Rules about to change

In the end, Giovanni still collected Nidoran♂'s food, picking up two extra Berries this time.

Giovanni had no intention of feeding those Berries to a disobedient stray son like Nidoran♂.

He would save them for the Beedrill Kakuna would transform into, to give him a proper nutritional boost.

Inside Giovanni's room.

When he released Nidoran♂, Nidoran♂ immediately hid in a corner of the room, watching him warily.

He still did not trust Giovanni. For now, he had merely been subdued by Giovanni's force.

Likewise, Giovanni did not trust him either, so he locked the Poké Ball every time he recalled him.

That way, he would not have to worry about Nidoran♂ secretly killing him.

One could never be too careful around others, and the same went for Pokémon.

Giovanni set a newly collected bowl on the floor, poured in Nidoran♂'s food, added a little water, and gently pushed it over. "Eat. This food is for you."

Nidoran♂ glanced at Giovanni but did not move.

Giovanni turned, walked into the bedroom, and closed the door.

Giovanni looked perfectly relaxed, but his hand had been beside his dagger the whole time.

Nidoran♂ was afraid of him, but he was afraid of Nidoran♂ too.

He sat gently on the bed and released Kakuna.

The sound of chewing slowly began outside as well. It seemed Nidoran♂ was hungry after all.

About an hour passed.

Only then did Giovanni go outside, cautiously, of course.

Fortunately, Nidoran♂ was not some ungrateful wretch who would turn on him without a second thought.

At the very least, he did not attack Giovanni after finishing his food this time.

Giovanni did not waste any more words on him. He took out the Poké Ball and recalled him.

Raising Pokémon was actually just like raising cats or dogs. It took time, and affection had to be built gradually.

Only once Nidoran♂ completely let down his guard around Giovanni could things fall into place naturally.

The Poké Ball still needed to be locked. He still had to play it safe for now.

Time slipped quietly by.

On the afternoon two days later, Giovanni was training Nidoran♂ in the Training Ground with a cold expression.

After two days of eating Pokémon Food, he had actually gained two levels, just like Weedle back then.

It seemed food in the wild still could not compare to food processed by humans.

During that time, the little fellow had still tried attacking Giovanni, but Giovanni had dodged every attempt.

Giovanni had also taught him several harsh lessons.

Today was the first time Giovanni had brought him out to train. Their two days together had at least taught Nidoran♂ that following Giovanni meant getting fed.

However, Nidoran♂ still yearned for freedom!

His gaze was resolute, and the dense jungle seemed to appear in his eyes.

If he had a chance to escape, he would still leave without hesitation.

Because Nidoran♂ would never be a slave!

Giovanni stamped his foot and said coldly:

"Hurry up. What are you spacing out for? Use Poison Sting!"

Nidoran♂ shuddered and promptly used Poison Sting on the target ahead.

Whoosh, whoosh!

Poison needles shot through the air, but very few hit.

Giovanni covered his face helplessly and said:

"Your aim really is garbage."

Forget catching up to Kakuna's previous standard-even hitting an opponent fifty percent of the time was questionable.

Giovanni remarked thoughtfully, "Don't tell me you're this useless up close too?"

Nidoran♂ snorted at that, seemingly very displeased. His aura surged, and his body seemed to swell a little.

Then he charged fiercely at the target his Poison Sting had just missed.

Bang!

He knocked the target straight to the ground, then turned and tossed his head at Giovanni, getting a little carried away with his success.

Giovanni merely gave a mocking smile.

The target he had knocked down was flipping back over at tremendous speed, slamming hard into him.

Nidoran♂ was sent flying and landed sprawled on his back, looking somewhat bedraggled.

"Is that Nidoran♂ of yours an idiot or something?"

Before Giovanni could speak, a familiar voice sounded behind him.

Giovanni turned his head slightly. Yalan, who had owned a Bulbasaur, one of the Starter Pokémon, was standing behind him with a disdainful expression.

An adorable Eevee stood by her feet, along with the now-evolved Ivysaur.

Hearing someone insult him, Nidoran♂ sprang up from the ground.

He stared at Yalan with murderous intent, looking ready to attack at any moment!

But since he was following Giovanni for the time being, he had to see what Giovanni said first.

Besides, Giovanni ought to say a few words on his behalf and fire back, at least.

Giovanni spoke coldly. "Whether he's an idiot or not doesn't seem to be any of your business, does it?"

Nidoran♂ looked at Giovanni in disbelief. What was that supposed to mean? What did he mean?

Yalan sneered. "Hah, you're still as arrogant as ever. I really don't know where you get your courage."

"From this Nidoran♂ with something wrong with his head? Or that Kakuna of yours that still hasn't hatched after all this time?"

She mercilessly tore into Giovanni. "The end of the month is right around the corner. Even if he hatches, he'll only be level 11! Let's see what you do then!"

Giovanni glanced at the Ivysaur by Yalan's feet. Through his Viridian Force, he could clearly tell that this Ivysaur had rapidly grown stronger and evolved by overdrawing his potential.

It seemed that despite Aidos's fine words, he had still tampered with things.

After all, he did not want to die either. He would not nurture a threat to himself.

Giovanni remarked disdainfully, "Hah, someone who's being taken for a fool."

Then he turned away from her and called to the resentful Nidoran♂ beside him:

"Keep going. What are you standing around for? Keep training. You like ramming things, don't you? Then keep at it."

Urged on by Giovanni, Nidoran♂ hurried over to the target and kept ramming it with his head.

But even he did not understand why he now actually obeyed whenever Giovanni ordered him around.

Yalan shouted furiously at Giovanni, "What did you say?! I'll kill you!"

She was about to order her Pokémon to attack Giovanni.

Before she could do anything else, even Axin walked over from the side and rebuked her sharply. "What are you doing? Didn't we say fighting in the Training Ground was strictly forbidden?!"

Yalan stamped her foot in fury and said viciously to Giovanni:

"You bastard, Giovanni! You'd better hope you don't run into me, or you'll die a horrible death. I'll have Ivysaur use Leech Seed to suck you dry!"

She glanced at Axin as well. "And you! Once I become the organization's young master, I'll kill you too!"

With that, she turned and ran out with her two Pokémon.

Axin watched her retreating figure coldly, his eyes thick with murderous intent!

Giovanni's voice sounded beside his ear. "Stop staring. You can't touch her! Don't worry. If she keeps acting like this, she won't live much longer! Once she runs into me, I'll slaughter her."

Axin nodded. "Yes, I believe you."

Giovanni asked Axin, "How many more died this time?"

Axin answered:

"Another fifteen died. There are fewer than forty left in total now."

Giovanni sneered. "Hah, if I'm not mistaken, the rules are about to change again."

Axin merely said to Giovanni from behind him:

"You'll definitely win."