It won't have any impact on Natsuhiko either.
Tap, tap, tap...
Giovanni's fingers lightly tapped the tabletop.
An explanation.
Natsuhiko's last condition had already shaken his resolve.
The sound of the tapping echoed from the phone into the spacious hall.
It seemed as if he wasn't tapping the table, but on the hearts of the few people in the hall, matching unexpectedly with their breathing.
This silence was longer than any prior.
After a while.
The tapping stopped, and Giovanni spoke again.
Without giving Natsuhiko an answer, he laughed and said, "You're quite impressive, how about joining Rocket Team? I'll grant you a top executive position."
Upon hearing that, Natsuhiko was initially stunned.
Soon, he chuckled awkwardly twice.
Discarded the sudden image that appeared in his mind... An old man with a crescent-shaped mustache reaching out to him, smiling, saying, "Be my son."
"I've gotten used to being free," Natsuhiko replied casually.
"That's fine, I can let you operate freely," Giovanni added.
It was clear to hear Giovanni was genuinely inviting Natsuhiko, not joking.
Speaking of.
Natsuhiko's Hunter identity?
Giovanni had absolute confidence; as his subordinate, he wasn't worried about betrayal.
Even if there was betrayal, he could handle it completely.
This was the courage of the leader of the largest underground force in the Pokemon Realm.
Natsuhiko smirked.
If he were still that struggling little guy in Goldenrod City back then, he might have kowtowed immediately.
"I'll think about it."
For now...
Just string it along for a while.
Outright refusal seemed a bit disrespectful to Giovanni.
"Alright." Giovanni continued stroking his cat, "You have the qualifications to collaborate with Rocket Team."
Natsuhiko picked up his hat and slightly bowed.
Seeing Natsuhiko's movements, Giovanni smiled, "I'll give you a piece of advice."
Natsuhiko was a bit startled.
He saw Giovanni's figure on the screen slightly lean forward, the face hidden in shadows finally appearing in his view.
With his angular face, his lips curved thoughtfully.
Said meaningfully, "Don't underestimate Tom Rokicki's matters; the depths are far deeper than you imagine."
Far deeper?
Natsuhiko felt a chill in his heart.
For Giovanni to say such a thing showed that there were things, not just what Natsuhiko saw on the surface.
Perhaps he thought he saw deep enough.
But compared to Giovanni, surely inferior.
It only suggested that Natsuhiko's intuition was likely correct.
Tom Rokicki was just an invisible node on the web covering the Pokémon Realm.
After saying this.
The call ended.
Natsuhiko didn't ask how to proceed with the handover, nor did he discuss specific cooperation content; he and Giovanni understood each other.
Natsuhiko returned the communicator to Mr. Z.
"Thank you."
After saying this, he slowly walked away.
Watching Natsuhiko's departing figure, Mr. Z had no intention to stop him, but his sleepiness was noticeably reduced compared to before.
"Boss?" The chubby man next to him cautiously called out.
But Mr. Z said, "Engage with him more."
"Oh, oh." The chubby man nodded repeatedly.
Natsuhiko didn't hide his conversation with Giovanni; he was just chubby, not foolish.
Mr. Z stretched again, in a posture ready for his body to perk up but his mind wouldn't allow it.
Tapping his shoes, he walked inside, uttering lightly, "Try collaborating with Q and see."
"Understood, boss."
...
Outside the Hunter Guild, Natsuhiko didn't put away the Hydreigon.
Pedestrians on the street gave way, each looking at him with awe.
But Natsuhiko didn't care.
With a full face of unwillingness, he dialed the communicator in his hand.
Oddly, people nearby could only see Natsuhiko's mouth moving, not knowing what he was saying.
In fact, Natsuhiko didn't say much, it was more of a complaint.
"I say, teacher, you didn't promise me like this at first. Now that I'm seated, you want me to contact Rocket Team. Do you know what I've just gone through? My back is still wet."
"What money-making, you better not speak nonsense, I just did what my identity should do."
"Do you know how I've lived these past few years? In a few years, do you want me to lead Hunter Guild?"
"Ah, don't worry about time units. The current issue is Giovanni's recruitment, what should I do?"