Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

After arriving in Lampurchi with the transformed "Malva," Luo Yuan didn't rush to enact his plan.

Instead, he first compiled a report of the mission and sent it to Giovanni.

Only then did he take a leisurely stroll around Lampurchi with Ditto-turned-"Malva," ensuring they were seen together by plenty of onlookers.

Once Luo Yuan was confident enough people had witnessed their "parting ways" in the city, he and Ditto slipped into a secluded forest.

There, Ditto reverted to its original form and was promptly recalled to its Poké Ball.

But the alibi wasn't complete. A few eyewitness accounts wouldn't be enough to absolve Luo Yuan of suspicion should Malva's disappearance come under scrutiny.

His next step required "Malva" to appear in other cities while Sabrina fabricated an alibi for him elsewhere.

The thought of all this extra effort made Luo Yuan sigh.

Still, he had no choice. A missing Elite Four member, even one secretly aligned with Team Flare, wasn't a trivial matter. If the League found out, it could bring Team Rocket significant trouble.

In hindsight, leading Malva into a trap on the island was a gamble. Direct confrontation risked spooking someone as cautious as her, but the approach had its pros and cons.

Summoning his smaller, less conspicuous Charizard, Luo Yuan patted its back and took off, heading toward Celadon City.

---

After three days of rest, the Indigo League semifinals finally began.

The excitement around the tournament reached new heights, with viewership skyrocketing compared to earlier rounds.

"The first match of the Indigo League semifinals is about to begin!"

"Today's battle features Luo Yuan, the undefeated competitor from the start of the tournament, and Jun, the rising star from Unova!"

"Let's welcome both trainers to the battlefield!"

Amid the commentator's animated announcement, Luo Yuan stepped onto the arena.

The stadium was familiar, but this time the atmosphere felt different.

Beyond the usual sea of cheering spectators, the VIP section caught Luo Yuan's eye.

Seated prominently were the Kanto Elite Four—Lance, Lorelei, Bruno, and Agatha—along with Professor Oak, Giovanni, Koga, and Blaine, forming an unprecedentedly star-studded audience.

"They all came to scout their future competition, huh?" Luo Yuan mused, easily guessing their intentions.

The trainers in this tournament were all vying for Kanto's vacant Elite Four positions.

While Lance was guaranteed to become Champion, the remaining Elite Four members, like Lorelei and the others, faced potential challengers from these candidates.

With only a handful of spots available—some already promised internally—it was no surprise the Elite Four were keeping a close watch.

However, not everyone's attention was on the match.

Take Blaine, for instance.

Sandwiched between Giovanni on one side and Koga on the other, Blaine looked decidedly uncomfortable.

Previously, Luo Yuan had detained Blaine to prevent him from revealing Giovanni's identity. Though Blaine had been released after Mewtwo's completion, the experience clearly left its mark.

Now, sitting beside Giovanni and Koga, Blaine couldn't shake the feeling that either of them might make a move against him at any moment.

Professor Oak, ever observant, noticed Blaine's discomfort and asked, "Blaine, are you feeling unwell?"

Oak was aware of Blaine's fragile health, which had prompted him to establish his Cinnabar Island Gym in a more temperate environment.

Oak's question drew everyone's attention.

Under the scrutinizing gazes of Lance and the others, Blaine briefly considered exposing Giovanni as Team Rocket's leader.

But one glance at Giovanni's calm expression made him reconsider.

"No, I'm fine. Just didn't sleep well last night," Blaine replied stiffly.

The others quickly returned their focus to the battlefield.

Blaine, however, heaved a sigh of relief once Giovanni's attention shifted.

"This is too much," Blaine thought.

He began seriously contemplating rejoining Team Rocket.

Knowing too much was proving to be more trouble than it was worth.

While rejoining carried the risk of League discovery, it seemed preferable to constantly living in fear of Giovanni's watchful eye (even if it was a figment of his imagination).

Having made up his mind, Blaine felt a strange sense of relief, his tension melting away.

With renewed focus, he turned his attention to the match.

On the field, the battle had already begun.

"Luo Yuan has once again sent out his signature Dragonite, while Jun is starting with his Emboar!"

The massive Fire/Fighting-type Pokémon, with its imposing red-and-black frame and flames flickering around its neck, normally exuded an aura of reliability.

But next to Luo Yuan's gigantic Dragonite, Emboar looked almost diminutive.

Jun, however, was undeterred. Having studied Luo Yuan's matches, he knew what to expect.

Though this was his first time facing Dragonite directly, its sheer presence didn't rattle him.

"Emboar, show them our fighting spirit!" Jun shouted.

Emboar remained silent, but the flames around its neck flared dramatically, a clear sign of its determination.

"Let the match begin!"

The referee's flag came down, and he swiftly retreated to a safe distance.

With the intensity of these late-stage battles, the collateral damage from attacks had become a serious hazard.

No sooner had the referee stepped back than Emboar made its move.

Roaring loudly, it opened its mouth and unleashed a blazing Flamethrower at Dragonite.

"Testing the waters, are we?" Luo Yuan thought, observing the straightforward attack.

While Flamethrower was a Special Attack, Emboar's higher Attack stat indicated its true strength lay in physical moves. The Flamethrower was likely a feint.

Dragonite didn't wait for a command.

Taking a deep breath, it fired a Dragon Pulse from its mouth, meeting the Flamethrower head-on.

Boom!

The two attacks collided in mid-air.

At first, Emboar's Flamethrower held its ground, resisting the Dragon Pulse.

But as Dragonite poured more power into its attack, the tide turned.

When the Dragon Pulse pushed through the Flamethrower, Emboar reacted instantly.

With a swift sidestep, it dodged the incoming wave of energy, moving several meters to the side.

---

"..."

- Gardevoir

(End of Chapter—Support the translator at [patreon.com/WiseTL]!)