The atmosphere in the private room was warm and friendly. Drinks were poured again and again, and toasts were made all around the table.
Som and Wynne wore easy, hearty smiles. Looking at them now, it was hard to believe that one man was the head of the Xie family in Golden City, and the other was the reigning Champion of the Southern Siam region. Two powerful men, laughing together like old friends.
They had not managed to obtain a Gigantamax Pokémon tonight, but neither of them seemed to mind at all. From the very start, they had never truly expected that a single Ditto would hand them a Gigantamax Pokémon. What mattered far more to them was strengthening their bond with Giovanni and earning his trust. If they could ride on the tailwind of a man as powerful as Giovanni, they wouldn't have to worry about their futures for decades to come — unless, of course, Giovanni was foolish enough to provoke someone truly at the top of the food chain.
…
"Boss Giovanni, from today on, we are your most loyal allies," Wynne said loudly, his face flushed from the drink. "Whatever you need, just say the word, and we'll be there."
"With you leading the way, our businesses here in Golden City are bound to grow bigger and reach new heights."
"President Edwin, there have been some misunderstandings between us in the past, but as the old saying goes, it's better to end a feud than to carry it forward. Let me drink this cup — from tonight on, we're brothers."
"Boss Giovanni, I promise you this: in Golden City, and across the whole of Southern Siam, no one will dare cause trouble for Paradise... or for Team Rocket."
…
By the time the dinner finally ended, it was already midnight. Jacob's face was a little flushed — he had allowed himself some drink toward the end of the night, though he was only slightly tipsy.
This trip to Siam had turned out to be more rewarding than he'd expected. Not only had he gained a foothold in the region, but he had also received unexpected news about Mew. And of course, the greatest prize of all was walking away with three Gigantamax Pokémon. Team Rocket's overall strength had just taken a massive leap forward.
One of the three would go to Edwin, but the other two were his to give as he pleased. He planned to give one to Whitney as compensation, and the other to Nina. That, at least, was his plan for now.
There was still work to be done. Team Rocket's strength on the surface was still lacking — aside from Jacob himself, there were far too few true top-tier fighters standing behind him. At the same time, he needed to start preparing for his entry into the Alto Mare Secret Realm. Compared to everything else on his plate, that Secret Realm was his top priority. Once he stepped inside, his rivals would include the Pokémon Association of Hua Country, the Pokémon Association of Sakura Country, and the organization known as God's Coffin.
Ever since his defeat at Meyer's hands, Jacob had grown far more cautious, and he knew he still needed to grow stronger. A single Quasi-Master Level Iron Valiant simply wasn't enough. It would help enormously if his Zekrom could break through to Quasi-Master Level as well.
And there was still the matter of revenge to settle.
Meyer...
Jacob walked back toward his room, his mind turning over everything that still needed to be done. A young, attractive staff member trailed a step behind him. She didn't recognize the name "Giovanni," but she knew Som and Wynne well enough, and from the way the two men treated this stranger, it wasn't hard to guess that he was someone of real importance.
If only she could get close to him...
But to her disappointment, Jacob walked straight past her to his door without so much as a glance in her direction. In the end, she had no choice but to leave, a flicker of resentment in her eyes.
…
The moment Jacob pushed open the door, Darkrai, who had been waiting silently in the shadows, spoke up at once. "There's someone in the bedroom."
Jacob sobered up instantly at the sound of Darkrai's voice, his brow furrowing as he peered into the room.
Someone was inside?
"All right. You can go now," he said, his voice strained with effort. For a young man still in his prime, resisting the temptation laid out before him was no easy thing.
He walked to the bedside and unlocked the handcuffs binding the two women there. "You don't need to be tied up like this."
"No... no." The woman wearing the white blindfold tensed, her voice cold and clipped. She gritted her teeth. "We... we can't leave. We have to stay with you. He told us — either we stay with you, or we go back to the others."
The second woman, blindfolded in black, nodded along, her voice soft and pleading. "They won't let us leave either, Boss Giovanni. Please, let us stay."
Both women stared up at him. Before being brought here, they had seen firsthand the miserable fate that had befallen others who'd been tied up in this place. In truth, the two of them had been fortunate. In the two days since they'd been brought here, Wynne had made sure they were well fed and treated politely. All that was asked of them was to be obedient — to keep "Giovanni" company without complaint. Otherwise, their fate would end up worse than anyone else's.
Listening to their trembling voices and watching their frightened faces, most of the dark thoughts clouding Jacob's mind faded away, and he let out a quiet sigh. He knew all too well what methods Wynne's men used on people. No matter who you were before you arrived, they had ways of making you obedient in the end.
Jacob's gaze lingered on the two women, his expression turning serious. Then he pulled out his phone and called Wynne.
…