Giovanni smiled without saying a word.
The ambitions and goals of Team Rocket—I've already made them clear in the meeting just now. Why bother asking when you already know the answer?
"Blaine, you will continue to help me, won't you?" Giovanni's gaze was deep, penetrating.
"…Do I even have a choice?"
Blaine could only give a bitter smile.
Having followed Giovanni for many years, Blaine understood his nature far too well. If he dared to refuse, there would only be one outcome—death.
Blaine did not want to die…
If one could live, who would ever choose death?
Carrying a heavy heart, Blaine arrived at the Porygon laboratory, preparing to hand over responsibilities to Bill.
But the moment they met, he was struck with a barrage of furious scolding:
"Blaine, you old ghost! You Rocket people are utterly insane! The Dark Ball—if such a thing is completed, the entire world will descend into chaos! Trust between people will vanish! All the hot-blooded youths will live in constant fear that their most beloved Pokémon could be stolen away at any moment!"
The Dark Ball.
It was the ultimate dream of every criminal and evil organization. With the Dark Ball, the cost of crime would plummet, while efficiency and success rates would soar.
At the same time—
Its very existence would be a nightmare for ordinary people everywhere.
"I was not involved in developing the Dark Ball," Blaine said with a frown.
"Heh. Even if that's true, do you think you can wash your hands of Team Rocket's crimes so easily?"
Bill sneered:
"Tell me then, who created Mewtwo? I've heard the stories. On the very day it was born, it destroyed an entire island! Tch… For a creature to wield such power the moment it opens its eyes—what heights could it reach in the future?"
"It isn't even a Pokémon—it's a weapon. A weapon forged by Team Rocket to conquer, even to destroy, the world!"
At those words, sweat poured down Blaine's face.
Both of them were professors, but Blaine was at least twenty years older than Bill. And yet, here he stood, being scolded like a criminal by his junior—unable to utter a single word in defense.
"And then there's Porygon. Don't think I don't know. You embedded a hidden backdoor into its programming. Through that backdoor, your Team Rocket will be able to control every single Porygon."
Bill spat out the words your Team Rocket with deliberate weight, making Blaine wince in pain. But Bill didn't relent.
"Porygon's power isn't small. Each one has two evolutionary stages. In its final form, every Porygon-Z can rival a Charizard, a Blastoise, or a Venusaur! And now, Team Rocket has been distributing Porygon under all sorts of pretexts—selling them, gifting them. Their numbers have already surpassed ten million! And that doesn't even include the stockpiles!"
"Tch… Ten million Porygon. Do you understand what kind of power that is? It's terrifying. It's enough to freeze the blood."
Staring hard at Blaine, Bill's expression was filled with both disappointment and contempt.
"You old ghost. As a scholar, as one of the leading professors in our field, you should have contributed to humanity. Instead, you aid the wicked, conspiring with Team Rocket to conquer the world! Your conduct is despicable, filthy—I feel ashamed for your very soul…"
"I…" Blaine's body trembled, his face twisted in agony. He swayed, as if he might collapse at any moment.
If he continued helping Team Rocket, he would be branded the sinner of the world—the sinner of all humanity. The burden was too heavy to bear.
If he had known it would lead to this, Blaine would never have bowed to Giovanni's tempting offer, never traded his conscience for those early gains.
But alas—
He was already on the ship. And once aboard, it was never easy to disembark. No amount of regret could turn back the tide.
"It's too late. Everything is too late now…" Blaine muttered, despondent.
Mewtwo had already been created.
The Porygon blueprints and core data were firmly in Team Rocket's hands. Even if Blaine quit, Giovanni could easily find another professor to take his place.
"It's not too late," Bill said mysteriously. "For you, there is still one last chance to atone…"
Blaine froze, startled.
Bill leaned in and revealed a secret.
"What? There's a second hidden backdoor in Porygon's code? If Giovanni finds out, he'll have his Beedrill turn you into a pincushion!" Blaine paled, horrified by Bill's recklessness.
This was practically suicide!
"And so what? If that day really comes, then I, Bill, will have at least tried—for this world, for humanity and Pokémon alike. I'll die without regrets!"
Bill's expression was calm, unflinching. Confidence radiated from him.
"Besides—I trust my own skills."
Blaine immediately sat down at the computer, typing furiously, combing through the Porygon program. His eyes widened in shock as he nodded repeatedly.
"Excellent… truly excellent. The river's waves drive the old ones to shore—your coding skill has already surpassed mine. If you hadn't told me, I'd never have discovered this second backdoor hidden in Porygon… Impressive. Truly impressive!"
Then Blaine frowned.
"But… why tell me?"
Bill smiled. "Because I had no choice. Starting tomorrow, you'll be the one in charge of this lab. If you and I can't see eye to eye, then everything I've worked for will be wasted."
Blaine's mouth twitched as he gave a bitter smile.
"Enough. The time has come for you to decide. Will you stand with me, and one day turn Team Rocket's schemes back upon them? Or will you run to Giovanni, report me, and have me executed?" Bill asked with a smile.
Blaine's face twisted in torment. His entire aged visage seemed to collapse inward as he groaned:
"Why… why must you all force me to make a choice…"
He clawed at his hair—tearing away the entire wig in a single motion, revealing his bare scalp beneath.
It turned out to be a wig.
In truth, Blaine was already far older than he appeared—older even than Professor Oak. He had long used wigs to mask his age.
Now, without it, he instantly seemed a decade older, frail and weary.
"That only proves how important you are," Bill said solemnly. "Whichever side you choose—your decision could change everything."
Blaine inhaled deeply. He stared at Bill for a long, long time, then finally spoke:
"Very well. You are an outstanding junior. Your expertise, your courage, your foresight—they all surpass my own. I should learn from you… This time, I will stand with you."
Bill's eyes shone. "Not with me, Blaine. With the whole world. With all of humanity. Make no mistake—Team Rocket's ambitions this time are greater than ever. If we can destroy them from within, our deeds will be remembered as nothing less than saving the world!"
Looking at Bill, Blaine felt awe—and deep shame.
This young professor before him was simply too brilliant. In every respect, Blaine could not compare.
(End of Chapter)