Thanks for all the support on my Patreo-n so far! 3 advanced chapters at /xlucqs. I also posted the first chapter of another story I have been working on.

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  The ride back was relaxed and peaceful, in stark contrast to what had just transpired. The rain had cleared up by now—the sun casting a warm light on him, which slowly ate up the droplets of water on his coat and mask.

  William took deep breaths, slowly feeling his heart rate and anxiety wind down after being on fight-or-flight for so long. It felt good to finally return back to baseline after having spent so long in survival mode.

  Valkyrie glided across the ocean in a steady and calm manner—matching William's mood. She rode quickly however, as they needed to return to their base as soon as possible. His Pokemon remained injured in their pokeballs—safe and alive, yes—but he wanted to heal them as soon as possible.

  William had his own healing station in his office. He would keep them there while they rested and rejuvenated and then reward each of them with a big meal as a gratitude of sorts for helping him against Lance.

  Every so often, he took a look behind him, just to double-check that Lance hadn't changed his mind and was going back to fight him. He would picture the Dragonite soaring through the air coming straight at him, ready for revenge— but luckily each time he checked, all he saw was the sky and the clouds in the distance.

  There was a feeling of calm inside of him shortly after, the calm that came with knowing the danger was gone. But that calmness was soon replaced with another feeling—anger. Not at Lance or himself, but at another man—the man he was sure started this.

  He went through the inside of his pocket—getting out a phone. It could be best described as an openable brick, specially equipped with all the security and encryption to stay hidden from any form of interference or spying.

  William called the contact labeled Giovanni. The line picked up.

  "The raid went well," William said, his voice betraying nothing.

  There was a cough on the line—a surprised cough. William bit his lip hard enough that blood stained his mouth.

  "That's…brilliant," Giovanni said. There was another short pause. "I hope my team didn't cause you any trouble?"

  "They did," William said. "But I'm sure you knew that already. After all, you did do it on purpose."

  "I'm sorry?"

  "You sent your admin, Proton, on purpose didn't you?" William asked. "You knew because of his personality he would cause problems and make it harder for us. You also didn't tell him about the 22% agreement—or you went a step further, and told him to disregard it and push for as much as he could take. Your dog began at 50%, but I'm sure if he saw I was weak and scared, he would have taken everything." William explained.

  "I sent Proton because he is my most efficient and strongest admin. I'm sorry if his personality caused you any problems, I told him to be respectful." The voice was neutral—calm. Any other man would believe it. William didn't.

  William chuckled. "You see, any other person would be fooled by your carefully calculated words and false sincerity—but not me. I know a man such as yourself wouldn't make the mistake of sending your most unpredictable and violent asset as your first impression for what we agreed to be a partnership. Putting it into words makes it sound stupid, doesn't it? But I know a man such as yourself isn't stupid, I wouldn't reach out to a stupid man."

  "Poseidon, forgive me, but I need to ask you what you are trying to insinuate?" Giovanni asked.

  "I'm accusing you of going back on our agreement and trying to take me out, I'm accusing you of sending Lance after me and trying to kill me. You almost succeeded, but you underestimated me."

  "What? Lance?" Giovanni sounded shocked. William had to admit, he was good.

  "Don't play dumb. It doesn't suit you very well. You sending Proton, Lance's timely arrival, and finally, your surprise when I revealed I was alive. You betrayed me, didn't you?"

  "Poseidon," Giovanni's voice had no more confusion, replaced by a cold edge. "You are grouping together coincidences and accusing me of something I haven't done. If you have any evidence, then I would be more than happy to see—"

  "You're really starting to piss me off, Giovanni," William's cold voice cut through the static connection. "Deny, deny, deny—it's a good model until you go up against someone who for sure knows they are right. I know you betrayed me. Giovanni, tell me the truth, because if you don't—well, I think the fact that I know your name should be enough for you to come clean."

  "How do you know my name?" the voice grew even colder.

  "That doesn't matter right now. What matters right now is the fact that your anonymity is gone, and I hold the fate of your life in my hands. If I were to expose you with all the evidence I have, you would be ruined. So, it would be in your best interest to tread very carefully and rehearse your next words before you say them, because it very well could determine how the rest of your life plays out."

  A short pause.

  "Very well. I did betray you," he said at last. "Everything you said was true...I sent Proton there to cause discord, and I anonymously tipped off Lance so he would attack you and your group just as you were leaving."

  "Why?"

  "Why?" Giovanni laughed, his voice laced with venom. "Did you really think we had a proper partnership? Did you really think you could come into my region and just take what you wanted? The idea of a foreign team stealing valuables from the people—from my people— infuriates me. I may be the leader of a criminal organization, I may steal Pokemon and valuables from the good citizens of the country—but the difference is that it is my region to take it from. It is my country. You have no right. But I have a right to protect my region from unwanted and unknown elements."

  "So that's why you betrayed me? National pride?" William asked. He was too fucking tired to deal with this shit right now. He had believed Giovanni was a smart man who would see the benefit in a team up like this, but no, his national pride completely got in the way of that.

  "It's a very simple way of putting it, but in essence, yes."

  William sighed. The exhaustion from the raid, and the battle with Lance made him angry and impulsive—the call itself had been an impulsive decision—but he managed to take a deep breath and think things over.

  If he were to expose Giovanni, then it would bring down the entire operation of Team Rocket. However, Giovanni simply wouldn't go out silently—he would know William exposed him and then proceed to go scorched earth on him. He needed to act logically—not out of silly emotions heightened after battle.

  Plus, Giovanni and his resources were more valuable to him to take advantage of than to simply drown them. Instead, he would leverage the fact he knew his name and hang it over his head like a carrot on a stick.

  "You allow us to operate in Kanto and Johto with zero interference. The previous deal of 22% is done. From now on you get nothing. If I find out in any way, shape, or form, you went against me and my team again, I will leak your name and identity to all of Indigo. News outlets, newspapers, government officials—everyone."

  William stayed silent for a moment. Giovanni didn't protest. He carried on.

  "In addition to this, you would let me make use of your science department," William said.

  "You know about that as well?" Giovanni sounded shocked. William probably knew more about Giovanni and Team Rocket than they did.

  "I do." William replied. "And I know your science department is actively involved in creating an artificial Pokemon. What I would like for you and your science department to do is make an artificial Pokemon of my own for me. Free of charge as compensation for not exposing your dirty little secret. A Gym Leader running the most infamous criminal organization in the region? If it were to get out, the news would travel all across the world, you would be screwed."

  The demands were bold, but not humiliating. That was William's goal—to take advantage of the information he knew, but also not use it to cripple Team Rocket.

  He had genuinely gone into this looking for a mutual partnership of equals. That was what William thought was best going forward. This situation was one Giovanni himself had forced himself into—and now he would pay the price for it.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "You want us to make an artificial Pokemon for you? Do you understand the resources this will take? To create an artificial Pokemon from scratch?"

  "Not my problem. Maybe you should've thought about that before you decided to send fucking Lance after me to completely destroy me and my team."

  If William were to see Giovanni right now—perhaps he would see him clenching his fists or tensing his jaw. But due to the leverage William held over the leader of Team Rocket, Giovanni could do nothing but take it like a good little dog.

  He was done trying to be nice, trying to be respectful. Giovanni had taken his respect and spat it right back in his face, and all of his plans had almost died along with him in the middle of that ocean.

  "Stop complaining, you will do it. And if you don't—well, I'm sure you already get the hint. I'll send you the specifics on the design and the typing in the upcoming days." William said, and without waiting for an answer, he hung up.

  He stifled a yawn. He needed some sleep. Some sleep would be like a Christmas present.

  William returned to the Team Aqua base shortly after the phone call, arriving in front of an unsuspecting cave blocked off by large, massive rocks to prevent any unwanted travellers from stumbling upon their hideout. It looked just like a cave in—no one would disturb them, but in case anyone would, a school of Barboach were constantly surveying the area for any disturbances.

  They worked for Team Aqua, and as soon as they noticed something suspicious they would dive down a small hole leading all the way to an area in Team Aqua's base and notify them. Before William joined there was nothing of the sort—Archie overall was a man who had little care for security.

  When William finally had the power to implement these measures he caught several Barboach's and trained them to be lookouts. As he flew above the water facing the entrance, the Barboach's jumped and out of the water to say hi to him.

  "Hey guys, how are you all doing?" he asked. They splashed around in excitement.

  He turned his attention back to the blocked off entrance. Usually, it would be Lochness who would use his strength to move the rocks out of the way, but he no longer had that option anymore given he was currently out for the count.

  William sent out Taddy, Shelly's Pokemon. "Hey, thanks for defending me before. I need your help again— can you move those rocks out of the way? Shelly is on the other side of those rocks, I will give you right back to her. Use Belly Drum, and then use your strength to move them."

  Politoad nodded, banging its belly and gaining a massive strength increase. It then proceeded to move the rocks with ease, almost as if they were paper weights. William flew through the makeshift entrance atop Valkyrie. Taddy moved the rocks back in place, and William withdrew him back into its pokeball.

  He glided over another short body of water and found himself at the entrance of the base. It was guarded by a grunt. Amber. Bald and very stern—that was the best way to describe him.

  He held his pokeball, startled by the sudden intrusion, but immediately relaxed upon seeing their boss.

  "Boss! I thought you were dead!"

  William chuckled, "It takes a lot more than that to kill me. You won't be rid of me any time soon. Would that be a problem?" he asked jokingly.

  "Of course not!" He gave out a salute. "I'm loyal only to you boss!"

  "How's the team holding up?" William asked.

  "Not too well." Amber replied. "Everyone is worried that the dragon trainer will barge in here any second now to take us all down. They were also worried about you. They didn't think…"

  "Hmm? Spit it out."

  "They didn't think that you would make it. Matt and Ashe—is that her name?—have been trying to get everything under control, but everyone is on edge."

  "Well there's no need to worry about that anymore." William said.

  Amber nodded, letting out a grunt. They proceeded to walk through the entrance.

  "Boss, how did you manage to escape that trainer? People were saying he's one of the strongest trainers in the country we went to."

  "Why did you assume I escaped from him?"

  "You mean?"

  William nodded, "As much as I would like to say I beat him, we forced each other to a stalemate."

  "That's amazing! As expected of Poseidon!" Amber said, his voice booming through the corridor. William didn't bother correcting him on all the advantages he'd had in the fight. William was powerful, by far the most powerful in the group, but let them think he was stronger than he actually was.

  They walked through the empty corridor in silence, their footsteps echoing faintly behind them. The underwater base had been carved out with absolute precision, like the one designing it had been an architect.

  Contrary to how it was portrayed in the games, the Team Aqua base wasn't just a random assortment of teleport pads, corridors, and rooms with seemingly no connection to one another. The place was properly structured—with a main lobby/hangout area, a cafeteria, and dorm-style rooms filled with bunk beds for those who lived here permanently. It was like an underground mansion.

  The corridor led directly to the main lobby, which branched off into everything else. The main lobby was a massive room filled with all sorts of activities designed to keep team members from killing one another.

  Large plasma screen TVs streamed illegal matches. Pool tables, card games, a boxing ring and punching bags, and ping-pong tables filled the space—everything you'd expect to keep these kinds of men occupied.

  William kept walking through the corridor, the main lobby just ahead. It was protected by a security locked door, made of the strongest steel they could find on the black market.

  "This is where everyone was before Matt told me to stand guard," Amber said. "I was happy to oblige. I much prefer the silence."

  William entered the code, and the door opened. Loud noises and raucous shouting met his ears.

  William walked through the front doors. No one noticed him. They were all too absorbed in the panic and the noise. Taking advantage of the temporary lack of attention, he took a moment to observe the room—observe the faces and reactions.

  First of all, his Admins. Matt—understandably—was at the punching bags, seemingly letting out all his frustration on them as each punch sent the bag flying further and further into the air. He felt sorry for that punching bag, it would be gone before the week finished.

  Shelly, on the other hand, was trying to gain some semblance of control and order. But being a newly appointed Admin, who no one even knew or respected—her pleas fell on deaf ears. She had nothing to her name, so she would have nothing to her voice as well. At least she was trying.

  The rest of the members were scattered throughout the room. Close by, a group was sitting down playing cards.

  "So what will we do now?"

  "I don't know. Without Poseidon…"

  "Maybe I should just go back to that boring office job I had before I joined."

  And then, someone noticed him. And then another. One by one, heads swiveled around from their activities and posts and the once chaotic room turned silent as all eyes were on him.

  William strode in the room with exaggerated confidence. "You all look like you've seen a ghost. Did you really have no faith in your leader?" He looked across the entire room.

  "I must admit, I am awfully confused on why you all believed me dead. You insult me. Am I not the same man who defeated Archie in single combat to take the leadership role? Am I not the same man who elevated this team to greater heights than they have ever achieved? Am I not the same man who easily defeated Juan while we raided a foreign ship? Am I not the same man who ventured into a new region and gave us our biggest haul yet?"

  "Tell me! Did I not do all of those things!?" William screamed.

  Silence. Deafening silence.

  "I did. So tell me—why did you all believe I would not defeat Lance? I'm sure many of you heard of him—heard how strong and ruthless he is. But that doesn't matter to me, because I am even stronger and even more ruthless than him. The events that transpired today should be proof of that."

  He took a short breath, shaking off the seeping exhaustion.

  "I understand there have been doubts lately—about my leadership. I have heard the rumours and the whispers in the halls. They say I run from Wallace and Neptune Shipping. They have doubts if I still have the strength to lead this team. I hope today has cleared up any of them."

  "We achieved our biggest haul yet, and today we faced our biggest adversary yet. Despite these facts, do we not all stand here better off than we did yesterday?" William asked.

  "The real reason raids have recently slowed down isn't because I'm scared of the government, but simply because I no longer see a need to steal from it. We have already milked the Miltank dry, as people like to say. Hoenn is no longer of any value to us, which is exactly why I have been planning for months the raid we performed today—in a new region, with new ships and companies and people to steal from! You all have heard how ripe and rich the economy is over there, and today was proof of that fact—so now we will steal from it!"

  Cheers. Deafening cheers. The room exploded with sound. Tables were drummed like they were at a concert, and fists were raised proudly in the sky.

  "Good. It's nice to know we still have such loyal members as a part of the team. But, if any of you think you could've done better in the position I was placed in today—if any of you think we can do better than what we did today—then by all means, I'm open for challenges."

  As expected, there were no challengers.

  "No? So you all trust me to lead this team to greatness? To bring it to heights it never has been before, because that is what I will do! I will lead you to greatness!"

  Bond stalked silently through the night, his footsteps barely making a sound against the cold and wet concrete. The rain would hide any sound he made regardless.

  His owner had given him all the information he needed on his target—his job, his office high up in the sky, his habits, and everything else he needed.

  Bond was always more intelligent than the average Pokemon of his species. He always knew that. It was both a blessing and a curse to have such conscience and to be able to think such complex thoughts. He was always left alone compared to the rest of his group. Pokemon who grew up in the wild as part of a group—which typically consisted of Pokemon of the same type, but mainly the same species—had a very monotonous life.

  Work together. Get food. Survive.

  It was the same thing every day, and it weighed down on his mind. Bond knew he was destined for greater things than blending into a pack and living in the wild.

  A boring life. One where intelligence could never be tested or utilized. No one respected him. No one listened to him. A voice so eager to speak yet not willing to be heard.

  And then his owner found him. Offered to make use of his intelligence and make him strong and useful. He took that offer in a heartbeat, and from then on that was that, and he was now known as Bond.

  His owner had given him a mission to do—to assassinate a high?risk target that would cause problems in the future. Bond had no problems with it.

  Life and death—they were natural cycles as common as the air and water. Bond was just speeding that cycle up. And as a reward for his role in doing this, he would be part of his owner's grand plans and stand right beside him as it happened. He would be not only his Pokemon but also his advisor and assist him in his plans.

  Bond climbed up the high building from the alleyway down below. He crouched down low, unassuming, waiting for his prey.

  And his prey came soon after. Red hair, sitting in his office with a blank look on his face. The man was part of an important company with an important position, sure, but he just seemed so bland and boring— so much so that Bond wondered why his owner wanted this target assassinated so badly. He prided himself on his intelligence, but he just couldn't figure it out!

  It was food for thought later; now what he had to do was get the job done.

  He narrowed his eyes, locking on the target. His arm straight forward, he held his index finger out, and a swirl of water energy condensed on that finger. He held it. Bond then concentrated above—up towards the crest on his head.

  He felt the wind slightly pushing against it. 18mph. High. He recalibrated his aim. Bond's left eye narrowed even further, focusing completely on only his target. His hand remained steady, virtually completely still.

  All the checkboxes were met. That meant only one thing. Briefly exhaling, Bond concentrated all his energy onto his fingertip, and fired.