Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

The next morning, Luo Yuan woke up on the large three-person bed.

Yawning, he rubbed the head of Sylveon, who had stirred awake from his movements. Then, sliding into a pair of slippers, he headed into the bathroom to freshen up.

As he brushed his teeth, he picked up his communicator and scrolled through the messages congratulating him on his Indigo League victory, skimming through the ones he hadn't responded to the night before.

After replying to a few familiar names, he changed into his clothes for the day, opened the large floor-to-ceiling window, and let the fresh morning breeze wash over him.

Feeling invigorated, he grabbed his essentials, motioned for Sylveon to hop onto his arm, and said, "I've got something to take care of. Don't wait for me for lunch."

A pair of muffled replies came from behind him.

Luo Yuan smirked faintly as he left his villa on the outskirts of Viridian City.

"Is that all you've got? I can still take on ten more."

---

As soon as he stepped out, Luo Yuan completed a seamless transformation, adopting his Rocket disguise before heading straight to the organization's base beneath Viridian Gym.

"Good morning, Mewtwo!" Luo Yuan greeted cheerfully as he passed the room where Mewtwo was levitating a spoon, flipping through a philosophical treatise using telekinesis.

"Morning," Mewtwo replied without looking up.

Even from several meters away, Luo Yuan could feel the intelligence gleaming in Mewtwo's eyes, accompanied by an air of detachment—as if it had begun to transcend mortal concerns.

Luo Yuan paused.

Maybe suggesting Mewtwo explore the meaning of life through philosophy and theology wasn't my brightest idea...

Still, seeing that Mewtwo hadn't tried to escape or rebel and seemed to have found a constructive hobby, Luo Yuan decided not to interfere.

Skipping past Mewtwo's room, Luo Yuan pushed open the door to Giovanni's office.

Inside, Ariana was giving a detailed report to Giovanni, while Koga and Lt. Surge stood by.

Ariana glanced at Luo Yuan as he entered, but continued her update.

Although Luo Yuan had relayed the highlights of recent events to Giovanni, there were numerous smaller details and updates that required her attention.

When she finished, Giovanni turned to Luo Yuan.

"What brings you here?"

"I'm here to request some time off for Sabrina," Luo Yuan replied casually.

No one in the room was surprised; everyone present was well aware of Luo Yuan's relationship with Sabrina.

Giovanni nodded. "Understood. And regarding Team Flare—thank you for your hard work."

Having thoroughly reviewed the Team Flare incident, Giovanni was fully aware of Luo Yuan's crucial role in its resolution. Without Luo Yuan, the captured grunts would have been a solid victory, but apprehending Malva would have been impossible.

"Just doing my duty as a Rocket executive. Speaking of which, what's your plan for handling Malva?" Luo Yuan asked.

As one of the major criminal organizations, Team Flare's presence in Kanto was meant to be covert. While the disappearance of its members wouldn't cause much of a stir, Malva's sudden absence was a different story.

Malva wasn't just a Team Flare admin; she was also a well-known news anchor in Kalos. Though she had paused her broadcasts during this mission, she had a habit of frequently updating her social media with holographic posts.

Her extended silence had already sparked discussion online in Kalos.

While Luo Yuan had taken extensive measures to avoid leaving any evidence linking Malva's disappearance to himself, it was only a matter of time before suspicion fell on Rocket.

To prevent unnecessary trouble or disruption to their infiltration of the League, dealing with Team Flare needed to become a priority.

Giovanni leaned back in his chair. "Your suggestion to have Ariana work on turning some of them to our side was excellent. Ariana, share the results."

Ariana stepped forward, clipboard in hand. "We captured over a hundred Team Flare members. Seven of them have expressed willingness to defect and join Rocket. The others remain defiant."

"What about the admins?" Luo Yuan asked.

Ariana hesitated briefly. "Aliana seems close to breaking after learning we've also captured Celosia and Malva. It's only a matter of time.

"Celosia remains uncooperative, refusing to engage with us.

"As for Malva..."

She paused, glancing at Luo Yuan with a complicated expression.

"What about her?" Luo Yuan prompted, frowning.

"She's requested to speak with you directly. She's refusing communication with anyone else."

This drew raised eyebrows from Koga and Lt. Surge, who both turned curious gazes toward Luo Yuan.

"...What's she planning?" Luo Yuan muttered, baffled.

Still, if this could resolve the Malva situation, it was worth a shot.

---

After Ariana finished her report, Koga and Lt. Surge followed suit, outlining their respective divisions' updates before leaving the office.

Once the room was empty, Giovanni tapped his fingers on the desk thoughtfully.

"I've heard about the incident with Sird. I didn't expect Rocket to have such a deeply embedded traitor."

His expression darkened.

Prideful as he was about his tight grip on Rocket's operations, Sird's betrayal felt like a personal affront.

"So, what's next?" Luo Yuan asked.

"We'll proceed with your suggestion. Form the Internal Affairs Division. It'll handle all internal investigations and ensure discipline."

Giovanni leaned forward. "I'll assign you a team of elite Rocket agents to assist. I expect this matter to be resolved quickly and thoroughly."

Luo Yuan nodded, understanding the weight of the support being offered.

Rocket's elite agents were its finest, trained at the organization's academy and reporting directly to Giovanni. Entrusting such resources to Luo Yuan underscored Giovanni's anger and determination.

"I'll take care of it," Luo Yuan said firmly.

As he planned his next steps, Luo Yuan recalled Lorelei's invitation the day before to visit the Sevii Islands.

Perhaps dealing with Sird could be a chance to earn some goodwill from the League.

But first, there was another matter to address—Malva.