Chapter 28: A Favor

Chapter 28: A Favor

"Hahaha, you've got quite a big mouth for a kid!"

Petrel's laughter echoed through the room yet Giovanni stood his ground.

Petrel looked at him, and a hint of real killing intent crept into his eyes. "To be honest, you feel like a threat to me. I don't like threats. How about I just... nip you in the bud right now?"

Giovanni took a half-step back. The killing intent wasn't a bluff; Petrel might actually do it. He had to talk his way out of this. "Sir, please don't joke. If you kill me, you won't be able to explain it to the Boss."

Petrel chuckled, not bothering to hide his thoughts. "On the contrary. If I kill you, I'll just find another to take your place. The Boss won't punish me for getting rid of one problematic child."

Giovanni's hand rested on the dagger at his hip, the cold steel the only thing giving him a sense of security. "I don't believe you would truly lay a hand on a child, sir."

Petrel glanced playfully at the dagger, then slowly reined in his killing intent. "You're right. You're not worth killing... yet. I'll only kill you when you've earned the right to stand before me as an equal."

The tension in Giovanni's chest slowly eased. "Then I thank you, sir, for sparing my life."

"No," Petrel said, his tone suddenly earnest. "It was the Boss who saved your life. Remember that. Since you have the honor of calling her your mother, you must always treat her with the respect she is due." He sat back down. "You are more interesting than the other two. I gave them both a welcoming gift. What about you? What do you want?"

Giovanni's heart stirred. This was it— an opportunity falling right into his lap.

BANG!

At that moment, the room's door was suddenly thrown open. Petrel's two captains stood to the side, clutching their faces in pain— a furious Miyamoto stormed in.

"Petrel! Don't you dare overstep your bounds! I am in charge of this selection!"

Petrel looked at Giovanni with genuine surprise. "It seems my information was inaccurate. Is your standing with Miyamoto this high?"

Giovanni was just as confused. "I'm not sure, sir. I just wanted a..."

Before he could finish, Miyamoto was in front of him, pulling him behind her like a protective mother. "Don't be afraid of him. With me here, he won't dare to touch you."

"You're still as impulsive as ever, Miyamoto," Petrel chuckled. "And still as beautiful."

"Enough nonsense," Miyamoto snorted. "I'm taking him. If you overstep again, I will personally drag you before the Boss."

"Be my guest," Petrel said, gesturing towards the door. "But do let me know next time you plan to visit. I'll have dinner prepared."

Miyamoto didn't reply, simply pulling the speechless Giovanni out of the room. Petrel's two subordinates didn't dare to stop them.

It wasn't until they were some distance away that Miyamoto finally spoke. "How was it? He didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"

Giovanni spread his hands helplessly. "No, but... Executive Miyamoto, I was about to get a freebie."

Miyamoto looked confused. "What freebie?"

Giovanni explained the situation. Miyamoto had the grace to look slightly embarrassed. She cleared her throat. "Ahem. Well, you got lucky."

Giovanni sighed internally. Her intentions had been good, but the timing couldn't have been worse. It seemed he wasn't meant to receive anything from Petrel. But now, with Arina and Arui having received a boost, his own situation had become more precarious.

"Well," Miyamoto said, clearly a bit flustered that her good intentions had backfired. "If he or anyone else causes you trouble, tell me. I'll help you out."

Giovanni understood. She could help with her fists, but compensating him for lost resources was out of the question. Still, she was powerful, and she had saved his life before. He could only nod. "Thank you, Executive Miyamoto."

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going," she said, turning to leave. "There's not much time left. Keep working hard, kid."

"I will," Giovanni said, his resolve hardening.

After Miyamoto left, he returned to his room. He saw Archer waiting anxiously outside and immediately guessed who had called Miyamoto. It was a shame Archer's good intentions had also backfired— but he had risked offending an executive to protect him. That was a rare and valuable quality in a subordinate.

"Boss, are you alright?" Archer asked, relieved to see him return safely.

Giovanni stepped forward and clapped him on the shoulder. "I'm fine. Thanks to you."

"It's what a subordinate should do," Archer replied, his back straight.

At that moment, Archer truly became Giovanni's confidant. "I'll remember this," Giovanni said. "I won't treat you unfairly in the future."

Archer had made a huge gamble. If he lost, he would fall into an abyss— but if he won, he would ascend through the ranks in a breeze.

— — —

The small interlude passed. The next morning, Giovanni got up early, but he didn't go to the training ground. Instead, he went to the infirmary. Having missed the opportunity with Petrel, he was forced to resort to his backup plan.

He would make a deal with Dr. Ryoki.

As a special researcher on the same level as an executive, it shouldn't be a problem for him to acquire some resources. They both had something the other needed. That was the foundation of any deal.

Luckily, Dr. Ryoki was in. The moment he saw Giovanni, he recognized him. "It's you! You really survived. That's wonderful." As a researcher, he was intelligent. He instantly guessed why Giovanni was there. "What, have you changed your mind? Ready to contribute to the science of the Pokémon world? Don't worry, as long as I ask the Boss, I can still get you out of this barbaric selection."

Giovanni didn't waste any words. "No. I have no intention of withdrawing."

"However," he continued, "contributing to science isn't impossible— but I need some things. If you can get them for me, then we have a deal."

Dr. Ryoki leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with eager curiosity. "What things?"