Team Rocket's Second-in-Command!

As Lusamine issued her order to Guzma to capture her daughter, a different scene unfolded on the private beach of a luxury hotel.

Luo Yuan, playing beach volleyball with Sabrina, received a call from Matori.

"Hmm? You're saying Team Skull has been ordered to hunt down Lillie across the entire Alola region?"

Just as Luo Yuan spiked the ball over the net, he paused mid-action, a strange expression crossing his face as Matori's voice came through his earpiece.

"That's correct. Our informants in Team Skull confirmed it—this directive is legitimate. Every Team Skull member in Alola is already on the move."

"...."

Luo Yuan found himself bewildered by the situation in Alola.

Initially, he'd assumed the region followed the anime's world-building, especially since Lillie was attending the Pokémon School.

But now it seemed that things weren't as straightforward as he'd thought.

Lillie running away with Nebby while Lusamine ordered a manhunt? That was straight out of the games' storyline.

"What's our plan now?" Matori asked.

The sudden development meant many of their original strategies might need adjustments.

However, Luo Yuan seemed unbothered. "The overall plan stays the same. We'll still approach Lusamine through Lillie; we'll just tweak the method."

"And what changes should we make?" Matori asked.

Just as Luo Yuan opened his mouth to respond, a volleyball came flying toward him.

On instinct, he teleported out of the way—only for the Slowbro behind him, serving as his teammate, to take the hit square on the head.

"Doof..." Slowbro let out a dazed cry before collapsing dramatically onto the sand.

"1:0!"

Sabrina, clad in a bikini, flashed a victory sign from the other side of the net.

"...."

Luo Yuan glanced at Sabrina, then at the unconscious Slowbro behind him, and resigned himself to the reality: he'd lost this round of Psychic Volleyball.

As the loser, he had to apply sunscreen for the winner.

Walking toward Sabrina, who was already lying under a parasol, Luo Yuan replied to Matori through his earpiece, "Have our people in Team Skull manipulate the situation so that Lillie ends up in Hau'oli City. Keep tracking her movements and notify me if anything changes."

---

Nightfall at Hau'oli City's Port District

Huff... huff...

Lillie, carrying a shoulder bag, ran through the streets, her face etched with panic.

"Stop right there!"

A shout echoed faintly behind her.

Hearing this, Lillie's expression turned even more frantic.

Clutching her bag tightly with one hand and holding her hat in place with the other, she forced herself to keep running despite her ragged breaths.

But before she could go far, two Team Skull grunts wearing face masks appeared in front of her, blocking her path.

"You're not getting away! Hand it over!"

Lillie spun around, only to see more Team Skull members closing in from behind.

Surrounded on all sides, the grunts finally relaxed, relieved to have cornered her.

They'd been chasing her since the afternoon, running from one end of the island to the other before finally trapping her in Hau'oli City.

"She's just a little girl, but she can really run!" one grunt muttered.

Lillie, realizing there was no escape, stood frozen as the grunts approached. Just as she braced herself for capture, a voice rang out.

"Looks like Alola's public safety isn't great."

The grunts exchanged glances and prepared to deal with this meddlesome newcomer.

But before they could act, a faint blue glow enveloped both the grunts and their Pokémon.

"What the—? I can't move!"

"Is this some kind of witchcraft?"

Suspended mid-air, the grunts flailed helplessly. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Lillie, wide-eyed, stared at the surreal scene before turning toward the source of the voice.

A man in a short-sleeved shirt and beach shorts walked toward her, accompanied by a striking woman.

It was Luo Yuan and Sabrina, returning to the hotel after their beach outing.

"The world works in mysterious ways," Luo Yuan mused, sitting across from Lillie.

He couldn't help but marvel at the irony. He'd been planning elaborate schemes to approach Lillie, even going so far as to become a Pokémon School teacher—only for Lillie to deliver herself right to his doorstep.

He studied her carefully.

Dressed in a white sundress, her light blonde hair cascaded down to her waist. Twin braids framed her face, enhancing her delicate, innocent appearance.

Even now, her expression was tinged with lingering anxiety and wariness, making her resemble a frightened little rabbit.

"You're safe now. There's no need to worry," Sabrina said gently, trying to comfort her.

"Thank you..."

Although she expressed her gratitude, Lillie remained cautious, her eyes flitting between Luo Yuan and Sabrina.

She wasn't some naive, sheltered girl—she knew better than to trust strangers blindly.

---

Ten minutes later...

Lillie, now holding a cup of tea, recounted her story to Luo Yuan and Sabrina. To prove her claims, she even showed them Nebby, tucked safely inside her bag.

"So gullible..." Luo Yuan muttered to himself, unsure whether to laugh or sigh.

Just minutes ago, she'd been wary and guarded. But as soon as he introduced himself as the Johto Champion and Sabrina as a Kanto Gym Leader, she had believed them without question.

She's the type who'd thank someone for selling her and even help them count the money, Luo Yuan thought.

Feeling a responsibility to teach Lillie about the dangers of the world, Luo Yuan decided to test her.

"Say, aren't you afraid we might be lying?" he asked casually, a playful smirk on his face. "After all, we haven't shown you any proof of our identities."

Lillie froze mid-sip.

Now that he mentioned it... he was right.

Before she could fully process that, Luo Yuan added in a teasing tone, "You know, I've heard there are bad people out there who put drugs in tea to make others pass out."

Lillie's hands began to tremble, the teacup shaking precariously as panic set in.

---

T/N: Police? Yea this man right here

THANK KKUNII FOR THE UPDATE

...

If you're reading this, then you've wandered all the way to the end. I'm impressed. Stories are like wine—meant to be savored, not rushed. So if you took your time? Thank you.

Of course, the real thanks goes to WiseTL—the one who turned tangled words into something beautiful. I just got asked to wrap things up with a ribbon. Hopefully this counts!

If you enjoyed the journey and want to support the person who made it possible, you can find them here:

👉 [patreon.com/WiseTL]

Go on. Be generous. They've earned it.

Until next time—read well, rest often, and maybe come visit me at the Hostess of Fertility sometime.

– Syr ✨