Groudon felt like it was about to break.
In its life it had never drunk this much water; it felt like it would pour out from its backside any moment.
This stupid fish! I'll kill you a thousand times over!!!
But reality is cruel—the creature's consciousness is already fading, it can't fit in anymore, there really isn't any room at all.
Primal Kyogre rose slowly up from the water, and seeing Groudon's huge belly, it immediately felt completely satisfied.
So refreshing!!!
"Groudon..."
Giovanni and the others were startled to see this "pregnant" Groudon.
What the hell! You said you were even with Primal Kyogre 50/50? It hasn't been long, and your belly is this big?!
"Humans… help me… please… save me…"
Groudon gasped, clearly near death as Primal Kyogre kept beating on it.
Heck, it's already half‑blind, seeing Arceus bathed in holy light and looking so kind.
Giovanni quickly recalled Groudon with an Ultra Ball.
Damian's expression turned creepy for a while, then he directed his gaze to Primal Kyogre.
Seeing Kyogre's smug face, Damian could only give it a thumbs up.
"That's lit!!!"
Primal Kyogre grew even more smug; it felt like it had reached the pinnacle of its life.
"Kyogre, ease off first."
Damian smiled and spoke to Primal Kyogre.
Ooh~
Primal Kyogre understood and emitted a deep moan; the previously brutal downpour eased a lot, returning to normal rain levels.
But the rain hadn't stopped completely.
"Damian, we made a deal, right?"
Steven's expression tightened as he watched the rain still not fully stopping.
"Of course, I've had Kyogre rein in a lot, hasn't it? Next, we should discuss compensation."
Damian grinned, looking at Steven with casual ease.
"Compensation?"
Steven's brows knit tightly; he'd already apologized to Damian and promised to release all captured Team Rocket members.
But clearly, Damian wasn't satisfied.
"Of course there's compensation, Steven-sensei. You don't think this ends that simply, do you?"
"My appearance fee is very expensive."
Damian raised an eyebrow, half‑smiling.
"…"
Steven remained silent; Giovanni and the three of them watched Damian, also silent.
Though they knew Damian was asking for compensation, there was nothing they could do.
"Fine, you say it—just make Kyogre stop the rain."
Steven steadied his emotions and spoke to Damian in a low voice.
No matter what, the first condition is to stop this catastrophe of rain.
Even though Primal Kyogre had adjusted the rainfall, for those cities already flooded by water, any continued rain would still be a burden.
"First, my appearance fee and the Team Rocket member mental‑damage compensation."
Damian lifted a finger.
"Ten billion. That isn't too much, right?"
Ten billion… even Leon and Cynthia were shocked by the figure.
"Damian, that's way too high!" Giovanni could not help speaking up again.
The repairs for Team Rocket's base, the medical costs for injured members, even adding Damian's "mental damage" fee—the ten billion is astronomical.
"Too high?" Damian tilted his head.
"Guys, I was at home with a pretty girl, eating hotpot and singing, when I suddenly learned our base was under attack."
Damian described it with innocent charm.
"And please, look at me closely—I'm Kyogre's Trainer, so my appearance fee is high. You think I'm joking?"
Damian's tone was as natural as if born into it.
Damn!
Even Leon couldn't keep it together; how could someone speak so casually?
"Ten billion, I'll give you."
Steven breathed, expressionless, replying.
Joseph Stone is already in a cell; the Devon Corporation is his proxy, he's not short of money.
But even for the Devon, pulling out ten billion in liquid cash is no small sum.
Yet there's no room for haggling now.
Besides…
From Steven's view, this incident was of his making, so he should be in charge of it.
"Tsk— Steven‑sensei is really generous!" Damian gave Steven-sensei a round of applause.
"Anything else?" Steven asked in a low voice; he knew this wasn't going to be that simple.
"Second, I—Team Rocket's enterprises in Hoenn—likely you know that, right?"
Damian asked Steven.
"Arceus Entertainment Complex and its nominal companies."
Steven's brows knitted tightly.
Arceus Entertainment Complex, Mauville City's newly opened entertainment complex, built on the old Mauville Game Corner.
Steven did know this; a careful look would reveal that Arceus Entertainment Complex originated in Alola, and the Alola side had hinted that Arceus Entertainment Complex was Team Rocket's enterprise!
"Yes, our Entertainment Complex is a legitimate business, with a business license."
Damian's lips curled; looking at Steven's reaction, it seemed he only knew that the Entertainment Complex is Team Rocket's.
But in truth Team Rocket already runs many Hoenn companies and projects, such as the Pokémon Ride Shop booming in Slateport City.
Steven fixed Damian with a stern gaze, compared to Too high, Damian's second demand was even more outrageous!
Because Damian's insinuation is to force Steven to admit the Arceus Entertainment Complex's legitimacy!
But that would be admitting Team Rocket's legitimacy in Hoenn???
"This is not acceptable," Steven said softly.
"Steven‑sensei, you really think carefully before answering. Damian's smile remains gentle."
Steven's breathing grew heavier.
Leon and Cynthia frowned; they understood Steven was being boxed in.
If they accepted, they'd be conceding to an evil organization; if they refused, Damian might truly unleash catastrophe.
Time passed; every second felt like torture for Steven.
"Damian, do you have to push me this far?"
Steven's voice was husky.
He really didn't know what to choose. He was Hoenn's Champion, with the responsibility to make every sacrifice for Hoenn.
He had the resolve, but not like this.
If only he'd known sooner, he'd have preferred filming A Hundred Sets of Girls' Outfits than taking back the Hoenn Champion title from Wallace.
"Steven-sensei, you can't talk like that," Damian teased with a mock smile, "Isn't this your choice, after all, idol?"
Steven's face kept twitching as he stared at the boy in front of him in white shirt and black pants, with that imposing Primal Kyogre behind him. How could he choose?
Steven's expression flickered, unsure.
The rain continued to fall steadily.
After a long moment, the tall, unyielding Champion of Hoenn finally lowered his shoulder.
"I understand. As long as Arceus Entertainment Complex isn't illegal, it's a legitimate business."
Steven's voice was completely exhausted, but he chose to compromise.
He wasn't willing to gamble; he'd already lost once in the Groudon affair, hadn't he?
This situation stemmed from that.
If Damian truly goes mad, would he let Primal Kyogre keep Primordial Sea running? How would he be in charge of Hoenn?
Hearing that, Damian's face lit up with a brilliant smile.
Giovanni and the three of them looked at Steven as if he'd suddenly lost all his spirit, making eye contact with one another and sighing inwardly.
They could understand. It was possible.
Smack, smack, clap—
The applause came from Damian.
"That's more like it, isn't it? Steven-sensei, you really are a person with depth of thought," Damian clapped for Steven and spoke with a grin.
"After all, since Team Rocket stepped onto Hoenn, we haven't done a single thing that's technically illegal, have we?"
"Not to mention we've even cleared away two tumors, Team Aqua and Team Magma," Damian waved toward Primal Kyogre, gesturing grandly.
"The prophecy of the Draconid people—the giant meteorite that would destroy Hoenn—we can take care of that too. We've been protecting this rich land all along."
"Steven-sensei, truthfully, you should still be thanking us, Team Rocket," Damian's voice sounded unusually sharp to Steven's ears.
But then he paused and realized… perhaps, just perhaps, that might actually be true.
~~~
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