Team Rocket's Second-in-Command!

After returning to the hotel, Luo Yuan gave Giovanni a brief report on the situation in Hoenn.

Hearing the update, Giovanni's expression turned amused.

When Giovanni had first sent Luo Yuan to Hoenn, it was because he had already studied the personalities of Archie and Maxie.

For those two to temporarily set aside their differences and work together, the reward at stake had to be extraordinary.

"So... they believe they've located Groudon and Kyogre?"

The goals of Team Magma and Team Aqua were public knowledge after years of their declarations. Only Groudon and Kyogre could drive these two groups to abandon their long-standing rivalry.

Considering the intelligence Team Rocket had gathered on their recent activities, all signs pointed to this conclusion.

The situation was getting interesting.

However, Giovanni didn't think highly of Archie and Maxie's ambitions to control Kyogre and Groudon.

Having personally spearheaded the Mewtwo Project, Giovanni knew better than anyone how difficult it was to control legendary Pokémon.

Even Mewtwo, created as a blank slate from birth, had been a monumental challenge to subdue.

Let alone Groudon and Kyogre, ancient beings with untold millennia of existence and legendary temperaments described in countless myths.

It was clear to Giovanni that Archie and Maxie were courting disaster.

Still, how was that Team Rocket's problem?

Hoenn was far removed from Kanto, separated by leagues of ocean. Even if Groudon and Kyogre plunged Hoenn into chaos, Kanto would remain unaffected.

After all, Ho-Oh and Lugia were formidable guardians in their own right.

With that in mind, Giovanni addressed Luo Yuan through the screen.

"Your strategy is solid. For now, we'll simply observe. There's no need for Team Rocket to act just yet."

Watching the chaos unfold between Team Aqua, Team Magma, and the Hoenn League before making a move would allow Team Rocket to strike when the time was right.

On this point, Giovanni and Luo Yuan were in agreement.

"However," Giovanni added, "if an opportunity arises, there's no reason we can't intervene."

While sitting back and watching was safe, Team Rocket's current strength meant they could afford to get involved.

A combination of Deoxys and Mewtwo would certainly not lose to Groudon and Kyogre.

If Team Rocket struck at the right moment—when Team Aqua and Team Magma had plunged Hoenn into chaos—it would not only eliminate the two rival organizations but also earn goodwill for restoring order, facilitating future recruitment of Hoenn Trainers.

Luo Yuan nodded in agreement.

Currently, most of Team Rocket's personnel in Hoenn were either transfers from Kanto or Hunter J's subordinates. Local recruits were few and far between.

To replace Team Aqua and Team Magma, integrating local talent was a necessary step.

And this was the perfect opportunity.

Of course, the exact timing for intervention would require further analysis.

With the report concluded, Luo Yuan was about to end the call when Giovanni stopped him.

"There's one more thing," Giovanni said. "It's about Pryce. He's recently expressed interest in meeting you in Mahogany Town. When you have time, you should pay him a visit."

"Pryce?"

Luo Yuan frowned slightly.

Shouldn't Pryce be busy chasing after Celebi? What could he want with me?

Seeing Luo Yuan's confusion, Giovanni chuckled.

"It seems he's encountered some trouble recently and would like your help."

At that, Luo Yuan understood.

This was good news.

If Pryce needed assistance, it put Team Rocket in the advantageous position.

Perhaps this could be the perfect chance to integrate Pryce's Masked Army into Team Rocket as a fully subordinate force.

---

Mahogany Town

Located in the northernmost part of Johto, Mahogany Town was also known as the "Ninja Village."

After ending his call with Giovanni, Luo Yuan—who had no pressing matters to attend to—asked Sabrina to temporarily handle inspections of Team Rocket's Johto branches. Using the guise of an official League visit, he set out for Mahogany Town.

On the surface, Mahogany Town appeared to be an ordinary settlement.

In reality, however, nearly 30% of its industries were controlled by Team Rocket.

The town also housed a secret Team Rocket base, though its personnel were primarily under Pryce's Masked Army rather than direct command from Rocket HQ.

After wandering the town and picking up a few boxes of Mahogany's famous "Rage Candy Bars" from a roadside shop, Luo Yuan made his way to the Mahogany Gym.

Inside the gym, Pryce was waiting in his wheelchair, wearing a gentle smile.

"Welcome to Mahogany Gym, Master Luo Yuan," Pryce greeted him. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

At first glance, Pryce looked nothing like someone who led the Masked Army, a group infamous for its activities in Johto.

"I wonder what brings Master Luo Yuan to my humble gym?" Pryce asked.

Luo Yuan: "..."

Do you seriously not know why I'm here?

Of course, Luo Yuan saw through Pryce's act. The feigned ignorance was just a ploy to avoid being the first to speak, preserving his leverage.

But Luo Yuan wasn't so easily outmaneuvered.

Feigning a polite smile, Luo Yuan said, "This was a sudden visit. I brought a small gift."

He handed Pryce the box of candy.

Pryce instinctively accepted the gift, but when he saw what it was, his expression froze.

"..."

Rage Candy Bars... the very product Mahogany Town is famous for.

Pryce's forced smile faltered. Unable to maintain the charade, he sighed and dropped the act.

"It's remarkable how quickly you've risen, from a Rocket executive to an Elite Four," Pryce remarked.

Without batting an eye, Luo Yuan casually waved his hand, using psychic power to pull a chair from the side and seat himself across from Pryce.

"And you've done well yourself, Mr. Pryce. I've heard of the Masked Army's feats even during my time in Hoenn."

After exchanging a few rounds of polite flattery, Pryce finally cut to the chase.

"You've probably guessed why I invited you here. I've run into a problem."

At last, the main topic emerged. Luo Yuan straightened slightly, signaling his interest.

"I'm listening."