Max's Machop

That day, Giovanni did not see Max come.

But Giovanni was in no hurry. From the concentration and vitality of the nutrient solution in the Incubator on Max's back, he could tell that his Pokémon would need at least another week to hatch.

Max did not have that much time. If he did not want to die, he would have to ask Giovanni for help.

The closer the deadline came, the more desperate he would become.

As for whether he would cheat Giovanni when the time came, taking the benefit without doing anything in return...

Giovanni had considered that too, so he had not put all his eggs in one basket.

Circumstances had forced his hand, and Giovanni could no longer afford to hide his ability. At most, he could keep the boys he chose from seeing it, letting them think he had a secret without knowing he possessed a special ability.

This also made it easier for Giovanni to cultivate an air of mystery, so they would not dare defy him.

Over the past two days, boys had come and gone from Giovanni's room one after another, entering with Incubators on their backs and leaving empty-handed.

But the next day, they would happily leave with their Pokémon.

When Giovanni chose these people, he did not exclusively pick those whose eggs would take a long time to hatch. He chose eggs that were only a day or two away, which also saved his strength.

These people were all insurance Giovanni had arranged, nothing more than tools. In truth, Max was the only one he thought much of.

Unfortunately, they were destined to be opponents, and Giovanni would be the only survivor.

And when Max saw a sudden influx of boys with Pokémon over the past two days, all of them showing Giovanni subtle signs of goodwill...

No matter how foolish he was, he could sense something fishy.

Looking at the still-motionless Pokémon Egg on his back and the little time he had left, he wavered.

Only one night remained before the Second-Stage Selection ended.

As usual, Giovanni was one of the last two people to leave the training ground. The other was Max, who had run until his head was drenched in sweat.

Giovanni pressed the button on the Poké Ball and said mildly, "Come back, Weedle."

During this final push over the past few days, Weedle had successfully gained another level, reaching level 5 and nearing level 6.

He was simply miles ahead!

After returning Weedle to the Poké Ball, Giovanni prepared to head back.

He did not spare Max another glance. He was not the one who needed a favor; Max was.

One step, then two. Just as Giovanni was about to leave the training ground, Max finally could not hold out any longer. He wiped the sweat from his head and called to Giovanni:

"Wait!"

Giovanni's foot paused slightly, but he did not stop.

Max's heart sank to rock bottom. His resolute face turned somewhat ashen, as though he was frustrated and regretful, but Giovanni's voice drifted in from outside.

"Come find me in room 9527."

Max was too excited to speak and hurried out of the training ground.

A short while later, inside Giovanni's room.

Giovanni sat on the sofa, which had been battered until it was nearly falling apart.

In front of him stood Max, far larger than others his age and capable of taking on ten men alone, yet now with his head lowered.

Giovanni spoke indifferently. "Give me your Incubator."

Max immediately took the Incubator off his back and handed it to Giovanni, afraid Giovanni might change his mind.

"All right."

Giovanni glanced at the nutrient solution inside the Incubator, slightly surprised.

It was a completely different color from the nutrient solution Giovanni had seen four days earlier. Just four days of Max's frantic running had surpassed ten days of other people's effort.

If Max had another two days, he really could have hatched this Pokémon himself.

Of course, it was too late to say that now, and Max did not have that much time left.

His luck was poor, so he was destined to grovel at Giovanni's feet and ultimately become his stepping stone.

"Lower your head!" Giovanni told Max mildly.

With his very life now in Giovanni's hands, Max could only obey.

Seeing Max being so obedient, a faint smile appeared on Giovanni's face.

He gently placed his hand on the Incubator and used Viridian Force. As he drove it at full power, Viridian Force seeped into the Pokémon Egg, and the remaining nutrient solution began to be absorbed continuously.

Before long, Giovanni was drenched in sweat, and his head felt as though needles were stabbing into it.

But the nutrient solution in the Incubator had been completely absorbed. Although this would cost the Pokémon some of its potential, keeping Max alive was good enough.

Only when the Pokémon Egg began to shake did Giovanni tell Max:

"All done. Take it. It's about to hatch."

Max raised his head in disbelief. Sure enough, he saw the Pokémon Egg shaking constantly inside the Incubator, cracks already spreading across its surface.

He took the Incubator from Giovanni, so excited that he nearly cried.

Crack, crack.

The little life inside the Pokémon Egg began to hatch. A newborn Pokémon emerged, and the Incubator slowly opened.

It was a gray humanoid Pokémon with tile-like objects on its head and muscles already beginning to take shape-a Fighting-type Pokémon, Machop.

After landing on the floor, Machop looked at Giovanni in some confusion, then at Max.

Only when Max shouted excitedly:

"Machop!"

Did Machop throw himself into his arms. Max picked him up and spun around several times before finally catching him with the Poké Ball he had been issued.

After a long spell of excitement, Max finally thanked Giovanni. "Thank you. I, Max, owe you my life. If you ever need me, I'll be at your service."

Giovanni crossed his legs and took the towel Weedle brought over, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Very good. My effort wasn't wasted. I trust you more than those other fellows. You'll have a chance to act tomorrow."

"All right!" Max agreed outright, without even asking what Giovanni wanted him to do.

Now that the necessary business was done, Giovanni had no reason to keep Max there. "Go collect your Pokémon's food, and get it registered while you're there."

Max nodded, turned, and walked out.

"All right."

Watching the door slowly close, Giovanni's lips curled slightly, and a faint trace of killing intent showed in his eyes.

"Mu Sen, let's see how you survive this time!"

Sensing Giovanni's emotions, Weedle crawled to his feet and rubbed against his calf.

Giovanni looked down at Weedle and thought for a moment.

Weedle was not far from evolving into Kakuna.

If he did not prepare some resources in advance, he would miss the chance to greatly improve Weedle's potential, even if Giovanni could continually strengthen it with Viridian Force.

He still could not pass it up. After all, it would save considerable time and effort.

But where could a boy who was not even an official member of Team Rocket find resources?

What a headache. Raising Pokémon really was trying.

"Woo?" Weedle called to Giovanni in confusion, seemingly not understanding what was giving him such a headache.

"That's not something you need to worry about." Giovanni smiled down at him, then said confidently:

"Don't worry. I'll find a way. Just focus on getting stronger. Leave everything else to me!"