"Gallade's been progressing really fast lately. I don't think it'll be long before it makes my main roster."
Caitlin's smile was sweet. She was pleased with how she was getting stronger every day.
"Even better. By the way, Caitlin, is your on-hand team full yet?"
Damian asked.
Generally, an on-hand team defaults to six Pokémon—that's the standard cap for a Trainer to carry.
"No."
Caitlin shook her head.
She only had five on hand for now: Metagross, Alakazam, Gothitelle, Gallade, and the Hatenna Damian gave her.
"If you've got Psychic Terrain, it's a massive boost for a Psychic team. If needed, Caitlin, you can train an Indeedee first."
Damian offered his suggestion.
Why? Because the Indeedee line has the Ability Psychic Surge—once it hits the field, it auto-sets Psychic Terrain.
It's a field-control Ability. For Psychic-types, Indeedee is like mini-Groudon for Fire comps, or mini-Kyogre for rain teams.
Just not as hard a requirement as those weather cores.
"Indeedee?"
Caitlin fell into thought.
"Right. Only two Pokémon have Psychic Surge, and one of them is Indeedee," Damian went on.
"I see. Got it." Caitlin's gentle smile returned.
"What about the other Pokémon with that Ability?"
Caitlin couldn't help wondering why he'd only mentioned Indeedee.
"The other one? Caitlin, you can't catch it right now."
Damian chuckled.
Caitlin tilted her head slightly, a question mark practically floating above her.
"Funny enough, it lives right here in the Alola Region: Akala Island's island guardian deity, Tapu Lele. Its Ability is Psychic Surge."
Damian didn't keep her guessing.
"Tapu Lele is a Psychic-type Legendary Pokémon—perfect for you."
"A Legendary… and an island guardian."
Caitlin understood. Since ancient times, Alola had legends about the island guardian deities.
No—calling them "legends" barely fits, because the four Tapu actually show up in Alola in front of people.
Even now, the traditions across Alola's four islands—the Island Kahuna and Island Queen—are literally chosen by the Tapu!
That's how crucial the island guardians are to the Alola Region.
Forget whether Caitlin was strong enough to catch Tapu Lele—say she could. If she actually caught Tapu Lele?
Akala Island in Alola would explode!
Alola looked modernizing on the surface, but this Region kept a lot of tradition.
The Tapu's meaning is huge to locals on all four islands.
"It'll be tough. The Island Queen there won't agree."
Caitlin shook her head, still tempted. For a Psychic specialist like her—
A Psychic-type Legendary with Psychic Surge was tailor-made for her!
But…
"Why do we need Olivia's say-so to catch our own Pokémon?" Damian scoffed.
What a joke.
He knew Alola held the Tapu in high regard, but forget others bossing Team Rocket around.
Just answer me: are the Tapu wild or not?
Caitlin pressed her lips together, smiling in silence, her bright eyes reflecting Damian's profile.
"Even by League law, catching a Tapu would be perfectly legal.
If they deliberately interfere while we're catching it—or demand we release it afterward—we can take it straight to the League. The law's on our side."
Damian snorted. Alola's spiritual totems?
Sorry—they're wild.
And as long as it's a wild Pokémon, Tapu or not, by the rulebook, even if it were Arceus, I could damn well challenge and catch it.
Don't ask whether I can beat Arceus. That's not the point. The right to catch is the point!
If it's an unowned wild Pokémon, a Trainer can catch it!
Caitlin couldn't help a hand-over-mouth laugh. No matter what, hearing "we'll sue the League" coming out of Damian's mouth was hilarious.
"So don't worry about it, Caitlin. Just get stronger. When you're strong enough to catch Tapu Lele, I'll go to Akala Island with you."
"If they can be reasoned with, fine. If they cling and make a scene, we don't need to be polite."
Damian's tone was airy—clearly, he didn't put the Island Kahunas or Island Queens in his eyes.
Small fry, the lot of them. Like Team Rocket eats grass?
"Mhm~"
Caitlin's expression softened, her beautiful eyes shining with a captivating light.
Damian…
Meanwhile, inside the entertainment complex—
Guzma patted his own face. After a whole morning of grinning, his cheeks were about to cramp.
Couldn't be helped—per his assistant, today was his "big happy day," so he had to smile more.
"Damn it. Once this stretch is over, I've gotta ask the young master to reassign me."
Guzma bared his teeth; his facial muscles were seizing up.
And then—
"Guzma."
"Sh—!"
The sudden voice from behind startled Guzma so hard he almost lashed out with a reflex kick.
He turned and saw the eyesore himself: Kukui.
"Kukui! Are you kidding me! What the hell are you doing sneaking up behind me? Ever heard 'people can scare people to death'?"
Guzma cursed without courtesy.
"Sorry, but I called you a bunch of times," Kukui shrugged, helpless.
"Guzma, why did you suddenly disband Team Skull? And—"
"How I did or didn't disband Team Skull—what's that got to do with you? You got issues." Guzma snapped, turning to leave.
"Hold up, Guzma. I'm not here to fight."
"Hands off, mutt! Get your hooves off me! This suit's pricey, bastard! Kukui, I'm warning you—keep clinging and I won't be nice!"
"Just one question, Guzma—did someone get to you? I checked with a friend, this entertainment complex originally—"
Kukui didn't let go of Guzma's sleeve.
"Damn!! Security! Where's security? You blind or what? Get over here and throw this troublemaker out!"
Guzma blew up, his booming voice summoning two guards with batons from afar.
Seeing the turn, Kukui beat a hasty retreat.
"Unbelievable! From now on, put up a sign out front: My entertainment complex—Kukui and dogs not allowed! You hear me?"
Guzma's face was still ugly as he straightened his clothes, anger lingering.
"Understood."
"Hmph!"
Guzma headed for his office. Damn that dog-nosed Kukui. Gotta report this to the young master.
Guzma's expression darkened.
Just then, his phone rang. Annoyed, he checked the screen—and his brows knitted tight.
A call from Lusamine!