"Deal?"
Giovanni raised an eyebrow.
He was slightly surprised.
From the information he knew,
this "Teacher Xia Yan" before him had an unknown identity and unknown origins, but his strength was quite impressive. To become Red and Blue's teacher, he must have had exceptional qualities.
Yet,
Red and Blue's teacher actually wanted to make a deal with him, the leader of Team Rocket.
Giovanni found that very interesting.
Xia Yan nodded.
Giovanni from Pokémon Adventures was the most terrifying.
From the corner of his eye, he glanced at the Beedrill hovering beside Giovanni, poised to strike.
One look was enough.
He really was someone Xia Yan could not beat.
Still,
although he could not win, Xia Yan believed he would have no problem escaping.
So he was not particularly intimidated.
"Yes, a deal."
Giovanni smiled.
"Tell me, what kind of deal do you want to make?"
Xia Yan did not beat around the bush. "I want to join Team Rocket."
"Hm?"
At those words,
even Giovanni, who had already made some mental preparations, looked somewhat stunned.
Based on the information he had gathered,
Xia Yan's strength could earn him a place even within the talent-packed Pokémon League. He might even be able to challenge the Elite Four and replace one of them.
Yet he actually said he wanted to join Team Rocket?
Facing Giovanni's surprise, Xia Yan continued, "Of course, I mean joining in secret. Or, Leader Giovanni, you can treat it as a partnership instead."
Seeing Xia Yan's composure, Giovanni found him increasingly interesting.
Moreover,
perhaps it was an illusion, but Giovanni always felt that this "Teacher Xia Yan," whom he had never dealt with before, seemed to understand him very well.
The feeling was vague and utterly inexplicable.
Yet Giovanni felt that this almost illusory intuition was accurate.