So, the moment Logan recognized the man, he turned and left without hesitation. He didn’t think he could take on the strongest Gym Leader—not now. Not even with Mewtwo at his side. After all, Mewtwo was created by these people.

This wasn’t some kid-friendly cartoon where people didn’t die. And by now, Logan had racked up quite a body count among Team Rocket members. He had no delusions that Giovanni would be some bleeding-heart pacifist. One look at the horrific human and Pokémon experimentation carried out by Team Rocket told you everything you needed to know. Sure, they weren’t technically a hit squad, but if you believed they’d never killed anyone, Logan would be the first to laugh in your face. He had killed people before. And this was a powerful underground organization—death came with the territory.

Yet, barely a few paces away, Logan turned around and jogged back—not because he suddenly felt brave or righteously furious, and certainly not because he thought he could now take on Giovanni in a fair fight. No, it was the older man’s ridiculously awkward and somewhat comical entrance that made Logan realize something important: Giovanni wasn’t confident he could win either.

It wasn’t a matter of raw strength. It was about unpredictability—Mewtwo’s unpredictability. So long as Logan wasn’t suicidal and avoided direct confrontation, Mewtwo could always teleport him away. The ability to escape was everything.

With that realization, Logan’s heart settled. Giovanni had found him, yes, but fleeing wouldn’t help. It would only provoke Giovanni into switching tactics and taking more direct action. If things went south, they might come after him in force. Better to play along. Better to act. Logan’s biggest advantage was intel. He knew who Giovanni really was. Giovanni didn’t know that he knew.

As long as he played that card well, Logan was safe—for now. At least until Giovanni’s patience wore thin.

What truly worried Logan was the possibility that Giovanni might send other, more dangerous Rocket agents after him. Surely Giovanni wasn’t the only powerhouse in their ranks. If they had psychics, even Mewtwo could be countered.

But still, after watching Giovanni get hilariously mauled by a swarm of Zubat, Logan couldn’t help but let the man suffer a little. So long as he didn’t push too far, Giovanni probably wouldn’t lash out. After all, this body had suffered at Team Rocket’s hands. If nothing else, Logan owed the previous “Logan” some payback for that.

Maybe his acting was a bit over-the-top—but life itself was a dramatic stage, wasn’t it?

“…Dragon Pulse!”

The guttural roar of the Dragon-type echoed like sonic waves, distorting the air. Cracks spiderwebbed across the nearby rocks. The wild Zubat trembled as if caught in a sudden downpour. Like insects shaken from a sieve, they fell from the sky. Some collapsed instantly. Others twitched once or twice before scrambling away. Even the Golbat embedded among them staggered like a drunk, then followed the fleeing swarm.

Logan frowned, eyeing the retreating Golbat. “That Golbat… seemed a bit too strong.”

Of course it did. That’s the main partner of a Gym Leader, after all!

Flat on the ground, Giovanni grumbled silently but forced a sheepish smile. Reaching out a hand, he said, “Thank you, young man. If not for you, I’d be Zubat food right now… mind helping me up? I think I hurt my leg.”

“Oh come on,” Logan scoffed. “You’re a full-grown man and want me, a fifteen-year-old, to help you up? Seriously? You look healthy to me. What, were you lying earlier? Not a League investigator at all but just another gold-hunter poking around Mt. Moon? What kind of moron walks around these caves with no protection otherwise?”

Giovanni nearly lost his composure. This brat’s mouth!

Suppressing his curses, Giovanni forced a clumsy chuckle and responded with a rich, gruff uncle tone. “Hahaha, I get it. With so many prospectors around here, it’s natural to be cautious. You’re a smart trainer—nothing wrong with keeping your guard up. Here, take a look at my credentials. That should clear things up.”

Still seated, Giovanni pulled out a badge from his pocket. Team Rocket could forge as many of these as they wanted. But then—his pupils shrank. Something was wrong.

He’d actually twisted his ankle during all that thrashing.

Suddenly, Giovanni wasn’t acting anymore. He was genuinely concerned. Sure, the healing tech in this world was almost magic, and he’d recover soon, but Pokémon battles weren’t just turn-based games—they were dance-like duels. If the trainer was out of sync, if their movement was restricted, it could be fatal. Especially for someone like him, who fought best with both feet on the ground—”Giovanni of the Earth.”

Sitting in that damn office too long. I’m getting stiff.

He smirked bitterly. Maybe it was time to get back into shape.

Those good old trainer days… they did feel far away.

Unaware that Giovanni had slipped into a nostalgic daze, Logan walked over, hand resting deliberately on the Master Ball on his chest. “Fake IDs are everywhere these days, uncle. But looking at your honest face, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.”

“Wait!”

Giovanni’s voice cracked, panicked. He saw Logan approaching—with his hand right on the Mewtwo’s Poké Ball. That wasn’t a casual pose. That was a readiness stance.

“Something wrong, Uncle?”

Logan jumped slightly. His hand was only there for defense, but Giovanni’s reaction was too sharp.

“You’re suspicious of me, sure,” Giovanni said slowly. “But maybe I’m suspicious of you too. No offense, but you didn’t exactly act like a trainer back there. Who’s to say you’re not a prospector yourself? Chasing Moon Stones and fossils?”

He tossed the badge toward Logan’s feet.

Giovanni couldn’t risk any sudden movements with his ankle injured. But in his head, alarm bells were blaring. This kid’s jumpy enough to keep a finger on Mewtwo’s Ball while walking. What if he just popped it open and killed me here and now?

They were deep in the wilderness. No one would find a body.

And from the reports Giovanni had read—this kid had killed people. That squad leader in Viridian Forest? Death by Dragon Rush. Logan might look young, but his history wasn’t.

Giovanni still didn’t understand how this teen had become so ruthless. So decisive. But he’d read enough to be cautious.

Logan, on the other hand, eyed the badge with suspicion. Classic manipulation tactic. Reverse the suspicion to increase credibility.

If he didn’t already know Giovanni’s true identity, he might’ve let his guard down just now.

Two men, sharp-witted and overthinking, began a silent battle of wits… with nothing but the forest breeze as their audience.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep