Pokemon: Master of tactics

Alex, Marco, and Janine left Giovanni's room and were back in the same hallway as before. But now they knew the way back to the waiting room where their subordinates were waiting for them.

All three of them started walking towards the waiting room without a word. Nobody said anything for a few seconds and only the footsteps of the three could be heard. Although Janine's steps were barely audible.

Marco breaks this silence first.

He looked at Alex with a slim smile as he said, "I saw you in the Kanto Champion Tournament. Your fighting style is really impressive. You really deserve the nickname, Master of tactics."

Alex just looked at Marco wordlessly. He felt that these words were not meant in a genuinely friendly way.

Marco continued even though Alex ignored him. "It's a shame that you were shown so much strength in this tournament. This test will be slightly more difficult for you. But...that ok, you are favored after all."

'This bastard really wants to set me up as the biggest threat in this test. Ha, the game can also be played by two.'

Alex looked at Marco as he said, "Didn't you just say that I'm an open book already? I shouldn't be the favorite. The real favorite is the person who won the last Team Rocket Rookie tournament."

Of course, Marco was the person who won the last Team Rocket Rookie tournament. He defeats Janine and Maria, who had defeated him.

One can say that Marco had already defeated all the other participants. In the case of Alex, one can even say that Marco defeated the person who defeated Alex.

Marco started saying in a laughing tone, "Alex this is so silly. It's been more than a year and everyone's strength is a lot better now."

He didn't wait for Alex to reply as he continued, "Besides, it's been several months since the Kanto Champion Tournament so you're not really an open book. A lot can change in so many months."

Marco then gave Alex a serious expression as he said, "Especially when you're as talented as you are."

Alex knew that he truly was the favorite in this test but he wants to prevent Marco from convincing Janine to strike him out first.

He looked at Marco with a cold expression as he replied, "You really want to play a stunt like that? It's true, that I seem to be the favorite, But my strengths and weaknesses are very open compared to yours. and even if the tournament was several months ago, a lot was shown and you can still easily estimate my strength."

Alex continued after a short pause, "in comparison, you're like a shadow. I have no idea what pokemon you have or what level they are or what moves they have on the master-rank. I don't know anything."

That's not entirely true because Alex knew what Pokemon Marco had, but it was very close to the real truth.

Janine's looked at the two with an indifferent expression. She acted like the whole thing had nothing to do with her.

Marco showed a slightly annoyed expression.

Alex "won" the discussion or at least forced a tie. one can see it as a win for Alex because Alex's team is truthfully the strongest of the participants but is now only considered comparable to Marco's Team in terms of threat.

Although Alex didn't smile, he wasn't unhappy with the "exchange". Especially after seeing Marco's expression.

Marco showed an annoyed expression but he was extremely happy. 'this bastard really believed it.'

He wanted to lose this discussion right from the start so that Alex believes that Marco didn't manage to ally himself with Janine.

Marco understood Alex remarkably well and also knew what Alex's biggest weakness is.

Alex was arrogant, like a lot of genius. Although Alex is very logical and often puts logic over his emotions and it's hard to really exploit this weakness, Marco found a way.

Marco understood this indifferent arrogance very well because he has this quality himself.

He was very similar to Alex or Giovanni in that regard.

The three walk again in silence, after Alex's "victory".

Alex, who now has time, is doing his favorite thing, thinking.

He was thinking about what just happened and he felt that Marco's actions from just now were a bit weird.

Not from the result but that Marco's actions are not something that actually fits Marco's character.

Alex also has a relatively good understanding of Marco's character (harder to hide than Pokemon info) and what just happened really didn't fit Marco's character at all.

The more Alex thinks about it, the more he felt Marco's action was quite stupid.

Why build up him as the greatest danger right now? Is it not smarter to do that when he and Janine are alone? It gives him no big advantage to give Alex a chance to respond.

Marco's actions were completely illogical to Alex.

Normally that wouldn't confuse him if someone did something stupid, but because he understands Marco relatively well, it doesn't make any sense to him why Marco would make such a big mistake.

'Maybe Marco only made this mistake because he got emotional... but why would Marco get emotional when he sees me?. No, that makes no sense.'

Alex thought about this for almost a minute before he found an explainable reason.

' Or it's a trap. Ahh, that would also explain why Marco gave up so quickly even though he had the stronger argument.'

Alex now understood that Marco's goal was to make him think that he and Janine weren't allies.

'If that's really Marco's goal, the chance that they both already are allies or have a plan against me is extremely high.'

Alex then started to think about whether his realization is also a part of this trap of Janine and Marco.

But after a few seconds discarded that idea. Such a plan is way too weird.

Alex didn't think Marco would come up with such a bizarre plan. Especially with no tangible benefit.

What's the gain for the two if Alex thinks they're allies?

There were a few small advantages, but there were also many disadvantages.

Alex stopped thinking about this nonsense. He overthinks things far too often.

Thinking a lot has many advantages but also has a few disadvantages, just like Alex's overthinking just now.

***

This chapter shows well what I have said many times before.

Alex isn't actually incredibly smart. He has an above-average IQ but that's not his greatest strength.

The greatest strength of Alex ia that he thinks a lot. About anything imaginable. He also often reflects on what he can do better after he did an action.

A real genius would probably find out immediately or not at all, what Marco's plan was.

***

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