Chapter 14: I Am a Kind Person

The first floor of the mansion was now completely suffused with a tense, sword-drawn atmosphere.

But Mamen still wore an easy expression; although the numbers were utterly crushing against him, this had no effect on him whatsoever.

"Who did you call a small fry?"

But just then, a low, deep male voice came from above.

"Boss!"

"Boss! You've finally arrived!"

The Skull Team members' voices of delight rang out continuously, while the owner of that voice slowly descended the stairs.

"Oh?"

Mamen raised an eyebrow.

This was a man with a very fierce appearance, white hair, a pair of sunglasses on his forehead, wearing black baggy pants, a white short-sleeved shirt on his upper body, and a black jacket over it.

The whole person looked reckless and very dangerous.

And he was none other than Guzma, the leader of the Skull Team.

The Skull Team members stepped aside as Guzma, hands in his pockets, walked forward slowly, his fierce eyes highly intimidating.

"Kid, who did you just call a small fry?"

Guzma stopped in front of Mamen, leaned his upper body forward slightly, and questioned Mamen in a low voice.

"Isn't the Skull Team full of small fries? You must be Guzma, right?"

"That's right, this great lord is indeed Guzma." Guzma's expression became even more fierce.

"Kid, you're small but your mouth is big. This great lord doesn't care if you're from the Rocket Team or whatever team, go back to where you came from and don't disturb this great lord's afternoon nap!"

Guzma issued the dismissal without any courtesy, his tone extremely frantic.

It seemed a Skull Team member had just notified him.

"Tsk, I thought that as the leader of the Skull Team, you would have some brains, but it turns out you're just like this."

Guzma was fierce, but Mamen did not indulge him at all, mocking him.

"Did your brain get squeezed by a door? Or have you gotten used to being tyrannical in this place of Alola that you can't even see the situation clearly?"

After these words, Guzma's already fierce face grew even more gloomy.

"Hehehe... This great lord never expected someone to come specifically to get beaten and sent flying right in front of him."

Guzma grinned savagely, opened a Poké Ball, and a Pokémon resembling a giant isopod landed before Guzma.

This was the Bug/Water-type Vikavolt, Guzma's ace Pokémon.

"Stinky kid, this great lord will just properly beat you up; this is not a place for your Rocket Team to run wild at will."

Guzma bared his teeth; he had decided to teach this annoying kid a good lesson.

Caitlin's eyebrows furrowed slightly, looking at the savage Vikavolt with a Solemn expression; judging by its aura, this Vikavolt was very strong.

True, the opponent was after all the leader of the Skull Team, so his strength must not be weak.

However, Metagross had a type advantage, so they could fight.

Mamen clicked his tongue, stood up, and stopped Lysandre and Caitlin, who wanted to step forward.

"Interesting. Since that's the case, I'll test your level."

Mamen expanded and opened a Poké Ball at his fingertip.

A wild Pokémon with flying gray-white fur and blood-red eyes appeared before Mamen, tilting its head slightly to stare silently at the Vikavolt.

It was Simisage!

"Come, I'll give you a chance; I hope your strength is as wild as your mouth." Mamen bared his teeth as well.

"Kid, watch closely!" Guzma bared a mouthful of big white teeth.

"Vikavolt! Head-on Strike!"

The Vikavolt let out a low hum, and its entire body shot toward Simisage like a cannonball.

"True Fist."

Simisage clenched its right fist, blue energy constantly condensed, and then it struck out fiercely.

Boom!!

The True Fist and the Head-on Strike of the Vikavolt collided heavily; a violent booming sound resonated, and a surging wave of Qi spread outward.

But the next second.

Simisage exerted force again; the True Fist directly shattered the Head-on Strike and smashed the Vikavolt heavily, sending it flying.

Before the incredulous expressions of Malva and the others, the Vikavolt flew backward at a speed faster than its charge, smashing directly into the wall.

Silence!

The entire venue instantly fell silent.

Guzma's pupils shrank; Caitlin's eyes sparkled with extraordinary light. This Simisage was super strong!!

"This... how is this possible?" Malva murmured in a daze.

How is this possible?! This is impossible!

This was Guzma's ace Vikavolt! Even those Island Kings and Island Queens could not possibly crush Guzma like this.

"Why is it impossible?" Mamen chuckled lightly.

He heard Malva's voice; after all, the mansion was quiet enough right now.

"Small fries like you, hiding in a corner and amusing yourselves in your own little world, how could you possibly comprehend the vastness of the outside world."

Mamen's tone returned to being gentle and elegant, but his words remained just as sharp and unkind.

"You... who exactly are you?"

Guzma's breathing became significantly coarse and heavy; he stared fixedly at Mamen, his eyes like those of a wild beast ready to devour a person.

Something's off about this guy!!

Even if it were Kukui's ace, there's no way it could take out my Golisopod in a single hit like that.

And Kukui is the only Champion-class Trainer in the entire Alola region!

"Mammon, Team Rocket's Mammon." Mammon gave a slight smile.

"So then, Mr. Guzma, are you interested in having a proper chat with us now?"

"……"

Guzma stared at Mammon for quite a while.

"Follow me." Guzma said in a low voice.

Though hot-tempered, Guzma knew what mattered; this was a moment that decided the survival or destruction of Team Skull.

"A wise choice."

Mammon, along with Caitlin and Lance, followed Guzma.

"Burserimie, you come in too."

Burserimie bit her lip and followed as well.

Only those Team Skull members remained standing in place, uneasy, unsure what their future would hold.

But that wasn't something they could decide.

And Guzma led the group to a room on the second floor, identical in style to the outside — a complete mess.

"Nowhere to sit, so just make do." Guzma sat down on a wooden crate and said calmly.

Lance glanced around, grabbed a stool, wiped it with his sleeve, and offered it to Mammon.

"Tch~ couldn't you guys at least set up a place where we can talk?"

Mammon clicked his tongue as he surveyed the room.

"I don't bother with that kinda stuff normally." Guzma's brow twitched.

"Mammon, right? What exactly do you want?"

Then Guzma got straight to the point.

"Our Team Rocket is expanding into other regions, and Alola is our first target." Mammon regarded Guzma and Burserimie with an easy air.

"And your Team Skull — we're definitely going to absorb you. There's no room for compromise."

Mammon tilted his head, looking at the two of them.

Guzma's face darkened.

"But I'm a pretty kind-hearted person, so I'll give you a chance."

Mammon took out two silver badges and tossed them to Guzma and Burserimie.

"What's this?" Burserimie looked at the capital 'R' Letter Badge in her hand.

"I sincerely invite the two of you to join Team Rocket, serving as high-ranking executives. How about it?"

Mammon opened his mouth with a beaming smile.

Team Rocket's… high-ranking executive?

Burserimie instinctively glanced at Guzma, only to find his brow tightly furrowed as he stared at the silver badge in his hand.

(End of Chapter)