The war was over.

  But winning a war was never the same as surviving it.

  The Indigo Plateau’s grand chamber was dimly lit, its polished marble floors reflecting the weary silhouettes of those gathered. The war council was no more. Now, in its place, sat the architects of Kanto’s future—the Gym Leaders, war generals, policymakers, and at the head of the table, the Champion himself.

  Professor Samuel Oak surveyed the room, his once-gentle eyes hardened by battle and responsibility. Warriors, all of them. Some old. Some new.

  "Effective immediately," Oak announced, his voice sharp with finality, "the Kanto Liberation Army is to be disbanded."

  A hush fell over the chamber.

  Lt. Surge scoffed, crossing his arms. "That’s it? Just like that? The army’s gone?"

  "The war is over, Surge," Oak replied evenly. "We cannot maintain a standing army without reason. The soldiers will return to their lives."

  "What lives?"

  The voice that cut through the silence was Giovanni’s.

  Seated comfortably, fingers tapping idly on the armrest, he studied Oak carefully, measured, waiting.

  "Half of them have no homes to return to," Giovanni continued, his voice quiet but sharp. "The economy is in ruins. And you expect them to just... disappear?"

  Oak exhaled slowly. He knew Giovanni was right.

  But there were no easy answers.

  Giovanni rose from his seat, adjusting his black suit. The room quieted instinctively.

  "If the League won’t take responsibility," he said smoothly, "then I will."

  Oak narrowed his eyes. "And what exactly are you proposing?"

  "A private firm—construction, real estate, infrastructure. We rebuild the homes, the roads, the cities destroyed in the war." His tone was measured, persuasive. "Funded from my own pocket. No government oversight. No bureaucratic delays. The soldiers become workers, the war orphans become apprentices. Kanto is restored, and in doing so, we prevent the crime wave that would otherwise follow."

  He smiled faintly. "And best of all? It won’t cost the League a single Pokédollar."

  Murmurs filled the chamber. This was bold.

  Lt. Surge let out a sharp laugh. "Hate to say it, but the guy’s got a point."

  Samuel Waterflower, an elder statesman from Cerulean, nodded thoughtfully. "If Giovanni is willing to take on the financial burden, then there’s little reason to refuse."

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  Oak remained silent for a long moment. Then, finally, he spoke.

  "Fine," he said, his voice clipped. "The League will not interfere. But understand this, Giovanni—Kanto is watching."

  Giovanni smirked.

  "Good."

  Because that was exactly what he wanted.

  With the war over, Kanto’s Elite Four needed to be rebuilt.

  Samuel Oak stood before the assembled leaders, hands clasped behind his back.

  "Kanto’s Elite Four system is outdated," he stated. "We have lost too many of our strongest warriors, and we can no longer rely on Johto. Effective immediately, Kanto will form an independent Elite Four, separate from Johto’s League. We will return to the structure that Takeshi Sato, the first Kanto Champion, once established."

  ?? The New Elite Four Lineup

  Samuel Oak (Champion) Agatha Bruno Samuel Waterflower

  Giovanni leaned back, watching the proceedings with an amused glint in his eye.

  He had no interest in the Elite Four.

  Not yet.

  But one day, he might.

  That evening, back in Viridian City, Giovanni sat in his private office. Before him stood Archer, Ariana, Petrel, and Proton—his most trusted subordinates.

  "The League believes Team Rocket is finished," Giovanni said, fingers steepled.

  Archer smirked. "That’s their first mistake."

  Giovanni nodded. "And their second?"

  "Thinking you wouldn’t take advantage of this… opportunity."

  Giovanni chuckled. He had trained them well.

  "We have a clean, legal company operating in the light," he continued. "I’ve already begun investing where I see profit. One such opportunity is Silph CoRock, Fighting, and Poison-types.

  He leaned forward, eyes glinting.

  "Kanto gets rebuilt. I make a fortune. Everyone wins."

  Ariana smirked. "And the next step?"

  "Expansion begins now," Giovanni ordered. "We send agents to the other regions. No action yet—just observation. Sinnoh, Unova, Hoenn.

  Petrel and Ariana exchanged a glance.

  "We’ll take Sinnoh

  "Archer, JohtoUnova.

  The future was taking shape.

  A few days later, the Gym Leaders gathered once more at the Indigo Plateau.

  ?? The New Gym Lineup

  Pewter City – Harrison (Brock’s father). Cerulean City – Erick Walker. Vermilion City – Lt. Surge. Celadon City – Erika. Fuchsia City – Koga. Cinnabar Island – Blaine. Saffron City – Master Roku. Viridian City – Giovanni.

  And then, a whisper.

  "For now."

  The words came from an elderly psychic standing in the shadows. His voice was quiet, but it carried weight.

  "A child is coming," he murmured. "One unlike any we’ve seen before."

  Giovanni’s smirk deepened.

  He had heard the rumors.

  A psychic girldolls.

  Saffron wouldn’t belong to the Fighting Dojo for much longer.

  That night, in a private training chamber, Giovanni released a Poké Ball.

  A towering Rhydon

  Beside it, new Pokémon

  ?? A Gligar, wings twitching.

  A Gible, eyes gleaming.

  A Sandile, tail flicking.

  A Drilbur, sharpening its claws.

  Giovanni folded his arms, watching them closely.

  "Soon," he murmured.