Team Rocket's Second-in-Command!-Chapter 362: Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! []

"There's one more important thing..." Just as Matori was about to hang up, Faba suddenly interjected.

"What is it? Speak."

"Team Rocket's objective here... It must be Ultra Beasts, right?" Faba guessed.

In his view, only the Ultra Beasts could attract an organization as massive as Team Rocket to Alola and Aether Foundation.

"Something like that," Matori replied ambiguously.

Ultra Beasts? That was a matter of the past.

While they were still a target, ever since Mewtwo had been created, the Ultra Beasts had become secondary.

Team Rocket's current main goal was the resources and networks controlled by Aether Foundation in the Alola region. By using Aether Foundation as a springboard, they aimed to monopolize Alola's lucrative tourism industry.

By dominating the tourism sector, they could generate enormous funds to support the Team Rocket branches in Hoenn and Kalos.

Before the Hoenn League could react, the plan was to flood the Hoenn division with resources to accelerate its development.

The Ultra Beasts? They were just icing on the cake.

Of course, Faba didn't need to know any of this yet.

Failing to pick up on Matori's evasiveness, Faba believed his guess was correct and continued, "Currently, Aether Foundation's Ultra Beast project has made significant progress. Once Team Rocket takes over Aether Foundation, we can seamlessly pick it up. However, there's one critical issue..."

"And that is?"

"The Cosmog required to open Ultra Space and capture Ultra Beasts was taken by Lusamine's daughter. Right now, Lusamine is enlisting Team Skull to track her down."

"For Team Rocket's subsequent Ultra Beast project, we'll need Cosmog. If possible, it'd be best to locate Lillie," Faba explained.

"Team Skull, huh? Your intel is outdated," Matori said flatly.

"What?" Faba was taken aback.

He hadn't expected Matori to already know about this matter.

"Explaining it in detail would take too long. Just know that it's not a problem. Focus on awaiting my orders and coordinating with Team Rocket's operation."

With that, Matori hung up, leaving Faba in deep thought.

Not a problem. Already resolved.

Yet Lusamine had recently thrown a fit at her villa, frustrated by the interference of Johto Champion Luo Yuan, who prevented them from recapturing Lillie.

But now, Matori said it was no issue...

Could it be...?

As Faba reflected on her words, a shocking possibility dawned on him.

Could Lillie herself also be a Team Rocket spy?

---

Matori, unaware of Faba's wild speculation, simply reported the intel she had gathered to Luo Yuan.

"That's the gist of it. Faba's cooperation was unexpected—I thought he might demand higher compensation," Matori said, her expression one of someone accustomed to seeing all sorts of people over the years.

Luo Yuan couldn't help but feel a bit speechless, though he acknowledged it was a fortunate turn for Team Rocket.

"In that case, the final piece of our plan falls into place. We initially aimed to act within two weeks, but now we can move at any time," Luo Yuan remarked.

"What about Guzma? Aren't we waiting for him to make a decision?" Matori asked, assuming Luo Yuan would hold off until Guzma joined Team Rocket.

"Guzma? That guy's just Lusamine's enforcer—he has no access to Aether Foundation's core. Recruiting him is only for our post-takeover management of Alola. He's irrelevant to this phase."

Luo Yuan's face twisted into a look of distaste. "Besides, with his personality, he'd probably cause more trouble than he's worth if he were involved."

Infiltrating Aether Foundation required finesse.

Luo Yuan, Matori, and Sabrina had brought only Team Rocket's most experienced operatives for this mission.

Guzma's strength might surpass most Team Rocket grunts, but Luo Yuan clearly trusted his own team more in every other regard.

Imagining Guzma barging into their mission with his loud antics, Matori quickly shook off the thought.

Too terrifying.

Having someone like Guzma on the team would spell disaster for their operation.

"Alright, Matori. Keep monitoring Aether Foundation's activities. Once the opportunity arises, we'll swallow them whole in one move," Luo Yuan instructed.

"Got it!" At this critical juncture, Matori wouldn't dare slack off even without Luo Yuan's reminder.

The communication ended.

In the locker room, Luo Yuan, with Sabrina's assistance, swapped his jacket for beachwear and stepped outside, ready to resume today's activities.

After yesterday's warm-up, he was confident his students were getting accustomed to the pace.

Time for the real deal.

Humming a tune, Luo Yuan headed outside, where his students and their Pokémon were splashing about in the water, blissfully unaware of the "danger" looming on the horizon.

---

...

Huh. You really stuck it out all the way to the end.

Didn't think you had the patience. Guess I was wrong.

WiseTL's the one who actually made all this come together. I'm just here putting a bow on it... or, well, shoving it in a backpack and calling it a day. Same thing.

If you had fun, you know what to do:

👉 [patreon.com/WiseTL]

And if you're the social type, there's a Discord too. Pretty decent spot to hang out—no battles required.

👉 [discord.gg/wisetl]

Alright. That's enough standing around. Go on—before you make it weird.

—Leaf