Chapter 45: These Two Father and Son Really Know How to Play

"Gym Leader Sakaki, I can understand how you feel, but please calm down a little."

Young Lady Officer Jenny soothed Sakaki, who seemed 'rather agitated.'

Although Sakaki's reaction didn't look like a panic attack, Sakaki had always been steady and rational, so this reaction was actually already relatively 'agitated.'

Hearing that, Sakaki fell silent for a moment, his breathing slowly steadying.

Agatha and Professor Oak exchanged a subtle glance, and Oak shook his head at her.

"Are you really certain?" Sakaki's low voice rang out.

"Gym Leader Sakaki, although it's a pity, this matter is indeed true."

Professor Oak said helplessly.

"We don't know the reason, but the child Mamon did indeed join Team Rocket. The Island Kings of Alola and the Sinnoh Champion Cynthia can both testify to this."

Professor Oak glanced at Officer Jenny, who nodded and picked up the remote to press a button.

The display screen lit up, and a handsome black-haired youth appeared on it — it was Mamon.

"This was filmed by them at the time."

"……"

Sakaki stared at the screen, his gaze growing increasingly complex, silent for a long while.

Then Sakaki took a deep breath and, in front of the three of them, took out his phone and dialed a call.

Beep— beep— beep—

The phone kept ringing; apart from the ringtone, the entire conference room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Soon, the ringing finally connected.

"Hello? Dad?"

The youth's voice came through the earpiece — even Professor Oak and the others could hear it — a light, cheerful tone with a touch of incongruously lazy drawl, sounding very distinctive.

It was indeed Mamon's voice; Professor Oak was certain of this, because when Mamon won the championship, it was he who presented the award.

At the time, Professor Oak had been very gratified, thinking that another genius was about to emerge in the Kanto region.

"Mamon, what are you doing in Alola?" Sakaki's voice was very low.

"Of course I'm traveling." Mamon's light laugh came through again.

"Tell me the truth! Did I ever teach you to lie?"

Sakaki's heavy voice at this moment seemed like a suppressed volcano, as if it could erupt at any moment.

Noticing this, Professor Oak's grey-white brows furrowed slightly.

And as Sakaki's words fell, the voice on the other end of the line seemed to fall silent at that moment.

"As I thought, you found out, Dad." The youth's voice was very cold.

"So you really did join Team Rocket! Mamon, do you know what you're doing? How did I raise you since you were little, you…"

Although Sakaki still seemed calm on the surface, anyone could tell he was actually very angry now, and his tone was extremely stern.

"You always say things like that."

The youth calmly cut Sakaki off.

"What did you say?" Sakaki was stunned.

"I've had enough, Sakaki. Sixteen years. A full sixteen years."

Mamon's voice wasn't loud — no hysterics, no heart-wrenching wail — it was instead calm and even.

"You always demanded I move along the path you laid out. Have you ever once considered my feelings? I'm like your puppet, operating step by step according to your words."

"I…" Sakaki's throat seemed blocked by something, and he could only squeeze out a few dry words: "I'm doing this for your own good."

"Yeah, they only ever say, 'Look, that's Gym Leader Sakaki's son,' 'As expected of Gym Leader Sakaki's son, amazing.' No matter how hard I worked, even when I became the champion of the Indigo Conference."

"Your label still clings to me, as if my excellence only came from you."

Mamon's tone remained calm — or rather, indifferent.

An eerie silence filled the conference room. Professor Oak frowned deeply; Agatha wore a faint, eerie smile on her face, her gaze sweeping over the silent Sakaki.

Chief Officer Jenny's expression was similar to Professor Oak's — her brows tightly furrowed as well.

"I'm not your toy, and I'll prove it — even without you, I'll succeed just the same!"

With that final sentence, the call was hung up.

Sakaki kept his head lowered in silence, shadow covering his face, making it impossible for the three of them to read his expression.

But they understood — his son's words must have hit Sakaki extremely hard, right?

But in reality…

Hold it in! Must hold it in! Can't laugh out loud!

Sakaki's years of cultivation had finally proven useful!

"Sigh—"

Professor Oak started to speak, then stopped; considering Sakaki's current mood, he merely let out a soft sigh.

Strict family education, public opinion, effort that never received proper recognition — all of it had driven such an outstanding child to an extreme.

What could Professor Oak say? Blame Sakaki? What would be the point?

"I'm sorry, Chairman. It's my fault." A hoarse, low voice suddenly rang out.

"It's alright; no one could have foreseen this. Gym Leader Sakaki, please don't blame yourself too much." Professor Oak could only offer such comfort.

What the hell is this situation?

Professor Oak cried out inwardly. Originally, he had been planning that once Mamon finished his travels this year, he would personally invite Mamon to become one of the Kanto Elite Four.

Who could have imagined that this genius youth, raised by an official Gym Leader, had now joined Team Rocket.

Professor Oak held his forehead, his heart very weary — who could understand?

……

The Alola region.

Mamen hung up the phone feeling refreshed and satisfied!

With this clean cut, whatever Mamen does from now on won't affect Giovanni.

Although there will inevitably still be some noise, for Giovanni it won't be much of a problem.

"Excellent! Find a suitable opportunity, and I can officially take the position of Team Rocket's boss!"

Mamen leaned back on the leather sofa with one leg crossed over the other, looking very relaxed and at ease.

He had waited far too long for this day!

What's the point of being second-in-command? If you're going to do it, be the boss!

"My lord, what shall we do next?"

Lance, who had observed the whole thing, actually felt very much like roasting them internally — this father-and-son pair really knew how to play their games.

But as a competent subordinate, he was very tactful; whether it was Boss Giovanni who was about to 'retire' or Boss Mamen who was about to take over, he could accept either.

Not to mention he felt Mamen's ability and strength both met his expectations, and Boss Giovanni was only 'retiring,' not dead.

It didn't matter — either of this father-and-son pair could be boss.

"For the next few days, have the organization members keep a low profile. We still don't know what Kukui and the others will do."

Mamen deliberated for a moment, then instructed Lance.

"Yes."

"Chunlan's appearance is indeed troublesome. In that case…"

Mamen's eyes flickered slightly. He hadn't originally wanted to move so quickly, but now he had to speed up his plans.

No choice — Chunlan's sudden appearance had indeed disrupted some of his arrangements.

Tsk~ In a few days I'll pay a visit to the Aether Paradise and take down Lusamine first.

Recommending a friend's Pokémon fic — if you're interested, go take a look



(End of chapter)