Chapter 246: Giovanni: Heh, just sowing discord…
The moment Asahi hyped him up by calling him "Champion," Gary immediately straightened his back and shook his cape with a flourish. "Of course I'm going to challenge the Elite Four!"
As soon as he said that, the runners-up and third-place winners waiting for their awards all turned to look at Gary.
Their eyes were filled with surprise — they didn't expect Gary to be this bold.
Feeling their attention, Gary only grew more confident.
"I narrowly lost to Elite Four Agatha last time — this time, I'm going to prove myself!"
He spoke with high spirits…
However, he didn't notice Asahi's expression subtly change.
Just as Gary was about to say more, a sudden chill crept up his spine. He shuddered involuntarily.
Instinctively, he turned his head.
There stood Agatha, leaning on her cane with a "kind" smile on her face. Her Gengar hovered beside her, making a ghostly face at Gary.
"You've got ambition, huh… Professor Oak's grandson." Agatha's voice sounded "gentle." "I accept your challenge."
Gary, who knew all too well about the long-standing feud between Agatha and his grandfather, trembled at her words.
"…"
Can I still take it back and say I was just joking?
…
Throughout the entire award ceremony, Gary was absent-minded, his expression dazed.
Even during the photo session, his smile looked painfully forced.
It wasn't until Asahi shoved the trophy into his hands that his expression finally improved a little.
After the ceremony ended—
Asahi looked at the dejected Gary, whose confident facade had crumbled. "It's not that bad… Cheer up. At least you're officially a Champion now!"
He couldn't help but chuckle.
Honestly, when Asahi hyped Gary up, he only meant to motivate him — he didn't expect Agatha to show up halfway through his speech.
Gary: "…"
He suspected Asahi did this on purpose… but he had no proof.
Asahi tried to console him, "Actually, you don't have to worry too much. No matter how strong Agatha is, can she be stronger than me?"
Hearing this, Gary pondered for a moment. Asahi wasn't wrong.
In terms of strength, Asahi was definitely above Agatha.
And if he could survive Asahi's "brutal training," then facing Agatha was…
Thinking this, Gary straightened his back again.
After all, he was a Champion!
—
League Headquarters — Conference Room
"Pleasure working with you!"
Amid the flashing cameras—
An hour after rushing from the Sevii Islands to the Indigo Plateau, Lorelei shook hands with Cynthia, officially announcing the collaboration between the Kanto and Sinnoh Leagues.
In a corner of the conference room, Asahi sized up Koga, who had just been released. His stare made Koga's skin crawl.
Finally, Koga couldn't hold back and whispered, "Asahi, what exactly do you want? I'm not with Team Rocket anymore."
Asahi chuckled. "Oh, nothing. Just wondering if you're really loyal to the League now."
Koga: "…"
He knew there would definitely be a probation period after his defection.
Asahi suddenly asked, "By the way, do you know how to get in touch with Giovanni? I've been trying to message him lately, but he's been ignoring me."
Ever since Asahi freeloaded some intel from Giovanni last time, his messages had been met with radio silence.
He was starting to suspect Giovanni had blocked him.
Koga froze at the unexpected information.
Asahi… messaging Giovanni? And Giovanni not replying?
Wait—did Asahi join Team Rocket?!
After a moment of silence, Koga finally said, "Giovanni probably cut off all contact after learning about my arrest…"
Then, he recited a string of phone numbers.
"… You actually have his number?" Asahi looked surprised. "I was just asking casually."
"…"
Koga clenched his jaw.
If he weren't part of the League now — and if he wasn't weaker than Asahi — he would've taught Asahi a lesson.
But Asahi patted Koga on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Well, since you didn't hide anything, it proves your loyalty to the League. If you ever run for Elite Four, you've got my vote!"
As Koga's expression twisted, Asahi dialed the number.
Beep… beep…
The call connected.
Asahi immediately said, "Boss Giovanni…"
Koga, standing next to him, looked utterly bewildered.
"…"
Wait… which one of us is with Team Rocket again?
On the other end of the line, Giovanni clearly hesitated for a moment, but then his voice came through — a mix of confusion, caution, frustration… and barely contained rage.
"Asahi…"
Giovanni couldn't believe it. He had blocked Asahi's email, yet Asahi still found a way to contact him.
But… wasn't this the number he only used to communicate with Koga?
"What did you do to Koga?"
Hearing this, Asahi glanced at Koga, who was staring at him with a complicated expression, and said to Giovanni, "What do you mean 'what did I do'? Koga saw the light — he realized Team Rocket was a dead end and joined the League."
Giovanni sneered coldly. "Heh…"
Did Asahi really think he'd fall for such an obvious attempt to sow discord?
Giovanni's trust in Asahi was already in the negatives.
Seeing Giovanni's reaction, Asahi sighed. No one believed the truth anymore.
But this didn't matter — he had more important business with Giovanni.
"Boss Giovanni, aren't you curious about the mole the Galactic Team planted in Team Rocket?"
"…"
Giovanni didn't respond.
He had already been tricked by Asahi twice over this topic.
Besides, he had more pressing matters right now—
"The mole is Sird."
Asahi's words shattered Giovanni's train of thought.
"…Sird?"
Even Giovanni couldn't hide the disbelief in his voice.
He was stunned — not just by the accusation, but also by how casually Asahi had revealed it.
Giovanni's brows furrowed deeply. He still didn't trust Asahi.
After dropping that bombshell, Asahi didn't say another word — he simply hung up the phone.
He wanted to let the seed of doubt grow in Giovanni's mind.
Sooner or later, Giovanni would dig into Sird's background.
And when that happened, Asahi could sit back and watch Team Rocket implode and retaliate against the Galactic Team.
Not only would it stir up trouble for Giovanni, but it would also help Cynthia indirectly.
As Asahi mused over his plan, Koga spoke up. "Is Sird… really a Galactic Team spy?"
—