Chapter 255: Mammon Really Is a Natural-Born Villain!
No issues there — genuinely nothing to worry about, Mammon confirmed to himself. Sure, the corrupted Arceus was legitimately terrifying — even missing five of its Plates, it had still mopped the floor with Sinnoh's three legendary dragons. That kind of power output was simply absurd.
But thinking it through more carefully, Arceus had only gone berserk because it believed Damos had betrayed it. That was ultimately just a misunderstanding — get Arceus to see the truth, and the whole catastrophe resolved itself. And under Arceus's pressure, Dialga would presumably step in to help as well. Even in the worst case where he genuinely couldn't beat a corrupted Arceus, as long as Dialga was willing to lend a hand, that'd do it.
The thought put Mammon considerably at ease. Besides — even if Michina Town really did exist, that didn't necessarily mean the movie's "misunderstanding" had actually played out there. No need to stress over it.
Sandgem Town — a small, sandy town sitting right against the sea. Sandgem hugged the coastline, the kind of place where you could catch the crisp scent of sea breeze on the air, and its most famous landmark was Professor Rowan's research lab. As Sinnoh's most renowned and authoritative research professor, Rowan's influence spoke for itself — one of the finest professors in the world, by any measure.
But beyond Professor Rowan's lab, Sandgem held one more point of interest: the child of the Berlitz family patriarch also lived in this town. And Platinum Berlitz, the current era's most exceptional young lady of the Berlitz line, had actually worked as Professor Rowan's assistant alongside her father, Mr. Berlitz, before becoming a trainer herself.
Mammon's group arrived at Sandgem Town and knocked on the door of Rowan's lab.
"May I ask who's calling?"
A soft-spoken, bespectacled middle-aged man opened the door, dressed in a researcher's white coat, white gloves on his hands — apparently mid-experiment. But the instant his eyes landed on Caitlin behind Mammon, something flickered across his expression — though he covered it well.
"Hello. We'd like to visit Professor Rowan," Mammon said, smiling.
"The Professor stepped out this morning. If it's all the same to you, perhaps you could come back tomorrow?" The middle-aged man kept his gentle smile in place, his voice warm and soothing, giving off an easy, spring-breeze kind of presence.
"That really is a shame. Would it be possible for us to come in and look around, then? We're quite curious about the Professor's lab."
"I'm afraid that wouldn't be convenient. I'm only the Professor's assistant, and with him away, I really can't make that call on my own. My apologies," the man said, thoroughly apologetic. "If there's nothing else, I'd ask that you please be on your way."
With that, he began to close the door — only to find he couldn't.
"Keh heh heh~"
A low, malicious chuckle rang out from behind the man. Shiny Mega Gengar's eyes gleamed faintly, holding him in place.
"What— what is the meaning of this?" The man's expression shifted, though he forced himself to stay composed. "Using a Pokémon to attack an ordinary citizen is a serious crime!"
"But you're not exactly an ordinary citizen, are you, Mr. Berlitz?"
Mammon's mouth curled up, his tone lazy and unhurried.
Mr. Berlitz startled — this kid knew who he was? He'd come here specifically for him?
"Caitlin, looks like you've been recognized," Mammon teased her. Mr. Berlitz's disguise had been solid enough, but Mammon had still caught something off — Caitlin, too, came from Sinnoh nobility, and while her family didn't rival the Berlitz name, her presence carried a very recognizable air. And this Mr. Berlitz had clearly identified her, and knew she'd already joined Team Rocket.
"Perhaps Mr. Berlitz saw a photograph of me at some point before," Caitlin said, frowning slightly. She was fairly confident in her own memory, and she was fairly sure she'd never actually met Mr. Berlitz in person before this.
"What exactly do you people want?" Mr. Berlitz's insides had gone ice cold — Team Rocket, here in Sinnoh, of all places.
"Just settling an old score, that's all."
With Shiny Mega Gengar's Psychic hold keeping Mr. Berlitz in check, the three of them pushed past him into the lab. Mammon glanced around — aside from Mr. Berlitz, there didn't seem to be any other researchers present.
"Ari, could you help me with that data file— who are all of you?"
Before Mammon could say anything further, an aged but steady voice called out from behind them. A sturdy, white-haired, white-bearded elderly man stepped in through the back door, cutting himself off mid-sentence the moment he spotted Mammon's group — and noticed Mr. Berlitz held in place by an unseen force.
"First time meeting, Professor Rowan. I'm Mammon — leader of Team Rocket," Mammon said, offering a smiling self-introduction.
"Team Rocket—" Rowan's eyes narrowed sharply. The evil organization out of Kanto! He'd heard no shortage of news about them lately — his own region's Champion had already gone out as reinforcements to other regions more than once because of them, and as Sinnoh's foremost research professor, word inevitably reached him. He genuinely hadn't expected Team Rocket to come knocking at his own lab, though — let alone its actual leader.
Rowan frowned at Mammon. Team Rocket's boss was this young?
"What exactly are you after, coming to me? I doubt there's anything here that would interest you," Rowan said, unshaken. He'd lived a long life; his composure came naturally with age.
"Now Professor Rowan, you flatter yourself — a researcher of your caliber is worth quite a lot, honestly. Though I'll admit, I'm not actually here for you today," Mammon said, gesturing for Rowan to take a seat.
Rowan said nothing, well aware the initiative here belonged entirely to Mammon. Both he and Mr. Berlitz were academics through and through, and the three people standing in front of him were clearly not to be underestimated. Sure, Officer Jenny was stationed in Sandgem Town — but she was, after all, just one Officer Jenny.
"Mr. Berlitz, you're familiar with the 'Rayquaza Capture Project,' I take it?" Mammon turned to Berlitz.
"...Yes," Mr. Berlitz answered, hesitating briefly before nodding. "Back when the Johto Pokémon Association first reached out to our family, our family provided the funding the project required, and we also took part in the research effort — the goal was to develop a way to control Rayquaza." Mr. Berlitz sighed. "I wasn't personally involved in that particular project, but I did know about it. It ultimately failed."
He looked up at the three of them.
"I heard from Champion Cynthia that the younger sister of that Rayquaza trainer joined your Team Rocket, is that right?" Cynthia had gone in person to their family estate before, forcefully extracting everyone who'd been involved in the project and taking them all away. Mr. Berlitz naturally knew about that — plenty in the family had been furious over it — but really, what could they do? The Berlitz family carried two hundred years of history and stood as the wealthiest family in Sinnoh, true enough. But against the Sinnoh League, they had no power to resist at all. Or rather — against Cynthia alone, they'd already had no power to resist.
"You really should be grateful you weren't personally involved — Kagura wouldn't have let you off easy otherwise. Though I suppose it's just your bad luck, being born into the Berlitz family," Mammon said, clicking his tongue, tone dripping with mockery.
Mr. Berlitz stayed silent. Kagura's expression stayed flat and indifferent.
"If it's just the people involved in the Rayquaza capture project you're after, they've all already been taken into custody by the Sinnoh League," Rowan said, voice heavy.
"Professor Rowan, if you think that counts as making amends, it's nowhere near enough," Mammon said with a cold laugh.
Rowan opened his mouth, then closed it again, saying nothing.
"We'll need Mr. Berlitz to provide us a precise list of the members the League took into custody. And beyond that — get in touch with your family's head, and have him prepare compensation."
"...Fine." Mr. Berlitz nodded. It wasn't his own money on the line, after all, and honestly, if paying money was all it took to close this whole score out for good, that was already fortunate as far as he was concerned.
"One more thing, Mr. Berlitz — I hear you have a daughter, don't you?"
At those words, both Mr. Berlitz's and Rowan's expressions shifted violently.
"Mister Mammon! Platinum has absolutely nothing to do with any of this!" Mr. Berlitz's voice came out fast and urgent.
"Of course. But I've long admired Miss Platinum from afar, and I'd like the chance to meet her in person. You'd grant me that request, wouldn't you?" Mammon's smile stayed bright and sunny throughout.
Mr. Berlitz went quiet. Clearly, he had no intention of agreeing.
"Mr. Berlitz — are you really willing to let your family's two-hundred-year legacy end on your generation? Or, come to think of it — your wife works for the Sinnoh League, doesn't she?"
Hearing the thick undercurrent of malice in Mammon's words, Mr. Berlitz's pupils contracted sharply.
"I... understand." Mr. Berlitz said it bitterly, knowing full well he had no real choice in the matter. Besides, Mammon could just as easily seize his phone and contact Platinum himself — and once she learned what was happening, she'd come regardless.
Pff~ This guy — a genuinely natural-born villain, honestly. The way he wielded a threat was disturbingly practiced.
Even Kagura, who'd been in a sour mood from having old grievances dredged back up, couldn't help but find this a little entertaining.
"Don't worry — I only want a proper conversation with the young lady. I won't hurt her," Mammon said, satisfied, offering the pale-faced Mr. Berlitz what was meant as reassurance.
Trembling, Mr. Berlitz pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
"Hello? Father?"
A clear, melodic, elegant young voice came through.
"Platinum, where are you right now?"
"Right now? I'm in Jubilife City, Father. I actually ran into Champion Cynthia again yesterday — her Garchomp is just incredible~" Platinum's tone carried genuine admiration and longing. Her own goal, after all, was to become a powerful Champion just like Cynthia.
"Is that so? Then you'll have to keep working hard, Platinum," Mr. Berlitz said, forcing a smile.
"Mm-hm~! Father, is something wrong?" Platinum had clearly picked up on something off in his voice — her father never spoke like this normally.
"I—" Mr. Berlitz glanced at Mammon's group, but found he still couldn't force the words out. Call Platinum over here? Who knew what Mammon's group might do to her once she arrived. How could he possibly throw his own daughter into the fire like that?
"Platinum! Contact Champion Cynthia immediately! Team Rocket! Team Rocket has come to Sinnoh!"
Mr. Berlitz's resolve hardened, and he blurted it out at breakneck speed. It didn't matter what happened to him — as long as Platinum stayed safe. She was the pride and future of their generation of the family. As long as she kept growing the way she had been, she was bound to become a Champion-caliber trainer someday. That was his hope for her.
"?" Platinum froze on the other end.
"Hurry, Platinum! Whatever you do, don't worry about me!"
"Pff~ Figured as much," Mammon scoffed, entirely unsurprised. He walked over to Mr. Berlitz and, with Shiny Mega Gengar's hold keeping him in place, casually plucked the phone from his hand.
"Hello there, Miss Platinum."
Mammon's voice came through warm and pleasant, smiling as he spoke.
"Who are you?! Father! Where's my father?!" Platinum, finally snapping back to herself, demanded in a panicked voice.
"Don't worry, your father's perfectly safe right now — provided, of course, that you're willing to cooperate, Miss Platinum. All right?" Mammon kept his pace slow and unhurried.
"Otherwise, I really can't promise what might happen to your father. I imagine you wouldn't want anything unfortunate to happen to him, would you, Miss Platinum?"
The thick, unmistakable malice threaded through the young man's voice sent an icy chill straight through the girl, standing there in Jubilife City.
(End of Chapter)
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