Pokemon: Master of tactics

Alex, who noticed the smile on Giovanni's face, showed a helpless look. It seemed that he had to pass the test without any great advantages.

To be frank, he was already quite satisfied that he could add Maria to his team. He doubted that either of them could find a better subordinate under the age of 18 than Maria. ​​

'Now the question is, what will Maria ask for this help? I'm sure it won't be cheap,' thought Alex.

Marco and Janine looked at Maria with an interested stare. The two also openly showed an interest in Maria.

Giovanni looked at Alex's face and said, "Alex, take off the mask. It's only fair that everyone knows each other's face."

Alex knew that none of these people would betray his identity since it would equate to a betrayal of Team Rocket. And even if they do, it is unlikely that the Alliance would believe that.

Marco and Janine both showed a slightly surprised expression when they saw the real face of Alex.

Neither would have thought that the winner of the Kanto Rookie tournament was a Team Rocket member. Both could now understand a little better why Alex can take part in this test.

Although both were briefly surprised, neither of them was afraid of Alex.

They saw the tournament and knew that Alex's level was technically very weak, strength-wise, and had only won against Misty by a trick. Although he should be stronger now, he shouldn't be much stronger than Maria. Both were sure that their Pokémon were much stronger than Alex's.

Giovanni said sternly, "By the way, don't try to look for loopholes in these rules. You'd better use the time to train yourself and your team. That's a tip from me."

"I'll send you the exact rules later, so no need to waste time with them right now."

Alex immediately understood what he meant. Although Giovanni didn't say it, it would definitely be forbidden to use Pokémon that do not belong to you or that you have borrowed from someone else. Such things will undoubtedly appear in the rules to keep this competition 'fair'.

Giovanni looked again briefly at each of the 3 and said, encouraging them, "The three of you have a unique chance. Train hard this year yourself and your team if you want to gain this position."

"Only the best get what they want in Team Rocket."

"See you in a year." Giovanni stopped looking at the group and focused back on his desk.

Alex said goodbye and walked out the door. Maria, Marco, and Janine also followed quickly, and all left Giovanni's office.

As the door of Giovanni's office closed, a man slowly began to emerge from a dark part of the office. It looked as if the man had managed to hide in this place the whole time without letting anyone realize his presence.

Giovanni gave a small smile and said, "Your daughter is really very similar to you."

Koga stood in front of Giovanni and said, "Thank you, Boss. But I have a question."

Giovanni said while looking at him with his domineering eyes, "Speak."

Koga kept his emotionless face steady when he said, "This new position is very important for Team Rocket. That's why I don't understand why you want to give rookies where trust is not great. Only my daughter won't betray Team Rocket for 100%."

Giovanni smiled, "The only way you can have the courage to betray Team Rocket is when you reach a level similar to that of Team Rocket. Even if each of them has very good potential, I don't think it's possible."

Then he showed a confident expression, "I didn't get to this position because I'm weak or untalented. I've never suppressed a subordinate just because they have great potential. And the reason I do it is very simple."

"I have bigger goals than maintaining my current position and I can't achieve those goals if Team Rocket and I don't get much stronger. I'm not afraid even if one of my subordinates has the strength of a Champion."

Giovanni said with a very calm expression "I am Giovanni, the leader of the largest underground organization in the world and not a third-class leader the fear that his subordinates will become too strong for him to handle."

Koga, who heard this very arrogant tone, did not see arrogance but rather self-confidence. He felt that Giovanni really wasn't afraid of these new talents overtaking him.

He couldn't agree with anything other than what Giovanni said. He didn't think that the person who had built Team Rocket to this giant in less than 15 years would be afraid of talented people in Team Rocket.

Koga looked at Giovanni with respectful eyes when he thought, 'A truly worthy leader.'

...

As the four left the office, they began to look at each other.

Marco first tried to dissolve this stagnation as he looked in the direction of Maria and said with a friendly smile, "Maria, we met again after so many months. I'm glad that we now have time to talk to each other."

Janine also looked in the direction of Maria. She didn't say anything and just gave Maria her contact details.

Marco, who saw this, also gave Maria his contact details.

Maria, who realized that she suddenly became very popular, showed a small appreciative smile as she took both pieces of paper.

Alex, who already knew Maria, knew that Maria only wanted to raise the price and showed a peculiar expression.

He knew that Maria's first choice was always him because trust was very important with such a partnership. As long as he gives satisfying terms, Maria should be safe in his team.

When the four of them went back to the little man's room, they saw an Alakazam standing there waiting for someone.

Alex smiled when he said, "Ohh~ Maria, our pick-up service is here."

Marco showed a cold expression for a second but said nothing. He shouldn't be making an enemy now. It's just not clever to make enemies unnecessary. If he and Alex become enemies, that would only give Janine an advantage.

Janine continued to show an emotionless expression and remained silent as she had always been.

Alex and Maria instantly disappeared from this room together with Alakazam via [Teleport].

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