A dozen or so members in Team Rocket Executive uniforms were gathered in small groups. Some were polishing Poké Balls, some were conversing in low voices, and others leaned back with their legs crossed, looking at the ceiling with impatient expressions.
These people represented the true face of Team Rockets.
A group of unruly villains and ambitious schemers.
Laic was among them, still dressed in a formal suit. He was conversing with those beside him; when Jiang Han arrived, he merely gave a faint glance, completely lacking his usual boisterousness.
Jiang Han's appearance immediately drew everyone's attention.
His casual clothes, which were out of place in this environment, and the overly youthful silhouette of his face made him look like a Husky that had blundered into a pack of wolves, appearing particularly conspicuous.
A gruff voice broke the brief silence.
"Yo, where did this little brat come from?"
The speaker was a burly man with a full beard. He had a massive build, and his uniform was stretched so tight it looked like a bodysuit; several buttons had popped open, revealing a chest covered in black hair.
He had been boasting to a tall, thin man next to him, but upon seeing Jiang Han, he unceremoniously turned his spearhead toward him.
"Hey, kid, are you in the wrong place? This isn't a place for brats like you."
The tall, thin man let out a shrill snicker, and several people nearby cast looks of anticipation, waiting for a good show.
Behind his mask, Jiang Han's eyes remained calm and rippleless.
He knew the internal survival laws of Team Rockets all too well.
There was no warmth here, only the most primitive law of the jungle.
Between superiors and subordinates, there was heartless exploitation; between peers, there was eternal competition and bullying.
This burly man clearly took him for a newcomer, a soft persimmon that could be squeezed at will.
If he showed even a hint of cowardice today, countless hands would reach out tomorrow to tear him to pieces, swallowing him until not even the bones remained.
In Team Rockets, kindness and backing down were original sins.
You had to let everyone know that your claws and teeth were sharp enough.
Jiang Han ignored the man, his gaze sweeping across the meeting room before he headed straight for an empty seat.
His disregard completely infuriated the arrogant brute.
Bang!
With a loud crash, the man's fan-like hand slammed onto the table, causing the wine glasses on it to jump.
He stood up abruptly, his fierce gaze fixed dead on Jiang Han's back.
"You little bastard, I'm talking to you! Are you fucking deaf or mute?"
The entire meeting room fell silent instantly. Everyone's eyes focused on them, wearing playful and cruel smiles.
They delighted in such conflicts.
A newcomer's blood was the best appetizer.
Jiang Han stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around.
The mask hid his expression, revealing only a pair of pitch-black eyes as calm as two bottomless pools of icy water.
"Are you... talking to me?" His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
The man grinned savagely and cracked his knuckles, producing a series of crisp pops.
"Who else? Besides you, who else here is dressed like a beggar? If you know what's good for you, get the hell out now. Otherwise, I'll make sure you leave horizontally!"
Jiang Han suddenly let out a soft chuckle.
This laugh sounded exceptionally jarring in the silent meeting room.
He showed no signs of anger; instead, it was as if he had heard an amusing joke.
He extended a finger and beckoned the man over.
"I'm certainly not going out."
His tone was flat, but it carried an unquestionable certainty.
"If you think you have the ability to kick me out..."
Jiang Han paused, and the gaze beneath his mask suddenly turned cold.
"...then come and try."
A provocation!
A blatant provocation!
A kid who looked like he hadn't even reached adulthood actually dared to publicly provoke a man who was somewhat famous even among the cadres!
The air in the meeting room seemed to freeze.
The savage grin on the man's face stiffened. Then, a surge of furious blood rushed to his face, turning his bearded countenance the color of pig liver.
"Brat, you're looking for death!"
He roared, and the chair beneath him flipped backward with a loud crash from his violent movement.
Like an enraged brown bear, his massive body lunged toward Jiang Han, bringing with it a gust of foul wind.
However, Jiang Han remained standing where he was, motionless.
He just quietly watched the mountain of flesh collide toward him, a cold arc curling at the corner of his mouth under the mask.
Just a moment before the bear-like man's fist—the size of a casserole—could smash into Jiang Han's face...
Jiang Han also counterattacked, his hand forming a blade and thrusting straight toward the man's throat!
"Everyone, stop!"
A cold and authoritative male voice came from a corner of the meeting room.
The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an irresistible power that forced the man's massive body to a grinding halt right where he stood.
The wind from the punch blew the stray hairs on Jiang Han's forehead, but he didn't even blink.
Everyone looked toward the source of the voice and saw a man in a suit.
Team Rockets Intermediate Cadre—Laic.
Laic's fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop, producing a rhythmic 'knock, knock' sound.
His gaze swept over the two people locked in a standoff, finally landing on Iron Copper.
"Iron Copper, Team Rockets' meeting room is not a place for you to run wild." There was no warmth in his voice.
The anger on Iron Copper's face instantly dissipated by more than half, replaced by a hint of dread.
Though reckless, he wasn't stupid.
He was just a Regular Cadre, while Laic was an Intermediate Cadre with a status far above his.
But Laic's true status went far beyond that; he was a direct subordinate of Lady Athena. It was because of this relationship that even the Senior Cadres present had to give him face!
What Iron Copper didn't know was that Jiang Han was also a core newcomer being cultivated by Lady Athena, who was the special executive officer responsible for the development of the Hoenn region.
If he had known about this connection, he wouldn't have dared to order Jiang Han around even if he were given ten times the courage.
"Lord Laic, this kid was too arrogant. I just wanted to teach him a lesson!" Iron Copper tried to explain.
"Oh?" Laic let out an ambiguous hum, turning his gaze toward Jiang Han. "A newcomer?"
"Do you know that he is my subordinate?"
"Based on seniority, a newly promoted person like you should be calling him'Senior'."
"Ah!?"
Iron Copper looked at Laic in disbelief, the fist in his hand softening significantly.
"He... he is actually your subordinate!"
Iron Copper turned back to look at Jiang Han; the face beneath the mask showed no sign of emotion.
He had just been promoted to Regular Cadre. Unlike these old foxes who had been mingling among the cadres for a long time, he had intended to establish his authority among the Regular Cadres by bullying a newcomer, proving he wasn't one to be trifled with.
But clearly, he had kicked a steel plate!
He actually dared to bluster at Laic's subordinate.
One must know that the person above Laic was Athena!
Even Senior Cadres didn't dare to give Laic attitude; as a Regular Cadre, wasn't he just looking for death?
However, having crawled his way up from the bottom of Team Rockets, he wasn't a fool. Looking at Jiang Han, he quickly reacted.
"Senior... Lord Senior, I'm... I'm sorry!"
"It was my clumsy eyes that failed to recognize you. Please don't take it to heart."
Iron Copper's voice trembled as he lowered his head, stealing a glance at Jiang Han.
He knew that showing weakness today would inevitably lead to a backlash, but there was no choice. For now, he had to survive!
Jiang Han ignored him, not even giving him a single glance.
The meaning was more than clear: no forgiveness.
Jiang Han considered himself a generous person.
But Jiang Han's 'generosity' referred to generously accepting other people's resources and Pokémon.
Generously receiving the awe and admiration of others.
It did not mean generously forgiving someone who had provoked him.
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