Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

Lance didn't stay at Silph Co. for long.

As a League Champion, he was on his way to inspect the construction of Dark City's new Gym.

With Silph Co.'s investment and the planned Poké Ball factory, Dark City was set to grow rapidly, evolving from a neglected fringe city to a major hub. The Gym had to be built with serious consideration.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Silph's president and thanking him for supporting the League, Lance left Silph Co.

The president turned to Luo Yuan and Sabrina with a look of relief.

"Luo Yuan, Sabrina, thank you both."

Though Lance's help was greatly appreciated, the president knew well that such assistance came at a cost.

Accepting the League's aid meant that Silph Co. would owe the League a favor in the future.

This was the unspoken rule of mutual benefit.

Even if it came from Lance himself… should Lance need Silph's support in his next bid for Champion, wouldn't they be obligated to help?

Having "insiders" like Luo Yuan and Sabrina handle these Rocket Team grunts was ideal.

Seeing the president's relieved expression, Luo Yuan knew his plan had worked.

He accepted the thanks with a smile, and after handing the captured grunts over to Officer Jenny's team, he and Sabrina returned to the Saffron Gym.

---

At the Saffron Gym, Luo Yuan sat on a couch, taking a call from Matori.

"Everything go smoothly?" Matori asked.

She'd recently found out that Lambda hadn't just sent ordinary grunts but a squad captain with real potential to join Rocket Team's elite. She worried this might have disrupted Luo Yuan's plans.

Not that she thought Luo Yuan might lose; she was more concerned that Lambda's last-minute change would mess with Luo Yuan's strategy.

"Everything went perfectly. The plan went off without a hitch," Luo Yuan replied, smiling as he teased Ralts with a Pokéblock.

Ralts, eager for the treat, chirped excitedly as it watched the Pokéblock dangle above it.

The plan had indeed gone smoothly.

Even with his "official" Pokémon alone, Luo Yuan's strength was enough to overwhelm most Trainers. As long as it wasn't a high-ranking officer, it didn't really matter if the opponent was a grunt or an elite.

And thanks to Lance's unexpected arrival, he'd achieved even more than intended.

"Glad to hear it. I called to let you know that Giovanni has returned to Viridian City," Matori informed him.

"Oh? Does that mean Mewtwo's complete?" Luo Yuan raised an eyebrow.

With Giovanni overseeing things, progress had been swift. The final hurdles had been cleared, and Mewtwo was ready.

"Yes, but…"

"But?"

"The New Island base was destroyed. Although everyone evacuated safely, the entire facility is now in ruins." Matori's tone held a hint of pain.

As Rocket Team's chief financial officer, Matori knew just how much had been poured into the New Island base—thousands of scientists, nearly a billion in resources. It had become the world's most advanced facility for Pokémon cloning and artificial Pokémon research.

But now, mere moments after Mewtwo's creation, it had self-destructed, unleashing its psychic power in a massive explosion that wiped out the entire base.

It was a painful loss.

"Creating a legendary Pokémon always comes with a price," Luo Yuan remarked philosophically.

As someone in on the Mewtwo Project, he knew that critical data had already been uploaded to Rocket HQ's servers. The main losses were equipment and supplies.

Given Mewtwo's successful creation, this was an acceptable price.

Matori sighed, seeming to accept his perspective.

"So, what's next for you?" She sounded curious, half-expecting him to ask for her assistance again.

"Well, since Giovanni's back, I suppose it's time for me to head to Viridian City and challenge his Gym," Luo Yuan replied with a smirk.

After all, he still needed his Earth Badge.

And with Deoxys mostly healed from its previous injuries, Luo Yuan was eager to see how its strength would stack up against the newly-created Mewtwo.

Matori sounded a bit disappointed, but quickly moved on.

After some friendly small talk, Luo Yuan ended the call.

He glanced at Ralts, who was now practically quivering with impatience. Luo Yuan chuckled and finally gave it the Pokéblock it had been so desperate for.

"Raa…lts!"

The sweetness burst on its tongue, and Ralts' eyes lit up with happiness.

Just then, the bathroom door swung open.

Wrapped in a towel, Sabrina emerged, her hair still damp.

Noticing Ralts' blissful expression, she rolled her eyes—she could tell Luo Yuan had been teasing it again.

"…"

With an exasperated sigh, Sabrina motioned for Ralts, who happily trotted over and jumped into her arms.

Using her psychic powers, Sabrina gently lifted Ralts and brought it closer. But as it landed, Ralts accidentally bumped into her, loosening the towel wrapped around her.

Sabrina and Luo Yuan suddenly found themselves face-to-face, without a shred of fabric between them.

Despite having experienced this before, Sabrina's cheeks flushed red.

She glared at Ralts, but before she could say anything, Luo Yuan stepped in and pulled her into an embrace, his breath warm against her neck.

Unseen by Sabrina, Luo Yuan held out another Pokéblock to Ralts, who eagerly accepted the "reward for betraying its trainer."

"Raa…lts!"

Ralts was thrilled, nibbling away at the treat.

Curious about the emotions radiating from Luo Yuan and Sabrina, Ralts activated its empathy powers, the red crest on its head glowing as it tuned into their feelings.

Suddenly, it sensed a wave of unfamiliar, intense emotions—a mysterious mix of warmth, excitement, and something else it couldn't name. Its face flushed as it processed these strange new sensations.

The emotions had a strange, almost addictive allure.

Ralts focused intently.

The intense waves of feeling continued to wash over it, overwhelming its senses until it couldn't hold on any longer. The Pokéblock slipped from its grasp as its mind fogged.

When the emotional onslaught reached a fever pitch, Ralts' little body gave a shiver, its mind spinning.

With a soft puff of smoke rising from its head, Ralts fainted, collapsing onto the floor.

And thus, Ralts paid the price for its "betrayal."

---

T/N: He's not actually a pokemon :D

Greetings, esteemed reader.

Your presence throughout this chapter's journey is deeply appreciated. In Liyue, we hold that every tale, much like the enduring stone, gains strength through the appreciation of those who encounter it.

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With sincere regards,

Zhongli

(who let this old man here?)