Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [467]

"All of Team Galactic's bases have been secured?" Luo Yuan asked.

He had to admit—even if Cyrus was lacking in raw strength, his organizational skills had been excellent.

Besides the current Galactic headquarters where Luo Yuan stood and the Galactic Veilstone Building in Veilstone City, there had been over a dozen hidden Galactic bases scattered across the cities and towns of Sinnoh.

These bases had formed an invisible network, wrapping around the entire region like a net.

No wonder the Sinnoh League had struggled for years to bring Galactic down.

Now, all of it had fallen neatly into Team Rocket's hands.

"They've all been taken over," Malva confirmed.

She'd been running herself ragged these past few days. Taking over that many Galactic bases in such a short time—and without alerting the League—was no small feat.

Fortunately, as a Kalos Elite Four member, Malva was well-acquainted with League systems, which had allowed the transition to proceed in an orderly, controlled fashion.

Of course, it also helped that Cyrus had pulled all of Galactic's elite and diehard members back to HQ—where Luo Yuan captured them all in one fell swoop.

In that sense, Cyrus had actually been... quite helpful.

"In accordance with your instructions, we've already handed the captured League trainers over to Cynthia," Malva reported.

"All of them?" Luo Yuan asked.

This had been a covert exchange.

Team Rocket returned the League's captured trainers in return for a promise from the Sinnoh League: they would not interfere in Rocket's takeover of Team Galactic.

On one side was the Sinnoh League—the region's lawful authority. On the other, Team Rocket—the largest and most powerful criminal syndicate in the world.

If word of this secret hostage deal got out, it would spark a global scandal.

"Do you really think the Sinnoh League will keep their word?" Malva asked. As someone with a background in the Kalos League, she found the terms of this exchange utterly absurd.

It was the textbook definition of inviting a wolf into the house—watching Team Rocket seize Sinnoh with their own hands tied.

"Under normal circumstances, they absolutely wouldn't agree," Luo Yuan said with a smile. "Even if we had dozens of their trainers, they still wouldn't have accepted those terms."

"But these aren't normal circumstances."

"I have five Legendary Pokémon at my disposal right now. If the timing weren't so delicate, I could overthrow the Sinnoh League at any moment and declare Team Rocket the rightful rulers of the region."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, voice calm but fierce.

"To put it bluntly, I'm squeezing Sinnoh by the throat with sheer force. The only option they have… is to agree."

That final line radiated such confidence and pressure that even Malva felt a chill of excitement flicker in her eyes.

She had to admit—thinking back on it—if it weren't for the potential chain reaction a hostile takeover could cause, and Rocket's own longer-term plans, Luo Yuan really did have the strength to crush the entire Sinnoh League.

When she'd first joined Team Rocket, Luo Yuan had already been strong, but cautious when confronting the League.

Now, just over a year later, he'd reached a point where even a full regional League dared not challenge him.

"Let's just hope Sinnoh can keep this little deal under wraps," Luo Yuan added with a chuckle. "If word leaks, even for the sake of saving some dignity, they'll come looking for a fight."

Moving past the topic, the two chatted briefly about the Sinnoh branch's organizational structure.

Then Luo Yuan checked the time and stood up.

"Almost time. Let's go. Matori should be arriving soon."

...

Whoosh—

A massive aircraft marked with the crimson R of Team Rocket descended from the sky, coming to rest on the landing pad.

The sudden gusts whipped at the uniforms of nearby Rocket grunts.

Luo Yuan stood calmly in place. With psychic protection surrounding him, not even a strand of his hair moved.

Thud.

The support struts extended with a heavy clunk, and the cargo ramp slowly descended.

Matori, dressed in her usual black Rocket uniform, was the first to step out. Behind her, two elite agents escorted a high-value "shipment"—

Sird.

Luo Yuan gave Matori a friendly smile, earning only an exasperated eye-roll in return. Then he turned to face Sird, whose expression was… complicated.

"Sird. Long time no see."

Indeed, it had been a long time.

Sird stared at Luo Yuan, her expression conflicted.

During her long stint in Team Rocket's prison, she had gone over it countless times in her head—how Luo Yuan had been able to so precisely pinpoint her identity as a Galactic spy.

No matter how she thought about it, she couldn't figure it out.

But the landing pad wasn't the place for such a conversation.

With Matori and Sird in tow, Luo Yuan led the way back to what had once been Cyrus' office.

As soon as they stepped inside, Luo Yuan, under Matori's murderous glare, casually handed off a stack of reports—ones he'd ignored while slacking off—to her without a hint of shame.

Then he turned to Sird.

"So… familiar surroundings?"

Sird looked around. "Honestly? Not really."

Luo Yuan blinked. "Right… you must've left Galactic before this facility was completed."

"I'm not one for small talk," he continued. "So I'll get straight to the point. I personally requested from Boss Giovanni that you be released."

"I want to ask—are you willing to return to Team Rocket?"

Straightforward. No beating around the bush.

Even though Sird had already guessed this might be coming, hearing it aloud still sent a ripple through her chest.

"No matter how many times it happens, I'm always struck by how broad Boss Giovanni's heart is."

She knew all too well what it meant when Luo Yuan had exposed her identity as a double agent back then.

And it was precisely because of that past that Giovanni's willingness to let her return to Team Rocket meant so much more.

"So, what's your answer?" Luo Yuan asked. "Matori should've already filled you in on what's happened here in Sinnoh."

Of course she knew.

Cyrus and all the Galactic high command had been captured. Most of the remaining members had defected.

Team Galactic was finished—nothing more than history now.

Sird lowered her head. She was quiet for a long moment.

Then she lifted her gaze—and smiled.

"If even Boss Giovanni doesn't mind… then what reason does a criminal like me have to refuse?"

With Galactic gone, returning to serve Rocket—rather than rotting in a cell—was the obvious choice.

"Then from this moment on, I appoint you head of the Sinnoh division."

Luo Yuan didn't hesitate in the slightest.

"..."

Sird blinked at him.

"You're seriously putting me in charge the moment I get out of prison?"

It honestly felt surreal.

Was Luo Yuan always this trusting? How had she never noticed?