I am Giovanni

Chapter 101: Everyone Has Their Own Path

Giovanni glanced at the medal, then at Archer.

"It's a Martyr's Medal," Archer said, his voice low. "It is indeed worthy of respect."

Giovanni looked at Matisse, whose legs were perfectly fine, and asked with some doubt, "I see you're in one piece. How do you have a Martyr's Medal?"

Matisse looked up, sadness in his eyes. He gently touched the five empty Poké Balls at his waist. "Because the ones who died," he choked out, "were my comrades. My family... If I could, I would rather it had been me."

The Poliwhirl, who had been standing with its arms crossed, heard his words. Its initial disdain for its master vanished, replaced by a complex sadness. It turned out its refusal to obey was just its own way of sulking, of trying to snap Matisse out of his decadent state. It walked to its master's side and gently patted his shoulder.

"Are you willing to give me this chance to prove myself?" Matisse pleaded with Giovanni again.

Giovanni looked at the medal in his hand and slowly walked over. Matisse quickly raised his hand, expecting him to take it— but Giovanni brushed past him, walking towards the swaying Golden Beauty.

Matisse turned his head in confusion, his raised hand frozen in place. "This..."

Giovanni raised his own hand— a hip flask had appeared in it at some unknown point. He casually glanced at Matisse. "Heh, fine."

"Good! It's a deal!" Matisse clenched his fists, a new light in his eyes.

"Kid," Giovanni said to the astonished Surge. "What are you still standing around for? Go prepare the rooms, or I'm not paying."

"Yes!" Surge nodded hurriedly and ran onto the ship with another young man. "Please come in."

"Mm," Giovanni nodded and lightly leaped onto the deck.

Matisse asked Archer, who was beside him, "Brother, who exactly is this young man?"

"He is our Boss," Archer replied simply. He and Mars then walked onto the ship.

Matisse rubbed his head. Haven't I sobered up yet? He shook his head and decided not to think about it anymore. He looked down at his Poliwhirl. "Will you help me one more time?" Poliwhirl stared at him with wide eyes, then nodded. Only then did Matisse walk onto the Golden Beauty.

After a long while, the ship still hadn't raised its anchor.

"What? Is it departing at night?!" Giovanni's voice came from inside.

"Uh, well," Matisse's embarrassed voice followed, "it's best if we follow behind the S.S. Anne and let them clear the way. Don't worry, we will definitely arrive safely in Vermilion City in a week!"

"Alright," Giovanni's voice finally calmed down. "I'll trust you one more time."

"Uh," Matisse's voice rang out again, "can you advance some of the fare? There isn't enough food on board. It's my fault for buying only alcohol before."

"What?!" Giovanni's cold voice almost froze the Golden Beauty into an icicle. "No food, and you still dare to sail?!"

Matisse ran out of the cabin in a disheveled state. "We can have Poliwhirl catch fish, but I'm afraid you won't be used to eating it."

"Go," Giovanni's voice rang out, not chasing him. "This is for the fare, and this is for the food we need. Buy everything. Don't forget fruits, vegetables, and meat."

Then Surge walked out of the cabin in a daze, a handful of Pokédollars in his hand.

"It's not safe for a child like you to carry so much money," Matisse said, taking it from him. "I'll go." Under LSurge's suspicious gaze, he declared righteously, "Don't worry. I definitely won't spend it recklessly, and I won't buy alcohol."

"Poliwhirl," Surge said to the Poké Ball at Matisse's waist, "please keep an eye on the captain." The Poké Ball shook in response. Only then did Surge agree to let him go shopping, while he himself began to diligently clean the deck.

— — —

Inside the best room on the ship, Giovanni sat on the sofa, facing a somewhat confused Archer and Mars.

"Boss, are you interested in that young man?" Archer asked. "I think he might be a bit too old, right?" The new recruitment mission had stipulated that only youths aged ten or younger were suitable.

"Then we won't take him back to the base," Giovanni said. "If he goes to join the army, can you recommend him?"

"Yes, no problem," Archer assured him.

Giovanni rubbed his chin. Madame Boss had only mentioned cultivating subordinates; she hadn't said they had to be brought back to the base. This was a hidden rule— and he now had enough resources to cultivate him, at least to the senior level.

"However," Archer spoke up, "I think that kid seems very dependent on that drunken captain."

"Matisse is a smart man," Giovanni said, giving him a faint glance. "he's just a washed-up old soldier."

Mars slowly rose and placed his hand on a Poké Ball, a killing intent permeating the air as he respectfully said to Giovanni, "Boss, I'll go kill them now."

"Tell me," Giovanni said, frowning at him in annoyance, "if you kill him, how will we get to Vermilion City?"