"The League Prosecutors are investigating a case. We received a report that your Game Corner is harboring Team Rocket members. I'm going to search your Game Corner now."
Lance held up his League Prosecutors's badge, his expression very serious. Dragonite and Charizard stood on either side of him, their Pokémon aura emanating from the two High-level Elite Four.
Behind him stood a dozen Prosecutors in black robes, looking menacing as they stood at the entrance of Celadon Game Corner, determined not to leave without Harvest.
"This is the third time this month, isn't it, officer?"
How?
Can Prosecutors just arbitrarily search our premises during normal business hours?
"So, are we even going to keep our Game Corner? Why don't we just hand Game Corner to you Prosecutors as our headquarters?"
Across from Lance, a thin man with a long face, a rooster-like hairstyle, and a small mustache spoke nonchalantly.
This person was none other than Lambda, one of the four generals of Team Rocket. Even when facing two High-level Elite Four Pokémon and a group of Prosecutors outside the door, he remained unfazed, displaying a nonchalant attitude.
"You... I won't argue with you. You'd better get out of the way right now, or you'll be charged with protecting Team Rocket member."
"Oh, oh, oh... Is the Prosecutor getting impatient? Are you about to take action?"
Oh dear! I'm so scared! Do you think my reaction is appropriate?
Lambda pretended to fall to the ground, but he was only halfway through his movement when he saw Giovanni walk out of the Celadon Game Corner, followed by Sakaki's Persian.
Upon seeing Giovanni, Lambda immediately lowered her head and silently approached Giovanni.
He breathed a sigh of relief. How could he not panic when facing Lance, who was far stronger than him? He had only pretended to be calm.
But now that the man in front of him has arrived, he is truly no longer flustered.
The man wasn't tall, but he gave off a strange sense of security, as if there was nothing that couldn't be solved if he came.
"Prosecutor Lance, what's wrong now? Why ruin the harmony over such a trivial matter?"
When Lance saw Giovanni appear, he frowned. This was the second time he had seen Giovanni at the Celadon Game Corner.
Besides being the Gym Leader of Viridian Gym, Giovanni's identity is shrouded in mystery, with many rumors suggesting he might be the mastermind behind Team Rocket.
However, what Lance couldn't understand was why the people in the Pokémon League wouldn't let him take action against Giovanni, even though they had repeatedly told him not to provoke him.
It makes it seem like their League Prosecutors are the ones who are hiding in the shadows.
So this time he decided not to report to the Pokémon League and instead led his team of Prosecutors on his own.
"Master Giovanni, this is my third time here. You've been to the Game Corner twice. Could you be the owner of the Game Corner?"
I've heard this is the Team Rockets ' headquarters, could it be...?
Giovanni interrupted Lance directly, saying:
"Elite Four Lance, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. It's not something an Elite Four should do to slander a Gym Leader. If you have evidence, please show it. If you don't have evidence, don't blame me for reporting it to the Pokémon League."
Besides, is it wrong for me to enjoy playing video games? Are Gym Leaders not allowed to have personal hobbies?
This time, Giovanni directly changed Prosecutor Lance's title to "Elite Four," reminding him to be mindful of his status, his words and actions, and not to casually define his identity.
"You...
Lance didn't expect Giovanni to use the Pokémon League to pressure him, and surprisingly, this tactic actually worked.
Seeing the anxious Lance, Giovanni couldn't help but think to himself, "He's such a greenhorn."
After the previous Prosecutor left, he wondered what kind of person the new Prosecutor would be.
At the time, he had only heard that a young man had become the head of the Prosecutors. That young man was from the Dragon Clan of the Johto and was also Elite Four of the Pokémon League.
The next day, Lance arrived at Celadon Game Corner with several Prosecutors, startling Matori, who had just delivered the documents.
At first, he thought that Lance was just making a show of his new position and that things would be fine once the fire was done. But then he found out that Adu was coming to Celadon Game Corner to cause trouble for him every few days.
This forced him to stay at Celadon Game Corner to prevent Lance from leading his men straight to the Team Rocket headquarters underground in Celadon Game Corner.
It was at this moment that Giovanni realized that Lance was just a hothead, incredibly stubborn.
They don't care at all what the consequences would be if the Team Rockets and the Pokémon League broke off relations.
So what's most frightening isn't intelligent people, but these reckless fools who don't care about anything.
"Hmph! I have no proof that you are the leader of Team Rocket, but today we are going to search Celadon Game Corner, so please step aside, Giovanni."
What if I don't allow it?
Giovanni's calm tone, however, added a layer of tension to the air, as if it were about to explode at any moment.
"I've heard that Gym Leader Giovanni is the strongest Gym Leader in the Kanto Region. I'd like to experience that for myself today."
When Lance touched the Key Stone on his bracelet, the Charizard behind him sensed the light from the Key Stone and simultaneously emitted an evolutionary glow.
The Charizard's Wing Attack extended outwards, becoming wider, and a pair of small secondary wings sprouted from its wrists. A long, thin thorn rose from its back, and a third, longer, sharp horn grew from the center of its head.
Mega Charizard Y makes its appearance.
The moment the Super Charizard appeared, the sun in the sky seemed to grow larger and become even hotter.
Without further ado, Giovanni produced a Poké Ball, flashed red light, Beedrill appeared in the air.
Similarly, Giovanni also triggered the Key Stone on his bracelet.
He originally didn't want his Trump Card to play, but now it seems it's time to show the Pokémon League something.
The moment the Beedrill appeared, its entire body was enveloped in Red light wave.
Within the light Beedrill's body trembled slightly, emitting a sharp flapping sound. Its head gradually elongated, and the two long stingers on its forehead extended forward, becoming thicker and sharper.
The Poison Sting on its hands grew into something resembling lances, and its feet also transformed into Twineedle with black and yellow stripes. Its tail became cone-shaped, and the Poison Sting grew longer.
Mega Beedrill makes its appearance.
Mega Beedrill brandished its dual pistols, its red Compound Eyes fixed intently on the Prosecutor opposite Giovanni.
Both Lance's Dragonite and Mega Charizard Y felt a Pressure.
The performance of Dragonite and Charizard gave Lance an idea that even he himself couldn't believe.
Is this... a Champion level Beedrill?
Isn't Giovanni the Ground type Gym Leader of Viridian City?
How can there be such a powerful Beedrill, and it even knows Mega Evolution? Who gave it the Key Stone and the Mega Stone?
Even with the appearance of Beedrill, Lance did not retreat; in fact, a fighting spirit appeared in his eyes.
He also wanted to test the strength of Giovanni's Champion level Beedrill.
Lance and Giovanni locked eyes, Giovanni's calm gaze suggesting he didn't take Lance seriously at all.
Many of the League Prosecutors had their hands already on the Poké Balls, while Lambda and several guards outside the Game Corner were also ready.
Now, just one spark is needed to ignite a fierce battle between the League Prosecutors and the Team Rockets.
Just a second before the great battle was about to break out, Lance's Communicator on his waist vibrated, and he looked at the serious message on the Communicator.
Lance clenched his fists; he desperately wanted to say "no" to the message on the Communicator.
He didn't understand why the Pokémon League's higher-ups wouldn't let him investigate thoroughly, but seeing the Communicator issue several resolute orders in succession, Lance could only angrily utter the word "withdraw."
After giving Giovanni a fierce look, Lance recalled his Dragonite, turned around, and rode away on the back of Mega Charizard Y.
Seeing that Lance had left, the other Prosecutors released their mounts and followed behind Lance.
The Persian behind Giovanni was intentionally or unintentionally raising its paw and looking at them, as if its Sharpness claws could slice open their necks and kill them on the spot at any moment.
The exceptionally powerful Mega Beedrill in the air also kept a close eye on them with its red compound Compound Eyes, and the spear in its hand gleamed coldly.
Seeing that the League Prosecutors had already left, Lambda and the guards at the entrance of Game Corner looked at Giovanni with admiration and their words were full of awe.
"It's fortunate that you're here today, Boss; otherwise, with my abilities, I really wouldn't have been able to handle this group of Prosecutors."
"Yes, you did a good job just now."
Giovanni praised Lambda, but his mind was already racing with countermeasures. He couldn't stay in Celadon Game Corner forever, but he didn't know when Lance might suddenly appear.
It seems necessary to give this young Prosecutor something to do.
Giovanni recalled the strategy Roy had given him on the S.S. Anne, using the two forms of Wishiwashi as an analogy.
Wait until the Team Rocket in the Johto are fighting amongst themselves, greatly reducing their strength and creating chaos, then you can clean up the mess.
Less than a week after he disembarked from the S.S. Anne a year ago, he announced that the Johto Team Rocket would henceforth be a separate force, and that anyone with the ability could become the leader of the Johto Team Rocket.
Just as Roy had predicted, things fell into chaos after he left Team Rocket in the Johto. Several old guys wanted to be the leader, and no one wanted to be bossed around.
I heard that two old guys had a fight in the suburbs of Goldenrod City last month, and both suffered heavy losses.
However, it seems that the progress is still too slow. Let him add fuel to the fire and bring the League Prosecutors into it, so that the League Prosecutors can help clear the obstacles for him.
When the snipe and the clam fight, I, the fisherman, will ultimately benefit.
Since the Pokémon League between the two regions merged, Lance has also been the head of the Prosecutor's office in the Johto, so consider this an achievement I've given to Lance.
Giovanni turned to look at Matori and said:
"Give our Lance Elite Four some work to do by revealing those Team Rocket bases in the Johto and their previous research reports to him."
"Ah?"
Matori didn't immediately understand. What did he mean by revealing it to Lance? What benefit would they gain from doing so?
"Just do what I tell you to do."
Matori seemed to understand what Giovanni wanted to do, and quickly went to organize the Team Rocket data for the Johto.
Mega Beedrill also reverted to its Mega Evolution form and was returned to its Poké Ball by Giovanni.
"Let's go back, Persian."
"Meow!"
Giovanni and Persian walked back to the Game Corner.
As he rode the elevator back to his underground office, Giovanni recalled what Lt. Surge had just said about Roy being Prosecutor.
If Roy were really a Prosecutor, he'd be much more interesting than Lance; he might even go to the Game Corner and play a couple of games.
Of course... it's the kind where you don't get paid.