Pokémon：Son of Giovanni

Battle ended, Damian slowly walks into the arena.

"Nice work, you've improved a lot, Paul. I was right not to underestimate you."

Damian gives Paul a compliment.

Paul bows slightly at Damian, but doesn't say anything; he's grateful for the recognition and the chance to grow.

"Ash, you lost."

Damian looks at Ash, a teasing smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"..."

Ash, holding a just‑woken Pikachu, doesn't look happy, but he doesn't argue.

Although he's furious now that he lost to Paul, it's not that he can't take it. The problem is losing to this trash‑talking guy makes him feel salty.

"According to the agreement, you owe me one thing now, right?"

"...Yes, but I won't do any bad stuff."

Ash nods reluctantly, then adds immediately:

"Ash, you're not right acting like that. Could you please stop looking at us as the new Team Rocket with old eyes?"

Damian raises an eyebrow.

The three of them stay silent.

"Team Rocket used to be led by evil; I beat that original boss, so I'm the current boss. I'm not some low‑level villain."

Damian blurts out casually.

So, you're saying you're not denying that you're a villain?

Misty can't help but mutter under her breath; if Damian can defeat the original Team Rocket boss, that makes him rather dangerous, right?

Team Rocket has long controlled the Kanto region. They're a scourge, and Indigo League wants to wipe them out at all times. Yet there's no progress, and that mysterious Team Rocket leader is the source of darkness—evil itself.

Yet that Team Rocket was defeated by Damian.

"Are you saying Team Rocket isn't evil anymore?"

Brock can't help but ask.

"Why don't you believe me?" Damian retorts.

And Brock falls silent.

"Prejudice in people's minds is a mountain; no matter how I tell the world, it won't change much."

Damian sighs.

Ash scratches his head. He actually feels a touch of sympathy for Damian.

Perhaps, as Damian says, people still hold onto past impressions; the name Team Rocket still triggers memories of their old, evil deeds, and people subconsciously assume they're still that same organization.

But Brock and Misty aren't swayed by Damian's words.

The claim sounds plausible but also risky.

Damian's swagger when announcing to the Radio Tower is not something anyone would tolerate, right?

This kind of person...

The gap between the way Damian acts now and who he used to be is huge.

Which is the real Damian, anyway?

Brock and Misty can't tell, but they'll start by questioning.

"So what do you want Ash to do, actually?"

Brock shifts the topic. He and Ash are journeying together as teammates, but he also views Ash as a younger brother in some ways.

He won't stand by and let Damian bully Ash.

"Team Rocket's goals are simple: wipe out all other evil teams and forces, including hunter organizations. The world doesn't need filthy things like them."

Damian doesn't answer directly but outlines part of Team Rocket's ideology.

"That's a good thing," Ash thinks; "evil organizations and hunter organizations are poisons!"

"Yes, you think so too, right, Ash? I was right about you—you're a person with a strong sense of justice."

Damian smiles sunny and bright.

Ash blushes slightly and scratches his nose.

Caitlin and the others stand behind Damian; even Dawn's eyes look a little odd toward Ash.

"Enough!" Brock steps forward to interrupt, patting Ash on the back to bring him back to reality.

"Damian, what do you really mean?"

"To wipe out these evil teams, we need more like‑minded teammates; that way the world remains bright and clean!"

"Talent makes the sky blue! Talent makes people live with happiness!"

Damian's words are fiery and inspiring.

At least Ash is visibly excited, nodding along—yes, that's exactly what he wants!

If this world didn't have those evil organizations, that would be great!

"Ash, for this world, would you join us?"

"I would… um—"

In the heat of the moment, Ash almost immediately agrees.

"Stop!"

Misty leaps in, grabbing Ash by the neck and pinching his lips shut. Pikachu, exhausted in Ash's arms, yelps and falls to the ground.

"Ash, what are you doing?!"

Ash breaks free, cradling Pikachu with care.

"Come on, what the heck—this isn't something you can say on a whim, dummy!"

Misty lands a punch on Ash's head in frustration.

"That's right, Ash. Don't just listen to his side of the story."

Damian's brow twitches slightly.

If not for Misty and Brock, Damian could've easily hoodwinked Ash with revolutionary rhetoric—talk is easy.

But the two of them are reasonable.

C'mon.

"Ah? But..."

Ash seems to think Damian's words make sense and feel sincere.

"Exactly what did he say? Are you dense?" Misty snaps.

"And didn't you notice? He's been talking about wiping out other evil organizations, so what about his own Team Rocket?"

Misty's gaze is sharp.

Ash freezes.

"If I understand right, wipe out all the others to grow your own Team Rocket—let everyone in all Regions be Team Rocket, that's your goal, right?"

Brock chimes in.

The three of them stare at Damian. Damian narrows his eyes a fraction, then a big smile spreads across his face.

Clap, clap, clap.

He claps for Brock and Misty.

"Well said. You were Gym Trainers before, all good seeds."

Damian compliments with a smile, not bothered by being exposed.

Clearly, Brock and Misty aren't the strongest talents, but they're reliable.

"Don't you deny it?" Misty stares.

"Why would I?" Damian feigns surprise with a tilt of the head.

"Do what you said clash with what I told you?"

Indeed, Misty and Brock sense his real goal, but what then?

"We wipe out those evil organizations, then manage their turf, so the world won't breed more darkness."

Damian faces the trio.

"Two of you, whether it's justice of actions or justice of outcomes, it's all justice. It's Team Rocket's 'justice.' Any problems with that?"

Justice of actions means legitimacy; his plan to wipe out evil organizations is undeniably just.

Even though wiping out evil organizations doesn't hand their members to the League, Damian would absorb them all into Team Rocket as a 'modified' result.

If some are truly stubborn, they'd be sent to miners; a bit extreme, but it would solve the bad actors.

The idea of justice, as long as the outcome meets standards, is good.

For Damian, both the act and the result are correct.

"This is…"

Misty can't believe it. Is this right? It feels wrong, yet right.

So, is it right?

"Ash, I sincerely invite you to join us and help us take down those evil teams. Will you join us?"

Damian makes the invitation to Ash sincerely.

"Ah? I…"

Ash stops himself from jumping at once; the offer sounds tempting, but joining Team Rocket feels odd.

But refusing seems a pity—defeating evil organizations would be a worthy cause for Ash.

"Ash, isn't your dream to be a Pokémon Master?" Brock eventually reminds.

Although he isn't sure how to rebut Damian, Brock still distrusts Team Rocket.

Anyway, question first.

"Yes, my dream is Pokémon Master, Damian. I can't join your organization."

Ash suddenly recalls that becoming a Pokémon Master has been his dream since childhood; he won't give that up.

"It won't be a problem; there are many excellent trainers in your organization your age; exchanging ideas and growing together will help you become stronger."

Damian chuckles, then ponders.

"In any case, I still respect you, Ash. You and your teammates must have concerns."

"Then why don't you sign a temporary contract to become an off‑the‑record member of our organization? You'll have no real limits, and you can participate when we fight evil organizations and hunter organizations. How about that?"

Damian asks the three of them.

"Temporary member?"

Brock and Misty exchange a look; they're stunned.

"Yes—you're worried I'll deceive you? Then become temporary members; it's a way to learn about the organization and to experience some activities."

Damian smiles.

"That'll do for now. It doesn't bind you; there's no coercion."

"Okay... we'll try."

Misty hesitates, testing Ash.

"Alright!"

Ash nods, deciding.

Then...

"Wow! These Pokémon can be redeemed for merit?"

"Is this forum really this active? There are people from Unova and Hoenn here too."

"Lots of items..."

"This mission—I want to take it. Mt. Moon, Nidoking Lord attacked three bystanders; investigate berserk cause, capture if necessary."

The three of them look at their phones, shocked by the organization app.

Clearly, they're impressed by the lively atmosphere.

The forum has a ton of discussions about raising Pokémon, missions, and daily life; even little videos of Pokémon interactions.

Is this really Team Rocket's organization app?

Yes, Damian even gets Misty and Brock to sign a contract too; at least there's potential.

Haha—what a sight.

Watching Ash excited, Damian's smile cannot be contained.

Finally, he's got him to join!

Team Rocket Ash, reporting for duty!!

Damian can't imagine Red's expression when he finds out his little brother Ash has joined Team Rocket—what a shock!

This is going to be exciting.

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