Team Rocket's Second-in-Command!

Some battles are planned, others are unexpected—but a true Champion embraces them all. Consider this bonus Chapter one of those surprises.

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As always, Luo Yuan left the venue on the back of Dragonite.

"Did Malva contact you?" Luo Yuan asked through a video call with Matori.

"Yes, while you were competing earlier, she reached out to one of our mid-level Rocket executives through a black market intermediary."

"Interesting. It seems she's getting restless because of Celosia's disappearance."

Thanks to days of remote reconnaissance using drones, Team Rocket had confirmed that the stranded members on the island were an elite squad from Team Flare, led by their scientist Celosia.

This squad was no small asset to Team Flare. Adding the importance of Celosia as a scientist, it wasn't surprising they were becoming anxious.

"What did she say to you?" Luo Yuan inquired further.

Malva's words were crucial; through them, they could deduce her goals and whether she knew that Celosia's ship had been sunk by the giant Tentacruel.

Hearing Luo Yuan's question, Matori shook her head.

"That woman is cunning. She disguised herself as an ordinary Team Flare member and requested a meeting with us, asking for the release of Aliana."

"She also subtly probed whether we were the ones who had captured Celosia."

"Tch." Luo Yuan clicked his tongue.

It wasn't unexpected for Malva to be so cautious.

As a Kalos Elite Four member and a well-known media figure, Malva's intellect was no less formidable than her strength.

Expecting her to act as brashly as Chuck was unrealistic.

"Did she say anything else?" Luo Yuan pressed.

"Not much else. She scheduled another meeting tomorrow. I suspect she's trying to contact Lysandre."

"What do we do now?" Matori asked.

"For now, we'll stay put. As I said before, with so many of their people missing, Team Flare is bound to be more desperate than us. All we need to do is tighten surveillance on that island. Let Surge handle it."

While Surge's strength was average, he excelled in large-scale operations and was closer to the target, making him a suitable choice.

"Understood." Matori nodded.

"Does Giovanni know about this?"

"Not yet. I called you immediately after your match ended." Matori shook her head.

"Huh? You watched my match?" Luo Yuan caught the inconsistency.

As Team Rocket's chief secretary, Matori should have been setting an example. Watching the Indigo League broadcasts during work hours was hardly appropriate.

Luo Yuan smirked teasingly.

Caught off guard, Matori froze for a few seconds before her face turned beet red. She glared at Luo Yuan.

Smiling faintly, Luo Yuan decided to drop the topic after his playful jab. "How's the establishment of the Internal Affairs Department coming along?"

It had been several days since he proposed the department, and with Matori's efficiency, there should be progress by now.

"The framework is in place. I've deployed the first investigation teams under the guise of restructuring the financial system on the Sevii Islands."

"Any findings?"

Matori's expression turned grave. "The investigation team reviewed records from the Sevii Islands branch and found numerous instances of unauthorized data access."

"Although these incidents appear isolated, your earlier insights led me to a connection—all these individuals have either worked under Sird or were directly or indirectly recruited by him."

"Hmph, the fox's tail is showing," Luo Yuan said with a cold smile.

It was undeniable that Sird was a Galactic spy. With evidence in hand, Luo Yuan could finally uproot this thorn lodged in Team Rocket's heart.

"Don't alert him yet. Continue the investigation. Keep an eye on anyone connected to Sird, and compile a list for me. Once the Indigo League and Team Flare matters are settled, I'll handle it all at once."

"Understood!" Matori nodded.

Luo Yuan was indisputably capable; with him taking action, removing Sird was only a matter of time.

After discussing more internal Rocket matters, Luo Yuan instructed Matori to subtly reveal during her next conversation with Malva that they were aware Team Flare had sent people to Kanto.

Using this as bait, they'd draw Malva into a face-to-face meeting.

With the instructions given, Luo Yuan ended the call with Matori and then reached out to Giovanni to report the situation.

---

"Good work. Proceed with your plan. I'll keep an eye on the League. If anything comes up, I'll inform you," Giovanni said calmly over the call.

Luo Yuan keenly sensed a subtle shift in Giovanni's tone. "Something happened, didn't it, Boss?"

"I've been chosen as the next Elite Four Ground-type specialist."

A trace of helplessness flickered across Giovanni's face on the screen.

Clearly, this was not a role he relished.

Initially, Giovanni had wanted to decline.

But with Lance, Agatha, Lorelei, and Bruno all present at the time, Giovanni feared that rejecting the offer might arouse suspicion, potentially leading to a united effort to capture him.

Although Koga and Sabrina were also there on his side, exposing half of Team Rocket's senior staff and risking Luo Yuan's involvement through Sabrina wasn't an option Giovanni was willing to consider.

Reluctantly, he had to agree.

Luo Yuan: "..."

If the Indigo League trainers, struggling for a chance to challenge the Elite Four, heard this, they'd probably burst into tears.

To be begged to become an Elite Four member—what a dream come true for most.

But Giovanni was Giovanni. He only revealed his genuine feelings to Luo Yuan, his most trusted subordinate, before swiftly regaining composure.

"If the Kanto League insists on making me an Elite Four member, I'll make the most of it."

"Boss, you mean..."

"A mere Elite Four position isn't enough to satisfy my ambitions." A glint of a schemer's cunning shone in Giovanni's eyes.

Seeing Giovanni in this state, Luo Yuan couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for the Kanto League.

Giovanni had already expressed disinterest in joining the League, content with leading Team Rocket.

But since the League insisted on inviting trouble, they had no one to blame but themselves.

As Giovanni prepared his Pokémon for the Elite Four role and Lance set off for Johto to take up the Champion title, Luo Yuan, having handled the Rocket affairs, returned to the Indigo League arena.

There, he found an upset Misty with her arms crossed, looking as if she'd been stewing in frustration.

The moment she saw Luo Yuan, her annoyance peaked.

"Ahem. Something came up, so I got delayed for a bit," Luo Yuan said, trying to soothe Misty, who had been left waiting for half an hour.

---

A true Champion knows that every battle, every choice, and every unexpected twist shapes the path to mastery. Consider this bonus Chapter a rare encounter—one that wouldn't be possible without the right support.

That's why you should support WiseTL at [patreon.com/WiseTL]—where every pledge helps bring more high-quality translations to life, staying true to the original while flowing naturally in English. After all, excellence is in the details.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have more to prepare for. But you? You should take this opportunity—you never know what rare finds await.

—Cynthia