The mother of Giovanni, the founder of Team Rocket, often spoke a phrase: "Make money quickly, seize good opportunities early, and handle troubles swiftly." This left everyone present speechless.
Who would have thought that the mother of Team Rocket's founder had a singular dream of amassing wealth? Yet, on reflection, money indeed solves many problems and can even build power. In this light, her perspective seemed quite practical.
In contrast, the masked man's mysterious plan intrigued everyone more. Carl had mentioned it before but was clear about not elaborating further. Though curiosity gnawed at them, they refrained from asking, not wanting to displease him.
After Team Rocket's formation, the two founders aimed to expand the organization by recruiting more talent. The masked man preferred nurturing his own people, believing it to be more reliable. Ethan and Grace had approached him voluntarily, which in retrospect, proved to be a wise choice—at least until they met Carl.
Giovanni's mother, on the other hand, was more pragmatic, believing that profits were a stronger bond than emotions. She felt that with enough money, any talent could be acquired. Lt. Surge, Koga, and Sabrina exchanged knowing glances, clearly acknowledging Giovanni's inheritance of his mother's approach.
Thus, Team Rocket's core members gradually took shape. Giovanni's mother lured former military personnel like the venomous drill sergeant with high salaries, along with others skilled in shadowy tactics. The masked man positioned three beasts—Chakra, Sachi, and Elka—close to him, all trusted generals with deep ties.
Additionally, Team Rocket recruited scientific talents like Dr. Fuji and Dr. Nanbo. Initially, it was merely a profit-driven organization, with the masked man focusing on his plans, making it not purely evil and offering many opportunities to trainers.
Listening to this, Ethan and Professor Oak nodded in agreement. Team Rocket had a decent reputation among the public, with most negative comments stemming from rival families spreading rumors. The league included representatives from both noble families and those of humble origins, such as Ethan himself, along with current Elite Four members like Bruno and Lorelei. This resulted in a neutral stance towards Team Rocket, allowing it to grow rapidly.
If things continued this way, the outcome would be unpredictable. Carl remarked, "Perhaps once the masked man achieves his goal, he'll step back, leaving Giovanni's mother to control everything. Could this change the league's dynamics?"
But an unexpected turn of events occurred. Carl shifted his tone, and everyone held their breath, waiting for more.
"Giovanni's mother, while tracking Mew, disappeared in the ruins with a few confidants. All that remained was a fossil with Mew's genes and a directive for Giovanni to succeed her."
Blaine suddenly realized, "So that's why Giovanni later focused so heavily on fossil resurrection technology."
Professor Oak mused, "Power transitions always bring turmoil; Team Rocket began to split internally."
"Have you been reading too much history lately?" Ethan couldn't help but tease.
"Just interested in some classics."
"That's what you call 'just'?"
"Don't interrupt, let Carl continue," Professor Oak waved his hand.
Carl ignored their banter, continuing his analysis, "With Giovanni's mother's prestige and Giovanni's own champion-level prowess, the transition should have been smooth. The masked man had no objections, as Team Rocket was merely a tool for him."
"But human nature is unpredictable, and desires only grow. Factions started forming within Team Rocket."
These factions were complex: some supported Giovanni's mother, others followed the masked man, while some valued power and money. While Giovanni's mother and the masked man led, these individuals stayed in line. But once Giovanni took over, some were not content.
Bishas saw himself second only to the masked man and Giovanni's mother, while Chakra, a senior member of the three beasts, also sought leadership. With the masked man's support for Giovanni, they dared not oppose openly but resorted to secret maneuvers, eventually leading to a high-level power struggle.
Carl paused here, allowing everyone to digest the information. The group finally understood why Team Rocket's main force was in Johto, while Giovanni resided primarily in Kanto.
"Did Giovanni lose?" Blaine asked. If he did, it would explain why he was sent to Kanto.
"Hard to say," Carl revealed a look of admiration, "Giovanni, at a young age, could train a regular Beedrill to champion-level heights. How could he lose to Bishas, who relied on gear, or Chakra, who bullied with his power?" Carl held no respect for Bishas and Chakra.
Professor Oak, recalling events from forty years ago, seemed to grasp something. Bishas was dealt with not only because of Celebi; Carl had never liked him from the start.
That internal conflict, Giovanni won decisively. Carl's tone carried a hint of regret, "But that was precisely his mistake."
The group was bewildered. A new leader suppressing dissent is normal, right? It's a way to maintain organizational strength while justifiably asserting authority. What did Giovanni do wrong?
Carl looked at them, "You're missing a critical figure."
"Who?" Lance immediately asked.
"The masked man."
Some were even more puzzled, while others began to realize. Bruno scratched his head, "Wasn't the masked man supportive of Giovanni becoming leader?"
"Yes, but with a condition," Carl said.
"What condition?" Lance pressed on.
"Stability," Carl stated.
Most remained in the dark. Carl shook his head inwardly, thinking about Kanto's fragmented history and its focus on Pokémon rather than the deep-rooted heritage of Johto, which left them unaware of such basic political principles.
The stability the masked man sought was for himself, not Giovanni. Carl explained earnestly, "He had no emotional ties to Team Rocket; he only needed it as a tool to execute his plans. The stronger Team Rocket became, the more beneficial it was to him."
When Giovanni's mother managed Team Rocket, there was a delicate balance between her and the masked man. She handled daily operations and fundraising, while he extracted resources for his plans. They balanced each other, maintaining peace.
However, once Giovanni took over, the dynamics changed. His mother valued profit, but Giovanni's ambitions were less predictable. What if he wanted absolute power? Such a possibility was something the masked man couldn't ignore.
The masked man didn't want instability within Team Rocket. A stable organization was more advantageous to his plans. But when Giovanni emerged victorious against Bishas and Chakra, the masked man began to worry. Giovanni's demonstrated strength and leadership earned him unprecedented prestige within the organization.
"And that's the crux of the issue," Carl sighed, "If Giovanni had barely won, the masked man might not have intervened. But his overwhelming victory only sparked the masked man's vigilance."
Support the original works and experience the joy of reading!