Should bugs be afraid of birds?

Aside from these, there were also some special figures at Team Rocket's highest levels, such as Hera and specialized researchers like Doctor Liangmu.

Then came the squadron leaders, squad leaders, full members like Axin, and the reserve members at the very bottom. Giovanni actually counted as one of those.

At this point, Team Rocket's overall strength was still far from sufficient.

After all, later on, Elite Four strength would be the entry requirement for executives, but right now, even an Ace Trainer could get in.

And because they lacked strength and manpower, they had not even established that many positions.

Once Giovanni took the position of leader, he would establish the positions anew.

There would be positions like James and Meowth's, Elite Team Member, Jessie's, Elite Team Captain, as well as Top Executive, Senior Executive, and so on.

But there was no point discussing that yet. Giovanni had not risen to power; he was merely a trainee Trainer now, without even the ability to protect himself.

The current Team Rocket was still a rough blank, waiting to be honed and tempered before it could become a divine sword.

After gaining a basic understanding of all this, Giovanni asked Axin:

"If I wanted to get some resources, what should I do?"

Axin thought for a moment before answering Giovanni:

"For regular members like us, if we want resources, we can earn them by completing missions, or exchange mission points for them."

"As for you, Boss, I really don't know."

Axin glanced at the Weedle by Giovanni's feet and seemed to understand what Giovanni needed resources for.

He hurriedly took out a box and said to Giovanni:

"From what I can see, this Weedle should evolve before long. Are you planning to raise this Weedle, Boss?"

"This contains the poison sac of an Advanced Arbok. It should help greatly improve its potential when it evolves."

Giovanni merely glanced at the box in Axin's hand before saying:

"You must have prepared this poison sac to help your Arbok break through to the high level."

Axin nodded, but then shook his head. "Yes, but it doesn't matter. As long as you can grow stronger, Boss, something like this won't amount to anything in the future."

Giovanni did urgently need resources to improve Weedle's potential, but that did not mean he would take what his own subordinate needed.

Even without resources, Giovanni was confident he could bring Weedle to the pinnacle.

So he refused Axin's kindness. "No need. I'm Giovanni. How could I take something my own subordinate needs to advance!"

Axin answered earnestly:

"It's all right. I'm giving it to you willingly, Boss! As a subordinate, there has to be something I can do to help my leader."

Giovanni crossed his legs and said flatly, "I said I don't need it!"

Seeing Giovanni's firm attitude, Axin could only give up.

Giovanni narrowed his eyes, considering what other channels might get him something like that.

Actually, if it came down to a person to approach, Giovanni did have someone in mind, but he felt some resistance to the idea.

Only if he truly had no other options later would Giovanni use that backup plan.

Although Giovanni had refused Axin's Advanced Arbok poison sac.

Afterward, to prove that he could still be useful to Giovanni in other ways, Axin prepared some higher-quality Poison-type food and some Berries.

These things were nothing much to Axin, and he insisted so strongly that he even threw them on the floor and ran straight out.

Only then did Giovanni reluctantly accept them, though the next day, he had Axin sell the previous low-quality Poison-type food to help him recoup a little of the cost.

Seeing Giovanni accept his kindness, Axin was delighted and immediately nodded in agreement.

Switching to higher-quality Poison-type food and Berries richer in energy really was better.

In just four days, Weedle gained another level, reaching level 6, and was already feeling the urge to evolve.

But Giovanni made it forcibly suppress the urge. It had to reach at least level 10 first.

Today was Battle Class. The previous two classes had covered types and Pokémon moves.

This class would cover type matchups between the various types.

The Team Rocket member at the front held forth, pointing at the various types on the blackboard:

"Type matchups are especially important in battle. With a favorable type matchup, moves become more powerful."

"For example, Electric is countered by Ground. Electric-type moves will have no effect when used against Ground-type Pokémon."

"Here is the chart. Fire is strong against Grass and Bug. Water is strong against Fire, Ground, and Rock. Grass, in turn, is strong against Water..."

Unlike their attitude toward academic classes, the boys below were all full of energy when it came to battling.

"Besides basic type matchups, there are also some special advantages. For example, cat Pokémon have an advantage over mouse Pokémon, and bird Pokémon have an advantage over bug Pokémon."

The Team Rocket member at the front continued.

At those words, quite a few boys with bird Pokémon grew excited. After all, that meant they could get the upper hand over Giovanni.

Then the Team Rocket member had an idea and asked:

"Who has a bird Pokémon? Let's do a battle experiment!"

Several boys raised their hands, and he picked one at random.

Then he asked, "Who has a Bug-type Pokémon?"

Although quite a few had Bug-type Pokémon, the boys present all looked toward Giovanni first.

Giovanni raised his hand expressionlessly.

The Team Rocket member said, "Then you come up!"

A short while later.

Giovanni and the boy stood on opposite sides. When the boy saw Giovanni's expressionless face, he was visibly a little intimidated.

But remembering that killing one another was forbidden now, and bolstered by what the Team Rocket member had just said, sufficient confidence appeared in his eyes.

He opened his Poké Ball. "Come out, Spearow!"

A Spearow, considerably sturdier than a Pidgey and looking very belligerent, appeared, flapping its wings as it let out a cry.

"Squawk!"

Under everyone's gaze, Giovanni did not waste any time. He raised his hand and released Weedle.

The Team Rocket member immediately said:

"Normally, bug Pokémon feel afraid when they see bird Pokémon. Fleeing without a fight is normal too."

"Pokémon raised by powerful Trainers might be able to change that, but you lot can forget it."

As he spoke, he saw the looks in the boys' eyes and turned around in confusion.

He would never have known without looking, and what he saw gave him a fright.

Not only was Weedle unafraid of Spearow, but its eyes were full of hostility, and it looked eager to have a go.

Spearow, by contrast, was somewhat restless under Weedle's gaze.

The Team Rocket member said awkwardly, "This? This should be because the Pokémon are still young. Once they really start fighting, things will return to normal."

"You may begin."

As soon as he finished speaking, Giovanni shouted, "Poison Sting!"

Weedle instantly released a barrage of poisonous needles, sending them flying toward Spearow.

Spearow was so frightened that it flew around in a panic, but it still took the Poison Sting squarely.

What none of them knew was that inside Giovanni's room, there was a pillow Giovanni had reshaped into a bird.

And that pillow was densely covered in poisonous needles!