During the following two weeks, Cain was completely occupied.
However, as he gradually delegated responsibilities and organized everything, he slowly began to feel freer. Apart from a few important matters that required his personal decision, he could now distribute most of his time as he pleased.
Cain often repeated a saying to himself: "A true leader is not someone who does everything on their own, but someone who knows whom to assign each task to."
For example... Steven.
So, after spending those two weeks at the League headquarters, Cain vanished without a trace. Yet even in his absence, his work continued to progress in an orderly manner.
After all, there are always things that must be done. And if one doesn't wish to do them personally... the most logical thing is to have someone else do them.
No one knew exactly where Cain went after leaving. Thanks to the Sacred Church's psychic methods, his presence became vague and nearly impossible to track.
Only when he appeared in Mauville City, at the main base of Team Heaven, did Rose, Skye, and the others learn of his whereabouts.
As of now, Team Heaven was the most powerful organization in Mauville City, and one of the largest underground forces in the entire Hoenn region. Their number of members already exceeded ten thousand, spread across the territory.
With the fall of Team Magma, Team Aqua, and other smaller organizations, many former members of those groups, having no other choice, were forced to join Team Heaven seeking refuge.
But the truth was that, although its size was impressive, Team Heaven was still a young group, less than three years old. It lacked a solid foundation and, above all, a leader powerful enough to command respect by presence alone.
Rose had great talent for management, but her combat strength was still limited — partly because it had been Cain who had raised her strength so rapidly. It was enough to keep ordinary subordinates and even Officers in line, who had learned to fear her.
However, among the new recruits there were several at Quasi-Elite level, and even a few at Elite level.
At first, these new members acted humble. They had lost everything and didn't want to attract attention, besides harboring some fear toward the mysterious leader of Team Heaven — a man whose name was known, but whom almost no one had ever seen. Instead, a woman spoke on his behalf, whose strength seemed, to them, relatively ordinary.
And the human heart... is never satisfied.
Little by little, ambition began to sprout among them.
That was the main reason Cain had left the League and personally come to Mauville City: Rose had warned him that the situation was about to get out of control. Some were beginning to harbor thoughts of rebellion, dreaming of seizing the throne.
After all, Team Heaven generated wealth each day enough to stir anyone's greed.
There are always those who smile to your face and conspire behind your back.
In a private conference room within headquarters, seven or eight of the group's original pillars were gathered: Skye, Miyamoto, Alec, Karen, Rose, and others. Except for Rose and Karen, all were companions who had followed Cain since Trial Island.
In just over a year, those men had reached Quasi-Elite level — something unthinkable for them in the past. Their progress had been meteoric; even within Team Rocket, they would have already been promoted to Officers.
But in an organization as large as Team Heaven, even that power was not enough.
Rose and Karen were the only ones at Elite level, though both knew that without Cain's support, they never would have come that far.
And even so... that level still wasn't enough.
For those who had once been high-ranking members of other groups, or even leaders of small factions, taking orders from weaker people was humiliating.
If they hadn't rebelled yet, it was only due to fear of the invisible leader who rarely appeared but whose shadow weighed heavily upon them all.
However, in the absence of punishment or warning, some began to grow bolder.
Cain didn't blame them. Not everyone can keep up with his pace. Not everyone is born to climb that high. Could there really be another genius like Steven, Phoebe, or Wallace within Team Heaven?
The truth was that the group's growth had been too fast.
But Rose had no choice: the opportunities were too good to ignore.
To reach their current size, Team Magma and Team Aqua had needed over five or six years, carefully cultivating their executives — like Tabitha, Shelly, or Matt — until they had a strong and stable foundation.
Team Heaven, on the other hand, had a skeleton far too fragile for the amount of muscle it had gained. Its body was growing faster than its structure could support.
And when one overfeeds, illness is inevitable.
Cain entered the room dressed in black, wearing a fitted outfit reminiscent of Steven's elegant style. His face was covered by a psychic layer that made him unrecognizable, adding to his aura of mystery.
Behind him stood a female figure, completely cloaked in darkness, silent and still. It was only evident that she was a woman, though no one could describe her face.
Rose, Karen, Skye, Miyamoto, Alec, and the others all kept their heads lowered, unable to meet his gaze.
When Rose finished explaining the situation, Cain merely tapped his fingers lightly on the table, then smiled.
"Raise your heads," he said calmly. "What's wrong? Are you ashamed that you can't control your subordinates?"
His voice was gentle, yet his presence alone made the air feel heavy.
"I don't blame you," he continued. "The fault isn't yours. It's just that the recent opportunities have been... far too tempting."
He paused, looking at each one in turn.
"But if you know you still lack strength... then become stronger. You still have time."
With those words, he pulled several Poké Balls from his coat — Pokémon he had captured or won during his journeys, many with great potential.
"Alright," he said at last. "I understand the situation. Rose, summon everyone. It's time for a general assembly."
"Yes!" Rose replied, with a mix of respect and relief.
Cain had returned. And with him, the true heart of Team Heaven had come back.
(End of Chapter)