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"Mr. Mammon appeared in Celadon City? I understand."
On Indigo Plateau, Charles Goodshow received the news, deep in thought.
Celadon City was the location of the last major battle between Team Rockets and the Kanto League. It's worth noting that the Celadon Gym Leader Erika was captured by Mr. Mammon during that incident.
Later, after Mr. Mammon left Kanto, Erika returned to Celadon Gym.
This time, Mr. Mammon appeared in Celadon City again, and reports indicated that he had once more captured Erika.
"Lio, come with me to Celadon City."
Charles Goodshow took a deep breath, made up his mind, and spoke to Lio.
"Yes."
Time moved to the next day.
The morning sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains. Mr. Mammon slowly opened his eyes and felt the soft touch in the crook of his arm.
The young lady, who loved nature, was lying on her side, holding his arm. Her expression was serene and delicate, and there seemed to be faint tear marks at the corners of her eyes.
A thin silk quilt covered her body, subtly outlining the graceful curves beneath, her fair shoulders and neck, and her delicate collarbone.
Mr. Mammon was not in a hurry to get up. Instead, he quietly admired Erika's peaceful sleeping face.
After about a few minutes, her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and the girl slowly opened her eyes. What greeted her was a smiling face.
"Good morning, young lady."
"Good morning, Mr. Mammon."
Hearing the young man's gentle voice, Erika felt an uncontrollable sweetness in her heart and couldn't help but lean her soft body into Mr. Mammon's embrace.
A strong sense of happiness arose. Erika truly felt that this moment was wonderful.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she could see the face of the person she loved and hear his voice.
"What time is it now, Mr. Mammon?"
"It's half past ten."
"Eh??"
Erika was startled by the news and subconsciously sat up. The quilt slipped, revealing a beautiful sight.
"How could this be? I haven't even watered the flowers yet."
Erika picked up her phone and glanced at it. It really was half past ten!
Oh my goodness!
Erika felt that this was very unusual. Since childhood, her life had been very regular. This was the first time she had slept so late.
But just as she tried to get up, a pain came, making Erika's small face wrinkle uncomfortably.
"Take it slow. Why don't you rest today?" Mr. Mammon gently said, holding Erika's shoulder.
"It's alright. I can endure it." Erika shook her head.
The two tidied up, got up, and washed. When they came outside, they found Caitlin elegantly sipping tea at a tea table.
The moment she saw Caitlin, Erika's pretty face flushed slightly.
Caitlin glanced at Erika, whose posture was a bit strange, her expression very calm. She could only say that she had anticipated this since the day before yesterday, so she was not surprised.
Just a Gym Leader with a relatively gentle personality, Caitlin could only say that this was for Mr. Mammon to practice his skills.
It doesn't matter.
"Good morning, Miss Caitlin."
"Good morning. I've already watered your flowers and plants."
"Oh? I am very grateful."
Erika was quite surprised. To be honest, she always felt that although Caitlin was elegant and reserved on the outside, she was relatively arrogant on the inside. It was easy to be superficial friends, but very difficult to truly speak deeply with her.
"You're welcome. Someone was looking for you this morning." At this point, Caitlin's eyes flickered slightly.
"May I ask who it was?" Erika wasn't very surprised. It was probably her Gym apprentices.
After all, she hadn't been to the Gym for two days, but she had already sent messages to those apprentices to notify them.
"Chairman Goodshow."
"?"
Erika froze at the words, then her eyes widened.
Still in Erika's tea room, Erika sat somewhat nervously. Across from her was a short, elderly man with white hair and beard, accompanied by a stern-faced middle-aged Jenny.
"I am very sorry, President. I am truly impolite. Why didn't you notify me in advance that you were coming?"
Erika spoke somewhat awkwardly. Charles Goodshow was the President of the Kanto League, and also the President of the Pokémon League!
She didn't expect him to be 'turned away' at her place.
"Miss Caitlin said you weren't awake yet, so I, an old man, was planning to visit this afternoon. Gym Leader Erika, you don't need to worry about it."
Charles Goodshow smiled genially, his attitude very gentle.
"Yesterday, someone reported to me that Gym Leader Erika, you were kidnapped by the Team Rocket Leader, but now it seems…"
Charles Goodshow gave Erika, whose face was a bit off, a meaningful look, then shifted his gaze to Mr. Mammon.
Although he had thought that Erika and Mr. Mammon's relationship was unusual, it now seemed to be very unusual indeed.
"President, I…"
Erika bit her lip. Her relationship with Mr. Mammon was clearly discovered by Charles Goodshow, so it seemed she could only make a decision.
Although she was very reluctant to give up her position as Gym Leader, because she truly loved this job.
"Gym Leader Erika, don't get agitated. I, an old man, am not that pedantic." Charles Goodshow continued to smile gently, stopping Erika from speaking further.
But Charles Goodshow still felt it was a pity in his heart. Erika was very young, and besides occasionally dozing off, she was also a very responsible Gym Leader with great potential.
He didn't expect her to be 'taken away' by Mr. Mammon now.
"Mr. Mammon, this is our second meeting, isn't it?" Charles Goodshow said to Mr. Mammon.
Indeed, it was their second meeting. Their first meeting was at last year's Indigo Plateau Conference, where Charles Goodshow presented Mr. Mammon with the Champion's trophy.
"Yes, it seems your mental state is still very good, so I am relieved." Mr. Mammon responded with a smile.
"But you have caused us a lot of trouble now, Mr. Mammon. I actually always hoped you would challenge the Kanto League."
Charles Goodshow sighed and said.
At the end of last year, he had great expectations for this young man who had overwhelmingly won the Indigo Plateau Conference, believing he had a boundless future.
But while a boundless future was true, Mr. Mammon had chosen the path of Team Rockets.
"You, Lance, and your father, were all blessed by nature through Viridian Forest. Mr. Mammon, Team Rockets really doesn't suit you."
Charles Goodshow still held hope, hoping Mr. Mammon could 'turn over a new leaf' now.
"President, don't you think it's a bit too late to say that now? I am now the Team Rocket Leader."
Mr. Mammon couldn't help but smile.
"I have to say, President, you are truly bold, coming here with only one Jenny."
Mr. Mammon glanced at Jenny Mio. He didn't have Brock's ability to distinguish between Jennys.
But he could tell the high-ranking aura about this Jenny.
"Although I, an old man, am old, I can still see that Mr. Mammon, you are not a truly evil person."
Charles Goodshow shook his head. This was also why he dared to come before Mr. Mammon.
Alola, Hoenn, Unova—although they all had friction with the Team Rockets led by Mr. Mammon, countless instances proved that Mr. Mammon was not a heinous, bloodthirsty individual.
Moreover, it's worth mentioning that although their style was arrogant and brazen, Mr. Mammon's Team Rockets did not snatch Pokémon from ordinary people or conduct malicious genetic biological experiments.
Just these two points show that while Mr. Mammon cannot be called a good person, he is definitely not a heinous villain without a bottom line.
Then there's room for discussion.
"You can speak directly. What exactly did you come here for today?" Mr. Mammon was noncommittal.
Was Charles Goodshow here for Erika? No, he was actually here for Mr. Mammon.
"Then I, an old man, will speak frankly, Mr. Mammon. Now that you have become the Team Rocket Leader, what exactly do you intend to do next?"
Charles Goodshow's gaze became much steadier, fixed on Mr. Mammon's eyes.
This was the answer he came to Mr. Mammon for.
This would determine the Pokémon League's attitude towards Team Rockets going forward.
"What do I intend to do?" Mr. Mammon raised an eyebrow at the question.
Erika was very considerate, brewing tea for everyone and placing it before them.
"President, you know this too, right?"
After a long moment of contemplation, Mr. Mammon took a sip of tea and finally spoke.
"Although the Pokémon League governs all regions and maintains world peace and tranquility, in reality, various regions are still not peaceful."
"Evil Organizations, Hunter Organizations, and various ordinary people who disregard the safety of Pokémon and nature for their own selfish desires."
Mr. Mammon slowly said.
"I don't deny that, but the Kanto League has always tried its best to maintain it." Charles Goodshow was silent.
"The Kanto League cannot do it." Mr. Mammon directly denied.
"You mean your Team Rockets can?" Jenny Mio's voice was very cold.
"The Kanto League needs to consider laws and regulations, and human ethics, but we, Team Rockets, don't."
Mr. Mammon's lips curled into a smile.
Hearing this, Charles Goodshow and Jenny Mio both frowned.
"Team Rockets can eliminate all evil forces in all regions, and we can severely punish those scumbags, make them feel the pain, and ensure they never dare to offend again."
"Officer Jenny, according to the news I've heard, Champion Lance and Elite Lorelei were ostracized and targeted by many Kanto League council members precisely because of their radical attitude towards Evil Organizations, right?"
Mr. Mammon spoke slowly, his tone seemingly mocking and sarcastic.
Jenny Mio remained silent.
Given Mr. Mammon's status, it was not surprising that he knew about this matter.
"Why would they be ostracized? Is it because Champion Lance is too extreme, or are they afraid? Afraid that their own private, unclean affairs will be exposed by Champion Lance?"
"Mr. Mammon, it's not like that." Charles Goodshow sighed.
"President, I still respect people like you who have dedicated their lives to the Kanto League, but forgive my frankness."
Mr. Mammon's tone was not at all polite. Charles Goodshow truly had nothing to be criticized for; he was called 'the greatest person in the history of the Pokémon League' by Brock in the anime.
"You are old, and you are too weak. There are many things you cannot make up your mind to do, which has led to the current situation."
"Reconciling the conflicts between the Kanto Elite Four and the council members, do you think you can truly reconcile them?"
Mr. Mammon took another sip of tea and said lightly.
"…" Charles Goodshow's grizzled brows furrowed deeply, deep in thought.
But soon Charles Goodshow realized something was amiss. Wasn't he here to understand Mr. Mammon's objective? How did it get sidetracked into the internal issues of the Kanto League?
Charles Goodshow looked at Mr. Mammon.
"The topic seems to have strayed a bit, but it's alright. Actually, what I want to express is already very clear, isn't it?"
Mr. Mammon smiled brightly.
"President Charles Goodshow, then I'll speak plainly. What the Kanto League cannot do, we, Team Rockets, can do."
"The world is still under the authority and laws of the Kanto League. In this way, this world will be harmonious and peaceful, and we all hope to see that."
"However, we, Team Rockets, will rule the underworld of all regions. Evil Organizations, Hunter Organizations, and those unscrupulous ambitious individuals—we, Team Rockets, can handle them ourselves."
"You, the Kanto League, can also relax a bit and not worry about these matters."
"I'm done speaking. What do you think?"
Mr. Mammon looked at Charles Goodshow and Jenny Mio with a smile.
What do I think?
Charles Goodshow's expression was not particularly good, and Jenny Mio's was even more so, her face very serious and tense.
If it weren't for her professional ethics, she would want to bang on the table right now.
What Mr. Mammon said was long, but simply put, it was this:
We, Team Rockets, will be the King of the Underworld, and you, the Kanto League, don't interfere with us.