrath. He and his sister would be finished.

— — —

In the Safari Zone.

Dust billowed everywhere. The thundering charge of the Tauros was deafening. Even Giovanni felt a prickle of fear, his hand unconsciously resting on a Poké Ball. The Nidoran at his side was even more terrified, its legs turning to jelly.

"Don't worry, Giovanni!" Mondo shouted over the roar. "I'm here! Just watch me scare them off!" He pointed ahead. "Arbok, Screech! Gloom, Acid! Dugtrio, Mud-Slap! Poliwhirl, Bubble Beam! Beedrill, Poison Sting!"

Following his command, his Pokémon unleashed their attacks. The three Arbok let out a piercing screech, causing the lead Tauros to flinch in pain. Gloom's Acid and Dugtrio's Mud-Slap rained down, corroding the Tauros' thick hides— but only Poliwhirl's Bubble Beam and Beedrill's Poison Sting caused any real damage, knocking down two or three of the charging beasts.

The attack did not scare the herd away. It only enraged them further.

"MOOOO!"

"Sh*t!" Mondo said, feigning a miscalculation. "I didn't expect them to be so difficult! Don't worry, once the others start to contain the outer herd, we'll be safe!"

As he spoke, however, he was subtly moving away from Giovanni. And his Pokémon had only used their weakest, least effective moves. Giovanni saw it all. Mondo had deliberately angered the herd. It didn't take a genius to figure out his plan.

As a squad leader, he had the strength to escape the stampede. But Giovanni? He would be trampled. Mondo's fawning act had been just that—an act. The others wouldn't be coming to save him.

This man wanted to use one hundred and fifty Tauros to end his life. He didn't know who Mondo was working for, but the malice was undeniable. Giovanni hadn't been sure before, but now, it was crystal clear.

Why not just kill me himself? he wondered— then it hit him. Madame Boss's Alakazam. No one could lie in front of a psychic of that level. If he was exposed, he would be executed. Using the stampede as a weapon was the perfect crime.

"Very well," Giovanni said, his voice a low growl, his fingers clenched so tight his knuckles were white. He was angry, but a glimmer of confidence remained.

Watching the approaching herd, a triumphant smile touched Mondo's lips. He glanced at Giovanni, a flash of disdain and killing intent in his eyes. Die, kid.

His own Beedrill was already buzzing, ready to lift him out of harm's way. He was just calculating the distance— but Giovanni was doing the same.

Bang!

A beam of white light flashed. Giovanni's own Beedrill was suddenly released.

"Now, Nidoran!" Giovanni shouted. "Spit the Poison Barb at that man!"

As instructed beforehand, the Nidoran immediately spat the venom-laced item towards Mondo.

"You guessed?" Mondo sneered. "So what? You're still overestimating yourself." His Beedrill swung its large stinger, easily knocking the Poison Barb aside.

"Beedrill!" Giovanni shouted at that exact moment. "Unleash your full aura on that Beedrill! Suppress it, every second counts!"

The Bug King's aura surged from his partner, washing over Mondo's Beedrill. The fact that Mondo's only flying Pokémon was also a Beedrill... it was an unexpected, but exploitable, turn of events.

Originally, Giovanni hadn't thought there would be much of a chance to trick him— but now, he had an opening.