On the outskirts of Lavender Town in the Kanto Region.
A group of four people were out enjoying a spring outing. Although the season didn't quite match the occasion, the seasons in this world had always been rather strange.
It was clearly already the end of October, yet in many places it still felt like spring all year round.
"Mmm~ it's been so long since I've come out like this to relax."
Ilene, dressed in a white gown, was holding onto Lucas's arm. A look of comfort and contentment appeared on her beautiful face, her lovely eyes curving into crescents.
Since there hadn't been anything particularly urgent to deal with recently, Lucas had deliberately gone to Cameran City to bring Ilene out with him.
Their wedding date had already been set—for early next year. Of course, when the time came, Marnie would also be getting married as well.
Even so, Ilene already felt extremely happy.
"There'll be plenty of opportunities in the future. When the time comes, I'll accompany you to stroll around other regions properly."
Hearing this, Lucas smiled. He had already received news from Zinnia—the Johto League plan had officially been put on the agenda.
It was estimated that the announcement would be released very soon.
For Lucas, this was undoubtedly good news.
However, at that very moment—
"Weavile, Night Slash—go for the vital point!"
A cold, youthful voice rang out from ahead.
"Houndoom, evade!"
Another man's commanding voice followed immediately.
Lucas raised his eyebrows slightly upon hearing this. He was not unfamiliar with either of these male voices!
Green's expression also changed subtly, and she hurriedly jogged forward.
The battlefield wasn't very far away. Soon enough, the four of them saw the two sides engaged in combat.
The Trainer of the Weavile had half-long crimson hair and was wearing a black, form-fitting jacket and purple long pants. His face was cold and gloomy, and his entire aura was icy and distant.
As for the Trainer of Houndoom, although he was dressed casually—Lucas recognized him at a glance.
It was Archer!
"Young Master Silver, please come back with me. The boss truly misses you very much. No matter what, he is still your father."
Archer commanded Houndoom to deal with Weavile's assault while earnestly persuading the red-haired youth named Silver.
"Shut up. I have nothing to do with him!"
The chill in Silver's pupils deepened as he spoke in a low, furious voice.
"Not to mention that I don't have a father— even if I did, I would never acknowledge the leader of Team Rocket as my father!"
Hearing this, Archer pressed his lips together. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately didn't know how to respond.
Green, who had originally been about to greet Silver, froze on the spot instead. She stared at the red-haired youth in shock.
Silver… was Giovanni's son?
"I know you don't want to fight me. Stop pestering me. I have no family—and I don't want one either."
Seemingly realizing that he had lost control of his emotions, Silver calmed himself down. After recalling Weavile, he coldly tossed out those words and turned to leave.
At this moment, his feelings were incredibly complicated.
Ever since leaving the Masked Organization, he had wandered all over. Unlike Green, who always kept her family and hometown firmly in her heart—
Silver's memories of his own family were genuinely vague.
But two days ago, a middle-aged man claiming to be his father had sought him out. Silver was cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Although it didn't show on the surface, he had truly been happy deep down that he might finally have found his family.
Yet very quickly, Silver discovered the truth—
His so-called father was actually the leader of Team Rocket!
"An evil organization… heh…"
Turning his back, Silver let out a self-mocking, cold laugh. Without sparing Archer behind him even a glance, he strode away.
He could not accept such a father.
Just like Green back then, he harbored an intense aversion toward evil organizations.
Because it was precisely the Masked Man who had caused both him and Green to lose their families from a young age.
Yet the most absurd thing of all was that he himself turned out to be the young master of the largest dark organization in Indigo…
This truth dealt an overwhelming blow to Silver.
"Sigh…"
Watching Silver's figure slowly disappear from sight, Archer let out a helpless sigh.
"Silver is actually Uncle Giovanni's son?"
Green still found it hard to believe. The Silver she had always treated as a younger brother was actually Giovanni's son—the crown prince of Team Rocket.
This was just absurd, wasn't it?!
"If you want to know, why not just ask Archer directly?"
Lucas shrugged, not particularly surprised. After all, he had known about this for a long time.
In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Silver was Giovanni's son, and the same was true in the games.
In the later stages of HeartGold and SoulSilver, there was even a hidden subplot: three years prior, Silver had argued with Giovanni, who was preparing to rebuild Team Rocket, and made a vow to become strong relying only on his own power. That was the origin of the HeartGold and SoulSilver storyline.
This plot later also appeared in the anime generations, where the International Police agent Looker found Silver preparing to challenge the Indigo League and learned the truth from him.
Silver was a boy with a cold and gloomy exterior, but in reality he was warm-hearted inside and deeply disliked evil organizations.
Archer was just about to leave when he suddenly heard footsteps.
"Mr. Lucas, what brings you here?"
Archer froze slightly when he recognized the newcomers. Logically speaking, shouldn't Lucas be enjoying life in Blackthorn City right now?
"Just accompanying my fiancée on a stroll to enjoy the scenery. Didn't expect to run into you by coincidence."
Lucas replied casually with a smile.
"And besides… it's not just me, you know. Uncle, aren't you coming out yet?"
Lucas shifted his gaze toward a small grove nearby.
From that direction, Giovanni, wearing a black hat and lightly disguised—slowly walked out.
"Boss."
Upon seeing Giovanni, Archer's eyes widened slightly. He hurriedly lowered his head and bowed respectfully.
He had come to look for Silver in secret this time. He hadn't expected Giovanni to have been following him all along.
"As expected of you—still noticed me."
Giovanni nodded at Archer, then laughed helplessly toward Lucas.
"It was nothing much. But Silver really is your son, Uncle?"
Lucas looked at Giovanni with curiosity. What he was curious about wasn't their relationship, but rather how Giovanni had managed to find Silver.
"Ah… yes, that's right."
Hearing this, the smile on Giovanni's face slowly faded. His gaze turned in the direction Silver had left, a trace of dimness appearing in his eyes.
Reuniting with one's son after a long separation should have been a joyous occasion. And Giovanni truly had been happy.
But that joy hadn't lasted long. After learning his true identity, Silver had been utterly disappointed in him and left without a word.
"Ten years ago, he suddenly disappeared. I only managed to find clues to his whereabouts recently. Lucas, you shouldn't be unfamiliar with Silver, right?"
Giovanni quickly concealed his emotions and turned his gaze back to Lucas.
Silver had previously been part of the organization where Lucas was!
This was something Giovanni had inferred from certain details Green had mentioned earlier in Arche Valley.
Using this as a lead, Giovanni had inquired everywhere for information about Silver. Silver's methods of hiding himself were extremely thorough, but perhaps it was fate—
Giovanni had run into Silver by chance, and that was how father and son finally reunited.
"Yes, I'm indeed not unfamiliar with him. He was once my colleague, though unfortunately he left long ago."
Lucas raised his eyebrows and didn't deny it, admitting it frankly.
"Your organization truly is mysterious. The Trainer who appeared at the Lake of Rage that day—that was your leader, wasn't it?"
Giovanni's eyes flickered faintly. Toward the mysterious man who had taken his son away, it was impossible for him not to harbor anger.
If it weren't for that man, how could things have reached this point between him and Silver?
"It was indeed our teacher who took us away back then. But Uncle, I advise you not to seek trouble with him."
Lucas shook his head, offering a sincere warning.
"Our teacher has long since stepped into that realm. Forgive me for being blunt, even if you took Mewtwo with you, you still wouldn't be his opponent."
Giovanni frowned ever so slightly. He did not doubt the truth of Lucas's words at all.
After all—
At the Lake of Rage, he had personally witnessed that Masked Man suppress Shadow Lugia under Lance's control.
It was simply absurdly powerful.
(End of Chapter)