Chapter 123: Sakaki: I Will Personally Take Down Mammon!

Back at Caitlin's villa.

"Hikari, come to the villa for a moment."

Mammon thought it over, then gave Hikari a call. Since the Hoenn League had shaken up its roster and wanted to face him in a decisive battle.

Then naturally Mammon had no reason to flinch. Besides, this was also a good chance to deal with the matter concerning Hikari.

After all, to start a war, one needs a pretext, doesn't one?

Time flew by, and the next day arrived.

Mauville City Airport.

Clad in a black designer suit, Sakaki slowly walked out of the airport.

"Mr. Sakaki, hello." A young man in a suit came forward to greet him.

"Hello."

"Champion Wallace has asked me to await your arrival here. Please, come with me."

Sakaki got into the car and arrived at the Hoenn League building.

The corner of Sakaki's mouth curved into a subtle arc. He truly hadn't expected that one day he would come to another region's League building, and moreover as an honored guest.

The staff member led Sakaki upstairs, and they soon arrived before the conference room.

The staff member knocked twice on the door, then opened it and bowed, gesturing for Sakaki to enter.

Sakaki stepped into the conference room and casually scanned the room. Well, well — the conference room was already filled with many people.

The two Hoenn Champions, Steven and Wallace, the Hoenn Elite Four, and Officer Jenny were all present.

However, Sakaki's gaze settled particularly on two women. The one in a black lady's trench coat with beautiful long golden hair was the Sinnoh Champion, Cynthia.

And the other, a girl who looked very young — her black hair tied into a ponytail, a streak of green-dyed bangs hanging down, tanned skin, looking cheerful and lively.

This was Nemo, the current student of Naranja Academy who had blitzed through the Paldea League last year.

Sakaki was looking at the people present, but the people present were likewise looking at Sakaki.

Nemo's gaze was curious; Steven and Cynthia's eyes held a hint of complexity — this was Mammon's father.

Wallace, meanwhile, was subtly sizing him up. Whether it was psychological or not, he couldn't shake the feeling that this middle-aged man, who carried the air of a successful person, had a somewhat sinister look about him!

He really didn't look like a good person at all!

"My apologies, it seems I am late."

Sakaki apologized in his deep, magnetic voice.

"Not at all. There are still ten minutes until the appointed time. Please, take a seat, Gym Leader Sakaki." Steven smiled and gestured with his hand.

He was the one sitting in the host's seat. It is worth mentioning that last night he and Wallace had held another handover ceremony.

Mhm, Wallace had returned the position of Hoenn Champion to him once again.

No Elite Four challenge match was held, because there was simply no need. Could the Hoenn League still be unclear about Steven's strength? All that was required was to go through the motions.

As for this Champion handover, the Hoenn League had just issued a public announcement that morning, which had also sparked quite a bit of discussion.

However, aside from Wallace's die-hard fans, basically no one had any objections — although the Hoenn League wouldn't care about these public objections anyway.

Sakaki gave everyone a friendly smile and sat down.

"Now that Gym Leader Sakaki has also arrived, let us get straight to the main topic."

Steven swept his gaze around the room. Of course, his gaze settled particularly on the three people who had come to help — Sakaki's group.

"First of all, I must thank Champion Cynthia, Gym Leader Sakaki, and Young Lady Nemo for coming to assist. Thank you very much."

Steven said gratefully. Regardless of what motives the three of them had, the fact that they could come in person to help was worthy of thanks.

"There's no need for such courtesy, Champion Steven. We are all members of the League, and we ought to help one another — especially when it comes to opposing an evil organization."

Cynthia shook her head, her tone calm and rational.

"Champion Cynthia is right. The evil Team Rocket should be eradicated! And... I bear an inescapable responsibility. In fact, it is I who should be apologizing to all of you."

Sakaki's voice was very low, filled with self-reproach.

"My unfilial son Mammon has caused you all such great trouble. I cannot shirk my responsibility."

Sakaki stood up and gave Steven and the others a slight bow.

"Gym Leader Sakaki, you need not do this." Steven hurriedly stood up — Sakaki was considerably older than him.

"How can Mammon's actions be blamed on you? You mustn't blame yourself."

"Champion Steven is right. Gym Leader Sakaki, you also did not wish for the current situation to occur. You need not reproach yourself." Cynthia nodded in agreement.

"Sigh... This time I will definitely defeat Mammon. If he remains obstinate, I will personally see him sent to prison."

Sakaki took a deep breath, his tone heavy.

"In my life, I have never let anyone down, nor have I ever done anything with a guilty conscience. I never imagined I would become such a failure as a father."

Hearing this, Steven and the others fell silent. Mhm, they truly could not empathize — after all, they didn't have children.

However, seeing Sakaki's lost and pained appearance, they too felt a certain heaviness in their hearts.

Just as Sakaki himself had said, his life bore no blemish; he had always been a diligent and responsible Gym Leader. Yet Mammon joining Team Rocket was a shadow upon him that could not be erased.

Most importantly, Mammon was also so powerful.

Wallace fell into thought. It seemed he had misunderstood Sakaki. Indeed, was it because he was looking through tinted glasses?

"As long as we can defeat Mammon, I believe we can persuade him to return to the right path." Steven offered a word of comfort.

Sakaki nodded with a Gloomy Expression and sat back down.

"The reason I have invited the three of you here this time — as you already know — is to deal with the evil organization Team Rocket!"

Steven said in a deep voice. A composite image appeared on the big screen — it was the known high-ranking Team Rocket executives.

Nemo watched these with great interest. Paldea had no evil organizations, and regarding this 'legendary' evil organization, Nemo was very intrigued.

Especially one that had forced the Hoenn League to seek aid from other regions.

So while Daigo was introducing the Hoenn Team Rocket, Nemo listened very attentively.

"Champion Daigo, I'd like to know — have you already investigated and found the specific base locations of Team Rocket?"

After Daigo finished speaking, Caitlin asked.

"We haven't confirmed anything yet, but we do have some leads."

Daigo shook his head.

"We believe Mamon and the others are most likely temporarily staying in Sootopolis City. Based on the information Officer Jenny collected, Mamon, Caitlin, and Zinnia have all appeared in Sootopolis City and been spotted several times."

Daigo said in a solemn voice, and that day he and Mikoli had also run into Mamon in Sootopolis City.

Caitlin's beautiful brows furrowed slightly — this was exactly the situation she feared most, not yet having pinpointed the exact location of Mamon and the others.

However, unlike the Alola incident, the Hoenn League had already made preparations for war.

As long as any trace of Team Rocket was discovered, even within the city, the Hoenn League had already steeled its resolve.

No matter what, Team Rocket had to be driven out of Hoenn!

……

Rustboro City — a city that pursued the fusion of nature and science.

It was also a city centered on the Devon Corporation, overseeing many of Hoenn's industries.

Worth mentioning is that to the north of Rustboro City lies Meteor Falls.

The three of them — Mamon and company — had now arrived at Rustboro City.

"We're so close to home now. Zinnia, aren't you going to go back and take a look? We can wait for you."

Mamon said to Zinnia with a beaming smile.

"My duty isn't finished yet, I can't go back." Zinnia shook her head.

"Mamon, now that both Team Magma and Team Aqua have been absorbed by us, and Kyogre has been captured by you, tell me — what am I supposed to do?"

Zinnia shot a glance at Mamon; her original plan had been completely thrown into disarray.

"Just go ahead and make your wish."

"A wish isn't guaranteed to succeed. I don't have a Rainbow Meteorite, and since Kyogre and Groudon haven't gone to war, the success rate of the summoning is even lower."

Zinnia said, somewhat annoyed.

Otherwise, why would she have joined Team Magma in the first place? It was to guide the two organizations into awakening Groudon and Kyogre to do battle, increasing the success rate of summoning Rayquaza.

"Don't worry — Rayquaza, there'll be a chance." Mamon smiled.

Though the timing wasn't right yet.

Zinnia rolled her eyes. This guy Mamon really did make it sound easy.

The three of them arrived at the Devon Corporation headquarters building.

"Hello, may I help you?"

The Young Lady at the front desk, wearing a professional smile, addressed the three of them the moment they entered the company.

"Hello, we're looking for President Zisuqi. Could you please contact him for us?" Mamon smiled back.

"Looking for the President? Do you have an appointment?"

The receptionist asked again.

As the president of Devon Corporation, Zisuqi Mujin was one of the wealthiest people in the world — getting a meeting with Zisuqi Mujin was certainly no easy matter.

"We don't, but you can try calling him. Just say an old acquaintance from the Johto Bell Tower is looking for him and wants to discuss something."

"Please wait a moment."

The receptionist hesitated, but looking at the three of them — each with a distinct yet extraordinary bearing — she still chose to make the call.

Working at a company like Devon, a sharp eye was an essential basic skill.

Compared to being held accountable afterward, the receptionist preferred to trust her own judgment.

And the call had barely connected for two sentences before the receptionist looked toward Mamon and the others.

"The President is waiting for the three of you in his office."

"Thank you."

Mamon once again offered a polite smile, and led by a staff member, took the elevator up to the top floor.

Arriving at Zisuqi Mujin's office, Mamon looked around and clicked his tongue in admiration.

"In just a few short years, you've taken a small company that mined iron ore and refined steel, and developed it into a behemoth that can rival the Silph Co. President Zisuqi, you truly are a remarkable businessman."

Mamon looked toward the silver-gray-haired middle-aged man in a purple suit seated in his office chair and sighed in admiration.

It had to be said, Zisuqi Mujin's development history could truly be called a legend.

If not for living in this world where Pokémon were mainstream, Zisuqi Mujin's life could absolutely have written a legend.

Although actually it's pretty much the same now — just how many people in business idolize Zisuqi Mujin? Countless. Absolutely countless.

"You're too kind, young people. And you three are?"

Zisuqi Mujin's voice was somewhat low, his shrewd, sharp eyes fixed on the three of them.

"Us? President Zisuqi, every person must pay the price for their own actions. You surely haven't forgotten what happened back then, have you? That girl on Rayquaza's back."

Mamon tilted his head slightly, his expression gradually filling with malice.

Zinnia stared at Zisuqi Mujin with an icy gaze, her face also very ugly.

"You…"

Zisuqi Mujin's brows knit tightly; hearing this, his expression kept shifting — guilt, shame, and shock alike.

This person actually knew?!

"That girl from back then…"

"Ah~ Shijiana is Zinnia's older sister, President Zisuqi."

"……"

Zivoki Mukgin instantly tensed up, staring at Hijana whose aura was icy and dangerous, but very quickly, Zivoki Mukgin's body went limp again, leaning back against the chair as if all the strength had been drained from her in an instant.

"I have never forgotten. The thing I regret most in my life is having taken part in this incident."

Zivoki Mukgin's weary, powerless voice slowly rang out.

"Back then, people from the Pokémon Association invited me to provide technical support for the 'Rayquaza Capture Plan,' so I brought an implementation team to the Embedded Tower."

"But after the operation began, I only learned there was still a girl on Rayquaza, but by then it was already too late to stop... I am very sorry, I'm sorry."

Zivoki Mukgin apologized to Hijana.

"Heh~ Is a single 'sorry' enough?" Hijana let out a cold laugh, glaring at Zivoki Mukgin with loathing.

"You selfish people don't understand at all why my sister went to seek out Rayquaza, don't know what she was bearing!" Hijana's tone grew angrier and angrier.

Clearly, their people of the Meteorites had sought out Rayquaza for the sake of all of Hoenn, yet Shikana died at the hands of the very people she had wanted to protect.

This was... how utterly tragic a thing.

Zivoki Mukgin gave a bitter laugh.

"Things have come to this. No matter what you want to do to me, I am willing to accept it."

Zivoki Mukgin sighed. He understood — it was his fault; he was the one who had caused the girl before him to lose her sister forever.

In the entire office, only the sound of Hijana's increasingly heavy breathing remained.

Veins of blood welled up in her eyes, and the joints of her fingers were squeezed until they let out a series of 'creak, creak' sounds.

She very much wanted to take out Salamence's Poké Ball, but Hijana still forcibly forced herself to calm down.

"I won't let you die so easily, Zivoki Mukgin." Hijana said in an icy voice. Precisely because of Zivoki Mukgin's attitude of openly atoning, she wanted even less to kill this person.

How could it be that easy?

"……" Zivoki Mukgin looked at Hijana and sighed deeply.

"Then next, President Zivoki, may I ask you to give your son Daigo a call?"

Mammon, seeing that Hijana said nothing more, smiled and spoke to Zivoki Mukgin.

"This matter has nothing to do with Daigo." Zivoki Mukgin said in a low voice. Daigo was the son he was most proud of; he truly did not want this matter to involve Daigo.

Because causing the death of an innocent girl out of selfishness — if Daigo learned of this, Daigo would also be deeply disappointed in him.

Zivoki Mukgin did not want that. Although he knew the decision was not in his hands.

"Relax, it has nothing to do with this matter." Mammon shrugged.

"……" Zivoki Mukgin fell silent, took out his phone, and dialed Daigo.

It had barely rung a few times before the call was picked up.

"Father, what's wrong?" Daigo's puzzled voice came through.

"Hellooo~ Teacher Daigo, surprised?"

Mammon took Zivoki Mukgin's phone and greeted Daigo with a beaming smile.

"Mammon!!"

Daigo was utterly shocked, his volume shooting up, a mix of fury and alarm.

Daigo could not help but be shocked and furious, because this number belonged to his father!

"Mammon! How do you have my father's phone number?"

"Guess?"

Mammon bared his teeth, and the thick malice in his tone made Daigo's breath pause for an instant.

(End of this chapter)