The Genius Scientist Who Crosses Over Twice

Listening to the news report by the female host, Victor momentarily didn't know how to respond.

Most of the statements weren't wrong, but... it felt like there were some issues with the details.

Didn't they say that he fought with Lance and managed to escape smoothly?

Although he didn't outright defeat Lance, did he really run away?

"You really haven't disappointed me, Victor. In such a short time, you've invented something quite extraordinary."

On the sofa, Giovanni was fiddling with the magnetic controller that Victor invented.

After learning about the entire situation from the Beedrill through Viridian Force, 

Giovanni felt both surprise and regret.

The surprise was naturally because he hadn't misjudged the boy.

This kid in front of him was indeed a genius.

To invent such a machine in such a short time was no small feat.

The regret was that Victor wasn't an official member of Team Rocket yet.

Otherwise, after he knocked Lance out, he could contact him directly and immediately deal with that mad dog with the red hair.

Well, even though Lance hadn't yet reached his peak as the future Champion, his attitude towards Team Rocket wasn't too different from what it would be later. 

As long as the opponent was Team Rocket, he would harbor no mercy.

And for Victor this time, there was no doubt that it was the best chance to eliminate Lance.

Unfortunately, he had missed it because he hadn't revealed his true identity to Victor yet.

Moreover, Giovanni deduced that such a good opportunity would likely be hard to come by again.

"Uncle, please, cut the jokes. I've been mistaken as part of Team Rocket."

Victor shrugged, pretending to be unaware.

Giovanni set the controller aside and briefly fell into deep thought.

He was contemplating whether to reveal his identity to Victor.

Although Victor was currently considered an opponent of the Alliance, that was just a secret identity.

Would he be willing to join Team Rocket openly?

"Maybe I should wait a bit longer."

After a few minutes of indecision, Giovanni decided that it would be better to observe for a little longer.

After all, based on Victor's choices of targets, such as criminals like Anders and his unwillingness to experiment on wild Pokémon, 

it was clear that he still harbored some good intentions.

If he revealed his identity too soon, it might have a counterproductive effect.

"But... this is truly a magnificent invention..."

Giovanni glanced at the magnetic controller on the table again.

With just the press of a button, he could force the Poké Ball to lock and prevent the Pokémon from returning to it.

Although Lance had experienced this machine's ability once and would definitely be on guard in the future,

there was no doubt that this was a killing tool for early encounters.

"I still need to find a way to get him to join Team Rocket as soon as possible..."

Giovanni knew very well that if he didn't reveal his true identity to Victor, he wouldn't be able to let his subordinates use these inventions.

Once his subordinates started using these tools, Victor would naturally begin to suspect him.

With his intellect, figuring out his identity would only be a matter of time.

After all, actively telling someone your identity is different from it being passively exposed.

...

Meanwhile, at the Indigo Plateau.

This place is the boundary line between the Kanto and Johto regions.

Currently, the Indigo League serves as the predecessor for both the Kanto and Johto leagues.

The two regions share four Elite Four members and one Champion.

At present, in the conference room of the Indigo League Headquarters, three Elite Four members, one Champion,

Chairman Damalanche, and several council members were gathered.

"What does this mean?"

Lance frowned darkly as he slammed a wanted poster on the table.

It was a wanted poster of Joker drawn based on his description.

To Lance's eyes, the "A" rank on the wanted poster was quite eye-catching.

What did that mean?

Someone who could knock out the Dragon Master Lance was only worthy of an A rank?

Wasn't this indirectly slapping him in the face?!

"This is the decision made after official discussion. Someone who fled from the Dragon Champion isn't worthy of an S-rank evaluation," said the current Indigo League Champion, Agatha, who was clad in a purple dress, her face gaunt and eerie.

"What do you mean fled? That guy walked out in broad daylight!" 

Lance said angrily.

That masked guy had knocked him out and swaggered away.

He had already confirmed this with his cousin, Little Clair.

However, the news report stated nothing like that.

"We can't report it that way," another Elite Four member, Lorelei, said coldly, pushing her frameless glasses up on her nose, her hair a deep crimson closely resembling Lance's and her figure striking, "or how do you expect the media to write it? The mighty Dragon Master of the Indigo League knocked out by a kid who looks barely ten?"

"This is just a meaningless issue of face, so what if we let it go?"

Lance's pride was indeed strong, but he disdained such self-deprecation.

No matter if that kid used technology or played dirty tricks.

A loss was still a loss, nothing much to say!

"But... the public won't think so."

Even the third Elite Four member, Bruno, who often mocked Lorelei for "having muscles instead of brains," could see the problem.

As a nearly guaranteed replacement for Agatha, ready to take the place of the new Champion of the Indigo League,

Lance was not only the face of the Dragon Clan but represented the entire Pokémon League's dignity.

He had been schemed against by a kid; it wouldn't have mattered if it had been some rising star within the league.

But he had been defeated by a member of Team Rocket.

If this leaked out, how could the public still trust the Pokémon League?

Lance frowned, unable to provide a response for a moment.

"And also, a genius has emerged in Galar, not much younger than you, Lance."

At this moment, one of the council members persuaded, 

"He reportedly has never experienced defeat since debuting, ascending as the new Champion of the Galar League with overwhelming force."

"In this situation, our Indigo League, as the headquarters of the entire Pokémon League, cannot be surpassed by its branches."

The president of the Galar League, Rose.

He was an ambitious man who would stop at nothing for Galar's development.

Indeed, while the term "ambitious" has a negative connotation, it's a perfect description of Rose.

As Galar's wealthiest individual, he did not indulge in pleasures.

Instead, he diligently developed Galar's Pokémon competition industry.

Not only did he build grand gyms in cities across Galar that could host more spectators than those in the Kanto region,

but he also scoured various regions for potential trainers.

It was rumored that the current new Champion of Galar was one he discovered.

Moreover, he actively poached talent.

Offering lucrative salaries to bring elite trainers from other regions to Galar was a valuable tactic.

For instance, one of the current gym leaders in Galar, Raihan, was originally from the Hoenn region but was recruited by Rose.

There was nothing one could do; the offers were just too good.

And Rose displayed no reluctance in his ambitions.

He intended for Galar to surpass Kanto and ultimately take its place!

In this situation, the league headquarters certainly couldn't risk any scandals regarding Lance surfacing.

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