Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

Though inwardly speculating, Malva maintained the composure befitting an Elite Four member and greeted Luo Yuan with a polite smile.

"Elite Four Malva, are you here in Lampurchi for a vacation?" Luo Yuan's face showed just the right amount of surprise.

If someone were scoring his performance right now, Luo Yuan figured he'd earn at least a nine out of ten.

"Yes..." Malva nodded.

Her excuse for leaving Indigo Plateau had been to tour various parts of Kanto, conveniently explaining her presence in Lampurchi.

"But Mr. Luo Yuan, aren't you participating in the Indigo Conference? How do you have the time to come here?"

A flicker of doubt crossed Malva's expression.

If she remembered correctly, the Indigo Conference was at a critical stage.

For Luo Yuan to be away from Indigo Plateau and show up in Lampurchi seemed far more suspicious than her presence here—especially at this moment.

She had only been in Lampurchi for two days, and Luo Yuan had followed so quickly, triggering her sensitive instincts.

Malva couldn't help but wonder if the Kanto League had discovered something and sent Luo Yuan—someone who had interacted with her before—to investigate.

Luo Yuan's psychic senses picked up on the subtle changes in Malva's mental state.

He smiled faintly and explained, "The semifinals won't start for another two days. I figured I'd use the time to relax with my Pokémon."

As he spoke, Luo Yuan patted the backpack slung over his shoulder.

Zzzip!

The sound of a zipper filled the air, and Eevee poked its little head out of the bag.

"Vee~!"

Eevee wriggled its way out, leaping onto Luo Yuan's shoulder. It perched there, steadying itself with its claws, and stared curiously at Malva with its large eyes.

Hearing Luo Yuan's explanation and seeing the Eevee perched on his shoulder, Malva inwardly shook her head, feeling she might have overthought things.

If Luo Yuan had been sent by the Kanto League to probe her, it wouldn't make sense for him to bring an Eevee—hardly a combat-ready Pokémon and more likely a liability in a fight.

On Luo Yuan's shoulder, Eevee seemed to sense an unkind gaze. It looked around nervously but found nothing.

Luo Yuan reached up to rub Eevee's head, giving extra attention to its long ears as he ruffled them playfully.

Activating his psychic powers, Luo Yuan sent a telepathic message to Surge, who was positioned at the street corner: "Start the plan!"

The next moment, a commotion erupted on the street.

Both Luo Yuan and Malva turned their heads to see a group of Team Rocket grunts in black uniforms rushing toward the shore, accompanied by the signature Pokémon of Team Rocket.

Their stern expressions and the orders barked by their leader as they marched—mentioning "submarines" and "enemies"—caused passersby to retreat in alarm.

Seeing this, Malva's pupils contracted.

Celosia and her team had disappeared near Lampurchi. Now, this group of Team Rocket members was mentioning submarines and enemies. Could this be related to Celosia and her group?

The thought made her restless.

If it was true, then Celosia needed her help now more than ever.

Just as Malva was about to stand and chase after the Team Rocket members, she remembered Luo Yuan was still beside her.

She turned to him, searching for an excuse to ditch him, but Luo Yuan spoke first.

"Elite Four Malva, that was Team Rocket. It looks like they're up to something shady. Let's follow them and check it out."

Luo Yuan's words were full of righteousness, his demeanor that of a justice-seeking hero.

Malva, who had been about to speak, was momentarily at a loss for words. The excuse she had prepared got stuck in her throat.

After a long pause, she finally said, "Team Rocket can be very dang—"

"You don't need to worry about that, Elite Four Malva," Luo Yuan interrupted. "My Dragonite is more than capable in battle, and my other Pokémon aren't weak either."

"..."

Malva knew Luo Yuan wasn't exaggerating. A Dragonite at the Elite Four level was indeed a formidable asset.

With his Garchomp and Gyarados as well, Luo Yuan's strength, though inferior to hers, was still considerable.

If she were truly just an Elite Four member working to thwart Team Rocket, having Luo Yuan as an ally would be a tremendous help.

But she wasn't.

Her goal in tracking Team Rocket was to locate Celosia and her team. Bringing Luo Yuan along would complicate matters.

Yet, looking at Luo Yuan's earnest expression, Malva couldn't think of a reason to refuse him without contradicting her public persona.

In the end, she nodded. "Alright, let's go."

Luo Yuan led Malva onto the street, where they drew the astonished gazes of onlookers.

Releasing his Dragonite, Luo Yuan patted its back and said, "Elite Four Malva, hop on. Dragonite will get us there faster."

Malva glanced at the onlookers and wanted to say that her Talonflame could fly just fine.

But one look at her off-the-shoulder top and the memory of Talonflame's sharp talons made her reconsider.

Grabbing Luo Yuan's hand, she leveraged herself onto Dragonite's back.

"Hold on tight," Luo Yuan instructed.

When Malva nodded, Luo Yuan patted Dragonite.

Dragonite turned its head, made an "OK" gesture with its claw, and flapped its wings powerfully, shooting into the sky.

---

As Dragonite ascended, Surge, standing at the street corner with his blond hair, tactical headset, and sunglasses, emerged from the shadows.

Having witnessed the entire scene of Luo Yuan luring Malva onto Dragonite, Surge shook his head, feeling a pang of inadequacy.

This plan was something Luo Yuan had devised the previous day. Its purpose was to bait Malva into Team Rocket's trap and eliminate Team Flare in one fell swoop.

Using his own identity as a cover, Luo Yuan executed the plan flawlessly. Malva had no inkling of what was happening.

"Going against Luo Yuan is terrifying," Surge muttered with a sigh.

At the same time, he silently mourned for Malva.

Getting this close to Luo Yuan without realizing his true identity had sealed her fate.

Now, all Surge needed to do was deploy his team.

Once Luo Yuan dealt with Malva and the giant Tentacruel, they would capture the stranded Team Flare trainers, who had been stuck on the island for days and were too weak to resist after running out of supplies.

"Trying to cause trouble on our turf? They must have a death wish."

Surge tapped his earpiece. "Marine Ops, get ready. Wait for my signal to storm the island and round up those Team Flare clowns."

---

Unaware of what had transpired after her departure, Malva lay on Dragonite's back, marveling at its speed.

If not for her strong mental fortitude and lack of fear of heights, she doubted she would've been able to keep her eyes open.

---

"..."

- Gardevoir

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