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.
"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.