Pokémon: My Parallel World Daughters Revealed

Chapter 175: Giovanni: If You Can’t Win, Cut Your Losses (Power Stone Milestone Extra Chapter 2/2)

The video continued playing.

The Abyssal Ruins had fully emerged above the surface.

Three pillars of differently colored light shot into the sky from the dome at the center of the ruins. The intense radiance forced Miori to narrow her eyes.

When she opened them again, three enormous figures had appeared above the sea.

Landorus.

Thundurus.

Tornadus.

The three Forces of Nature of the Unova region—Legendary Pokémon said to command the earth, lightning, and storms.

Their Therian Formes displayed strikingly different colors, yet all three were shrouded in an ominous dark-red glow.

Cynthia sent out Garchomp and stepped forward.

”They’ve appeared again.”

Miori turned toward her.

”Again? What do you mean?”

”More than ten years ago, Team Rocket’s leader summoned these ruins and took control of the Forces of Nature in an attempt to conquer the entire Unova region. His plan ultimately failed.”

Cynthia’s voice remained calm.

”From the looks of things, someone is attempting to reenact what happened back then.”

[VIP Chat Group]

[Wallace]: Wait. Cynthia said Team Rocket’s leader summoned these ruins ”more than ten years ago.” Judging by the parallel world’s timeline, that would place the event extremely close to the present day in our world.

[Lance]: Indeed. Considering the timing alone, the real-world Team Rocket may currently be preparing this plan—or may have already begun carrying it out.

[Alder]: Team Rocket has extended its reach all the way into Unova. Giovanni is playing a remarkably ambitious game.

[Jessie]: Wait, wait, wait! Does Boss Giovanni genuinely have a plan like this?!

[James]: Why didn’t we know about it?!

[Meowth]: Of course we wouldn’t know, meow! When has Boss Giovanni ever explained the details of his plans to us? We’re only low-ranking members!

[Bruno]:@Lance, shouldn’t we take action?

[Lance]: Yes. Giovanni has never left any obvious evidence behind, but controlling Legendary Pokémon on the level of the Forces of Nature would require such extensive movement of personnel and resources that it couldn’t possibly leave no trace at all.

In the real world.

Kanto region, Team Rocket Headquarters.

Giovanni sat in his signature leather chair, lightly tapping his fingers against the armrest.

The office door quietly opened.

Matori entered carrying a glass of red wine and placed it beside Giovanni’s hand.

”Boss, you called for me?”

Giovanni didn’t touch the wine. He merely watched the screen, his voice so calm that no emotion could be detected.

”Matori, how are the preparations progressing for the plan to control the Forces of Nature?”

Matori adjusted her glasses.

”The preliminary allocation of resources and deployment of personnel have been completed.”

Giovanni remained silent for a moment.

Then he spoke.

”Cancel it.”

”Do you want us to reassess its feasibility?”

Matori asked the question out of habit.

As Giovanni’s most trusted secretary, she knew that any suspended project could potentially be restarted in the future—provided that its projected returns met Giovanni’s standards.

”There’s no need.”

Giovanni rose and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window.

”The entire world knows about the plan now. The League will inevitably strengthen its defenses. Continuing the operation would leave us with no possibility of success.”

”But our previous investment...”

”Sunk costs aren’t worth dwelling upon.”

Giovanni waved one hand, his voice returning to its customary steadiness and coldness.

”Redirect the funds and personnel elsewhere.”

”Yes, Boss.”

Matori gathered the stack of documents in her arms, turned, and left the office.

The sound of the door closing echoed briefly through the spacious room.

Giovanni stood alone before the window for a long time.

”Asher.”

He softly spoke the name.

”Although my parallel-world counterpart appears to lose to you every time...”

Giovanni returned to his desk, sat down, and lifted the glass of red wine toward the screen.

”At least the real me knows when to cut his losses.”

The video continued playing.

The Forces of Nature began circling above the ruins.

With every revolution, the storm over the sea grew more violent. The waves had already risen to nearly six meters.

Landorus attacked first.

Massive pillars of rock erupted from the water and spread toward the harbor like the fingers of a giant. Reefs shattered in their path, while murky mud churned across the surface of the sea.

The stone pillars overturned the fishing boats beside the pier, leaving them floating upside down as oars and fishing nets scattered across the water.

”Emolga, use Thunderbolt!”

Miori raised her hand.

Golden electricity erupted from Emolga’s cheek pouches. A pillar of lightning struck the nearest stone column head-on.

The column exploded into fragments an instant before it could smash into the harbor’s boardwalk.

Tourists screamed and fled in every direction across Undella Town’s harbor.

A Wingull was thrown from the sky by the shock wave, spinning through the air before plunging into the sea.

Cynthia took out several more Poké Balls before turning toward Miori.

”Miori, go help Officer Jenny evacuate the residents. As for the Forces of Nature—”

”I’ll handle them.”

A voice came from even higher in the sky.

Miori abruptly raised her head.

An orange figure dived from the clouds.

It was moving so quickly that it left behind a burning trail through the air.

Dragonite came to an abrupt stop less than twenty meters above the sea. The air pressure generated by its descent created an enormous depression in the water nearly a hundred meters wide.

Asher stood on Dragonite’s back.

The sea breeze left his black hair slightly disheveled, but his expression remained as lazy as ever.

”Dad!”

Miori’s voice was filled with both surprise and delight.

”When did you get back?”

”Just now.”

Asher jumped from Dragonite’s back and landed steadily on a nearby reef.

”I didn’t expect Team Rocket to move this quickly. They’re at least two days ahead of my estimate.”

”Hmph.”

Cynthia had clearly relaxed upon seeing him.

”So you finally decided to show up?”

”There was traffic.”

Asher answered without the slightest change in expression.

”What kind of traffic could you possibly encounter in the sky?”

”Dragonite ate too much at lunch, so it flew more slowly.”

Asher waved dismissively.

”Let’s discuss that later. Cynthia and I will handle the Forces of Nature.”

”Miori, enter the ruins. You must find Meloetta.”

”Meloetta?”

Miori tilted her head.

”You mean the Mythical Pokémon?”

”That’s right.”

Asher turned toward the sea.

”Last time, Giovanni captured Meloetta and used it to summon the Reveal Glass. If Team Rocket wants to control the Forces of Nature again, they’ll need Meloetta to activate the Reveal Glass first.”

Miori looked toward the rampaging Legendary Pokémon above the sea, concern entering her voice.

”But can you and Aunt Cynthia really handle all three of them by yourselves?”

”Oh, don’t worry. We only need to buy time.”

Asher waved his hand.

”The important part is using Meloetta’s song to awaken the Forces of Nature and restore their consciousness.”

”Otherwise, even if I beat them into the ground, the energy inside their bodies will continue accumulating until it erupts out of control.”

”All right. I understand.”

Miori threw a Poké Ball and climbed onto Hydreigon’s back.

”Dad, Aunt Cynthia, I’ll leave the Forces of Nature to you.”

”Hydreigon, take off!”

Hydreigon spread its six wings and flew toward the Abyssal Ruins, skimming just above the surface of the sea.

As Miori’s figure disappeared among the waves, Asher finally put away his lazy expression.

”Are you ready?”

The corner of Cynthia’s mouth rose slightly.

”I should be asking you that.”

”Fair enough.”

Asher reached out and patted Dragonite’s neck.

”Then let’s fight seriously for the first time in a while.”