Team Rocket's Second-in-Command!

Hoenn Region – Mauville City

Team Rocket Base

Near the end of the week, Hunter J sat at her desk, flipping through intelligence reports collected by her subordinates.

The situation in Hoenn was growing increasingly tense. Clashes between Team Aqua and Team Magma had escalated, with battles breaking out in several cities across the region. These skirmishes had caused significant property damage, and even some civilians had been injured.

As the Team Rocket operative assigned by Luo Yuan to oversee operations in Hoenn, Hunter J's role was to quietly expand and strengthen Team Rocket's foothold while Team Aqua and Team Magma were too busy fighting each other to notice.

Naturally, this meant she paid close attention to any intelligence related to the two teams.

The reports she reviewed aligned with her understanding of the situation—mostly updates on skirmishes and the resulting damages. Just as she was about to close the folder and plan the week's operations, the screen in front of her lit up with an incoming video call.

"A call at this hour?"

Hunter J casually answered. Before she could speak, a Rocket operative—disguised as a fisherman—appeared on the screen, urgency evident in his voice.

"Officer J, there's activity at the Team Magma base."

He adjusted the camera to show a live feed. On the screen, bubbles rose from the ocean's surface under the moonlight. Beneath the rippling waters, the shadow of a massive object moved away into the distance.

"That's... the submarine Team Magma stole?"

Hunter J immediately recognized the situation.

Previously, Team Magma had raided the Slateport Shipyard and stolen the newly built Seafloor Cavern One. Based on intelligence from Team Rocket's subsidiary in the submarine manufacturing industry, it was clear that Team Magma had made extensive modifications to the submarine, likely for a significant operation.

The submarine alone wasn't alarming—after all, Team Rocket had access to submarines and even airships.

But the timing was concerning. Why would Team Magma deploy the submarine during such a critical phase in their conflict with Team Aqua?

After a brief moment of thought, Hunter J issued her command.

"Deploy surveillance Barraskewda to track the submarine. I need to know their destination."

Surveillance Barraskewda were Pokémon equipped with small tracking devices, used to follow underwater targets that were otherwise hard to trace. With their incredible speed, it was almost impossible for anything to shake them off underwater.

"Yes, Officer J!" the operative responded with a salute.

"Continue monitoring the Team Magma base and report any updates immediately," Hunter J instructed before ending the call.

Barely a moment later, another video call came through.

"What's going on today..." Hunter J muttered as she answered the call, still processing the previous report.

This time, the screen showed an operative assigned to monitor Team Aqua.

"Officer J, there's activity at the Team Aqua base. Their executives have gathered and just set out by ship. I've already deployed Pokémon to track them."

The operative forwarded the tracking signal to Hunter J.

"..."

Hunter J frowned.

Looking at the two red markers moving across the map on her screen, it became apparent that both Team Magma's submarine and Team Aqua's ships were heading to the same destination.

"What are they planning?"

A sense of foreboding swept over Hunter J. It felt like the calm before a storm, and the situation was quickly spiraling beyond her expectations.

After a moment of deliberation, she picked up her communicator and called Luo Yuan.

---

To be honest, while the Bell Tower was one of Johto's most iconic landmarks, Luo Yuan found it rather ordinary—a standard tourist attraction.

For most Trainers, the tower's mystique came from its association with Ho-Oh, which gave it an air of mystery.

"Thank you for your hospitality," Luo Yuan said, bowing slightly to the monks who had hosted him during the visit.

As a newly appointed Elite Four, Luo Yuan had to admit there were perks to the position.

Although the Bell Tower wasn't open to the public that day, the monks had made an exception to welcome him.

"So, where to next?" Sabrina asked, holding onto his arm.

Just as Luo Yuan was about to answer, his communicator buzzed.

"Hunter J?"

Seeing the name on the display, Luo Yuan raised an eyebrow. It had only been a few days since her last update on Hoenn.

He answered the call, and before he could speak, Hunter J launched into a detailed report of the recent developments in Hoenn.

When she finished, Luo Yuan's expression darkened.

"You're saying that Team Magma is deploying Seafloor Cavern One, and Team Aqua is heading for the same destination?"

"Yes... Do you think this is the start of a decisive battle between them?" Hunter J speculated.

It was a reasonable assumption. After all, both teams had been at each other's throats across Hoenn, and it seemed natural for their conflict to escalate into a final confrontation.

If Luo Yuan didn't already know the storyline, he might have believed it too.

But he understood what was really happening. Team Magma and Team Aqua were about to join forces, using Seafloor Cavern One to reach the Seafloor Cavern and awaken Groudon and Kyogre.

Archie and Maxie might not be particularly strong Trainers, but when it came to causing chaos, they were unmatched—a quality that even Team Rocket struggled to rival.

Luo Yuan couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Steven Stone. The chaos that would unfold in Hoenn was going to be catastrophic.

Still, as someone from Kanto and now Johto's Elite Four, it wasn't Luo Yuan's problem—unless Hoenn became Rocket territory. For now, all he could do was feign concern.

"Let's hope Steven can handle it," Luo Yuan muttered.

Hunter J, on the other end, looked puzzled.

Before she could ask what he meant, Luo Yuan spoke again.

"Effective immediately, consolidate our operations in Hoenn. Secure all bases—check their earthquake and flood defenses, ensure emergency supplies are stocked, and prepare to hunker down. Await further instructions."

He added, "If all goes as expected, Hoenn will soon become Rocket territory."

Hunter J's confusion only deepened, but before she could question him, Luo Yuan smiled and ended the call.

---

Sabrina tilted her head curiously. "Is something big happening in Hoenn?"

"Yes," Luo Yuan replied with a grin. "Something very big..."

---

T/N: Is he not gonna try to get them? :(