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"Giovanni… surely you don't want Silver—"
As Aiden began speaking, Giovanni's eyes narrowed slightly.
To most, Giovanni was an inscrutable, unscrupulous mastermind who'd stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
Operating from within the League's core to secretly research the universally forbidden field of genetic cloning—this alone proved his utter depravity.
Yet at the mere mention of that name, even Giovanni faltered.
Beyond his ambitions, no one knew this: the Rocket Boss harbored another simple, desperate wish.
To be a stable, reliable father.
Yes—even the mighty Giovanni softened in the face of family.
However…
Due to undisclosed reasons, Giovanni hadn't seen his son Silver for years.
"Teacher Aiden—let's make a deal."
Just as the room's atmosphere thickened into awkward silence—making Aiden fear he'd killed the conversation—Giovanni spoke calmly.
"You're right. My actions must not burden Silver. He deserves his own path."
"I was never a worthy father… to either Mewtwo or Silver."
"So… may I entrust Silver to you, Teacher Aiden?"
Giovanni's sudden words made Aiden instinctively lock eyes with him.
'This isn't Team Rocket Boss Giovanni's request—it's a failing father's plea.'
From the middle-aged man's utterly sincere gaze, Aiden read genuine earnestness.
But…
"Why me? Aren't there better options?"
Aiden reflexively countered, inwardly breaking into a cold sweat.
As a trainer or "educator," he had to admit—he was gifted.
Nemona, Mewtwo, Naranja Academy students, and stream viewers all showed remarkable progress under his guidance. Enough for Giovanni to hand over Silver.
But at what cost?
High-IQ version: Teacher Azure's students develop very distinctive traits.
Low-IQ version: Aiden's disciples are all unreasonably dirty fighters—nothing like mainstream methods!
Even without teaching Mewtwo any shady tactics, the kid had already turned corrupt thanks to other students' "indirect influence."
And Silver was already a fiercely goal-oriented rookie.
What if one day, at a world tournament, Silver entered with a Murkrow in one hand and a Gengar in the other—using absurd moves to sabotage opponents—only for Giovanni to witness it?
Whether Giovanni would feel pride or horror, Aiden—the "master"—would bear the blame first!
"Don't rush to refuse, Teacher Aiden."
Giovanni's expression brightened as he seized the opening when Aiden frowned.
"As an unfit father, I've failed Silver too deeply. If this is my final chance to do right by him, I want to find the best mentor to guide him toward excellence."
"Among the new generation, no one suits this role better than you—in my eyes, at least."
"And before finalizing this… wouldn't you like to hear my offered price?"
Giovanni smiled mysteriously, sliding a hand inside his suit jacket.
???
Aiden froze—brain short-circuiting for two or three seconds.
Fortunately, Giovanni merely retrieved an item from his inner pocket and held it out.
A massive, slightly faded crimson feather—nearly as long as his forearm.
Merely gazing at this extraordinary feather, Aiden faintly sensed sacred flames roaring joyfully.
"This is…" Aiden murmured unconsciously. "The Rainbow Wing?"
Such a feather clearly belonged to no ordinary Pokémon. In Johto, only Moltres or Ho-Oh qualified.
Given it was Giovanni's personal item, Aiden made his judgment.
As Giovanni nodded with a smile—confirming his guess—Aiden couldn't help thinking:
'Lance! What are you International Police doing?! How didn't you know Giovanni carried a legendary-grade item?!'
'Did you even pat him down?'
'At this rate, Giovanni could escape anytime he wanted…'
But how did Giovanni obtain such a rare treasure?
In the anime, Ho-Oh was a relatively friendly Legendary that frequently appeared. Yet Rainbow Wings weren't casually gifted.
Legends said only those recognized by Ho-Oh—as potential "Rainbow Heroes"—received this divine token, beginning their trials to become true heroes.
But Giovanni? A hero? Unthinkable…
Reading Aiden's confusion, Giovanni's gentle smile returned.
"Teacher Aiden… haven't you pondered this?"
"Without 'divine power,' how could Team Rocket shatter taboos to create life from nothing—and produce Mewtwo, a being rivaling legends in potential?"
"You're no fool. Surely you don't believe mere human technology could approach godhood?"
As he spoke, Giovanni stroked the Rainbow Wing in his hand. His tone grew playful:
"As a Pokémon directly created by Arceus, Ho-Oh commands life itself."
"Without its aid, Team Rocket's limits would've reached only to oddities like Porygon."
"Luckily, Ho-Oh's eyesight was poor. It chose me as a Rainbow Hero candidate. Otherwise, Mewtwo might never have graced this world."
"..."
Aiden fell silent.
For a moment, he felt he'd just heard an absurd alternate history—wildly unverified.
But if even Giovanni admitted it… he had no choice but to believe.
Perhaps utterly unguarded now, Giovanni poured out everything he'd experienced.
Before his leadership, Team Rocket was merely a research organization studying Mew.
Giovanni's exceptional talent earned Ho-Oh's favor, recognizing his trainer potential.
After obtaining the Rainbow Wing, young Giovanni immediately began studying its life energy—using it to pioneer genetic cloning.
Yet as Aiden had told Silver:
Every gift from fate bears a hidden price tag.
From promising trainer to crime lord, his transformation alienated his wife. One day, she left with young Silver—vanishing without a trace.
Knowing he'd wronged them, Giovanni never disturbed their lives—not even attending his wife's funeral.
Until last month, when Lance and Aiden stormed Viridian Gym, dismantling Rocket's plans and defeating Giovanni himself—ending it all.
"..."
Having heard Giovanni's entire backstory while seated on the floor, Aiden nodded solemnly.
'To Giovanni, this ensured that even if his plans failed, Silver would be protected?'
Aiden understood—Giovanni was the type of stubborn patriarch who avoided family communication.
But young Silver wouldn't see it that way!
Perhaps precisely because Giovanni had disappeared for years—even missing his wife's funeral—Silver grew to hate him, making Giovanni his life's greatest rival…
Still, Aiden had zero interest in family dramas.
After brief contemplation, he scratched his head and spoke directly:
"Mentoring Silver isn't impossible."
"But since you admit you're a bad father… why not try fixing things yourself, Boss Giovanni?"
Aiden sighed.
"You're a rebellious, chuunibyou-ish father who's done plenty of wrong. But… redemption is still possible, right?"
"Now—let's analyze simply!"
"Silver's obsession with defeating you stems from two causes."
"First—you, as the Team Rocket Boss, committed countless evils, even crossing moral lines with genetic experiments. Any morally upright person would reject such horrors."
"Second—your stubbornness as head of household made Silver resent you over his mother's death. This can't be whitewashed."
"So I say—you failed spectacularly as a father!"
Ahem—
As Aiden raised two fingers to lecture, the previously composed Giovanni actually looked sheepish.
'Was I truly this awful?'
Yet Aiden's words held undeniable truth. Even unwilling to admit it, the facts were laid bare.
Giovanni's expression twisted strangely before settling into resolve. He met Aiden's gaze with conviction.
"Speak your terms, Teacher Aiden."
"Whatever it takes for Silver to forgive this father—I'll do it without hesitation."
His eyes burned with sincerity.
Perhaps in youth, Giovanni was an ambitious mastermind. But now—middle-aged and having fulfilled his ambitions—only one thing remained in his heart:
Bringing Silver home.
That alone.
To achieve it, he'd sacrifice everything he owned.
Aiden had foreseen this. With a cheerful snap of his fingers, he spoke again:
"Winning Silver's forgiveness is simple."
"Rather than fleeing responsibility after confession—leaving Team Rocket's remnants to scheme in shadows—the mark of a true man is owning his past actions."
"Am I right, Mr. Giovanni?"
Aiden grinned.
"As you said earlier—too many factions are entangled. Team Rocket can't collapse yet. Even if you are arrested, you're merely entering early retirement."
"But what if we rethink this? What if Rocket atoned for its sins… then transformed brilliantly?"
"Shifting from Johto's underground darkness to a force using its technology to change the world—a reborn Team Rocket. Too hard for you, Boss Giovanni?"
"I can't promise this will make Silver forgive you. But when you finally meet…"
"Even if defeated by him—you'll have no regrets, will you? Because you'll leave him a new Rocket. Vibrant. One he can proudly call his father's legacy."
"..."
Giovanni's gaze grew distant.
Honestly—he was tempted.
As a father, he'd not only denied Silver a happy childhood but risked dragging his only son into his shadow.
If possible, he wanted to fix it.
But…
"Teacher Aiden—Team Rocket is more complex than you think," Giovanni shook his head.
"Team Rocket is a coalition of interests. Beyond pure scientists, executives have their own agendas. Only immense temptation keeps them obedient—and only I can control them."
"Since my defeat, it's fragmentation has only been a matter of time."
"With Matori, Archer, and Ariana holding things together temporarily… Proton and Petrel will strike soon."
"No problem," Aiden interrupted sharply.
"As Team Rocket's leader, Mr. Giovanni—you surely aren't afraid of your own subordinates?"
"The path may be difficult… but this outcome is best. Other members would accept it too."
"After all—doesn't everyone prefer rainbows after storms over endless darkness?"
Smiling, Aiden watched Giovanni fall silent.
A true leader never denied past sins or feared judgment.
A true villain's best ending was timely retirement.
But Aiden offered a fascinating alternative:
A Rainbow after a storm…
If achievable—it'd be wonderful.
For a failed man like him—rather than distancing from Silver, having his son proudly declare "I am Giovanni's son" was far better.
Giovanni suddenly smiled, his eyes regaining their usual shrewdness.
"I understand."
"I'll consider it seriously."
"And… I entrust Silver to you for now, Teacher Aiden."
Bowing deeply, Giovanni spoke sincerely:
"If that day comes—I hope the new Rocket has your support too."
"After this old body fulfills its final duty… after my son defeats me… as Silver's teacher, I entrust him and Rocket's future to you."
He reached through the bars, placing the crimson tail feather in Aiden's hand.
"I'm counting on you, Teacher Aiden!"
…
As Aiden exited Giovanni's cell, Lance—observing covertly—gazed at him with utter disbelief.
Though not present, Lance had heard everything.
That Aiden could persuade Giovanni shocked him deeply.
This was Giovanni! The vile leader of Team Rocket, humanity's scum—his chance of redemption was rarer than Lance getting hit by a meteor!
But… it was Aiden. Nothing he did felt surprising anymore.
"Never thought Giovanni would have a conscience."
"No—paternal duty crushed his ambition."
Lance sighed. "Is this… the power of family bonds?"
He couldn't understand. As Dragon Master, his upbringing was harsh discipline—not affection.
He remembered grueling training in Dragon's Den—not his father's words.
'True men need no flimsy bonds. Dragons were sufficient!'
'This is my difference from Giovanni!'
"Isn't this good news?"
Aiden smiled, his gaze fixed on the Rainbow Wing clutched in his hands.
"I heard Rocket remnants scattered to Johto. With Giovanni's help, they'd be swiftly reorganized—easing your International Police workload."
Lance's attention snapped to the feather.
Compared to Johto's championship Sacred Ash gift, the Rainbow Wing was infinitely more precious.
This was Lord Ho-Oh's tail feather!
Johto revered Ho-Oh and Lugia, building the Bell Tower and Brass Tower for them.
Around 150 years ago, after an accident killed three innocent Pokémon, both legendaries departed—rarely appearing to humans since.
This tragedy only deepened faith: "Humanity disappointed the gods". Devotees multiplied.
The Rainbow Wing symbolized the Rainbow Hero's divine mandate—not just collectibles.
Legends of Rainbow Heroes spanned the globe. Bearers of Ho-Oh's feather earned universal respect.
But…
Watching the Rainbow Wing in Aiden's hands—faint black mist rising, even its stiff feathers wilting—Lance fell silent.
Ancient texts recorded: as part of Ho-Oh's body, the Rainbow Wing radiated potent life energy.
When held by Fire-type Pokémon masters, it granted healing flames and battle HP recovery.
Even frail humans gained vitality and purified bodies.
Its life energy should resist corruption…
So why did it fade slightly under Giovanni's care?
And why did it instantly twist when Aiden touched it?!
'Only Teacher Aiden could blacken Lord Ho-Oh's feather…'
After long contemplation, Lance gave up.
'Bested by Teacher Aiden is better than stolen by Giovanni. His heart's dark, but his character is untarnished.'
'Trust him first!'
"By the way—if someone unapproved by Ho-Oh himself obtains the Rainbow Wing… what happens?"
Aiden—still examining the feather's changes—asked Lance instinctively.
Strictly speaking, he hadn't obtained it through proper channels.
Could its corruption be related to that?
Lance paused, caught off-guard.
But Ho-Oh—the embodiment of life—was benevolent, coexisting peacefully with ancient humans.
Its feather should share that nature.
"It should… be fine?"
"..."
Aiden scrutinized it longer, finally relaxing.
'Anyway, none of my Pokémon properly use Fire-types. It'll just collect dust as a trophy. Nothing bad will happen.'
With all Johto business concluded, Aiden headed to the nearest airfield to rent a Dragonite back to Sunshine Gym.
As he bid Lance farewell and mounted the Dragonite for Paldea, a shadow twisted beneath nearby trees. A pair of crimson eyes appeared.
Luckily, no one was nearby to witness the shocking scene.
"Ho-Oh's holy relic… taken by a stranger?"
"Damn. Is my brief break over already…?"
"How about...might as well destroy this world…"
The shadowy figure sighed, sinking into the shade and vanishing—as if it had never existed.
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