This week I have returned to work so I have not had much time to write. I hope I can do it on this weekend!

Throughout Kanto there was a series of riots that made its population worry, it was commented through its streets and alleys that Team Rocket was having fights with a new organization for the territories in their domain. What had its residents worried about the problems that this would bring to their daily lives and to the order of the region. Red lights went on in every police department in the region. It was quite a problem already having to deal with an organization of the caliber of which Team Rocket was, as to had to face double the problems. They had been investigating them for years without much success, when their soldiers were caught they never spoke. They were completely silent with great loyalty to their leader, they would rather rot in a dark cell than have to expose their boss. Many detectives had taken and left the Team Rocket file and the question of who was running it from the shadows.

Looker was an energetic and audacious detective who had been sent from the International Police to take the Team Rocket file. He was a determined man and dedicated to his work, so when he was sent to Celadon City to investigate this case, he was very excited. It would be a big challenge to overcome, but he expected to have fun along the way.

As he walked through the streets of the city he watched the bustle around him. He looked with attention at the little details like the bum asking for money on the corner or the woman selling berry juice at the stall across the street. The young woman looked busy, going and back in the small space of her work booth. She was wearing an apron that, from what you could see, with the image of what Looker thought was a bellsprout. The woman smiled at her clients as she served them. He could tell that despite the rush she enjoyed contact with people. He mentally noted the location of the place, probably when he was a little less busy and with more calm he could turn around and perhaps dare to greet the golden-haired woman.

Looker peered at a gang of meowth who ran into an alleyway escaping from a huge man with a beard but no hair on his head who was chasing them with a butcher knife.

"Damn thieves this time you'll pay me", he heard the man shouting with an expression of anger and frustration mixed on his face.

The man suddenly slipped on one of the sausages the meowth had stolen prior to his establishment and fell backward onto the hard concrete floor. Looker was tempted to laugh at that unfortunate one, but he just walked past him and mentally asked any God in heaven that the meowths have something to eat the next day as well.

He walked a few more blocks until he reached a very popular restaurant in town. One of his friends in the International Police had recommended it to him, saying that he was originally from the beautiful Celadon and that it was his favorite place to eat. He joked with Looker that he might be able to win the well-known wolverine contest as he investigated Team Rocket and unraveled that mystery of the new organization that was now getting into his territories.

When opening the door to pass a bell above it, announced his arrival, a friendly waitress greeted him with a wide smile on her face and guided him to one of the tables overlooking the city streets.

He ordered a coffee without sugar and wait for the special of the day drinking. While he waited for his order, he read the news of the day in Celadon's newspaper. He noted that on the front page was the reopening of the city's casino. The place was remodeled to attract more potential customers and have better facilities. He had heard that it was a very luxurious place and that the great personalities of Kanto used to visit it continuously. He raised an eyebrow thinking that he should take a look around the casino later. He could talk to some people and see if any of them were suspicious. Looker used to say that the rich always wanted more and that's why they were always involved in shady things. One of his friends often joked with him, that that was very prejudice.

He carefully read the casino article where Giovanni was named, a young businessman from Viridian City. That he was not only the owner of the casino, a network of hotels and a pokemon technology company that was beginning to rival Silph S.A. he was also the enigmatic gym leader of his city. His gray eyes rested with big attention on the image of the dark, cold-eyed on the front page shaking hands with the mayor of Celadon City. He ran a hand through his brown hair and thought it would be interesting to talk to someone so powerful in that region, who knows might be he able to give him some clues.

The waitress appeared with Looker's order. He tossed the diary on the table and then put the mug on Giovanni's face in the diary. He ate calmly, the day was just beginning for him, although outside the sun had already been hitting those below for hours. He had arrived in the city at dawn and the time change took him by surprise. He already had a list of things to do, he would first walk around the city after eating. He would talk to some delinquents on the street. He would follow the little clues that others might not take into account. That night he would also keep wake up, reading all the information that had been accumulating throughout those years about Team Rocket.

Far from Kanto, in the city of Mahogany located in Johto, Giovanni was at the central base of Team Rocket, he had a severe and annoying headache that had been installed for a couple of hours. He leaned back in his executive chair and stretched his arms over his head trying to relax, then he took the black pen that was on his desk and started to finish going through the stack of papers on his desk. The last few weeks had been a complete toothache.

He had first had to travel from Viridian to Celadon on several occasions to supervise the remodeling of his casino. Filling out gym paperwork and to fulfill his leader role, which is why he had had to dispatch some trainers who left empty-handed and head down. Many had licked their wounds and returned for a rematch that had the same effects as their first meeting with the Viridian leader.

Then there were his wife and son whom he had last seen two months ago. His wife had paid him a sweet visit to the gym that he now remembered from afar. On that occasion he indulged in dinner with her and Ash at Pallet Town. But time had been too short for his regret. Because the next morning he returned to Viridian to find the news of a criminal group invading his territories, so he had started a series of headaches that were about to drive him crazy.

"Sir!"

A young agent in a black uniform with the characteristic red r on his chest,exclaimed . Giovanni raised his head from the paperwork in front of his desk and gave his agent an annoyed look. The young man gulped, his forehead was sweaty and he looked nervous.

"What?", Giovanni replied with a certain tone of annoyance.

"We have received reports from Celadon City sir, they have caught a guy trying to enter the base of the casino"

Giovanni pressed his lips, and dropped the pen in annoyance on the fine wooden surface of his desk. Although troublesome, it was also interesting news that had come from Celadon, he thought as he rose to his feet.

For some time some mysterious men began to snoop around Kanto, meddling in his affairs and starting fights so far not very noticeable with the soldiers of Team Rocket. However, he was very interested in knowing who was handling these guys and what his real intentions were in Kanto. He had always been a curious man who liked mysteries, riddles, and mental challenges. This could be an interesting one to tear apart. These mysterious men were all dressed in black and carried in their arms a purple band with a symbol that was unknown to Giovanni.

"Have they obtained information from him?" His harsh voice from hers sounded colder than usual.

"No sir, he refuses to speak," the brown-haired, blue-eyed agent muttered.

The crime lord hit the desk hard with the base of his fist. Which made his soldier jump.

"Get my helicopter ready. I'll go see he myself."

"But sir ...

"Hurry up!"; He cut him off with an authoritative shout.

"Yes sir!", The young man was quick to say, then shot out of the boss's office.

The crime lord buttoned the vest of his dark suit. Then he smoothed the fabric over it, running his hands lightly up and down. He was sure it would be a long night. He took his sack and strode purposefully to the door. Persian who was resting on a soft and comfortable pillow near the window raised her head. The feline pokemon stretched out, lengthening his legs forward and throwing his tail back, then he crouched, bringing all four paws together on the pillow, and leapt to follow his trainer, moving lightly across the place. On the trip to Celadon City, the head of Team Rocket was restless, wondering if his assumptions of the last days would come true, was he perhaps facing the beginning of a difficult situation? Each time these guys were closer to his footsteps and that was beginning to irritate him. He tried to calm his thoughts, looking out the window of the aircraft, Persian rubbed against his body and Giovanni caressed him feeling soon more relaxed. Since the beginning of his criminal career as the leader of the organization founded by his mother, he had faced different obstacles, but none of them were difficult enough to cause him to doubt or feel exasperated. Many detectives tried to dismantle Team Rocket during those years, and they all failed miserably. Giovanni had taken it upon himself to forge in his followers a firm loyalty to him. Worrying about making them feel important and necessary to Team Rocket and their plans. All were well paid and allowed to rise through the ranks easily if they were consistent in their efforts to meet the demands and expectations of their boss. The crime lord didn't care much then when one of his soldiers was arrested or sent to prison. Also, who would dare to expose him knowing his power and his total control over the corrupt policemen in the region. It was better to shut your mouth than die of suicide in jail.

During his years as the great chief of Kanto, he had moved through the shadows. Everyone knew and feared Team Rocket, but no one knew who pulled the strings behind the shadows. Giovanni had four loyal and close executives working for him under his command, and being his direct contact with all branches of his organization. They were a team that very well combined strategy, use of technology, mass movement and management of their resources. They were in charge of showing their faces when necessary, passing information, and making payments to those who needed to buy. So their boss maintained absolute anonymity.

The crime lord's footsteps echoed through the silence of the underground corridor that led to cells his base in Celadon City. The path was poorly lit with a few yellowish lights spaced apart, which gave the place a gloomy feel. A young agent opened the door to the locked room where they kept the marauder. Giovanni appeared as a dark silhouette due to the poor light of the place. He entered with a firm step and the gazes of those present turned against him, surprised by his presence.

"Everyone get out", he ordered dryly.

The three Team Rocket agents who had been trying to get information out of the man hurriedly left but not before inclining their heads towards their boss, the agent who had guided him there also left. In the place there were a gasoline can that contained water, some work tools and a car battery with some current connected. His soldiers had amused themselves by torturing this enemy, but without much success, for he had stood his ground without saying a word.

Giovanni directed his gaze towards the center of the room where there was a small metal table and a cold and dirty chair, illuminated with the white light of a spotlight that swayed above them. There was a young man who must be no more than a few years younger than him, his hands were tied behind the chair. His face was swollen from the blows and one of his eyelids ran bloodied with a large cut above the brow. Giovanni had his right hand in his pants pocket. He looked at him seriously noticing the wet and dirty clothes. The scent of what he recognized as blood hit him a moment later. The crime lord took a few steps towards the boy who gave him a mocking smile.

"Wow, the big boss has arrived", The teasing and daring tone of voice did not go unnoticed by the impetuous boss.

Giovanni did not flinch, he just looked at him with his deep dark eyes studying every detail that could give him clues. He smirked and placed one of his hands on the shoulder of the young man who shuddered, feeling as if his body warned him of imminent danger. With terrifying speed Giovanni grabbed him by the hair and smashed his face against the cold metal, the noise was thunderous. The blood spurted from the young's face, who let out a scream of pain feeling his front teeth split in his mouth, the salty taste of blood filled his throat completely and he felt like he was choking, he coughed for air when without contemplations was taken again by the hair and smashed mercilessly against the table.

The crime lord walked around the chair and took a knife that was on the metal table, the young's eyes danced in fear, waiting to be attacked again, so he decided to close them and wait for the next blow, but what he felt was a slight feeling of relief when noticing the release of his hands, that he astoundingly raised in front of him, to his chest.

"I'll give you a chance", Giovanni said in a tone that even seemed sincere.

The young man looked at him doubtfully, he ran his hands over his wrists trying to alleviate the pain he felt in them, and he stood up, looking at the man in front of him, he thought that being one against one he could defeat him and maybe get out of that garbage can. However, he soon realized that he was not in the best position. For a moment silence reigned.

Suddenly the young man began to laugh sardonically. His blood-soaked face made him look disturbed.

"If you show me your face, it's because you think I won't get out of here, right?" He spat at Giovanni's feet, who didn't answer. "You should be more cautious, now I know your face."

"Do you think that matters to me?"

"I should if you have a secret to hide"

Giovanni felt a strange chill run down his spine. The man in front of him smiled as he noticed his cold expression change for a moment to one of interest.

"Before coming here I took a little trip, you know? I breathed the calm air of the country ... I watched some children play near a river, and a beautiful woman tending a garden", His eyes turned dark and he smiled grimly.

Anger was about to explode in Giovanni, if what he said was true he was in serious trouble. One that threatened not only his organization but his identity, his family. His hands clenched into fists at his side.

"Who else knows?" Giovanni asked in a threatening tone.

"I will not tell you anything!", The guy yelled angrily, "Let me go right now!"

With firm steps the young man pounced with his fist towards the gym leader who did not back down and also advanced against the man who did not have a chance against the violent speed of the crime lord who took him by the neck lifting him off the ground.

"Bad choice," Giovanni said, shaking his head, his fist crashing hard and fury against theman's abdomen, who coughed feeling the air leave his body.

Giovanni released him from the grip by dropping him to his knees at his feet, his face still dripping with blood and had a burning sensation in his lungs. The young man began to cough and spit out a mixture of blood and saliva that left a dark stain on the ground. His heart was beating desperately and his vision was clouded. He was suddenly too dazed to think. After hours of torture playing tough and making his captors angry, he believed that he could resist without problems, emboldened by his achievements up to that moment. Now instead he was afraid, his body was seized by a constant feeling of chills.

The crime lord lifted his foot against him and forced him to fall completely to the dirty ground crushing him at shoulder height. Giovanni kicked his head making his spit out a couple more teeth.

"Who sent you?", The crime lord yelled, being overcome by rage. He kicked him one more time now in the ribs.

The man lying on the ground gripped his side in pain, his ribs had cracked loudly. He thought he would pass out from the pain.

"Leo Cipriani!", He said in a shakythin voice.

Giovanni now had his hands in his trouser pockets, he smiled maliciously, and pressed his shoe closer to the young man, hearing the young's clavicle creak as he spat blood and screamed in pain.

"He's been following in your footsteps for a while…", He coughed once more. "He calls himself Prophet, and he calls his followers Black Knights."

"What does he know about me and what does he want?"

"Cipriani had suspected you for a long time… He entrusted me to follow you… I saw you with a woman leaving the gym a couple of months ago and I followed you to Pallet Town. I found out your secret", He chuckled, now he already knew his fate.

Giovanni leaned down and took him by the hair tightly to make him see his eyes. The man could see in the Rocket leader's gaze fury and a darkness that he did not recognize, but he terrified him by making him tremble.

"But wait… I haven't informed him yet, let me go… I have my report hidden in my lair. I'll go get him and hand him over to you. Nobody will know about this!"

"Where is that report?"

"In a little abandoned cabin on Route 7", he answered breathlessly.

The crime lord got up satisfied with what he had achieved, he saw the young man try to get up slowly. Giovanni headed for the door.

"Will you let me go?", The man behind him asked hastily.

"You made a serious mistake going to Pallet Town"

The eyes of the man on the ground widened in fear and he struggled to stand up. He watched Giovanni leave the room and stared at the floor at his feet, thinking about his life, about the bad decisions he had made when he left home at seventeen and began a life of problems and sins that had led to that precise moment, the culmination of his existence.

As he left the cell, a Team Rocket agent was waiting silently and expectantly, the crime lord passed him, from the side.

"You know what to do with it," he said quietly.

"Yes sir!", He answered quickly, heading for the cell.

Giovanni walked with a gloomy face. His head was wrapped in a tangle of thoughts that were beginning to make him dizzy. He thought of Delia and her sweet smile, greeting him at the door of their house. In their son running into his arms, and in the warm moments that he kept in his heart. In all those years he had committed heinous misdeeds, and he never doubted his actions. He knew he surely had a direct pass to hell and that didn't scare him. But now he was afraid. Fear for his family. And that feeling that embraced him with fervor was unknown.

He had always been willing to do anything to keep Team Rocket as Kanto's absolute owner. However, something far more important than that was at stake now. He was unwilling to reveal the secrets he had so mistrust guarded all those years. Leo Cipriani would be no match for him, he thought, he would move all his pieces to be in a better position in the game that had just begun. The figure of the man in the black suit was lost in the dark corridor, leaving behind the loud noise of a gun being fired, then silence filled the place.

Giovanni rushed back to Viridian City after his visit to the casino in Celadon. And he sent one of his trusted executives to Route 7 in search of the report on his family. The chosen one was the loyal Archer. A young, but intrepid member of Team Rocket whom Giovanni trusted too much. He informed him of the man who had been captured in Celadon, and of the identity of the puppeteer behind whom they now knew were called the Black Knights, Leo Cipriani. He told Archer about the member of that organization who had been following him, but avoided commenting on the discovery he had made about his family. Archer listened to his boss attentively, standing in front of his desk in the Viridian City gym. He had the task of finding a report that by no means should reach the hands of Leo Cipriani.

"You must locate that important report on me", Giovanni had his elbows on the desk and his hands were clasped at the level of his face.

"I'll take care of it sir," the blue-haired boy replied with a calm tone.

"I trusted this in your hands Archer"

The executive bowed his head and left the gym leader's office. Giovanni stood up when he saw him close the door behind him and went to the large window in his office. He looked at his face reflected against the glass. It reflected the tiredness in him and the hours without sleep. Some of his hair was out of place and he had deep circles under his eyes. He hadn't had time for anything, after leaving the casino he had returned to Viridian and the trip left him exhausted. As soon as he was in the gym he called Archer who was taking care of some things in city. He now hoped that the young executive would be successful in his mission and will deliver him that report soon.

He heard Persian jump out of the chair in which he also rested exhausted from the agitated journey from Mahogany to Celadon and from there to Viridian. Giovanni's feline companion stopped next to him and raised his head for his trainer to pet him.

"Are you tired, friend?" He smirked wearily.

The Persian meowed in response. His trainer patted him on the head and pulled out the pokeball that he kept in the back of his belt. The red light illuminated Persian's face, who looked at him with what Giovanni thought was a smile before disappearing into the pokeball. A slight knock made her face turn toward his office door.

"Sir, your car awaits you", said a Rocket soldier poking his head cautiously.

Giovanni nodded and went to the couch, where befores his Persian was resting, and took on hands the black jacket from his suit. He noticed that he had some hairs from the feline pokemon and made an annoyed frown.

As he watched through the glass of the car as it moved through the busy city streets, he thought of his wife and son. He wondered what they were doing now, it was late and there was a freezing autumn wind so maybe they were drinking some hot and delicious drink made by Delia. He leaned against the car seat with hIS arms crossed over hIS chest and imagined he was in Pallet Town with them drinking hot chocolate. The trip to his apartment in the center of the city had been faster than usual, which he appreciated. The place was dark and totally silent. It had a sober style. There were no personal touches because he didn't need them. He almost shuffled into his room, where he tossed his suit jacket onto a nearby chair and ditched his belt and shoes. Then he fell heavily onto the mattress. He relaxed for a moment closing his eyes. He heard the unmistakable sound of a pokeball opening and a moment later Persian was beside him on the bed snuggling against him. Sleep began to overwhelm him and without realizing it he was already dreaming of Pallet Town and a cup of hot chocolate warming his hands.