Gladion, son of Aether Foundation's chairman, Lusamine—but this was before the game's plot kicks off.
Gladion had already fled Aether Paradise with Type: Null, and Lillie ran off with Nebby.
You could say Lusamine, Gladion, and Lillie put "doting mother, filial kids" on full display—twisted as it was.
But Damian honestly didn't expect Gladion to come knocking on Team Rocket's door.
Yeah, in the games Gladion does first show up under Team Skull—but this is different.
Damian was definitely interested. He planned to "interview" Gladion himself.
About half an hour later, Damian met Gladion.
Gladion had Lusamine's golden hair. His features were sharp, his gaze just as cold.
Yep, an ascetic pretty boy. Not gonna lie—Lusamine and her kids had absurdly high face cards.
"Young master."
Plumeria stood to greet Damian as he walked in.
Gladion's eyes fell on Damian's outstretched hand. His brows ticked, and he sized him up, discreet.
"Young master"? Team Rocket's young master?
"You want to join Team Rocket?"
Damian sat where Plumeria had been and asked, amused.
Plumeria stood at his side. Truth be told, when Gladion first told her he wanted in, she hadn't cared much.
But a subordinate reminded her, and when she pulled up Domino's special watchlist, Plumeria was shook.
Aether Foundation's golden boy, Gladion!
"...Yeah."
Gladion paused. A man of few words, voice cool.
"Why?"
"Do I need a reason to join Team Rocket?"
Gladion shot back.
"Of course you do. Even regular folks have reasons—money, thrills, rebellion, no way out."
Damian chuckled, leaned back, fingers tapping the table in rhythm.
"But you, Gladion—son of Aether Foundation's chairman Lusamine, the rightful heir—why join Team Rocket?"
At that, Gladion's face darkened—then eased.
It was Team Rocket. That they'd dug up his identity wasn't surprising.
"I've got nothing to do with Aether Foundation now," Gladion said low.
He didn't want that label. He was Gladion—just Gladion.
He wanted no part of that terrifying woman.
"That's not the answer I want. Whatever you think, you're still Aether Foundation's golden boy, aren't you?"
"Team Rocket—afraid of Aether Foundation?"
Gladion looked straight at Damian.
"Afraid? That's a joke," Damian sneered.
Aether Foundation? With what, exactly?
"That little outfit doesn't belong in the same sentence as Team Rocket. Gladion, you really underestimate us."
Damian didn't bother hiding his disdain.
Sure, Aether Foundation had clout in Alola. But an organization without a single Champion-tier Trainer? Not worth a seat at the table.
If Damian felt like it, he could sink Aether Paradise today.
A Champion-tier Trainer's destructive power isn't a meme.
"…"
Gladion went quiet.
"Let me put it this way—what's your goal in joining Team Rocket?" Damian asked again.
"Team Rocket isn't some revolving door you stroll through on a whim. Got it, Gladion? If you've got the resolve, we'll welcome you."
"But if you betray the organization down the line, the consequences…"
Damian didn't finish. He just smiled at him.
Gladion was loaded with potential—Damian didn't doubt it. In both game and anime, Gladion ends up strong.
Among Alola natives, outside Hala's grandson Hau, Gladion's potential topped the charts. As for Selene? She wasn't Alolan—she'd moved from Kanto.
And Gladion had Type: Null—Aether Foundation's man-made Legendary built to counter Ultra Beasts. Once it evolves into Silvally, it slaps.
Gladion got the message. His hands clenched on his knees as his heart wrestled with itself.
Then he thought of that nightmare of a mother—and his adorable sister. He grit his teeth.
"I… want to get stronger."
He forced the words out.
"I want to get strong! If you can make me stronger, I'll join you—no regrets!"
Gladion lifted his head and met Damian's eyes.
Yeah. That was Gladion. He fled Aether Paradise to grow strong—to break free of Lusamine, to protect his sister.
"Of course. That's no problem at all. Gladion, welcome aboard."
Damian flashed a bright smile, stood, and offered his hand—welcoming a new colleague.
Nice. Team Rocket just picked up a powerhouse!
Gladion rose and shook his hand, silent.
He'd made his choice—even if he didn't yet know whether it was the right one.
"Trust me, Gladion—Team Rocket will give you the best stage. Resources, Pokémon—we'll hand you the best. But you'll earn them."
Damian smiled.
"I'm bullish on you. But you've got no wins here yet, so you're starting at the bottom. You need the grind anyway, right?"
"I can. But…"
Gladion hesitated.
"If there's a problem, say it."
"I won't snatch random Trainers' Pokémon."
He laid down his line. He was ready to step into the dark—but he had a bottom line.
"Relax. We're not Team Skull. We ditched that garbage ages ago," Damian said casually.
Gladion also breathed a sigh of relief..
"You'll follow Plumeria for now. Melemele's hunter outfits are getting cleared, but the other three islands haven't started yet."
"Work hard and you'll climb fast."
Damian walked over, patted his shoulder, and smiled.
"Power, money, status, Pokémon—do well, and they'll all be yours."
"I only want to get stronger," Gladion said evenly.
"Sure. But strength takes excellent Pokémon. Rack up enough merit and you can redeem top-talent Pokémon through the organization," Damian said, noncommittal.
"The organization has pro breeding bases and farms—elite Breeders manage and train a ton of Pokémon hatchlings. Plenty of rarities from every region, even pseudo-legends."
"Gladion, if you want the summit, high-talent Pokémon are mandatory. They'll cut a lot of corners for you."
Damian gave the reminder.
Gladion mulled it over, then nodded.
"Here, let me show you the top-tier rewards in the organization."
Damian pulled out a tablet, opened Team Rocket's exclusive app, and flipped to the exchange page.
Gladion was stunned. Seriously? Team Rocket this up-to-date?
They've got an exclusive app?