Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [320]

Through the shattered doors of the Magma base, Team Rocket operatives streamed in.

Moving with practiced precision, they overwhelmed any Magma grunts who rushed to investigate the commotion, their Pokémon swiftly neutralizing opposition.

Hunter J's strike force was composed of Team Rocket's finest. Combined with the element of surprise, they quickly gained control of key areas within the base. By the time Magma members mounted a defense under Courtney's command, Team Rocket had already entrenched themselves, making it impossible for the defenders to leverage the base's security systems effectively.

Having returned from the Seafloor Cavern earlier, Courtney had been tasked by Maxie to oversee base operations. Now, she stood amidst the chaos, her expression betraying shock and confusion.

"Why is Team Rocket here?!"

As a Kanto-based organization, Team Rocket had little to do with Hoenn's Team Magma. The two groups had no history of conflict, and their territories didn't overlap.

How had Team Rocket not only breached their base but done so in such force?

No matter how Courtney tried to piece it together, she couldn't make sense of it.

But there was no time to dwell on it. The immediate priority was to alert Maxie about the attack.

Reaching for her communicator, Courtney attempted to contact her leader, only to be met with silence.

"Give it up," Hunter J's voice cut through the noise. "Until this is settled, no signals are leaving this base."

Courtney lowered the communicator slowly, her gaze narrowing as she turned to face the source of the voice.

She stared at the woman in a Team Rocket uniform. "Hunter J... so you've joined Team Rocket."

Team Magma had been aware of Hunter J's activities in Hoenn but had never connected her to Team Rocket.

Now, it was all too clear.

"That's right," Hunter J replied with a smirk, making no effort to deny it. "You're surrounded. Why not join us? Team Rocket has a way of rewarding its allies."

Since joining Team Rocket, Hunter J had found her life much improved. Gone were the days of catering to fickle clients or worrying about finances. Now, she simply followed the orders of Giovanni and Luo Yuan, reaping the benefits of the organization's resources.

Her offer to Courtney was almost genuine—she believed anyone would benefit from working under Team Rocket's banner.

But Courtney saw no kindness in Hunter J's words.

Her face darkened, interpreting the suggestion as little more than mockery.

She knew all too well of Team Rocket's dominance in Kanto and Johto. With Maxie absent, there was little chance the base's defenses could hold for long.

But if holding the base was impossible, she had to prioritize something else: ensuring the survival of Team Magma's members and spreading word of the attack.

Steeling herself, Courtney's hand moved subtly toward her belt.

Flash!

A burst of white light materialized into her Ninetales, its sleek, cream-colored form leaping toward Hunter J.

"Ninetales, Flamethrower!"

The Pokémon unleashed a jet of flames mid-air, surging toward its target.

Hunter J, however, remained unfazed.

Without a word from her trainer, her Drapion stepped forward, crossing its scythe-like pincers. The Cross Poison it unleashed sliced cleanly through the flames, dispersing them harmlessly.

"So, you've chosen to resist," Hunter J said coolly.

Courtney's reply was equally icy. "If you think you can take down Team Magma, you'll have to go through me first!"

---

Ten minutes later...

Bound tightly in webs spun by an Ariados, Courtney lay sprawled on the floor, squirming like a silkworm.

Her muffled growls of frustration were met with an indifferent glance from Hunter J.

"Your resistance was pointless," Hunter J said, her voice calm as she looked down at the defeated Magma admin.

Drapion and Salamence had made quick work of Courtney and her Pokémon.

Kneeling beside her captured target, Hunter J smirked before taking out her communicator.

She typed out a brief message to Luo Yuan:

Mission accomplished. Target captured.

Attached to the message was a photo of Courtney, tightly bound in webbing.

Luo Yuan's reply came moments later:

...

---

At the Slateport City temporary shelter, Luo Yuan stared at his communicator, his expression twitching.

He had tasked Hunter J with capturing a Magma admin—not wrapping one up like a cartoon villain's victim.

Though technically her superior, Luo Yuan rarely interfered with how Hunter J carried out her assignments. If this was her way of enjoying herself, he decided to let it slide.

"As long as she's happy," he muttered under his breath.

"Is something wrong?" Roxanne asked, noticing his distracted look.

Luo Yuan quickly regained his composure. "Nothing. What were we talking about?"

"We were discussing how Slateport is secure for now, but we could assist elsewhere," Roxanne said. Her concern for the rest of Hoenn's cities was evident. "Perhaps..."

Before she could finish, the communicator issued to Luo Yuan by the Hoenn League began to ring urgently.

All eyes turned toward him—Giovanni, Roxanne, and even Winona, who had been sipping her coffee, paused.

Luo Yuan answered the call. "This is Luo Yuan. What's the situation?"

"It's Steven. We've encountered a problem," came the reply. "The plan to deal with Groudon has failed. It's left Mt. Chimney."

The news stunned everyone except Giovanni and Luo Yuan, who had already anticipated this turn of events.

"And?" Luo Yuan prompted calmly.

"Groudon is heading toward Slateport City. Wallace and I are trying to slow it down, but things aren't looking good. To prepare for the worst, I need you and Mr. Giovanni to help organize an evacuation."

In the background, the sound of explosions and Groudon's enraged roars were audible, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

Roxanne and Winona froze, dread settling over them.

Kyogre's residual effects had already devastated Slateport City. The thought of Groudon heading there next was almost too much to bear.

Luo Yuan, however, remained composed.

"As an Elite Four member, it's my duty to assist," he said firmly.

"Thank you. Wallace and I will delay Groudon as long as we can. The rest is up to you."

The line went silent, leaving the room heavy with tension.