Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [258]

Malva stood frozen, staring at the deep gouge in the ground left by the tentacle. Her heart raced with lingering fear.

If she had been even a second slower, that strike would have pierced straight through Houndoom's body.

For the first time, she felt genuinely relieved that she had surrendered early.

Luo Yuan looked at her and clicked his tongue, as though disappointed about something.

The expression on his face made Malva swallow nervously. Her opinion of Luo Yuan became even grimmer.

Malva tore her gaze away from her Pokémon, took a deep breath, and addressed Luo Yuan.

"Perhaps we can negotiate..."

"Negotiate?" Luo Yuan's ever-present smile didn't falter. "Forgive me for being blunt, but you don't seem to be in a position to negotiate."

"We came here with sincerity—"

"Sincerity? Are you referring to the submarine or the Team Flare operatives who snuck into Kanto?" Luo Yuan interrupted, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Malva's face turned pale, but she forced herself to continue.

"We only wanted to retrieve Aliana. We could make a trade, perhaps with Mega Evolution stones or something equivalent."

"Mega Evolution stones?" Luo Yuan feigned interest. "Thanks to Drake, we already have plenty of those. As for a trade... it does sound tempting.

"But considering you now know my identity, letting you leave alive doesn't seem like a wise choice."

Though Luo Yuan smiled, his icy gaze told Malva all she needed to know: No chance.

"I can keep a secret," Malva said, clutching at her last shred of hope. "And as a Kalos Elite Four member, if I disappear in Kanto, it could cause serious problems for Team Rocket."

"You're mistaken," Luo Yuan said with a light chuckle. "The Kanto League is on the brink of splitting into two factions. Right now, their priority is the ongoing Indigo Conference and restructuring the Kanto and Johto Elite Four after the split."

"Compared to that, the disappearance of a Kalos Elite Four member is insignificant."

"Besides," he added with a sly grin, "do you think it would be difficult for us to fabricate a scenario of you leaving Kanto safely?"

"..."

Malva stared at him in stunned silence.

Luo Yuan's words shattered her final illusions.

Taking stock of the surrounding Rocket grunts and Deoxys, who stood poised for another strike, she exhaled deeply.

Without a word, she recalled her Pokémon one by one and tossed the Poké Balls to Luo Yuan in surrender.

Thus, all Team Flare operatives involved in the Kanto mission were captured by Team Rocket.

"What a devastating loss," Luo Yuan remarked with a smile. "I hope Lysandre can handle the news."

Malva turned away, refusing to meet his gaze.

Luo Yuan didn't seem to mind.

With a wave of his hand, psychic energy materialized a pair of cuffs that locked Malva's hands tightly behind her back.

Not long after, a massive submarine bearing the red "R" of Team Rocket surfaced near the island. Rocket grunts used speedboats to transport their captives aboard.

As Malva was led onto the submarine, Luo Yuan greeted Matori, who had just disembarked.

"How's that for efficiency?" Luo Yuan asked, grinning.

"Impressive," Matori admitted. "But what do you plan to do with them now?"

As Luo Yuan had pointed out earlier, releasing the prisoners wasn't an option since they knew his identity. Trading them for resources was equally unlikely, as Team Flare wouldn't negotiate under such terms.

Keeping them as prisoners would cost resources, which Team Rocket, despite its wealth, wouldn't waste on captives.

"I'll try to convert them," Luo Yuan replied.

"Recruit them? You think that's feasible? These are Team Flare's elites," Matori said skeptically.

She compared them to Team Rocket's own elite operatives—individuals who had been meticulously trained within the organization and had unshakable loyalty to Giovanni. Turning them would be nearly impossible.

"I know it's difficult," Luo Yuan admitted, "but it's worth a shot.

"Even if it doesn't work, we're still in control. Holding onto these operatives gives us leverage over Team Flare.

"And with hypnosis, we can extract valuable intel about their operations. It's a win-win situation."

Matori thought it over and had to agree.

With the island cleared of evidence, she gave the Rocket grunts a signal to board the submarine.

Once the area was deserted, she turned back to Luo Yuan.

"What's next? Are you planning to head to the Sevii Islands and deal with Sird?"

Matori knew Luo Yuan liked to strike while the iron was hot, and eliminating Satsuki while momentum was on his side seemed like his style.

But Luo Yuan shook his head.

"Too many people saw me leave Lampurchi with Malva."

"If she suddenly vanishes, it might raise questions about me. I need to tie up a few loose ends first."

Matori's curiosity piqued. "What's your plan?"

Luo Yuan's smile deepened as he snapped his fingers.

Snap!

The black armor symbolizing the Tech Hunter disappeared, replaced by a blob of blue goo perched on his shoulder.

Luo Yuan whispered something to the Ditto, which nodded eagerly before leaping to the ground.

The Ditto's body rippled and expanded.

In mere moments, it took on a human shape, refining its details until an identical copy of Malva stood before them.

The duplicate "Malva" even adjusted her posture, mimicking the original's confidence perfectly.

Matori raised an eyebrow as she observed Luo Yuan casually adjust the clone's positioning.

If it had been the real Malva, Luo Yuan might have found the proximity amusing. But with a Ditto, it felt... odd.

Returning all his Pokémon to their Poké Balls—Malva's included—Luo Yuan secured them in his bag and patted Dragonite.

He gestured for "Malva" to climb onto Dragonite's back and waved goodbye to Matori.

"I'll handle it. See you later."

With that, Dragonite soared into the sky, carrying Luo Yuan and the disguised Ditto into the distance.

---

"..."

- Gardevoir

(End of Chapter—Support the translator at [patreon.com/WiseTL]!)