Meeting Aidos

Team Rocket's Viridian Base, basement level two, Aidos's private quarters.

There were three people inside at that moment.

Aidos sat in the seat of honor. He was about Miyamoto's age, rather handsome, with red hair and a fairly muscular build.

A soundly sleeping Weavile lay on his lap, while his aura as a quasi-Elite Four-level trainer spread faintly, filling the entire room.

Seated below him were the two battalion commanders on good terms with Aidos: a burly bald man and a thin man, both Gym-level trainers.

Unlike the cold-faced Aidos, the two battalion commanders were indignant.

"Brother Aidos, weren't you against the Boss's selection process? Why are you meeting these brats now?"

"Exactly! Isn't this backing down before the Boss? If you ask me, we should keep putting pressure on the Boss!"

"Right! Without us, what could the Boss and Miyamoto accomplish?"

"Who knows? The Boss might just announce you as the next leader then, Brother."

Aidos swept a cold gaze over the two of them. "Are you saying that two Elite Four-level trainers couldn't manage without you two Gym-level trainers?"

The two battalion commanders looked at each other. "Well..."

"You two pigheads!" Aidos cursed, then said icily:

"And you two think you're clever? You thought I hadn't noticed your little schemes? You even dreamed of becoming the men behind the next leader. Do you two think you're worthy?"

Sensing his emotions, the Weavile on his lap slowly opened its scarlet eyes.

Boom!

Terrifying killing intent, accompanied by waves of bone-chilling cold, battered the two battalion commanders.

They rose in terror, then hastily dropped to their knees, loudly begging for mercy. "Brother Aidos, we were wrong! Please forgive us!"

"Yes, we just lost our heads for a moment! We let greed cloud our judgment! We're still on your side!"

Despite the bitter cold, both battalion commanders were sweating profusely.

Aidos looked at the two with some irritation. If he hadn't still needed them to secure his position, he would have crippled those two useless fools himself long ago.

Knock, knock!

A knock sounded at the door. Only then did Aidos stroke Weavile's head. "Go to sleep."

After Aidos spoke, Weavile closed its eyes, its aura gradually receding as the room began to warm again.

Aidos spoke coldly. "Get up, you disgraceful things."

The two battalion commanders exchanged a glance, a trace of relief flashing in their eyes. They hurriedly scrambled up from the floor and shouted:

"Yes! Thank you, Brother Aidos!"

Only after both of them had risen did Aidos call toward the door. "Bring him in."

The door opened, and Taro entered with a fawning expression, dropping to one knee. "Lord Aidos, I've brought him."

Tap, tap!

Behind him, Giovanni walked in with a calm expression.

Giovanni's gaze lingered on the three men and Weavile for only a moment before he stopped looking at them. He did not kneel, however.

Aidos narrowed his eyes at Giovanni. "Are all young people so bold?"

Giovanni had yet to find anything amiss.

But when Taro, kneeling on the floor, turned to look, he felt as though the sky were falling. "What are you standing there for? Kneel!"

Giovanni ignored him and simply asked Aidos:

"Do I need to kneel, Lord Aidos?"

Aidos slowly leaned forward. "What if I told you to kneel?"

Giovanni answered without a change in expression:

"Then I'd kneel."

"Ha ha ha! You're interesting!" Aidos laughed, then waved a hand casually. "No need to kneel. Just stand there. Young people ought to have some backbone. Unlike these spineless fools, who are good for nothing!"

Taro felt his scalp prickle, sweat soaking his back. "Spare me, my lord!"

Aidos said to the burly bald man:

"He's one of yours, isn't he? Discipline him properly. Don't let him disgrace Team Rocket out there."

The burly bald man gave an awkward chuckle. "Don't worry, Brother. Leave it to me."

He rose with a cold expression, knocked Taro unconscious with one punch, then dragged him out, his eyes filled with coldness and anger.

Aidos glanced at the thin battalion commander. "What are you still doing here? Waiting for me to ask you to leave?"

The thin battalion commander hurriedly rose. "I wouldn't dare. I'll leave right away." "Just give the word if you need anything, Brother Aidos."

He left as well, his eyes likewise filled with coldness.

After they had all left, only Giovanni, Aidos, and the soundly sleeping Weavile remained.

Giovanni could pick up on something suspicious from their behavior. "Those subordinates of yours don't seem all that loyal, my lord."

"You're quite observant. Good insight." Aidos did not deny Giovanni's words, praising him instead.

Giovanni answered without servility or arrogance. "I just happened to notice."

Still, he asked curiously:

"Aren't you afraid subordinates like that will stab you in the back?"

Aidos snorted coldly. "As if they could! They're just two useless fools. And remember one thing: in Team Rocket, none of us is anyone else's subordinate. We're all the Boss's subordinates!"

Giovanni was a little surprised. Aidos seemed somewhat different from how Axin had described him.

As Giovanni Rika's right-hand man, Aidos was no less perceptive. "What? Do you think I'm different from the rumors?"

Giovanni hid nothing and simply nodded. "Yes. Rumor has it you and the Boss are at serious odds, and that you're vehemently opposed to the selection process."

Resting his chin on his hand, Aidos said:

"That's right. I oppose the selection process because I think the next leader should be chosen from between Miyamoto and me, no matter what, rather than from you brats whose backgrounds we know nothing about."

But then his tone shifted. "Still, the Boss's words carry great weight with me, too. Since she wants to do it, I can only agree."

"However, I'll handle the final screening for her. If the new leader isn't up to the task, I won't mind killing him!"

"What if someone is up to it?" Giovanni pressed further.

Aidos raised an eyebrow slightly. "Then let him kill me through his own ability. He can win everyone over and secure his throne at the same time!"

"Understood." Giovanni nodded.

Aidos gave Giovanni a long look. "Are you that confident, brat?"

Giovanni answered honestly:

"No, but I'll do my best to try, because I don't want to die."

"Besides, I do have potential, don't I? Otherwise, you wouldn't have specifically called me here! How has my performance been compared with the others?"

Aidos burst out laughing. "You're an interesting brat. Much more interesting than the other two."

"No wonder Miyamoto thinks highly of you. Neither of those two brats matches your mental fortitude or confidence."

Giovanni merely nodded slightly. "Thank you for the praise, my lord."

Aidos slowly rose. "I'm actually starting to look forward to you being the brat standing before me at the end. That would make things interesting."

His aura bore down furiously on Giovanni.

"Can you lead Team Rocket to the top?"

The terrifying pressure of his aura turned Giovanni pale and sent him staggering back a few steps. Yet he still held his back straight and answered Aidos firmly:

"Does conquering the world count? If it does, then yes!"