Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 452: Team Rocket’s Reaction (BONUS)

Viridian City, Kanto – Team Rocket Headquarters.

A sharp ringing interrupted Giovanni's work, and a massive video call projection appeared on the wall.

"Boss, the Marauder seems to be picking a fight with Johan!" Matori said anxiously.

The Marauder?

Johan?

A fight?

Giovanni was slightly stunned—this was unexpected.

Within Team Rocket, his authority was absolute. Few would dare disobey his commands.

However, there were always exceptions—like the Marauder.

Unlike most Team Rocket members whom Giovanni personally recruited and trained, the Marauder had joined halfway through. He was originally a Pokémon hunter.

But Giovanni never cared much about backgrounds. He knew the Marauder was ambitious, but so what? Ambition meant nothing in front of him.

Still, ever since Team Rocket began its recent reforms, the Marauder had become increasingly vocal in his opposition.

After all, as a former Pokémon hunter, he had joined Team Rocket to make capturing and selling Pokémon easier. Now, with the organization undergoing reform, his profits had been cut in half.

Giovanni had been keeping an eye on him, but since the Marauder remained outwardly obedient and was useful in eliminating rogue Pokémon hunters, Giovanni hadn't bothered acting against him.

But now, he had clashed with Johan.

"Have you called him?" Giovanni asked, fingers interlaced, his tone calm.

"No one's picking up," Matori said helplessly.

That was why she was so anxious.

She knew exactly what kind of person the Marauder was.

Giovanni chuckled. "It seems he's found a Pokémon that gives him confidence."

"What should we do, Boss?"

"You don't trust Johan's strength?"

The Marauder had earned his high-ranking position in Team Rocket due to his power.

But Johan was no longer the person they first met—he had even gone toe-to-toe with the rulers of time and space.

"That's not it," Matori sighed, massaging her temples. "I just think Johan might... be really angry."

"Oh?"

"Johan despises Pokémon hunters, and the Marauder has always acted like one. Will this conflict cause Johan to take his anger out on Team Rocket?"

Matori had a good understanding of Johan.

If Johan weren't angry, he wouldn't have sent her that photo.

After all, their relationship with Johan had never been openly discussed.

There was a silent understanding between them.

"More importantly..."

Matori hesitated before continuing in a lower voice, "I just got word that the Marauder secretly took all the failed 'Dark Balls.' If one of Johan's Pokémon gets forcibly captured, or if Johan himself gets hurt..."

Dark Balls were one of Team Rocket's inventions.

They could forcibly capture Pokémon, ignoring their will and any resistance—even if the Pokémon was already owned by a Trainer.

However, Dark Balls had extreme side effects. Captured Pokémon lost their sense of self and became uncontrollably violent.

While they temporarily increased a Pokémon's power, it came at the cost of destroying the Pokémon's future.

Originally, Team Rocket had developed Dark Balls for Mewtwo, and secondarily to strengthen Team Rocket's forces.

But after Johan pacified Mewtwo and Giovanni decided to reform the organization, research on Dark Balls was halted.

Only a batch of defective ones remained in storage.

Giovanni tapped his fingers on the desk.

"He wouldn't take it out on us—Johan isn't that petty."

He paused, then continued, "But... that possibility isn't zero."

His eyes narrowed slightly as he stroked Persian.

Sensing Giovanni's mood, Persian slowly stood up, baring its fangs.

But Giovanni simply smiled and patted Persian's head, calming it down.

Then, he said, "Send Archer and the others. All four of them."

Matori's body tensed.

"A-All four?" she asked in shock.

Those were the Four Executives of Team Rocket's Johto branch—equivalent in rank to Kanto's Sabrina, Koga, and Lt. Surge.

They essentially managed half of Team Rocket's Johto operations.

She had expected Giovanni to send one or two at most, but all four?

She instinctively shrank back.

The Boss really valued Johan.

But wouldn't this make the Pokémon League nervous?

Giovanni's smile widened. "Didn't you say Johan might misunderstand us? Then let's show him our commitment!"

"And... we'll deal with this little problem once and for all."

"Yes, sir!"

—

Goldenrod City, Johto – Team Rocket's Secret Base.

A man in a white suit, with short pale-blue hair, stood in the room. On his chest was the crimson "R" of Team Rocket.

Archer, leader of the Four Executives.

He folded one arm behind his back and touched his chin with the other, lightly coughing to gather the attention of the room.

There were three others present.

A red-haired woman in a white Team Rocket uniform sat by the bar—Ariana.

A man in a black uniform, wearing a black cap, leaned against the wall in the shadows—Proton.

A middle-aged man with a mohawk of purple hair lounged lazily on the couch—Petrel.

These four were the Johto branch's highest-ranking Executives.

Archer spoke with a serious expression.

"The Boss's orders: support the 'Advisor' and eliminate the Marauder."

"The 'Advisor'?" Ariana raised an eyebrow.

She had long heard that Team Rocket had a new highest-ranking officer, codenamed "Advisor," whom Giovanni valued highly.

Yet, she had never met him.

Even at last year's Team Rocket annual gathering, he was absent.

Rumor had it that the organization's internal reforms were largely influenced by this mysterious figure, though there was no concrete proof.

And now, the fact that all four Executives were being sent suggested it was true.

Proton chuckled, adjusting his cap. "I knew the Marauder was reckless, but provoking the 'Advisor'? That's a new level of stupidity."

"Ahh..."

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Petrel stretched lazily on the couch. "If the Boss says go, we go."

Archer was satisfied with their reactions.

Team Rocket was Giovanni's Team Rocket. He had never liked the Marauder, who constantly challenged Giovanni's authority.

"If all four of us go, what about the League?" Ariana asked.

At this, Proton and Petrel smirked.

Archer chuckled as well.

"Well... let's give the League something to worry about."

Indeed, the Johto League quickly became tense.

An emergency meeting of all Gym Leaders was held.

What was Team Rocket planning?

Meanwhile, Johan sighed as he watched the Marauder take out his phone—only to put it away again.

It seemed Matori's "influence" wasn't working anymore.

Understandable.

The Marauder likely believed that since he had found Celebi, capturing it would allow him to surpass Giovanni and take control of Team Rocket.

At that point, why bother answering a call from Giovanni's secretary?

"Tch..."

The Marauder gritted his teeth and pulled out a small black sphere from his vest.

As he pressed the button, the ball expanded into a pitch-black Poké Ball, crackling with energy.

A Dark Ball!

With his escape routes cut off, the Marauder had no choice. If he failed to capture Celebi today, he'd have to flee into the mountains and return to being a rogue Pokémon hunter.

He tossed the Dark Ball.

A Tyranitar emerged from the gray mist, its gaze sharp and its aura ferocious.

"Yoji!"

A small Larvitar chirped excitedly—wasn't this its final evolution?

But instead of responding, Tyranitar roared and stomped its foot.

Earthquake!

The ground split as a shockwave hurtled toward Larvitar.

"Ka-kaah!"

Gengar appeared in an instant, grabbing Larvitar and dodging the attack.

The battle had begun.

And as the Marauder laughed maniacally, black Dark Balls fired from a mechanical arm, forcefully capturing every wild Pokémon in sight.

But Johan's Pokémon stepped forward.

"Ninetales, Oowoo~"

"Tinkaton, Cha!"

"Urshifu, Garruu!"

"Dragonite, Draaa!"

The fight was on.

The Marauder smirked and threw a Dark Ball at Gengar.

But Gengar simply ate it.

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Powerstones?

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