"Hahaha, you've certainly got a big mouth, brat!"
Aidos's laughter echoed through the room.
Giovanni stood where he was, his eyes full of confidence!
As Aidos watched Giovanni, a trace of killing intent slowly appeared in his eyes. "To be honest, I think you're becoming something of a threat to me! I don't want to die either, so how about I nip you in the bud?"
Giovanni took a step back. The killing intent in Aidos's eyes was real, and he might actually act on it.
He could only do his best to make Aidos abandon the idea. "Please don't joke, sir. If you kill me, you won't be able to answer to the Boss."
Aidos chuckled, making no attempt to hide it. "No, after I kill you, I can just find someone to take the blame. The Boss won't punish me over a brat like you."
Giovanni rested his hand on the dagger at his thigh, as though that was the only way he could feel safe enough.
"I don't think you'd really stoop to attacking a child like me, sir."
Aidos cast a mocking glance at the dagger, then slowly withdrew his killing intent. "You're right. You're not worth killing yet! I'll kill you when you're qualified to stand before me."
Giovanni's anxious heart eased a little. "Then thank you for sparing my life, sir."
Aidos spoke to Giovanni earnestly. "No, the Boss is the one who saved your life. Otherwise, all of you would have died long ago! Remember, since you were fortunate enough to become the Boss's children, you must always respect her as your own mother."
Then he sat back down and said to Giovanni:
"You're more interesting than those other two brats. I gave both of them a welcome gift. What about you? What do you want?"
Giovanni's heart stirred. This is great. Isn't this like being handed a pillow just when I'm feeling sleepy?
Bang!
Just then, the door to the room was suddenly shoved open.
Aidos's two subordinates stood to one side in pain, clutching their faces.
A furious Miyamoto burst in from outside. "Aidos! Don't overstep your bounds! I'm the one in charge of the Selection Plan!"
Somewhat surprised, Aidos said to Giovanni, "It seems my information wasn't accurate enough. Do you hold such an important place in Miyamoto's heart?"
Giovanni was also puzzled about why Miyamoto had come. "I'm not sure either, sir. Well, I'll just take a..."
Before Giovanni could finish, Miyamoto strode up to him and pulled him behind her. "Don't be afraid of him. With me here, he won't dare touch you."
Aidos said cheerfully to Miyamoto:
"You're still as impulsive as ever, and still just as beautiful."
Miyamoto snorted. "Cut the nonsense. I'm taking him with me. If you overstep again, I'll personally drag you before the Boss!"
Aidos extended a hand toward the door. "Be my guest. You're welcome to come again. Let me know in advance next time so I can have someone prepare dinner."
Miyamoto didn't answer. She simply pulled Giovanni straight out, while he tried to get a word in but found no opportunity.
Aidos's two subordinates outside didn't dare stop Miyamoto either and simply let them leave.
Only after they had gone some distance did Miyamoto ask Giovanni:
"Well? He didn't give you any trouble, did he?"
Giovanni spread his hands helplessly. "No, but Lady Miyamoto, the treasure I was about to get is gone."
Miyamoto looked puzzled. "What treasure?"
Giovanni could only explain the whole story.
After hearing him out, Miyamoto looked a little embarrassed and cleared her throat. "Ahem. Well, let's count this rescue as a free one. Consider yourself lucky."
Giovanni was quite helpless too. After all, Miyamoto had meant well. All he could say was that Aidos's things evidently weren't meant for him.
But with everyone else having gained some assistance, Giovanni's position had become somewhat precarious.
Miyamoto was actually rather embarrassed too. It made it seem as though her good intentions had done harm. "Well, whether it's him or anyone else, tell me if someone gives you trouble. I'll help you out for free one more time."
Giovanni understood what Miyamoto meant: she could lend a hand, but compensating him for the treasure was out of the question.
But Miyamoto was more powerful than him, and she had saved him once before.
He could only nod. "Then thank you, Lady Miyamoto."
Miyamoto began making her escape. "If there's nothing else, I'll be going. There isn't much time left before the end of the month. Keep working hard, brat."
Giovanni nodded, finally making up his mind. "I will."
After Miyamoto left, Giovanni returned to his room first.
When he saw Axin waiting restlessly outside his room, he guessed why Miyamoto had suddenly appeared.
Unfortunately, Axin's good intentions had also done harm.
But overall, he had been thinking of Giovanni, and he had dared risk offending an executive to seek help. He really was a rare subordinate.
So Giovanni didn't mention that his good intentions had done harm.
When Axin saw that Giovanni had returned safely, he said happily:
"Boss, are you all right?"
Giovanni stepped forward and patted his shoulder. "I'm fine. I owe you one this time."
Axin answered without servility or arrogance, "I only did what a subordinate should."
Giovanni patted his chest. Only at this moment did Axin truly become his trusted confidant.
"In any case, I'll remember this. I certainly won't let you go unrewarded in the future."
Axin had made a tremendous gamble. If he lost, he might plunge into the abyss; if he won, he would ascend to the heavens alongside a true dragon.
Of course, the odds of winning were a little higher.
The little incident passed.
Early the next morning, Giovanni got up bright and early. But instead of heading to the training grounds as usual, he went to Team Rocket's infirmary.
Having missed an opportunity with Aidos, Giovanni could only settle on the option he had long been unable to commit to.
That was to make a deal with Doctor Liangmu.
As a special researcher of equal rank to Team Rocket's executives, he should have no trouble obtaining some resources.
Giovanni needed something, and so did he. Wasn't that all it took to make a deal?
His timing was fortunate: Doctor Liangmu happened to be in the infirmary.
He recognized Giovanni the moment he saw him. "It's you! You really survived, kid. That's wonderful."
As a researcher, it was only natural that he had his wits about him.
He instantly guessed why Giovanni had come. "Well? Have you thought it through? Will you contribute to the science of the Pokémon World with me? Don't worry. As long as I plead with the Boss, there's still a chance I can get you out."
Giovanni didn't waste words with Doctor Liangmu. He went straight to the point.
"No. I don't intend to withdraw from the selection."
"But contributing to the science of the Pokémon World with you isn't out of the question. I just need a few things. If you can give them to me, we have a deal!"
Doctor Liangmu asked eagerly:
"What things?"
Before you continue