Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

"Maxie and Archie, those two... heh."

Giovanni's eyes gleamed with faint amusement.

He didn't elaborate, but his scorn for the leaders of Team Magma and Team Aqua was clear. And he had reason to feel that way. Team Rocket controlled Kanto, Sevii Islands, and Johto, with its influence spreading even further. This level of dominance was worlds apart from the disorder of Magma and Aqua, who couldn't even unify Hoenn.

As for the battle over whether land or sea was more powerful, Giovanni saw it as little more than two children squabbling over a sandbox.

"Let Magma and Aqua tear each other apart. Once they're done, we'll step in and pick up the pieces," Giovanni said calmly.

Luo Yuan nodded. Team Rocket's foothold in Hoenn was hard-won, constantly navigating pressures from both legitimate and underground forces. But with Magma and Aqua tearing at each other, this rivalry had handed him a golden opportunity to swoop in as a third party. And wasn't it much more enjoyable to let others do the heavy lifting?

"There's one more thing," Giovanni continued. "There have been reports of an unidentified Pokémon on the Sevii Islands. Initially, I intended to investigate personally, but Mewtwo's creation is now in its final stages... so I don't have time to spare. If you're available, take a look in my place."

With that, Giovanni slid a few photographs and a floppy disk across his desk.

"The disk contains the Pokémon's aura signature."

"What about The Beasts? Aren't they usually assigned to cover Sevii?" Luo Yuan picked up the photographs. Although the images were blurry and only vaguely showed a slender form in red and blue hues, he instantly had a hunch as to what it might be.

"Gozu, Chusa, and Mitsu are busy with Lorelei," Giovanni explained. "The timing isn't right to risk a confrontation with the League. You needn't hurry—this Pokémon seems to be lingering on the islands, almost as if something is holding its interest."

Giovanni, of course, couldn't see the shock on Luo Yuan's face as he said this.

"Understood," Luo Yuan said, tucking the disk and photos away.

Giovanni waved him off, turning his chair and focusing again on the large display screen as he resumed petting his Persian.

---

Luo Yuan and Matori made their way down the hall in silence until Luo Yuan broke it with a casual, "Hey, Matori. Care for a cup of coffee?"

Matori glanced back at him with a cold smile. "Hmph."

She strode ahead, leaving Luo Yuan grinning behind her. He hadn't intended to get coffee anyway; that was just his opening move. His true aim was yet to come.

"Oh, by the way, Matori—could you process a few receipts for me?" he added nonchalantly.

Hearing this, Matori came to a dead stop, slowly turning to stare daggers at Luo Yuan.

She turned around so abruptly that Luo Yuan nearly crashed into her.

"What's with that look?" Luo Yuan said, faking a flinch. "Come on, Matori, I know I'm too good-looking for you to resist, but—"

Matori snorted. "Good-looking? Is that what you call your new obsession with that Cerulean City brat, or…?"

"Oh, so you've been keeping tabs on me?" Luo Yuan grinned.

It wasn't surprising that his recent association with Misty had been noted by Rocket operatives. Viridian City was practically a Rocket headquarters, crawling with informants—no wonder the police didn't even show up during Team Rocket's recent raid on the Pokémon Center. But that Matori, specifically, knew about this detail… now that was interesting.

"..."

Matori clammed up at once, her gaze suddenly evading his.

Interesting indeed.

Luo Yuan's smirk grew. His suspicion was confirmed: Matori was keeping track of him on her own.

But he knew better than to push too far. If he poked at her too much, he'd risk stirring her wrath, and Matori's tolerance was something he had carefully learned not to test.

He slipped a stack of receipts from his pocket and handed them to her while she was still caught off guard.

"Thanks for your help, Matori," he said with an exaggerated grin, backing away before she could protest.

"…"

For a long moment, she just stared at the receipts in her hand, her face shifting through several expressions before finally settling on calm neutrality.

And then she began to scan the charges, her eyes growing ever darker with each item.

"Devon Corporation's premium berries: 30,000 Poké Dollars."

"Devon Portable Pokéblock Maker: 700,000 Poké Dollars."

"First-class flight: 50,000 Poké Dollars."

"Silph Co. Deluxe Trainer Travel Kit for Two: 500,000 Poké Dollars."

"Ultra Balls ×100: 200,000 Poké Dollars."

"Evolution Stone Set: 1,000,000 Poké Dollars."

"..."

As Matori continued reading, her hands began to tremble slightly.

And then she reached the final item: "Silph Co. Multi-Function Luxury Bicycles ×2: 2,000,000 Poké Dollars."

A long silence followed, and then, just barely above a whisper, she muttered one word:

"Bastard."

It echoed faintly through the halls of Team Rocket's Viridian headquarters.

---

T/N: Ah damn, if you spot me using Yen please let me know so I can change it to Poke Dollars!!!