"Pay attention to the boundaries."
Finally, one more reminder, and Damian hangs up.
As for Carr's ideology, Damian doesn't have any special ideology of his own; though Carr is arrogant and ruthless, there's one thing he's right about.
Team Rocket isn't something just any cat and dog can bully—let Carr handle that kind of thing.
But after the call ends, Damian finds the atmosphere in the private room has quieted down.
"Lord Damian, you…"
Miki's face tightens a little; she and Zuki just heard everything.
Damian says he's with Team Rocket!
"Tsk~ you found out, did you." Damian sneers, malice thickening on his face.
Miki stiffens, trying to stay calm. She's heard of the notorious Team Rocket, but she never expected to be this close to them.
"It seems I can't let you stay here. What should I do? Since you're so beautiful, maybe I should throw you into the basement and 'fill you up like a cream puff' or something like that."
Damian rubs his chin, pretending to ponder.
Upon hearing this, Miki and the others aren't tense at all.
"You really like joking around." Miki covers her mouth with her sleeve, laughing softly.
"Who told you I was joking?" Damian raises a brow.
"Lord Ho-Oh granting you Rainbow Wing means you're definitely not a villain who does nothing good."
Miki's tone remains soft.
Even though she doesn't know why Damian would be a Team Rocket member, after the initial panic, she quickly calms down.
Damian has been recognized by Lord Ho-Oh and granted the Rainbow Wing, after all!
Lord Ho-Oh would not misjudge someone!
And from these days of being together, Miki believes she has some eye for people too: Damian may not look like a good guy, but he isn't a bad one either.
"I've told you many times, my Rainbow Wing didn't come to me the way you think." Damian finds it funny.
Only this overgrown roast bird in Ho-Oh's believers is sacred and pure in their eyes.
Sure, Ho-Oh's strength may not match Mega Rayquaza, but there's nothing evil about it.
In the past, Ho-Oh did kidnap some children, but that was at the request of the Masked Man, not voluntary.
Miki smiles slightly, staying silent.
Truth is, she doesn't care too much how Damian got Rainbow Wing from Ho-Oh; as long as it's confirmed that Ho-Oh gave it to Damian, that's enough.
"Are you leaving now?" Miki asks softly after washing Damian's feet and drying them.
"Yes. Lugia's location has been found at Whirl Islands. Do you want to come along?"
Damian stands; Zuki also rises and steps up to straighten his clothes.
Aromas waft, and when he looks down, Zuki's refined face greets him; after preparing his clothes, Zuki picks up a handkerchief and delicately wipes Damian's cheek.
Damian feels a little too pampered by these two women—tries to shake off the thought.
"Lugia?"
Hearing that, Miki and Zuki exchange a glance; their eyes carry different colors.
"Is that a problem?"
"Lugia!!"
"Of course not, in fact it's more convenient this way."
Damian answers matter-of-factly.
After all, he promised Miki that they would see Ho-Oh or possibly Lugia; whether Ho-Oh and Lugia forgive their ancestors is not Damian's problem.
Bringing them to Lugia would be best.
Otherwise, wouldn't they need Lugia right in front of them?
"Then please, Lord Damian."
Miki bows, excited to have a chance to see Lugia.
"No need for formalities; let's start with this for now. You go prepare yourselves."
Damian waves him off; he needs to message Caitlin.
Caitlin has returned to special training, and Zinnia went to Embedded Tower.
Damian will stay in Kanto for a few days; Zinnia yesterday obliterated the Pokémon Association and today goes to pay respects to Aster.
Gladion has also found another place for special training.
Miki and Zuki head downstairs to pack; Damian heads to the back door of the ballroom, pulling out his phone.
Today's Kanto forum is buzzing; most talk about Goldenrod City's big news from yesterday.
Rayquaza appeared and attacked the Pokémon Association, and someone ruthless wiped out most of the upper echelon of the Pokémon Association.
Without a doubt, this is a major shock to the entire Johto region's evil events.
But Indigo League isn't entirely ashamed; Goodshow published Johto Pokémon Association's former sins; though those people are dead, justice is served.
Then comes…
Wallace and his close friends chat group.
Wallace created a group chat, and the members are friends who weathered the storm with him.
Wallace: Guys, look at this! (link) (jaw-dropped.jpg)
Wallace posts the thread about the Goldenrod City attack.
Steven: …
Cynthia: I bet Damian and Zinnia did it. (sigh.jpg)
Giovanni: It happened yesterday; apparently Suicune was at the scene too; Damian and them couldn't be wrong.
Nemona: Isn't that Senior Leon …? Why would Rayquaza be with Damian too? (gasp.jpg)
Leon: Don't forget Zinnia is Draconid; with Damian's strength catching that Rayquaza isn't surprising.
Steven: Cynthia, has House of Berlitz handled it? If not, Zinnia won't let them go.
Cynthia: I'm on my way to House of Berlitz now.
Cynthia's eyes narrow; she didn't expect Damian and Zinnia to act so fast, though she agrees Zinnia's vengeance isn't wrong, the mass slaughter is Way Too Extreme.
Wallace: By the way, Damian already left Hoenn! That nasty guy finally left us in peace! (tears up.jpg)
Steven: …
Giovanni: Hoenn Team Rocket's enterprise is basically solidified; he'll leave Hoenn, but don't be careless; Alola and Hoenn, and Damian might expand to other regions.
Wallace: Wait, is that true?! He plans to harm other regions too? Born Evil, indeed—ambitious to the teeth!
Since they're not facing him directly, Cynthia and others can't tell if Wallace is happy for vengeance or angry.
But given Wallace's nature…
Nemona: Hope Damian and them don't come to Paldea; Paldea can't handle Team Rocket's chaos… (crying.jpg)
Leon: I need to discuss with Chairman Rose first—where am I even sense of direction now? (head in hands.jpg)
Giovanni: In any case, if you need help, reach out to me. If it's about dealing with Damian, I, Giovanni, won't back down!
Nemona: Senior Giovanni is so cool!! (sparkles.jpg)
Wallace: Senior Giovanni is our exemplar! I believe only Senior Giovanni can stop Damian! (sparkles.jpg)
Steven's expression in the office is deadpan; damn, Wallace!
Nemona is a junior; Wallace, you're a former Hoenn Champion after all!!
Steven feels his head spinning again; maybe it's from Team Rocket's three catches; Wallace seems to be flailing more than ever—he used to have some reliability, now he's mostly comic relief.
Still, Steven agrees with Giovanni's idea: this group chat's original purpose is to help each other take down Damian.
But the group name "Knock Down Evil Damian's Justice League" is too shameful, so Wallace changed it to the current name.
…...
Whirl Islands
Located between Johto mainland and Cianwood City, this archipelago is part of Johto's landmass.
Ancient texts say Whirl Islands used to be a single huge island; two nations fought a war over its control.
Lugia is the island's guardian and was deeply disappointed, so it split the island into four pieces with a flash of electricity, vanishing at the top of the waterfall, hoping that humans and Pokémon could rebuild their trust.
That's in-game lore; in reality, Whirl Islands has four main islands but many small ones as well; though there are whirlpools around, it's not completely inaccessible.
There's also a fun event called the Whirl Islands Tournament, held only for Water-type Trainers.
But Damian isn't interested in that.
Damian brings Caitlin, Miki, and Zuki to Whirl Islands, heading for their destination, Ogi Isle.
This is the location Carr provided; supposedly someone found Lugia's signs there.
But Carr says he's already arrived and found the two attackers who attacked Team Rocket; not sure how things are right now.
Currently on Ogi Isle.
"Is that you? You dared attack us, Team Rocket."
Carr has landed, looking at a man and a woman; their faces are grim, their eyes dark, and their voices cold.
Because those two are still sitting on the rocks and not even glancing at him.
He, Lord Carr, has never been treated with such disdain.
"Ahh—perhaps, yes; really grateful you helped us find Lugia's signs."
A gray-blue long-haired sexy woman yawns, glancing at Carr with a faint, sly smile.
"If you're willing to help us wait here for Lugia's appearance, I'd be even more grateful; what do you think?"
Karen tilts her chin; the corners of her lips hold a malicious curve that gives her an extraordinary charm.
"Hehehe…"
Carr explodes with anger, but his laughter sounds like it's forced from his throat.
"All right, petty fools, don't be reckless or you'll regret it, huh?"
Carr's face darkens; he hasn't faced such arrogance in a while.
Daring to act so in front of him means they're asking for trouble!
"Then I'll grant your wish: get rid of these two and feed the fish here tonight!"
Carr gives orders to his subordinates in a cold voice; he's not some saint.
"Yaha yaha—how irritable you are."
Karen tilts her head; a glimmer of cold light flickers in her eyes.
"Dwarf, you'll anger the sister if you keep talking like that."
"You clumsy, chestless harpy! Who are you calling short and scrawny?!"
Carr's face pales; he hates being insulted about his height the most!
But Carr is not someone easy to bully; when it comes to trash talk, he's among Team Rocket's best!
Karen's expression darkens instantly; her long eyes narrow and she glares at Carr.
"Hehe…"
~~~
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