I am Giovanni

Chapter 88: The Roadblock

There was no imagined conflict. Raven and Giovanni simply stood facing each other for a long, tense moment, then turned and went their separate ways.

Since he wasn't hiding this time, Giovanni didn't wear a mask. It didn't matter. Karl and the others already knew who he was. They all looked at him with fawning expressions; at the very least, they could try to cling to his leg.

"Boss, where are we going?" Archer asked. "There's basically no one suitable left in Viridian City. The closest city is Pewter."

"If Pewter City is the closest," Giovanni said, "wouldn't everyone else think the same?"

Archer realized he was right. If they all rushed there, it would be a waste of time. "You have a point. Then why don't we take a detour and go to Vermilion City by boat?"

Giovanni nodded in agreement, but a different figure flashed through his mind, and the Poké Ball at his waist trembled. He gently patted it twice and said casually, "Let's go to Vermilion City first. It's close to Saffron City, so we can go there afterward." Only then did the Poké Ball at his waist stop moving.

Though he didn't know why Giovanni wanted to go to the more distant Saffron City, Archer would not defy his orders. "Yes, Boss." He turned to Karl and the others.

"Trainers don't usually travel in a group of seven. When we leave the base, we'll split up. Mars, you'll come with us. The four of you will form another group. We'll rendezvous in Vermilion City."

"Yes, Captain," they immediately responded.

Mars, who was chosen to act with Giovanni and Archer, was clearly excited. This is a perfect opportunity. If I perform well, maybe he'll take me as a confidant. He quickly stepped forward to help carry their backpacks. His fawning manner made Karl and the others quite disdainful, though they would have done the same in his position.

"Let's go," Giovanni said, walking towards the outside of the base.

Not long after leaving, he let out a cold laugh. "You've been waiting for a long time, haven't you?"

Archer stood beside him, instantly understanding. His eyes flickered, and he turned to Karl and the others. "Split up. Now." The group of seven split into two teams and quickly rushed off into the distance.

After running for a while, Giovanni closed his eyes and sensed. "A little less than half of them are following us. The other group must be their main target."

"What do you mean, Boss?" Archer asked. "Should I lead them away?"

"No need," Giovanni said, shaking his head. "It's a good chance to see if Captain Ank is serious about his work, and also to see the level of Captain Price's subordinates." He didn't mind that Ank was cultivating his own subordinates, but Ank had agreed that Price's people would be dealt with.

Mars, carrying their bags, was trembling with fear. Captain Ank? Captain Price? Is someone chasing us? Sweat dripped from his forehead. I'm going to die!

A series of footsteps sounded, and several teams, about twenty to thirty people, slowly emerged from all directions. Leading them was a fierce-looking bald Squad Leader, with four other Squad Leaders beside him.

To deploy so many to deal with one recruit showed great respect. In Captain Price's perception, Giovanni's strength was at most that of a Squad Leader, similar to Raven. This was more than enough.

Click. Click. Click.

Poké Balls opened one by one, and the area was instantly surrounded by over a hundred Pokémon.

Facing such a large-scale encirclement, Giovanni remained calm. He, Archer, and the trembling Mars all released their own Pokémon.

"The bald one," Archer said quietly to Giovanni, "is Tyson, a Squad Leader under Captain Price. He's known for being ruthless."

Giovanni glanced at Tyson's shiny bald head and clicked his tongue twice. "There's a saying that the shinier the head, the stronger the person— but this guy seems pretty average."

Mars, standing nearby, almost collapsed to his knees in fear. What kind of situation is this, big brother? Why are you so arrogant?

"Kid, say that again!" Tyson roared, glaring at Giovanni— a Primeape in front of him began to beat its chest, letting out an irritable roar.

"So what if I say it again?" Giovanni's eyes narrowed, a dangerous light flickering within them. His Beedrill and Persian immediately prepared for battle.

"Arrogant brat!" Tyson roared furiously. "I'll kill you with my own hands! You two, go kill those other guys! I'll deal with this one!"

A strong sense of malice assailed them from all directions.

Giovanni glanced into the distance and smiled coldly. "It seems they want to see me struggle before they act," he murmured. "To gain a favor, perhaps?"

"Boss?" Archer asked with concern from behind.

"Don't worry," Giovanni instructed. "I can handle this bald guy. You two protect yourselves first. I'll end the battle quickly, then I'll help you."

"Understood." Archer said immediately.