"And what about the other matter?" he asked, forcibly suppressing his excitement as his expression became serious.
If Jessie and James were a secondary matter, and the Mega Stones were the most important one, then what he was about to address now was the most dangerous.
Brad and Catherine knew what he was referring to, and their expressions also grew tense.
Brad hesitated for a moment before speaking: "The item has already been delivered. The other party did not make things difficult for us, but just as you said, sir... his bearing is probably the most imposing in the entire Pokémon world."
Although they had heard of that person before going to the Space-Time Continent, this was the first time they had seen him face to face.
Brad's words made Cain nod deeply. He did not mind his subordinates praising someone else; he himself thought the same.
"What impression did you get?" Cain asked with a smile, as that face—still etched deeply in his mind even after a year—appeared once more in his thoughts.
"Powerful. But with extraordinary charisma," Brad answered honestly.
"Terrifying. But combined with a unique elegance," Catherine added.
Although they used different words, the meaning was practically the same.
Upon hearing them, Cain could not help but sigh. That person's success did not depend on luck alone.
Giovanni.
The leader of Team Rocket, Giovanni.
That was who Cain had sent them to meet. It seemed the pressure they felt in front of him had not been small.
Cain had not sent them for any other reason than to deliver an item.
A Mega Stone.
It was one he had specifically asked Lysandre to set aside. One of the few that Cain could recognize without testing, knowing exactly which Pokémon used it.
Before coming to this world, that Pokémon had been at the height of its popularity.
It could be said that, just like Mawile, it underwent a complete transformation thanks to Mega Evolution. An even greater transformation.
Beedrill.
Or rather, Beedrill's Mega Stone.
Everyone knew that Giovanni's nickname was "Giovanni of the Earth," and that most of his Pokémon were Ground-type.
But very few knew that his true ace was a Beedrill.
A special Beedrill he captured in Viridian Forest, which, combined with his powers of the Viridian Forest, broke the natural limits of that species and became his strongest Pokémon.
Compared to that Beedrill, the rest of his Pokémon faded into the background.
And Cain was one of the few who knew that secret.
With that being the case, how could he forget someone like Giovanni when it came to something as valuable as a Mega Stone?
A Beedrill already powerful, combined with Mega Evolution... even Cain had difficulty imagining the strength Giovanni could unleash.
It was a gesture of goodwill. And also a necessity.
Although he was now almost the Champion of Hoenn, the position of executive within Team Rocket was not something Cain wished to abandon.
Over the years, the Team Heaven he founded in Hoenn had grown self-sufficient after absorbing the remnants of Team Aqua and Team Magma, along with the support of the Hoenn League. In practice, it had become independent from Team Rocket.
Although this was never stated openly, both Giovanni and Cain understood it.
Within Team Heaven, 99% of the members did not know of his connection to Team Rocket. To most people, they were separate organizations, each the greatest underground force in its respective region.
Both controlled the shadows of their territories.
Many members of Team Heaven even believed that if a conflict were to arise, they would have no problem competing against Team Rocket.
Only a small number of high-ranking members knew the true relationship, but they also had no desire to return to being under Team Rocket's control. Therefore, they did not emphasize that connection.
To strengthen internal cohesion, they had even adopted Rayquaza as the symbolic Pokémon of Team Heaven.
In Hoenn, everyone knew that Rayquaza had subdued Groudon and Kyogre. Aspiring toward Rayquaza also symbolized that Team Heaven stood above the former Teams Magma and Aqua.
Giovanni saw all of this. Just because he said nothing did not mean he had no thoughts on the matter.
That was why Cain sent Brad and Catherine to demonstrate his stance: he was still willing to accept Giovanni's leadership.
Something like, "a general in the field may not obey every order, but still acknowledges the sovereign."
"Did he say anything else?" Cain asked.
Brad nodded.
"He said that if you returned, you should call him. He wants to discuss some matters with you."
Cain showed a thoughtful expression.
Discuss matters with him?
It seemed Giovanni had understood the implicit message behind that Mega Stone.
Without hesitation, Cain took out the communicator he always carried in the innermost pocket of his clothing.
He had never forgotten Team Rocket, nor had he ever considered becoming its enemy.
If he had intended to sever ties with Giovanni, Koga would not have returned with him.
He dialed Giovanni's exclusive number. After two rings, the call was answered, and that frank and familiar laughter could be heard.
"Hahaha! I finally receive your call, Cain. It seems your return has brought quite a bit of work in Hoenn. With your current strength, you must at least already be the First Elite Four of Hoenn, right?"
There was not a trace of dissatisfaction in his voice.
Cain smiled.
"I just returned. I have made the boss wait. I wonder whether the gift was to your liking."
Even through the communicator, it seemed possible to feel Giovanni's firm smile.
"I liked it very much! Your consideration is evident. If you also tell me how to use it, that would be perfect."
Giovanni had watched the live broadcast of the battle against the Sacred Church and the Mega Evolution. He deeply desired that power.
When Brad and Catherine delivered the stone, they did not know how to activate it.
Although Giovanni already valued it greatly, he now understood that it was even more important than he had imagined.
The power of Mega Evolution could take his Beedrill to another level. It might even trigger a qualitative transformation. For someone in his position, that was extremely valuable.
"Do not worry, boss. In three days, you will know. And then I will send you all the items necessary for Mega Evolution."
Brad and Catherine had only delivered the Beedrillite; it did not include the Key Stone.
"Perfect. I happen to have matters to discuss with you as well. When you finish in Hoenn, come to the headquarters in Viridian City. We will talk in person."
Giovanni did not press further.
From the very beginning, he had valued Cain's ambition. He himself was ambitious, and he appreciated others who were the same.
The independence of Team Heaven was not a major issue for him. Previously, Team Rocket could not even intervene in Hoenn.
But now, even if he could not directly control it, cooperation between the two organizations was already a great step forward.
Deep down, Giovanni had never imagined that Cain would reach such heights.
To the point that he could now speak with him almost as an equal.
"Understood," Cain replied firmly.
After exchanging a few more words, he hung up.
There was something within Team Rocket that interested him greatly. Giovanni's presence was one part of it.
But the most important thing was...
Mewtwo.
It was probably about to appear.
(End of Chapter)