Team Rocket's Second-in-Command!

The billowing smoke obscured everyone's vision, leaving both the Team Rocket grunts and the League trainers coughing uncontrollably.

However, one sharp-eyed League trainer managed to catch sight of Sird escaping through the base's gates, gripping onto her Honchkrow's talons.

"Luo Yuan, Sird's getting away!"

Hearing the shout, Luo Yuan used his psychic abilities to disperse the smoke. His expression turned stern as he gestured toward Dragonite.

"I'm leaving this to you. Dragonite, stay here and assist in 'apprehending' the Team Rocket members. I'll handle Sird!"

With that, he swung himself onto Charizard's back.

Whoosh!

Charizard spread its wings, slicing through the dissipating smoke, and soared into the sky in pursuit of Sird.

---

The Rocket grunts, abandoned by their commander and now trapped by the massive Dragonite blocking the entrance, were overcome with despair.

Meanwhile, the League trainers, emboldened by their advantage, handled the increasingly demoralized grunts while fantasizing about the epic battle Luo Yuan must be having as he chased Sird.

---

Reality, however, was far less dramatic than their imaginations.

Barely moments after flying out of the base, Sird landed in a nearby forest, with Luo Yuan descending shortly after her.

As she stood in the dappled shade of the trees, Sird turned to him with a frown.

"Luo Yuan, why are you chasing me? According to the script, you should still be in the base processing the captives."

"The script is correct," Luo Yuan replied with a smile. "But there's been a slight change. I wanted to ask you something."

"What is it?" Sird asked, still frowning.

Within Team Rocket, Luo Yuan's status had become increasingly prominent. His creation of the Hoenn division, close ties with both Matori and Sabrina, and unwavering trust from Giovanni had propelled him ahead of Archer, making him the de facto second-in-command.

If Sird wanted to maintain her position in Team Rocket, answering Luo Yuan's questions truthfully was her only option.

That resolve wavered, however, as Luo Yuan's next words struck like a thunderbolt.

"I want to know," he said, his smile unchanging, "what it's been like for you these past few years as a Galactic executive infiltrating Team Rocket."

For a split second, Sird's smile froze.

She hesitated for a moment before forcing herself to respond.

"Galactic? Infiltrator? Are you accusing me of something baseless?"

Her face hardened as she met Luo Yuan's gaze, her voice cold and indignant.

Had Luo Yuan not already known the truth, her performance might have been convincing.

But her act faltered as Luo Yuan pointed to her right hand, hidden behind her back.

"If you weren't up to something suspicious back there," Luo Yuan said, "your denial would've been more believable."

The moment he finished speaking, Sird flung a Poké Ball into the air.

"Electrode, Explosion!"

The Electrode wasn't meant to harm Luo Yuan. It was merely a smokescreen to aid her escape.

After her close call against Lance and Lorelei during the Seven Island incident, Sird had made it a habit to carry an Electrode for emergencies like this.

And now, it seemed her foresight was paying off.

At the same time as she threw the Poké Ball, she signaled to her Honchkrow.

The plan was simple: use the explosion as cover while Honchkrow carried her to safety.

But before the Honchkrow could move, a flash of red and blue streaked past her.

Sird instinctively stepped back, only to see two tentacles lash out and bind her Honchkrow in place.

Thud!

The bird's pained cry rang out as it was immobilized.

Now, Sird could clearly see the figure responsible—Deoxys.

"Deoxys," she muttered through gritted teeth, enunciating every syllable.

Meanwhile, Luo Yuan used his psychic abilities to redirect the Electrode to a safe distance. The explosion that followed sent trees crashing to the ground and startled a flock of Pidgey into the air, but Luo Yuan remained unharmed.

In just a matter of seconds, Sird's carefully planned escape had been completely foiled.

As she stood frozen, clutching a Poké Ball in her hand, Deoxys' gaze pinned her in place, daring her to make a move.

Brushing imaginary dust off his coat, Luo Yuan smirked.

"Good thing I'm cautious enough to keep Deoxys by my side at all times. Otherwise, I might've let you slip away."

The mockery in his tone was unmistakable.

Sird didn't bother responding. She had already realized that with Deoxys here, escape was impossible.

"Don't you have any questions?" Luo Yuan asked.

"How did you find out I'm a Galactic spy?" Sird shot back, her voice low but steady.

That, above all, was what puzzled her.

She had rarely communicated with Team Galactic over the years, and her work within Team Rocket, while not flawless, had been cautious enough to avoid suspicion.

Luo Yuan chuckled.

"I was the first to suspect you. At the time, it was just a gut feeling."

"But during the Indigo League tournament, when Team Flare sent someone to infiltrate us, Giovanni began suspecting we had a mole. He authorized me to investigate, and you were one of the suspects."

"Unfortunately for you, you made a mistake during that investigation."

Sird's eyes widened as realization dawned. She recalled a sudden, important file sent from Matori's department during the tournament. At the time, she had thought it odd but didn't dwell on it.

Now, it all made sense.

"After the tournament, Giovanni gave me the authority to establish Team Rocket's Internal Affairs Division. You were our first target."

"I see..." Sird muttered, piecing it all together.

Then, lifting her gaze, she asked, "What are you planning to do with me? Hand me over to the League for another accolade in your record? Don't worry about me exposing your identity; the League wouldn't believe a word from a Rocket executive."

"The League? Don't make me laugh," Luo Yuan replied, his tone dismissive. "Everyone knows the League's prisons are a joke."

"No, I've arranged a private cell for you at headquarters. Giovanni has plenty of questions for you."

With that, Deoxys' tentacles glowed faintly, and Sird's Poké Balls—both those in her hands and those hidden on her belt—floated into the air, secured under Deoxys' control.

Moments later, a ripple spread across the sky as an invisible airship revealed itself. From above, Koga descended gracefully, held aloft by his Crobat.

"Is it over?" Koga asked.

Luo Yuan nodded.

"She's all yours. Take her back to headquarters."

Koga cast a regretful glance at Sird, then cuffed her wrists.

His Crobat lifted her effortlessly, carrying her back to the airship.