"Senior, did I go too far?"
Damian looks at Clay with a sincere, gentle tone, even as the other man's expression flickers.
"..."
Clay's face twitches a few times, but what can he say right now?
It was he who pressed to test Damian's strength, he who told Damian to go all out, and now he's getting his clock cleaned…
"No, it's not that; I've made you look foolish, young people—your strength is really outstanding."
Clay steadies his emotions, admiring Damian with a sigh.
Though he's known as an underground boss, Clay is still a man of great tolerance.
But he truly admires Damian—this strength… it's just ridiculous.
And the most important thing is that Damian is so young. Clay has indeed met prodigies before.
For example, this year he's seen two prodigy girls, both the kind of "monsters" that leave you amazed.
But the guy in front of him, a black-haired boy from Kanto, is clearly even more extraordinary.
"Phew—I told you so, Dad, Mr. Damian is incredibly powerful."
Lacey exhales softly and nudges Clay with a playful scold.
Clay gives an awkward, sheepish smile.
"Thank you for the compliment, Senior; juniors still have a lot to improve."
Damian replies with a smile.
"Time isn't late yet, Senior, Miss Lacey, we'll take our leave first."
Damian bows before departing; his main reason for coming to Driftveil City was to find Ghetsis after all.
"Is there something urgent, Damian? If you're not in a hurry, why not grab a bite first? I know a restaurant with great flavors."
Clay offers to keep them, and indeed, he's eager to befriend this young man.
Though they've only just met, with Damian's strength and demeanor, Clay can already declare that the kid's future is unlimited!
If not for the stunning beauty by Damian's side, he wouldn't mind letting Lacey spend more time with Damian.
If Damian and Lacey end up together, Clay would wake up laughing in his dreams!
But right now he's not sure what Damian's relationship with Caitlin is—maybe they're not a couple after all?
Clay wonders if his daughter is adorable and talented enough to have a shot at him as well?
"At present I do have some matters to attend to. Thanks for your kindness, Senior; perhaps we can eat together again sometime later."
Damian politely declines.
"Alright then, if you need help, feel free to tell me; in Driftveil City I still have some energy left."
Clay doesn't push, smiles, and nods.
"Okay."
Damian nods toward Lacey and leads Caitlin away, with Clay and Lacey seeing them to the gym entrance.
"A former dragon among men, huh." Clay sighs as he watches Damian's back.
"I wonder what this young man is doing in Unova."
Clay asks Lacey curiously.
"Hmm, I don't really know. I was focused on his strength; Dad, you honestly don't know—his battles all used Annihilape, finals included—one Annihilape wiped out six opponents!"
Lacey's long fingers rest on her chin as she ponders, then she gasps.
"With that kind of talent, it's not surprising."
Clay hasn't been surprised by anything he's seen.
"Right! I remember someone mentioned in the comments that Mr. Damian is the Son of a Kanto official Gym Leader."
Lacey nods.
"So young and powerful—if he could become our Unova Champion, that would be amazing."
Clay laughs, thinking it would be wonderful if Damian could lead Unova as champion.
"Pfft—That would be difficult, Dad. Mr. Damian is from Kanto, after all."
"Which is why I say—if, because we're in Unova now…."
Clay sighs inwardly. As Unova's Gym Leader, he naturally hopes his region grows stronger.
But things aren't going as he'd hoped; Unova is slipping…
Alder already looks like a wayward buddy; if Damian, this fresh blood, could take over Unova's lead, Unova might rise again.
He hopes Damian comes to Unova for the Unova Champion position.
After all, the Kanto Champion is the invincible Lance; Damian is young, perhaps with the confidence to challenge Lance, so maybe he came to Unova for this.
Clay muses, thinking this possibility might be true—if it were actually good news, he'd be happy.
He even thinks Alder would grin himself silly and hand the Champion title to Damian.
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
Damian and Caitlin have just left Driftveil Gym when a thought strikes him.
"Caitlin, what do you think about our organization recruiting people at Blueberry Academy?"
Damian contemplates aloud; this is something he just thought of.
"Huh?" Caitlin's mind stalls.
"Blueberry Academy isn't as famous as Naranja, but its students are top-tier, far better than those recruited from the streets."
Damian speaks with a plan; he thinks this is feasible.
Naranja Academy is Paldea's top Pokémon school and one of the world's best; its history goes back eight hundred years, while the Pokémon League's establishment is only a little over a hundred years old.
Blueberry Academy is a sister school to Naranja, founded not long ago but rich in resources; its students are excellent and carry potential.
In short, Team Rocket could establish several Pokémon academies to train fresh blood and cultivate talent for their use.
Damian notes this down, planning to implement it later. Wherever Team Rocket has a foothold, they'll build a few schools!
"That ideology could work, but it won't be easy to pull off."
Caitlin muses, cautiously optimistic.
"Honestly, normal companies or forces could recruit at Blueberry Academy without issue,"
Damian counters, grinning.
But they're an evil organization—Team Rocket!
"Not a problem. We can start as a business, marketing benefits and welfare and quietly survey the students' opinions."
Damian insists that any organization's growth relies on talent.
And Blueberry Academy likely has "great minds" too.
For example, Lacey is one of the BB League Elite Four; her potential is outstanding, at least EliteFour-tier, and she's young—there's room to push for Champion-tier later.
Most importantly, Blueberry Academy has Kieran!
Kieran's talent is immense; as the rival in the Crimson and Violet DLC, Kieran's potential is undeniable.
After going dark, Kieran beat the entire BB League to become Champion in a short time; his strength truly reaches Champion-tier.
Though he's not the protagonist's opponent or Nemona, Kieran's talent in the Violet series is second only to the protagonist and Nemona.
And Kieran is someone who could be won over; his temperament can be extreme, which is why he went dark.
"Feasible." Caitlin agrees.
"Later I'll have Gladion prepare something, and then…."
Before Damian can finish, his phone rings—Zinnia.
"Damian! I found that Ghetsis you mentioned! Come here quickly!"
Zinnia's excited voice crackles over the phone.
"Sure." Damian raises an eyebrow; he didn't expect Zinnia to provide this kind of surprise.
In a nearby park, a middle-aged man in a gorgeous yet creepy robe is giving speeches to passersby.
Zinnia leans against a tree, intrigued as she watches.
"My name is Ghetsis, Ghetsis of Team Plasma."
Ghetsis speaks with a magnetic voice, full of persuasive energy.
"Today I want to talk about liberation of Pokémon—has anyone thought about that?"
"Humans and Pokémon have lived together for ages; we're all partners, aren't we,"
this guy proclaims.
"But is it really true?"
What is this guy saying?
Zinnia frowns; she doesn't understand what Ghetsis is trying to express—portraying humans and Pokémon as not needing each other?
This is nonsense, and Zinnia knows it.
"She's a madman," she thinks.
"Could it be that this is just a one-sided human ideology?"
Ghetsis continues to preach.
"Trainers force Pokémon to work for them, and they direct partners; who can say there isn't such a thing?"
"Friends, Pokémon and humans are different; Pokémon are beings with unknown possibilities; they have many aspects worth learning from."
"What should we do for such Pokémon?"
Ghetsis raises his arm, his voice rising.
"Yes! Let Pokémon be liberated! Only then can humans and Pokémon achieve true equality!"
Zinnia's eyes widen in disbelief.
And she guesses Ghetsis' ideology: freeing Pokémon while he himself possesses Pokémon.
In that moment, there are no claps from the bystanders; at least some people still have brains.
Otherwise, Zinnia might seriously doubt whether Unova people have more than a handful of brains.
Then, suddenly, loud applause erupts.
Zinnia freezes; there really are fools endorsing Ghetsis' theory?
The bystanders' expressions vary, but Ghetsis is ecstatic, looking toward the source of the applause.
A handsome, distinguished black-haired boy stands among the crowd, his gorgeous black coat making him look more than human.
"Lord Sages says a lot that hits home."
Damian grins openly, speaking with genuine sincerity.
"Boy, you're young but can understand my ideology; you have a bright future."
"Sages, you're too generous with praise. If Sages have such great ideals, surely you've set an example yourself?"
Ghetsis' brow furrows imperceptibly; setting an example by releasing Pokémon would be the exact opposite of his stance.
"That's natural; I've long since released my own Pokémon."
He lies with practiced ease.
"That's good; with that, I'm relieved."
Damian takes out an Ultra Ball.
"If you also want to liberate Pokémon, you should do it in the wild."
Ghetsis thinks Damian is about to imitate him, releasing his own Pokémon here.
"Sages, you've misread me."
Damian smiles with a wide, benevolent grin.
"What I mean is: since you've already released your own Pokémon, I don't have to worry about you fighting back."
Ghetsis frowns, perplexed.
"Oh? You're Born Evil's cultist Ghetsis, surrender now; today I'll represent justice, and Team Rocket will pass judgment on you!"
Damian's voice booms, full of authority.
"What?!"
Ghetsis is stunned.
What is this guy talking about—representing justice?
~~~
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