Chapter 150: The Summons
Matt's words silenced Captain Price, but the gloom on his face was a palpable threat. Ank, naturally, was overjoyed, believing Giovanni was now safe.
Matt had not lied, nor had he come specifically to extract Giovanni from the confrontation. Madame Boss, having been informed that Giovanni's injuries were stable, had sent for him. He pushed open the door to her office and stood guard outside as Giovanni stepped within.
Looking at the woman seated on the sofa, Giovanni inclined his head slightly. "Mother."
"Sit," Madame Boss said, gesturing to a nearby sofa.
"Yes," Giovanni replied, seating himself with a straight back.
Her beautiful eyes swept over Giovanni's bandaged form. "How are your injuries?"
"They are manageable," he replied. "You need not have worried."
"Petrel has many subordinates," Madame Boss said, her voice laced with a hint of helplessness. "Maintaining this organization requires my full attention. I cannot always monitor the actions of useless men, which allows him to exploit such openings."
For Madame Boss to offer such an explanation was, in itself, a significant concession. Giovanni knew how to respond. "I understand. You do not need to concern yourself. The matter between him and me will be settled when the time is right. You need not trouble yourself with it."
Madame Boss looked at her son. Even after a near-death experience, he could restrain his anger and not launch a reckless counter-attack against Petrel. She nodded, satisfied. "You have certainly gained much from this recent excursion."
"Even if I were to do more," Giovanni replied, neither obsequious nor arrogant, "there is nothing I could hide from you."
Team Rocket was still far from its peak, but it was a simple matter for Madame Boss to uncover information if she wished. Her primary goal was to observe Giovanni's methods and, when necessary, eliminate needless complications.
"I am not omniscient," she said. "But the boy you sent into the army cannot rely solely on the goodwill of others. I have had our people in the military look after him."
Giovanni was not surprised. "Thank you for your concern."
"You are truly audacious," she continued, "challenging the Saffron Dojo. I had my people monitor your activities to ensure the Alliance did not discover any... irregularities."
"It was merely to fulfill a promise," Giovanni replied, "and to establish a potential fallback."
"A promise?" Madame Boss mused. "To Katsu's younger brother? You are sentimental— but you must remember, as a leader, emotion is the most useless and dangerous of liabilities."
"I have noted it," Giovanni said.
With just a few inquiries, she knew everything he had done, and she understood his intentions perfectly. "That Psychic boy is your fallback," she stated. "You wish for him to gather other Psychics, to form a specialized team for you— a good idea.
Psychics are ostracized by the mundane world. This will be an opportunity to bind them to the organization."
"Yes," Giovanni echoed. "That was my thought. It is merely that I currently lack the resources to give them the support they require."
Madame Boss waved her hand dismissively. "You need not worry about that."
Giovanni merely nodded. He could not change her mind.
Sensing his silence, she stopped beating around the bush. "I have arranged for resources to be provided to them in your name. I have also inserted some of our own organization's Psychics into their community. You need only appear at the right time."
Giovanni was stunned. This was tantamount to her actively helping him cultivate his own loyal subordinates. "Thank you."
"We are family she chuckled, exasperated. "There is no need for thanks." She then warned him, "I can help you raise and train these people— but remember, if they should ever become enemies of the organization, you cannot be soft-hearted."
"I know," Giovanni replied without hesitation. Even without her reminder, he would have done the same.
She then moved to the most crucial question. "And the children you recruited? I hear you value the one named Proton."
"They are all promising," he replied. "As for Proton, I am betting he can take the top spot in the assessment."
"You are confident," she shook her head. "Let us see what you will do if you lose."
"I am." Giovanni stated, clenching his fist.
"Have it your way, you stubborn child." After discussing external matters, it was time to address the day's events. "The man you killed today did indeed report your movements to Petrel. His actions almost led to your death."
It went without saying. If Nick hadn't been a traitor, Giovanni wouldn't have killed him.
"However," Madame Boss continued, her tone hardening, "even with cause, you still violated the rules by acting unilaterally within the base. You must accept punishment."
"I understand," Giovanni nodded.
Madame Boss clapped her hands gently. Matt immediately pushed the door open and entered, kneeling on one knee. "Boss."
She turned her head, announcing Giovanni's punishment. "Matt will be departing to establish a new base on a remote island. Once your Pokémon have mostly recovered, you will go with him. You will learn from him."
It was a punishment, but also a move. "It may take some time," she continued, "but it will be beneficial for your growth. It will also silence those within the organization who would use this incident against you."
Matt remained kneeling, without the slightest objection. Giovanni's strength would be a significant asset on such a mission.
"Good," Giovanni nodded. He saw her true intention. This was an opportunity to become stronger, faster. While he would be with Matt, the captain would essentially be his tutor.
Among the captains, Matt was the strongest.
To ensure Giovanni had no lingering concerns, Madame Boss added, "You need not worry about your subordinates. I will have people watch over them and assign them to assessment tasks.
No one will be able to harm them in your absence."
Giovanni no longer had any objections. While it was framed as a punishment, it was, in reality, a form of compensation. With his Pokémon injured, he was vulnerable.
This secret mission, its location known only to her and Matt, was the safest place for him to be.