John's Team
Tyrant - Slaking
Vordt - Ursaluna
Smough - Snorlax
Klee - Blissey
Port - Mantine
Zephyr - Pidgeot
Klaus - Wyrdeer
Luna - Clefable
Pixel - Porygon2
Euphie - Eevee
Ornstein - D-Zigzagoon
The New Normal – 6-6 – Interlude – Giovanni
The directors at Silph Co. all fell silent as he stalked into the meeting room like he owned the place. And, technically, he did. Though not everyone knew that.
Giovanni paused as he walked in, allowing himself to bask in the power that he had over these men for just a brief moment, before he casually sat down at the seat that was just one space away from the head of the table. Although on paper he was just a common director like many of them were, none dared to start the meeting without his say so. Even those who did not know of Giovanni's true position within the company; they were likely too cowed by his presence to do so.
He held back a smirk before he gave a small nod to the managing director sitting at the head of the table. Only when he gave his permission did the managing director begin.
"Gentlemen, I've asked all of you to gather here with such urgency because of the recent matter regarding the slander that is being targeted our way." The managing director stated, drawing the eyes of everyone. "In that regard, you should be aware of our response to such accusations, which was to bring in an outside auditing company to check through our finances to prove once in for all our innocence in this heinous crime against our friends at Devon Corp."
The managing director tried to subtly look his way, but Giovanni ignored him. Within those aware of Giovanni's true influence, it was practically an open secret that Giovanni had forced the audit through. Those even smarter or more observant would likely realize that the audit team was firmly under Giovanni's control, as they naturally would be.
Only an idiot would allow an outsider to check through their finances freely. And Giovanni certainly was no idiot. He would never let an auditor within a mile of his finances until he was sure that the auditor would not find anything he didn't already want them to know. The results were obviously completely doctored to his liking.
Furthermore, with the auditing team investigating Silph Co fully under his control, it gave him another opportunity to clean house within Silph Co and remind everyone that those who did not meet his high expectations did not deserve their place within the company. Silph Co was a foundation of Kanto; an important pillar that allowed for the continued economic prosperity of their dear region.
So, when he found out that one of the newer director had been secretly taking bribes from an unknown source…the director had been quietly 'disappeared', following standard procedures. Archer assured him that it was dealt with.
Giovanni wouldn't allow anyone to tarnish HIS company's reputation.
But it was not only the corrupt that he found, as the audit revealed the sheer inefficiency and laziness that had somehow pervaded the upper echelons of Silph Co. These wastrels that called themselves directors had somehow infected the beating heart of Kanto! But not anymore.
He had no tolerance for their Slakoth-like behaviour that a few of the directors had shown. He would see them kicked off the board as a demonstration and a reminder to everyone else that being a director of the company was a privilege, not an Arceus-given right.
Actually, come to think of it, he really shouldn't use Slakoth as an insult anymore. Knowing John, it was probably a bad idea.
"Fortunately, the auditing team has come back to us with a positive result which should clear us from all of this absurd suspicion that we were somehow backing these heinous criminals." The managing director continued, "In addition, director Giovanni will be making a public announcement and present this good news to the public to finally demonstrate our innocence. The results found by the auditing company will be simultaneously published freely to the public to support our statements."
There were a round of nods from that, though Giovanni noted that some of the directors were trying to conceal their anxiousness at the news. He held back a scoff; those wastrels were already on borrowed time. They just didn't know it yet.
After these allegations with Team Rocket were cleared up, then he was going to clean house. Maybe the company needed more a more youthful outlook? It WAS easier to obtain the loyalty of the young and inexperienced. They were…more impressionable, and more trusting of a senior authority figure like him.
"Giovanni, do you have anything else to add regarding the audit? Any news or change of plans? You're the one that has been hardest at work defending our company from these baseless accusations over the past week." The managing director asked him, obediently deferring to him like the loyal subordinate that he was.
He simply shook his head, "No, everything is going as planned. Now, if you don't mind, I have a speech to prepare for. Is there anything else?" In other words, wrap this up now because you're wasting my time.
The managing director took the hint and the meeting ended shortly after, stating that other menial discussions could be simply made over email. The meeting immediately broke up into useless bickering, but Giovanni ignored them all and went back to his office as he went over his speech one last time.
An hour or so later, the time had come for him to make his public announcement. The reporters were swarming around the reception area, eagerly awaiting the news from the company, hoping for anything they can use to put in tomorrow's headline.
He had to hold back an urge to frown as he casted his gaze on these parasites, all of them who wanted nothing better than to extend the drama just so they could print more of their drivel, completing ignoring the damage that they would do to the prestige of Kanto.
But he didn't let any of that show on his face. He walked on stage, a confident smile on his face as the cameras began their barrage of flashes. He had made sure to change his clothes into something more suitable for his position. He wasn't about to look cheapin public.
As he approached the stand, he patiently waited for the crowd of reporters to quiet down before he began. It was a reminder that they were here to listen to HIS words, not the other way round.
"Over the past week, Silph Co has been subjected to baseless and malicious rumours that sought to shatter the ironclad integrity of our fine company. Team Rocket slandered us with their spiteful LIES about how we were somehow involved with attacking our dear and longtime friends at Devon Corp."
"And somehow, overnight, the many news agencies of Indigo suddenly turned on us. They chose to believe the poison that was being spewed by a known terrorist organisation rather than the long-running honest reputation that our company has carefully preserved over our long history. The overeager news agencies pointed at the evidence found at Devon Corp, not even pausing once to think that these terrorists may have been attempting to frame us. They published damning headlines that completely ignored the fact that we would NEVER betray our friends at Devon Corp in this way."
He got several hostile looks from the reporters, but he ignored them. His speech was intentionally so aggressive to remind the reporters who they OUGHT to have sided with, and to remind the public more importantly to be wary of the over-dramatized headlines of the news.
"However! This ends today!" He lifted the printed results of the audit towards the cameras, "With me are the results found by an INDEPENDENT auditing company. They have meticulously combed through the finances of our company and prove BEYOND ALL DOUBT that our company has not done something as foolish as to sponsor a terrorist organisation to attack our friends in Hoenn."
The reporters began to mumble, but he silenced them all by slamming a fist onto the podium. "These results will be published openly, free for the public to access, after this press conference is over." He stated firmly, "And yet! I would like to use this opportunity to remind the public that Silph Co is here to conduct honest business that aid in the continued prosperity of our region. We would NEVER stoop as low as to aid or assist a terrorist group and their actions." His eyes stared straight towards the cameras that were pointed his way as if to demonstrate the honesty of his words.
"I will now be taking a few questions." The reporters were quick to pounce on him with their onslaught of questions, but he only humoured a few of them before calling an end to the press conference and headed home. He was confident that this would put an end to this ridiculousness.
As soon he arrived home, he opened the door and was promptly met with silence. He let out a sigh, realizing that his son still wasn't comfortable spending time with him.
"Silver! You there?!" He asked and was greeted with another round of silence.
It was only after a while that a response was heard. "Yes Father, what do you want?" His son's reluctant voice echoed through the house, filled with annoyance.
Giovanni tiredly dragged a hand over his face. Even after these few weeks, he still refused to call him 'dad'. And he knew that he was the only one to blame.
Fatherhood was proving more difficult than politics.
A.N. Giovanni succeeds in business, but then struggles with family. Oh well. His and Silver's relationship will hopefully get better as time passes! And this is just another reminder that while Giovanni has 'abandoned' his evil ways, he's still ruthless when push comes to shove.
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