Chapter 34: Giovanni’s Escape and Return to Pallet Town
Chapter 34: Giovanni's Escape and Return to Pallet Town
"Stop them!" Giovanni roared, hurling dozens of Poké Balls.
A swarm of Pokémon emerged, roaring as they charged toward the now liberated Mewtwo.
But the two Mewtwos only exchanged a glance before unleashing an overwhelming psychic force.
Giovanni's Pokémon collapsed instantly, unable to resist even for a second.
Mewtwo then tore open a hole in the building and teleported away from Viridian Gym.
Before leaving, it glanced back at Ron and his group, and a deep, mature voice echoed in their minds:
"Give me some time. I'll come find you later."
---
"You brat! Do you see what you've done?!"
Giovanni completely lost his composure, glaring at Ron with pure fury.
Ron, however, smirked calmly.
"Giovanni, your Pokémon ran away. That means I win by default. Hand over the badge."
"Tch… take it."
Giovanni threw the Viridian Badge at Ron without hesitation.
But then, his expression turned cold.
"You let my Mewtwo escape…"
"Then I'll just take yours as compensation."
---
At his command, a group of Rocket Grunts rushed in, dressed in black uniforms with a large red 'R' on their chests, surrounding Ron and Lillie.
Ron remained calm.
"So it's true… Team Rocket really was hiding in plain sight, right under the League's nose."
"This is the city closest to Indigo Plateau, and yet you operate so boldly here… but if you think you can capture us so easily, you're dead wrong."
---
Ron threw out all six of his Poké Balls.
The Rocket Grunts responded in kind, releasing their Pokémon—Golbat, Arbok, Weezing, and more.
Giovanni sneered.
"Overwhelming you is just a matter of time. Take them down."
---
"Then let's test that theory."
Ron pulled out his phone from his pocket, shaking it slightly.
"By the way… I just made a League emergency call."
"You might want to run while you still can."
---
Ron wasn't bluffing—he knew his limits.
Facing so many opponents at once was beyond his capability.
But if he could plant fear in their minds, make them panic…
They might slip up, giving him an opening.
---
"You…!"
Giovanni hesitated, calculating the risk.
If the League sent reinforcements, they'd arrive within 20 minutes.
If an Elite Four member was nearby, they could fly over in just 10 minutes.
---
We can't afford to waste time…
But losing Mewtwo was a crippling blow to Team Rocket.
---
After a few agonizing seconds, Giovanni gritted his teeth.
"Withdraw! Evacuate Viridian City!"
Without another word, Team Rocket fled at full speed, completely ignoring Ron and Lillie.
---
Ron exhaled sharply, finally relaxing.
Had Giovanni's strongest Pokémon not been wiped out by the two Mewtwos earlier, things would have been very different.
As he collapsed onto the floor, Ron truly felt like he had just brushed past death.
He glanced at Lillie, who was also sitting weakly on the ground.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this…"
Lillie shook her head and smiled softly.
"It's fine… we're partners, aren't we?"
"The best of partners."
Ron gripped her hand gently, saying nothing more.
---
A few moments later, two figures entered Viridian Gym.
Ron looked up and chuckled bitterly.
"You guys are fast."
"I didn't think the League would send both of you so quickly."
---
The newcomers were Agatha and Lance.
Lance sighed as he looked around the now-empty Gym.
"We were too late, huh…?"
Agatha, leaning on her cane, snorted.
"Giovanni was Team Rocket's boss all along? The League's background checks are way too sloppy."
Lance shook his head.
"Who would've thought? Giovanni was born and raised in Viridian. His record was spotless."
"He must have been hiding in the shadows for years."
He then turned to Ron.
"I'm surprised you survived."
---
Ron's forehead twitched.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean, Lance?"
Lance's expression darkened.
"I mean, it's a miracle you didn't get killed."
---
Ron narrowed his eyes.
"…Lance, remind me again…"
"What type of Elite Four member are you?"
Lance frowned.
"What kind of question is that? I'm a Dragon-type Master, obviously."
Ron smirked.
"Oh? Then name a single Pokémon on your team that isn't part Flying-type."
Lance opened his mouth… but couldn't answer.
After a few moments of silence, he muttered awkwardly:
"…Dragonair."
Ron grinned smugly.
"And what happens when it evolves?"
Lance groaned.
"…It becomes Dragon/Flying."
Ron burst out laughing.
"Then you're a Flying-type Elite, not a Dragon-type!"
---
While Lance was left speechless, Agatha turned to Lillie.
The old woman grinned.
"What a beautiful young lady!"
"Tell me, dear—do you have a husband yet?"
"I could introduce you to one of my grandsons."
---
Lillie turned beet red.
"N-no… I mean—!"
Before she could finish, Ron immediately stepped in.
"She's taken."
Lillie gasped and turned to glare at him, her face even redder.
---
Agatha cackled, clearly amused.
"Alright, alright, I get it."
"Ron, the League owes you for this."
"If you have any requests, tell us—we'll grant them if we can."
---
Ron's eyes lit up.
Without hesitation, he pitched his idea—his breeding center and aquarium business.
Agatha listened carefully and nodded in approval.
"That's actually a great idea."
She immediately called the League, and they approved it on the spot.
Not only that, but they assigned Ron a professional team to help him manage operations and licensing.
His breeding center was now officially League-certified.
---
Meanwhile, Lance was still sulking about being called a Flying-type Trainer.
To smooth things over, Ron casually shared some Dragon-type insights with him.
Lance, reluctantly, set aside his grudge.
---
Later, the League's investigators arrived to search Viridian Gym.
They found no major evidence, but the League made an official ruling—Agatha would temporarily take over as Viridian Gym Leader.
---
With their business concluded, Ron and Lillie parted ways with Agatha and Lance.
After resting overnight at the Pokémon Center, they set off for Pallet Town the next morning.
---
As Ron hurried forward, his pace quickened.
His heart raced as he grew eager to see his new mansion.
By midday, they arrived.
Lillie, exhausted from keeping up with him, pouted.
"I can't believe I had to run the whole way…"
---
Ron stopped, staring at Pallet Town with fresh eyes.
"This place… is my home now."