Chapter 126: Human Nature

Chapter 126: Human Nature

"She's indeed seriously ill," Giovanni observed carefully, "but as long as there's a cure, it's not a problem." He had no intention of using the power of Viridian in front of Proton; there was no need to show off. He just needed to spend some money.

"Go wash the blood off your body," he instructed the boy. "I'll take you and your mother to the hospital."

Upon hearing this, Proton dared not delay. This was the only chance to cure his mother, and he had to seize it. Regardless of the cold, he took a scoop of icy water and rinsed off the bloodstains, then changed into a fresh set of clothes.

"Let me do it," Giovanni said, stepping forward as he saw the frail boy use all his strength but still fail to lift his mother. He picked up the woman from the bed without any hint of disgust.

She resembled Proton, with the same bloodless face, and she was so thin from malnourishment that she felt as light as a feather.

"Boss, thank you," Proton said, moved to tears.

Stepping lightly out of the courtyard, Archer and his Pokémon had already disposed of the bodies. The lives of a few commoners were utterly insignificant in this world. The police would likely just go through the motions.

Giovanni carried Proton's mother and led the way. Proton looked at his new Boss's back under the moonlight, his eyes flickering. He took one last look at the dilapidated courtyard, knowing that from today onward, he could never return.

He quickly walked out without any reluctance, silently following behind.

— — —

Inside a high-class hospital room, Proton looked at his mother, who was hooked up to IVs, and watched as her complexion slowly improved. His own pale face finally regained some color.

"It will take two years for a complete recovery," Giovanni said, walking in from outside and placing a bag of glucose in the boy's hand. "After two years, I will give you a chance to return and take your mother away, or arrange for her to be settled elsewhere.

Drink this to replenish your strength. I've sent Archer to buy food; he'll be back soon."

Proton obediently took it. He had just heard how high the hospitalization fees were. His own life was simply not worth that much money; that amount could buy a dozen children like him. In his view, Giovanni was a great deity who had descended to save him.

He knelt on the ground again. "Boss, I have no way to repay you," he cried. Leaving a mark on a child's heart is simple, and such a mark often stays with them for life.

With his status as a trainer, the hospital dared not mistreat Proton's mother. Furthermore, she wasn't in a vegetative state and would wake up. Giovanni left her a card with 100,000 Pokédollars, which was enough for her to live on for years.

"Get up," he said, gently pulling the boy to his feet. "You only have this one night to spend with your mother. Afterward, you will leave with me."

"Yes, I understand!" Proton nodded heavily, though a bit reluctant.

Archer walked in with food. Giovanni placed it on the table, waved to Archer, and walked out with him. "Give them a little more time." Hearing his words, Proton's eyes held only adoration and gratitude.

— — —

A ray of morning sunlight shone into the hospital room. Proton's mother, who had been unconscious all night, woke up at the moment of their final farewell. Giovanni, who had been about to push open the door, waved to Archer, who was holding breakfast.

Archer delivered the food and immediately followed inside, giving them their last moments of warmth.

Giovanni then slowly walked downstairs with Archer.

"Boss," Archer asked, somewhat puzzled, "aren't you afraid this kid won't want to leave?"

"You must remember," Giovanni said casually, looking at the sky, "what I can give, I can also take back. He is a smart child."

Archer paused, indicating that he understood.

Coincidentally, at this moment, Mars had also completed his task and returned. "Boss!"

"Resolved?" Giovanni asked, sitting down on a long bench and looking at the lingering killing intent on him.

"Yes," Mars nodded. "Not a single one was left. And as you instructed, everything that needed to be placed has been put in the registration center."

"Well done," Giovanni praised him without reservation.

Compared to the disappearance of a few commoner children, the extermination of a League member like Silas's family was clearly more serious. However, many people knew the man's usual conduct, and Giovanni had Mars place all the things he had embezzled outside the registration center.

This alone was enough to deter any high-ranking officials who were implicated with him. If a mere clerk could embezzle so much, what about them? If the matter were to escalate, they would inevitably be implicated.

So, they had only one choice: to suppress the incident. As for Silas's family, if they died, they died. It was simply the retribution for his greed. Thus, the matter never spread at all.

Giovanni lit a cigar, and amidst the swirling smoke, he seemed to have matured considerably.

"Haven't Karl and the others arrived yet?" he asked casually, exhaling a puff of smoke.

"They've arrived," Archer replied. "But they've taken in several children. I feel that meeting now would be a bit imprudent."

What Archer did was correct, and Giovanni naturally wouldn't change it. "Hmm, that makes sense. Then let's wait until we're out of Vermilion City." Archer breathed a sigh of relief.

"Boss," Mars asked, "who are we waiting for here?"

"The one coming down now," Giovanni said, slowly rising and extinguishing the cigarette butt.

Upon hearing this, Mars turned his head and saw the small figure of Proton slowly descending the stairs.

Though there were still faint tear stains on his small face and his eyes were red, a look of unshakeable determination was now in his gaze.