"What a wonderful battle. As expected, a monster is a monster indeed~"
Giovanni praised, his deep eyes flickering with a faint light.
It must be said that this battle truly astonished him.
After all, Green is only seventeen years old, and Ryuga is only eighteen!
Among their generation, both of them are almost unrivaled.
Although in the three battles, Green was almost completely suppressed by Ryuga.
But Green had indeed done very well, handling everything meticulously and responding to many of Tyranitar's fierce attacks.
However, in some respects, Green was still slightly immature compared to Ryuga, and his power foundation was completely incomparable to Ryuga's.
Of course, Giovanni had anticipated the outcome of this battle from the beginning.
He just wanted to see how far Green could go.
After all, Ryuga is a Top Champion, and Green is currently only a Mid-Level Champion.
There could be no surprise in the outcome of their battle.
Unless Ryuga was desperately 'milking it' and not using his main force to go easy on Green.
But with Ryuga's personality, it was already quite good if he didn't 'sweet talk' Green, so going easy was even more impossible.
"This green badge, Green, you deserve to have it."
Saying that, Giovanni gestured to Matori, who took out a small box and handed it to Giovanni.
Giovanni took out the green badge from the box, walked up to Green, and smiled.
"I didn't win." Green, however, looked displeased and didn't take it.
With his proud personality, he lost and was still given a badge?
Damn it, this was practically an insult to him.
"A Gym is never a place where you must win to get a badge. With your strength, challenging a Gym is actually unnecessary."
Giovanni's magnetic voice was very gentle, and he spoke slowly and softly.
Yes, a Gym is a facility meant to temper Trainers.
For new Trainers, aside from true geniuses, can one really expect them to defeat a Trainer?
Gyms are primarily used to promote the growth of Trainers, and it's not truly necessary for Trainers to win.
As long as the Trainer meets the Gym Leader's standards, the badge can be issued.
"Ryuga is only serving as an acting Gym Leader today. You won't see him if you come to challenge again later. And as for me, I'm afraid I'm not your opponent anymore."
Giovanni saw Green frown and continued with a faint smile.
He already had a grasp of Green's strength.
To prevent Green from bothering him later, it was necessary to give him the badge.
Hmm, just take the badge and scram early.
"Alright."
Seeing that Giovanni had said so much, Green didn't act coy and took the green badge.
Then Green looked at Ryuga, his eyes constantly flickering.
This was his first crushing defeat among his peers!
Even last year, when he had just left Pallet Town and faced older Trainers, he had never lost so badly.
"I am Green Oak. You are very strong, but next time... this lord will definitely not lose to you."
The proud Green extended his hand to Ryuga, a rare serious expression on his handsome face.
Although he lost badly, it indeed served as a wake-up call for Green.
He had originally thought that after a year of training, among his peers, besides that annoying Red, no one could compare to him.
Because he was already a Champion Trainer!
And his goal this year was also to aim for the Champion title!
Not the Indigo League Champion, which was like a children's game in his eyes, but the Elite Four Champion of the Kanto region!
Yes, from the moment he left Pallet Town, Green's goal was to become the Kanto Champion!
But he knew he wasn't strong enough, so he didn't participate in the Indigo League last year, but instead traveled alone throughout Kanto for training and experience.
To become the Kanto Champion, reach the pinnacle of the world, and become the strongest Trainer in the world!
This had always been Green's goal.
That's right, this was a dream that had been brewing since he was a child.
But now it seemed he was still far from strong enough.
"Ryuga, I am Ryuga."
Ryuga held Green's hand, a flamboyant smile spreading across his lips.
"Although I'm very sorry, please give up on this unrealistic idea. I will not lose to anyone."
Ryuga gazed into Green's eyes, his tone extremely natural, as if it was simply the truth.
Still want to win against me?
Well, I'm sorry, if I can suppress you once, you'll never be able to turn the tables!
"How interesting. Then I truly look forward to the expression on your face when you fail."
Green was clearly not someone to be trifled with, and he raised a provocative smile, looking directly at Ryuga as he spoke.
"You are stronger than me now, but that doesn't mean you'll always be stronger than me. We'll see each other next time."
Leaving these words, Green picked up his single-shoulder bag and left directly.
He was naturally competitive.
If he lost, he lost. He understood that he was not as good as Ryuga now.
But he didn't want to just admit defeat like that!
He was Professor Oak's most proud grandson.
He would not admit to anyone that he was inferior to others.
A temporary win or loss wouldn't affect him.
What did it matter if he lost now? He could just win it back later!
"What an interesting opponent. It seems I won't be lonely anymore."
Looking at Green's retreating figure, Ryuga's smile became even brighter.
Green's appearance truly gave him a great surprise.
Perhaps people are just like this.
Excellence always comes with troubles.
Ryuga was so excellent that he practically had no friends.
But precisely because of this, he looked forward to having opponents: Giovanni, Lance, Leon, and so on, but it was still not enough.
And now, Green's appearance meant that there was one more person he could take seriously.
And since Green existed, Red must also exist.
"Today's young people are truly terrifying."
Giovanni smiled faintly at the remark.
His thoughts were different from Ryuga's.
Having interacted with Green, he clearly understood that Green and Ryuga were different.
Although Green was equally arrogant and wild, he was a young man with very upright values.
Giovanni knew very well that Green could not be swayed.
That would mean that Green would definitely be an enemy of Team Rocket in the future!
With such an enemy of infinite potential, how could Giovanni not feel emotional?
"Uncle Giovanni really loves to joke. Although he has great potential, it's only potential. To catch up to Uncle Giovanni, he still needs to work hard for at least a year or two."
Ryuga raised an eyebrow, teasing Giovanni.
Giovanni was a true Top Champion, and among Top Champions, he was a top-tier powerhouse.
Green was indeed excellent enough, but a person's potential is ultimately just potential.
It takes time to convert it into fighting power.
It would take at least a year or two for Green to catch up to Giovanni.
Upon hearing this, Karen and the other two, who had also approached, showed slight changes in expression.
The information in that statement was too obvious.
The Gym Leader of this Viridian Gym had actually hidden his true strength!
"I'm not joking. Youth represents infinite possibilities, just like you, Ryuga. Your future is too brilliant."
Giovanni glanced at Karen and the other two, whose expressions varied, and said slowly with a faint smile.
He had been immersed at the Top Champion level for too many years, but he couldn't find a way forward to cross that threshold.
So he could only continuously cultivate his new main force to accumulate his foundation.
But not finding a way is ultimately not finding a way.
Such a person will sooner or later be caught up to.
Hasn't the current Ryuga caught up?
And Ryuga, being so young, might cross the Top Champion hurdle any day now.
"I still have no clue right now."
Ryuga's expression subtly changed at the remark, his brows slightly furrowed as he spoke helplessly.
Above the Top Champion level, there were undoubtedly powerhouses like Pryce, whom Ryuga called Master-level.
A Top Champion could stalemate in battle with a high-level legend in the wild, while a Master like Pryce could easily defeat high-level legends of Ho-Oh and Lugia's caliber.
But even with Pryce's guidance, Ryuga was still only partially understanding the Master level, unable to grasp deeper insights.
"It's not that simple, otherwise Lance and I wouldn't have been stuck for so long."
Giovanni wasn't surprised either, shaking his head.
If it were really that simple to reach the threshold, he and Lance wouldn't have been stuck at Top Champion for so many years.
"Let's go inside and talk. And also, introduce these friends of yours."
Skipping the topic, Giovanni spoke with a faint smile.
Now that Green had left and there were no challengers for the time being, they could have a good chat.
Then Giovanni had his subordinate close the Gym door.
Well, the meaning of refusing guests was very clear.
After all, a Gym also needs rest, right?
It can't be open 24/7, can it?
The Viridian Gym was very large, and its decoration was extremely luxurious and high-tech, exuding an air of wealth.
After all, Giovanni was indeed rich.
Just his public identity as an excellent entrepreneur meant he wouldn't lack money, not to mention the profits from Team Rocket's underground projects like selling Pokémon, arcades, and amusement parks.
In the luxurious office, Giovanni took down a bottle of high-end red wine from the wine cabinet, and Matori, being very sensible, started brewing tea.
"I heard you broke into Hammerlocke City in the Galar region and caused quite a stir. I'm afraid the Galar region will send people to Kanto to cause trouble next."
Pouring Ryuga a small glass of red wine, Giovanni gently swirled his wine glass and spoke slowly.
He was quite interested in Ryuga's actions in Galar.
One should know that although Ryuga was arrogant, he was also someone who prioritized profit.
If it weren't for a special reason, Giovanni wouldn't believe Ryuga would cause a ruckus in Hammerlocke City over a small matter.
"Ah~ Because there was something I needed there, I could only inconvenience Hammerlocke City a bit."
Ryuga took a sip of red wine.
Hmm, this wine was good.
"Oh?" Giovanni's deep eyes flickered slightly.
Hammerlocke City was attacked by an executive of Team Rocket.
Anyone with enough effort and cost could find clues about this matter.
Moreover, as far as Giovanni knew, Hammerlocke City was eventually half-destroyed due to the battle between the Galar legends, Zacian and Eternatus.
And there were also rumors that it was that Team Rocket member who released Eternatus, which was originally sealed!
And given Ryuga's personality, if he really got wind of a legend Pokémon's whereabouts, he would definitely take action.
However, these were Ryuga's secrets, and Giovanni didn't feel it was appropriate to ask too much.
Although nominally Ryuga was his subordinate, they were more of a cooperative relationship.
"Although I don't know what you want to do, Team Rocket will always be your backing."
Giovanni pondered for a moment, then said to Ryuga with a faint smile.
Ryuga had offended the Galar League, but Giovanni truly didn't take this matter to heart.
Team Rocket was originally an enemy of the Pokémon League, and besides, the Galar region was very far from Kanto, so Giovanni wasn't worried about the Galar League causing trouble.
And upon hearing Giovanni's words, Karen and the other two finally confirmed their suspicions...
"It really is the Team Rocket Boss. The Kanto League has truly fallen."
Karen's lips curved into a sarcastic arc.
The Gym Leader of the Viridian Gym was actually the Team Rocket Boss. The Kanto League was truly corrupt.
One should know that the Viridian Gym was considered the strongest Gym in the Kanto region, and Giovanni's reputation was also very great; he was seen by people as an extremely excellent and kind Trainer.
But the most ridiculous thing was that Giovanni, with such a persona, was merely disguised, yet the League hadn't discovered anything abnormal.
Or perhaps they had some inkling, but lacked concrete evidence, or perhaps the matter was suppressed.
"Uncle is still very domineering."
Ryuga's lips curled slightly, and he teased Giovanni.
Listen, Team Rocket is your eternal backing.
How thoughtful are those words?
"Introduce your friends."
Giovanni smiled indifferently, not taking it to heart, and turned his gaze to Karen and the other two.
"Karen, Will, Marnie. Uncle, you should also know that I have an organization of my own."
Ryuga introduced the three to Giovanni, then pondered for a moment and said to Giovanni.
He and Giovanni met last year.
Before Giovanni invited him to join Team Rocket, Ryuga had briefly mentioned to Giovanni that he had an organization.
"That's right, so are these people also part of your organization?"
....
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