The third stage

This was not the only boy who attacked Giovanni.

After his initial display of talent, Giovanni had become everyone's target.

More than twenty girls also surrounded them under one girl's lead. Beside the girl at their head was another Starter Pokémon, though it was not a Charmander.

It was a Grass-type Bulbasaur.

Besides them, there was another group, led by a skinny boy with fifteen or twenty boys following behind him. His Pokémon was another Starter Pokémon, a Water-type Squirtle.

Good, all three who had taken the Starter Pokémon had appeared, though one had already died at Giovanni's hands.

Unless there was someone who could hide even better than that ninja boy, someone lurking even deeper.

These few should be the ones capable of threatening Giovanni. Actually, there was one more: Max, who was already standing beside him.

The lone boys around them did not warrant Giovanni's attention.

The boys who had thought they would have an easier time beside Giovanni went pale when they realized they were being targeted instead.

Thinking it over, they felt a little regret.

Yet the corners of Giovanni's mouth rose slightly, and what shone in his eyes was actually excitement. "That's right, now this is interesting! There have to be some decent whetstones."

Weedle also gave an excited, low cry. "Woo-oh."

Anyone else might have thought Giovanni was too arrogant.

But the twenty-odd boys shielding Giovanni in their midst-or rather, whom Giovanni was shielding from his position in their midst-found those words music to their ears.

They had all witnessed Giovanni's methods. The more he acted like this, the more reassured they felt.

Beside Giovanni, A Sheng asked him quietly:

"What do we do? There are three strong ones in total. I can help you hold one off, but what about the rest?"

As he spoke, the other twenty-odd boys pricked up their ears, waiting to see what Giovanni would do.

Under everyone's expectant gazes, Giovanni chuckled. "What can we do? Just do nothing."

Both the twenty-odd boys and Max looked as though they wondered whether they had misheard.

The girl opposite them was closest to Giovanni. She shouted sharply:

"Giovanni, are you scared? Even so, your big sister Yalan won't let you off!"

Unlike this girl, the ninja boy who had first ambushed Giovanni had already quietly disappeared into the crowd.

After giving Giovanni a long look, the scrawny boy left him with these words: "Giovanni, my name is A Rui. Remember it. I'll be the sole winner!"

After delivering that threat, A Rui left with his group.

Just as Yalan was feeling uncertain, a little girl beside her reminded her:

"Boss Yalan, look up."

Yalan looked up and, sure enough, spotted the platform slowly descending overhead.

Standing on it were Miyamoto and Giovanni Rika.

Miyamoto raised her hand and called sharply, "Stop!"

Thud!

The Team Rocket members near the walls each took a step forward, their terrifying presence bearing down on the boys.

The agitated boys immediately stopped in fright and looked up, still shaken, not daring to continue fighting.

Miyamoto and Giovanni Rika did not blame them for killing one another during this brief interval.

Miyamoto merely told the Team Rocket members:

"Remove those who have been eliminated!"

At Miyamoto's command, the Team Rocket members stepped forward one after another and dragged away the boys who had been killed.

Some who had been severely injured were also dragged away, but when they realized what was happening, they could not help pleading loudly.

"Wait, I can still go on! Please, spare me!"

Axin happened to be the one handling this boy. He said coldly:

"We in Team Rocket don't waste medical resources unnecessarily. Blame yourself. You've been eliminated."

Gripping the boy by the neck, Axin lifted him straight up, took the Poké Ball from his body, and aimed it at the Pokémon bound by Arbok, recalling the Pokémon.

With a squeeze of their hands, they killed these boys outright.

These boys cried and begged for mercy, hurling the most vicious curses at the remaining boys.

"It's all your fault! I curse you to die just like us! May your souls fall into the underworld!"

Their hoarse, desperate cries made the remaining boys' scalps prickle.

Those boys who had suffered only minor injuries could only silently count themselves lucky.

Once these boys had also been cleared away, the hundred-plus who had remained were now reduced to just over a hundred.

Although the chaotic fight just now had looked like little more than a minor scuffle, judging by the outcome, the Second-Stage Selection had only truly ended now.

Giovanni Rika slowly stepped forward and addressed the boys below, who were shrouded in gloom:

"First, congratulations, my children. You have successfully made it through the Second-Stage Selection. You are getting closer and closer to success."

Although she said this, the boys below were not particularly happy.

Giovanni looked at Giovanni Rika and stroked the Weedle in Weedle's arms, remaining quite calm.

To him, Giovanni Rika was neither a good person nor a bad one.

If not for her, Giovanni would never have had the chance to meet Weedle or seize an opportunity to grow stronger.

Besides, if she and Miyamoto had not saved Giovanni in Viridian Forest, he might already have died.

Through her own efforts, she had developed Team Rocket to its current stage, laying a solid foundation for its future.

So what he felt was probably more admiration and respect.

At Giovanni Rika's signal, Miyamoto slowly stepped forward.

"Next, you will have one month to learn about the Pokémon World and grow stronger."

These words let the boys present breathe a slight sigh of relief. At last, they would not have to keep fighting to the death.

But Miyamoto's next words forced them to become utterly alert once again.

"But don't think you can get lucky. There will be a duel at the end of the month. The format may change, but there will be only one outcome: the losers will die! This is the Third-Stage Selection! This stage of the selection will continue until only three remain!"

"So keep working hard."

The moment she finished, the boys present erupted into chaos! It was as though they had been pushed straight onto the edge of a sheer cliff.

It seemed to have been done deliberately.

Because this situation made even the boys who had banded together regard one another with hostility, and it could also keep pushing these boys to grow stronger.

Miyamoto paid no attention to how the boys reacted. After finishing, she gave Giovanni a long look, then added, "Unlike before, there will be no loopholes to exploit. From today onward, you are forbidden from killing one another in private. Only duels can decide whether you live or die."

"Anyone who disobeys will die!"

Giovanni rubbed his nose, still quite calm.

Miyamoto might have said that, but hadn't they tacitly permitted what had just happened? Otherwise, Giovanni would have been killed long ago.

The other boys merely looked at Giovanni with gloating eyes, thinking Miyamoto had singled him out and disliked him.

Little did they know that Giovanni was happy to be left in peace.

He was no homicidal maniac. He took no pleasure in killing.

Now he did not have to worry about others targeting him either. He could simply focus on growing stronger.

As for those who had attacked him, though, it would be best if he could kill them himself.

At that thought, Giovanni scanned the crowd, searching for that damned ninja boy, Yalan, and A Rui!

P.S. The contract is signed. This litter-box attendant is getting ready to put a link to the new book in the old one to help promote it. Reading the comments should be a little more convenient now, too.