Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [234]

The decision to schedule the interview in the evening wasn't due to any ulterior motives on Luo Yuan's part.

Aside from having lunch with Misty and Sabrina, the main reason was that Luo Yuan needed to first discuss matters with the president of Silph Co.

After all, the Indigo League's top-seeded contender being interviewed by a Kalos Elite Four member was a huge selling point.

It could serve as excellent free publicity for both Luo Yuan and Silph Co.!

Little did Malva know that while she, a Kalos Elite Four member and covert Team Flare executive, was planning her next moves, others were scheming about how best to exploit her appearance.

Of course, even if she knew, she probably wouldn't have the time to care.

Because Malva was in a bind.

"Lost contact? What's going on?"

Standing in her hotel suite after lunch, Malva rose from the couch, her sharp gaze locked onto the holographic communicator displaying the face of one of her subordinates.

The Team Flare grunt on the other end wore a helpless expression. "Apologies, Lady Malva. We discovered the issue during our routine communication with Lady Celosia. She and her unit have gone completely silent, and we have no further information."

"When was your last communication with her?"

Though Malva didn't get along particularly well with Celosia, a scientist within Team Flare, the situation still furrowed her brows.

"It was yesterday evening. Lady Celosia had just arrived at the designated location and asked about your expected arrival time in Kanto," the grunt reported.

The revelation only deepened Malva's frown.

With so little information, she couldn't determine whether Celosia and her team had been captured by Team Rocket or if they had encountered an unforeseen disaster.

The former seemed far more likely.

After all, what other kind of disaster could cause an entire submarine filled with fifty Team Flare operatives, led by a senior scientist, to vanish without a trace?

Malva's mood soured.

Was this what they called failure before even starting?

They had come to Kanto to rescue Aliana, and now, before the mission had even begun, one of their two task forces was already gone.

"Keep trying to reestablish contact with Celosia and gather intel on Team Rocket's activities," Malva ordered.

If they reconnected, that would be ideal. If not, Malva was prepared for the worst.

"If there's no contact by the end of the day, reach out to a middleman in Kanto's underground network. I want to open direct negotiations with Team Rocket."

"Yes, Lady Malva!"

The call ended, and Malva massaged her temples to ease her growing headache.

She had little enthusiasm left for the evening's interview.

Still, as a professional news anchor, she continued preparing diligently despite her divided focus.

---

While Malva nursed her headache, Luo Yuan had just returned from lunch with Sabrina and Misty.

Misty had to leave early to handle business at Cerulean Gym, so Luo Yuan walked her to the station before heading back to his hotel.

As he hung up a call, his face took on an unusually animated expression.

"What's wrong?"

Sabrina, who had taken Luo Yuan's head onto her lap, absentmindedly twirled a strand of her hair around his ear.

The soft strands brushing against him sent a ticklish sensation through Luo Yuan's ear and heart.

To make matters worse, Sabrina occasionally leaned down to blow lightly into his ear, which was driving him crazy.

But as someone with remarkable self-control, Luo Yuan managed to suppress the urge to retaliate.

"Matori just sent me a message," he said, his voice steady despite the teasing.

"What kind of message?" Sabrina asked, her curiosity piqued.

For someone as worldly as Luo Yuan to show such a reaction, the news had to be significant.

"Do you know about Team Flare?" Luo Yuan asked.

Sabrina nodded.

She and Matori were on good terms, so she was aware of the internal investigations Matori had been conducting within Team Rocket to uncover suspected infiltrators from Team Flare.

"Well, here's the thing. Team Flare sent a unit to Kanto in a submarine, intending to stay hidden in the ocean. But they ended up running into a swarm of Tentacruel. Their submarine was sunk, and the entire team was stranded on a deserted island."

Luo Yuan smirked. "Apparently, our drones patrolling the coastline spotted them while they were trapped there."

"...Are you sure these people are really from Team Flare and not some impostors?" Sabrina asked, incredulous.

After all, as a criminal organization, illegal Pokémon hunting was an essential skill for any evil team.

Yet this group of so-called Team Flare elites had their submarine sunk by Tentacruel and were now marooned on an island?

If true, it was a disgrace to villainous organizations everywhere.

"They're real. The submarine wreckage is floating out there as proof," Luo Yuan replied.

Initially, he'd shared Sabrina's disbelief.

Even after learning that the Tentacruel swarm included the giant Tentacruel he had chased off from Lampulch Town, Luo Yuan still found it hard to fathom how such an experienced team could end up in such a predicament.

When Matori had relayed the news, her expression had been a mix of frustration and embarrassment.

The mere thought that she had once considered these clowns a serious threat to Team Rocket made her cringe with shame.

It was mortifying.

Thankfully, the incident wasn't widely known. If it were, Matori might have found it impossible to continue as Team Rocket's secretary.

"What's the plan? Are we going to capture these Team Flare operatives?" Sabrina asked.

Given the circumstances, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to teach Team Flare a lesson about meddling with Team Rocket.

Luo Yuan shook his head.

"The Tentacruel swarm isn't easy to deal with. With both Giovanni and me tied up at Indigo Plateau, handling them with just Matori and Lt. Surge might be tricky."

"So…"

"For now, we'll let the Tentacruel act as their jailers. They'll keep Team Flare contained on the island. No need to rush—they won't starve."

"Those are Giovanni's exact words," Luo Yuan added with a chuckle.

Turning his face into Sabrina's soft abdomen, he nuzzled her playfully.

"Stop that, it tickles!"

"Oh? So you know how it feels? Then why were you teasing me earlier with your hair?"

Sabrina tried to push him away, but Luo Yuan's psychic powers had recently grown stronger.

She found herself momentarily outmatched as Luo Yuan continued to take the upper hand.

Nearby, The two Eevees tilted their head, watching its two trainers with wide, curious eyes. Their tiny expression was a mix of confusion and fascination.

---

A good story, much like a well-fought battle, is all about precision, strategy, and passion. Every choice matters—the right move, the right word, the perfect balance between staying true to the original and making it shine in English.

That's why you should support WiseTL at [patreon.com/WiseTL] – where every pledge helps ensure more high-quality translations, faithful to the original while flowing naturally in English. Trust me, as a Champion, I know a thing or two about mastery.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have another battle to prepare for. But you? You should definitely check out that Patreon.

—Cynthia