Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

Bonus chapters are like surprise blossoms—unexpected, yet full of joy! 🌱

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Of course, Sabrina felt Luo Yuan's words were off only because she knew his real identity.

For the Silph president, however—who was unaware of Luo Yuan's true allegiance—this was entirely different.

What kind of noble spirit was this?

"I… I'll leave it to you!"

The uninformed president was visibly moved, rising to his feet and giving a deep bow.

Luo Yuan felt a twinge of guilt but kept a straight face—basic professionalism for any Rocket Team executive in this kind of situation.

"Leave it to us. But it will take us time to reach the lower floors, so please continue to evacuate your security staff upward to avoid unnecessary sacrifices."

The Silph president nodded emphatically. "Understood."

---

Hiroki was buzzing with excitement.

As an exceptional new Rocket Team member who'd been promoted to squad leader in just one year, being assigned to lead an assault on Silph Co. was a huge honor, proof that his superiors saw potential in him.

He could still vividly recall his excitement three days ago when Commander Lambda had called him into the office, clapped him on the shoulder, and informed him that he'd been chosen for this mission.

Of course, Hiroki had his questions.

For instance, why were Johto recruits like him being sent on a mission in Kanto?

But none of that dampened his elation. He felt like his life was reaching new heights, and a promotion to Rocket Team executive was within his grasp.

"Demolition team, move in! Blast the door!" he commanded confidently.

Two Rocket Team grunts moved forward, each releasing a Weezing armed with the move Self-Destruct. The Pokémon emitted a bright glow before detonating.

Boom!

The blast blew the doors open, clearing the way.

Smiling, Hiroki glanced at his team. "Our target is the thirteenth-floor vault containing Silph Co.'s latest products. The Gym and Officer Jenny will be here soon, so we need to act fast! Everyone clear on that?"

"Yes, sir!" the squad shouted back.

Hiroki had already briefed them on the mission's objectives; he was simply reiterating the plan.

Seeing that everyone was ready, Hiroki took a deep breath. "Then, let's move out!"

With his Weezing taking the lead as a shield, Hiroki boldly charged into the building.

"Swift!"

"Thunder Shock!"

"Water Gun!"

Attacks of various intensities struck Weezing, but it absorbed them all, hardly fazed. Having been trained as a tank, it was accustomed to taking hits. As it advanced, it released a thick Smokescreen, cloaking the eighth-floor entrance in smoke.

Rocket Team grunts equipped with thermal vision quickly ordered their Pokémon to counterattack within the smoke.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

In moments, the Pokémon that had attacked Weezing lay defeated.

However, the Rocket Team grunts didn't look particularly pleased; in fact, they seemed puzzled.

"Where is everyone?"

As the smoke cleared, Hiroki saw the entire eighth floor was empty.

According to intercepted Silph communications, over half of Silph's security forces were stationed on the eighth floor to block their ascent. So why hadn't they encountered a single person?

As for who had commanded the few Pokémon they had fought, Hiroki soon found an answer: a radio left on a nearby wall, still transmitting orders.

Something was wrong.

"Captain, what should we do next?" one of his subordinates asked, also sensing that something was off.

Hiroki hesitated, but remembering his mission and Lambda's orders, he gritted his teeth. "We keep moving up!"

The ninth floor… the tenth floor… all the way to the thirteenth floor, they encountered only light resistance.

The Pokémon were controlled remotely; they saw no actual Trainers.

Hiroki's sense of foreboding grew. He didn't believe his team of thirty was enough to force Silph Co. into surrendering…

So, what was Silph Co.'s strategy? Were they drawing them in, or was there another trap waiting?

But with the vault just ahead, retreating was not an option.

"Set the charges—blow the vault!" Hiroki ordered.

Then he added, "And be quick about it!"

"Yes, sir!"

Just as the grunts moved to set the charges…

Clack, clack, clack

A steady rhythm of footsteps echoed from the corridor.

Instinctively, the grunts looked up to see a man and a woman, flanked by a dozen Silph Co. security guards, blocking their escape route.

"You're surrounded. Surrender now!" Luo Yuan called out.

Hiroki scrutinized the two Trainers. He didn't recognize the man, but he knew exactly who the woman was.

"That's Sabrina from the Saffron Gym! But… how is she here so fast?"

Hiroki's mind raced. He'd timed this operation down to the minute; by his calculations, it should've taken at least another ten minutes for the Gym's reinforcements to arrive.

So how could Sabrina be here already?

But there was no time to dwell on that.

The Silph security guards were already launching their attacks.

"Mr. Mime, use Confusion!"

"Lickitung, Lick attack!"

"Magneton, Thunder Wave!"

---

A barrage of attacks rained down on Hiroki's squad.

Hiroki scoffed at their efforts.

Though he had his reservations about Sabrina, he didn't feel the same way about these Silph guards; Rocket Team grunts were leagues above these weaklings.

He signaled his team to counterattack.

"Arbok, Poison Sting!"

"Ursaring, Brick Break!"

"Murkrow, Astonish!"

The grunts released a mix of the usual Rocket Team Pokémon alongside several unique Johto-region Pokémon.

The Silph guards were overwhelmed in moments, unable to withstand the Rocket Team's assault.

Watching this, Luo Yuan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"Did Matori and Lambda plan this together? These grunts aren't as weak as I'd expected."

They weren't mindless foot soldiers.

While not quite on the level of Rocket Team's elite squads, these recruits were definitely above average.

That Lambda would let this group risk themselves for mere cover? Unusual.

Still, as the Silph guards continued to fall back, Luo Yuan decided it was time to stop spectating.

He threw out a Pokéball.

"Charizard, Flamethrower!"

The setting was too tight to summon larger Pokémon like Gyarados, but Charizard's size was just right for the confined space.

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-With love, Nahida 🌱