Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [278]

Normally, the division of the Kanto-Johto Alliance would require the oversight of Chairman Damalanth himself.

However, with Damalanth preoccupied in Hoenn, the task had fallen to Lance, Kanto's head Elite Four member and Johto's likely future Champion.

Luo Yuan speculated as much, and Sabrina nodded to confirm his guess.

"Looks like this gives us more room to maneuver," Luo Yuan remarked telepathically to Sabrina, his mind alight with possibilities.

Without the sharp-eyed Damalanth at the helm, Lance would find it significantly harder to uncover Team Rocket's true nature.

Sabrina replied via telepathy as well: "Exactly. That's why Giovanni decided to send operatives from Johto's division to participate in the Elite Four selection process."

Luo Yuan's eyebrows rose slightly. "Johto division operatives? But haven't the identities of those four generals already been exposed?"

Unlike the low-profile approach taken by Kanto's division, Johto's Rocket Generals were a more overt force, their identities no secret. Their modus operandi left no room for doubt—they made no attempt to hide their allegiance to Team Rocket.

Sending them to compete for Elite Four positions would practically scream 'We're Team Rocket!'

Unless Giovanni was ready to declare war on the Alliance, this seemed a reckless move.

Sabrina, sensing his confusion, clarified: "Not the generals themselves. Do you remember Pryce?"

"Of course," Luo Yuan answered immediately.

How could he forget?

Pryce, while still maintaining his outward role as the Mahogany Gym Leader, was secretly a high-ranking Team Rocket officer known as the Masked Man.

In the shadows, he commanded the Masked Army—a semi-independent faction within Team Rocket. While nominally loyal to Giovanni, Pryce and his followers answered only to him.

The Masked Army operated with significant autonomy, a state of affairs Giovanni tolerated due to Pryce's lack of interest in internal power struggles and his fixation on finding Celebi.

"So, Pryce himself plans to compete?" Luo Yuan asked, intrigued.

Sabrina shook her head. "Not him. Giovanni has suggested two of his subordinates: Will and Karen."

Luo Yuan smirked. "I should've guessed."

In the Pokémon Special manga storyline, Will and Karen had left Pryce's command and eventually become Johto's Elite Four.

Their strength was undeniable.

It was easy to see Pryce's goal in allowing them to participate. Becoming Elite Four members would grant them unparalleled access to the Alliance's resources and intelligence, potentially aiding his search for Celebi.

But this move also meant something else.

"The Rocket presence in Kanto and Johto is starting to look... heavy-handed," Luo Yuan mused.

He began counting on his fingers.

"Let's see. Giovanni, Koga, Will, Karen, and me..."

Five Rocket operatives potentially occupying the ten highest-ranking positions in the Kanto and Johto Alliances.

It's like we're not even trying to hide anymore, Luo Yuan thought, half amused.

---

Misty, oblivious to the telepathic conversation between Luo Yuan and Sabrina, handed him a perfectly peeled apple.

"Thanks," Luo Yuan said, taking a bite. It was sweet.

Misty beamed, happy to see him enjoying her work.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Come in," Luo Yuan called.

The door opened, revealing Jun. He froze mid-step, his gaze landing on Misty and Sabrina fussing over Luo Yuan with towels and fruit.

Jun blinked, recognition dawning. If his intel was correct, these two were the Gym Leaders of Cerulean and Saffron City.

Luo Yuan frowned slightly at Jun's hesitation. "What's the matter?"

Jun snapped out of his stupor. "Oh, um, the awards ceremony is about to begin."

"Got it. Thanks," Luo Yuan replied.

As Jun left, he couldn't shake the image of Luo Yuan being attended to by two beautiful Gym Leaders.

"He's got the looks, the strength, and he's a shareholder in Silph Co. too... What a life."

With a sigh, Jun muttered to himself as he walked away, "Truly, a winner in every sense."

---

Under the stadium's bright lights, Luo Yuan, Yuma, and Jun stood atop the podium.

It was a traditional three-tier stage, with Luo Yuan standing in the center at the highest tier. Yuma and Jun stood to his left and right, their respective positions as runner-up and third place etched into their expressions.

Lance, acting as the ceremony's presenter, handed trophies to Yuma and Jun first.

When he approached Luo Yuan, his polite smile deepened into one of genuine warmth.

"Congratulations, Luo Yuan! I hope to see you join Kanto's Elite Four in the future," Lance said as he offered the champion's trophy.

The moment Luo Yuan's fingers touched the trophy, a familiar sound echoed in his mind.

[Ding! Milestone unlocked: Indigo League Champion. Reward: 1 lottery draw.]

"Long time no see, System. I thought you'd run out of battery," Luo Yuan quipped internally. Outwardly, he kept a composed smile as he accepted the trophy.

"Thank you."

If Lance ever learns the truth about my identity, I wonder how he'll feel about today, Luo Yuan thought with a smirk.

Lance, unaware of Luo Yuan's inner musings, nodded and continued, "There's a small meeting at the Alliance headquarters tomorrow at 9 a.m. regarding the future selection process for Kanto and Johto's champions and Elite Four. Please attend."

"Understood," Luo Yuan replied.

Lance excused himself shortly after, leaving Luo Yuan to face the reporters.

---

The post-ceremony interview went smoothly, thanks to Silph Co.'s prior arrangements with the press.

The journalists asked safe, prepared questions, Luo Yuan delivered polished answers, and everyone left satisfied.

Afterward, Luo Yuan returned to his hotel for a well-earned rest.

The next morning, at precisely 9 a.m., he and Sabrina arrived at the Alliance headquarters, ready to discuss the future of Kanto and Johto's leadership.