Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

While Lorelei contemplated how to draft her mission report...

On a yacht, Luo Yuan set down his phone with a faint sigh of relief.

"Good thing I planned everything thoroughly. Otherwise, Lorelei would have caught on to the discrepancies..." Luo Yuan commented, casually taking the glass of juice Sabrina handed him.

Sabrina rolled her eyes. "This all started because you insisted on hijacking a plane."

She had barely arrived at the Sevii Islands and hadn't even had time to catch her breath when Matori called her, instructing her to pilot the yacht and pick Luo Yuan up.

"I had no choice. At such a critical juncture, Team Rocket must project strength externally," Luo Yuan replied.

With the loss of two key operatives, Lysandre from the Kalos region's Team Flare was beginning to stir again. In these trying times, Team Rocket needed to maintain an imposing stance to avoid unnecessary trouble.

"Besides, as a legitimate organization, we can't allow our lower-tier members to be arrested because of my plans."

His reasoning sounded noble—swap out "Team Rocket" for "the League," and it could have passed for an official statement.

Sabrina nodded in agreement. As a fellow Rocket executive, she could see the rationale behind Luo Yuan's words.

"Enough about that. Let's enjoy these few days of vacation," Luo Yuan said, releasing his Sylveon.

The moment Sylveon emerged, its ribbons extended—one wrapping around Luo Yuan and the other around Sabrina. Inevitably, the two were pulled closer together.

---

Saffron City

Silph Co. Headquarters

Fresh from his vacation, Luo Yuan sat on the couch across from the president of Silph Co., who wore a wide grin.

The president was in high spirits. The news of Luo Yuan—one of Silph Co.'s shareholders—winning the Indigo Plateau Championship undefeated had spread beyond Kanto. Media outlets in other regions had also picked up the story, serving as an enormous advertisement for the company.

According to the president's reports, within a week of the championship, Silph Co.'s product sales outside Kanto had surged by 30%.

This kind of growth was staggering. While Silph Co. didn't dominate international markets like some local companies, it still held a significant share.

"Now, this is what you call advertising!" the president said. In the past, he had only vaguely understood the importance of Steven Stone to Devon Corporation. Now, he saw firsthand the weight of that "importance."

"This is all thanks to you!" he said, addressing Luo Yuan.

Luo Yuan smiled faintly. "Mutual benefit. I'm also a shareholder of Silph Co., so this success is to my own advantage."

Thanks to his championship win, Silph Co.'s stock price had skyrocketed. Luo Yuan, having instructed Matori to buy up stocks in advance, had made a handsome profit.

The truth? Luo Yuan hadn't sacrificed much at all. Winning the championship had always been part of his original plan.

The president chuckled, taking Luo Yuan's modesty with a grain of salt. He shifted the conversation. "I heard you're heading to Johto soon to take on the title of Elite Four?"

Luo Yuan wasn't surprised by the question.

This news wasn't exactly a secret in the League, and it was natural for someone of the president's status to know.

He nodded. "If all goes as planned, the official announcement will be made in about a month."

"In that case... we can work with that," the president mused, fingers drumming lightly on the table as he pondered.

He planned to use the opportunity to launch Silph Co.'s new Poké Ball line, leveraging the momentum to further expand the company's market share. Of course, he didn't intend for Luo Yuan's assistance to come free of charge.

"One of our smaller shareholders is under financial pressure and intends to sell off a 3% stake in the company. Would you be interested in acquiring it?"

Shares in a regional monopoly like Silph Co. were always in demand. Besides Luo Yuan's guaranteed gains, annual dividends alone were a substantial incentive. There would be no shortage of buyers, but offering the shares to Luo Yuan made the intent to foster goodwill clear.

Luo Yuan was never one to refuse a good deal. After finalizing the details and scheduling Sabrina to handle the handover, Luo Yuan excused himself from the company and returned to Team Rocket's headquarters.

---

When Luo Yuan stepped into Matori's office, he found her watering a Roserade.

Without turning around, Matori said, "If you're looking for Boss Giovanni, he's in the underground interrogation room."

"How did you know it was me?" Luo Yuan asked curiously.

Unlike Sabrina, Matori didn't have psychic powers.

Matori turned, giving him an exaggerated eye roll. "Who else barges into my office without knocking? You're the only one in all of Team Rocket who—"

Before she could finish, Luo Yuan closed the distance between them in one stride, pulling her into an embrace and silencing her with a kiss.

Compared to Misty's awkward shyness or Sabrina's sultry allure, Matori was a completely different experience.

How to describe it? It was like anticipation mixed with a touch of resistance and a hint of irritation.

Luo Yuan could sense her inner conflict clearly. Observing her reactions amused him to no end.

Beside them, Roserade waved its arms, releasing a sweet fragrance that filled the room, adding to the ambiance.

But Luo Yuan knew the risks of playing with fire. As soon as he sensed Matori's irritation reaching a critical level, he released her.

Freed, Matori took several deep breaths to steady herself, trying to dispel the dizziness caused by the lack of air. She hadn't expected Luo Yuan to pull such a stunt.

"Sweet," Luo Yuan remarked with a satisfied smile.

Matori's face turned bright red, an embarrassed and furious expression she struggled to suppress.

She glanced at Roserade, who was stifling laughter with its leafy hands. Shooting it a glare, she recalled the Pokémon into its Poké Ball.

Adopting a stiff, businesslike expression, Matori asked, "What are you back at headquarters for?"

Matori could easily guess Luo Yuan's reasons for returning—it was always one of a few possibilities. Asking was merely a way to defuse the awkwardness.

"Of course, it's about Malva. Her seven-day deadline is up. It's time for her to give me an answer," Luo Yuan said with a calm smile.

"Don't let me interrupt your work. I'll go check on things. See you later."

With a wave, he left the office, closing the door behind him.

After all, if the Rocket grunts saw Matori like this, it would only complicate her ability to maintain authority.

Matori stared at the closed door, her expression growing increasingly conflicted.

---

T/N: no mo updates wednesdays