Team Rocket's Second-in-Command!

To be honest, Luo Yuan was a little nervous.

Sabrina—publicly known as the Gym Leader of Saffron City, but secretly a high-ranking Rocket executive overseeing Kanto.

Together with Lt. Surge of Vermilion and Koga of Fuchsia, she formed the trio of Team Rocket's Kanto Enforcers, maintaining Team Rocket's control over the region.

Of course, if Sabrina's rank alone were the only factor, Luo Yuan wouldn't be feeling this way.

After all, even Ariana, one of the four Johto generals, was frequently infuriated by his antics.

But Sabrina? Sabrina was different.

Not only could her psychic powers flout the laws of physics by casually turning people into dolls...

But more importantly... they had a history together. You could say they were, well, childhood friends.

It all went back to five years ago.

They'd both joined Team Rocket's elite training camp at the same time.

Having awakened her psychic abilities at a young age, Sabrina had always been somewhat isolated by the others.

Back then, Luo Yuan was not only talented and strong but also one of the few unafraid of her, treating her normally and becoming her first real friend.

Sabrina had even hinted, more than once, that she wanted to marry him someday.

But when they left camp, Sabrina had gone on to take over her family's Saffron Gym, while Luo Yuan had been dispatched by Giovanni on various assignments, eventually being sent six months ago to establish a new base in Hoenn. Gradually, they'd lost touch.

Now, it seemed Sabrina had learned he was back but hadn't contacted her, so she'd gone to headquarters herself to see him.

"Why's Sabrina visiting headquarters?"

Luo Yuan steadied himself, trying to keep his tone casual.

The last thing he needed was to panic. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Because she heard you were back," Truebird replied, clearly amused. "She asked me why you hadn't reached out, so I mentioned you got yourself a girlfriend."

Oh no.

Question: What do you do if your childhood friend catches you with a new girlfriend? (Urgent)

Luo Yuan knew Sabrina's personality better than anyone.

Because of her isolated past, she was intensely possessive.

And now he had "betrayed" her.

After a moment of thought, he couldn't see a way out of becoming Sabrina's next doll.

"You're playing with fire," he muttered, gritting his teeth.

Truebird was absolutely adding fuel to the fire—likely payback for the way he'd been handling Team Rocket's funds for "official" expenses.

Just as he was trying to think of an excuse to avoid facing her, Truebird added, "Oh, and don't think about skipping out. Giovanni has assigned you and Sabrina on a mission together."

"...Great."

Truebird's response left him with no escape.

But if it was Giovanni's order... maybe he'd be spared.

—

Viridian City

The doors of the Viridian Gym were closed, and a notice hung outside declaring the Gym temporarily closed, disappointing a line of Trainers who'd come to challenge it.

Beneath the Gym, in the hidden headquarters of Team Rocket...

Luo Yuan took a deep breath and pushed open Giovanni's office door.

"Giovanni, sir!"

Inside the office, Giovanni and Truebird were there, as was a third figure.

She had long, sleek, waist-length violet hair, and wore an elite Rocket uniform under her black stockings and fitted top.

Her expression was cool and detached.

"Sabrina, long time no see!"

Luo Yuan greeted her with a casual wave.

This carefree, clueless expression of his gave Truebird a strange sense of déjà vu.

"Same old move."

What was strange, though, was that although Sabrina had been visibly fuming when Truebird told her about Luo Yuan's "girlfriend," now there wasn't a hint of anger on her face.

"Long time no see."

Sabrina smiled back, her usual aloof demeanor replaced with an unsettling warmth.

"This isn't quite what I expected..."

Luo Yuan had prepared himself for all kinds of reactions.

Whether she ignored him entirely, threw a tantrum, or resorted to snarky comments, he had contingency plans ready.

But he hadn't expected... this soft, warm Sabrina.

Warm enough to make him nervous.

"Could it be that Truebird lied, and Sabrina doesn't know after all?"

He looked to Truebird, hoping to find an answer in her expression.

Truebird averted her eyes, choosing instead to focus on her clipboard.

Sabrina's eyes stayed on him, Luo Yuan looked at Truebird, and Truebird looked away—an odd chain of glances that left a tense silence hanging in the office.

Giovanni glanced between the three of them, momentarily puzzled by their interactions.

But whatever they were up to, he didn't have time to care.

There was a task he needed Luo Yuan for.

"Luo Yuan, I've got a mission for you."

Relieved for the opportunity to break the tension, Luo Yuan quickly asked, "What mission?"

"Are you familiar with the SS. Anne?"

"Of course. It's that luxury cruise liner, right?"

The SS. Anne—world-famous, essentially the Pokémon universe's Titanic.

Owned by Hoenn Shipping, it was known for luxury cruises across various regions, with service so opulent that the high ticket prices kept most people away.

The only reason Luo Yuan knew it so well was because he'd planned to take the SS. Anne to return to Kanto from Hoenn—until Giovanni insisted he fly back to expedite his return.

Although, if he remembered correctly, the SS. Anne was the ship that Team Rocket sank in the original series. Could Giovanni's mission be related to that?

Luo Yuan's mind raced.

Perhaps guessing his thoughts, Giovanni continued.

"Yes. I called you here because this mission does involve the SS. Anne."

"Yesterday, Truebird was able to obtain some crucial intel from the Flare executive we captured. It seems the SS. Anne is transporting some valuable cargo."

"Oh? What kind of cargo?"

Luo Yuan was intrigued.

It wasn't often Giovanni called him and Sabrina to collaborate on a mission. Whatever the cargo was, it had to be significant.

According to our intel, the SS. Anne is carrying a shipment of Key Stones and Mega Stones to enable Pokémon Mega Evolutions," Giovanni's eyes glinted with ambition.

"Until recently, the Kalos League has strictly controlled the Key Stones, banning any exports."

"But now, after negotiations, the Kalos League has agreed to export a batch of Key Stones and Mega Stones to the Hoenn League, to be delivered aboard the SS. Anne."

"The Moon Stone incident was purely a coincidence. Team Flare was initially targeting these Mega Evolution stones, and they infiltrated Kanto specifically to intercept the shipment. But with Team Flare now completely taken down, we have a golden opportunity."

Giovanni stroked his Persian's head thoughtfully. "If we can secure this shipment of Mega Stones, it'll propel Team Rocket to a new level of power."

---

T/N: Mega CHARIZARD RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH