"So—it's because of Giovanni?"
Green's pretty face scrunched up with tangled thoughts, making her look both shocked and confused.
She more or less understood what Damian was getting at.
He'd joined Team Rocket because he was at odds with Giovanni?
Or maybe because he wanted to prove himself?
But Green still couldn't really get it.
Were bonds with family really that fragile?
Taken away when she was little and separated from her parents, Green had always desperately longed to return to them.
In her eyes, family was a precious bond beyond anything else.
It was that longing for her family that had kept her going inside that organization, all this time.
"You okay, man?"
Looking ahead and realizing Damian and the other two were already gone, Green felt a little conflicted, then turned to Red.
"..."
Red shook his head.
"Seriously, Gym Leader Giovanni just gifted Indigo League a super boss.
No idea if Lorelei and the others can even handle him."
Green muttered, but honestly, she didn't think Damian was someone Lorelei could necessarily deal with.
His strength was just… absurd.
Yep.
All Giovanni's fault.
If Giovanni had actually bothered to care for Damian properly from the start, how would this guy have ended up joining Team Rocket over some psychological mess?
Red stayed silent, quietly recalling Blastoise and Venusaur before turning to leave.
This was the first time Red had ever been beaten this badly—
So badly it barely even counted as a proper match.
Damian. ——— Damian!!!
A strange light burned in Red's crimson eyes as he replayed the sight of Damian and Armored Mewtwo staring him down, over and over in his mind.
Next time, it wouldn't go like this.
Elsewhere, the battlefield here was already half‑buried under frost and snow.
"Thunder Punch!"
Electricity crackled over Metagross's twin claws as it hammered them down toward Dewgong.
Dewgong snapped its tail, body spinning at high speed as it turned into a whirling ice top, shards of ice spraying outward.
The Ice‑type move—Ice Spinner!
Boom!
Ice Spinner met Metagross's descending Thunder Punch head‑on.
The two attacks crashed together.
Metagross was physically stronger on a straight clash, and Dewgong clearly couldn't match that power.
But using the spin and finesse from Ice Spinner, Dewgong actually rode the impact backward, deflecting the blow and retreating.
The electricity traveling along Dewgong's body from the Thunder Punch only managed to slow it slightly, the Ice Spinner's energy bleeding off most of the force.
"Hydro Pump!"
Lorelei's eyes were freezing cold.
"Psychic!"
Lapras's Hydro Pump blasted straight toward Metagross, but Caitlin obviously wasn't just going to sit and watch—she had Tapu Lele provide backup.
Psychic intercepted Hydro Pump, the two attacks slamming into each other before erupting in a violent explosion.
"So strong!"
Caitlin's delicate features had gone serious, but the fierce exchanges only drove her excitement higher.
As expected of one of the strongest Elite Four—Lorelei was terrifyingly powerful.
The battle slipped back into a stalemate, but Caitlin knew she was on the back foot.
Lorelei's Ice‑type lineup was a nightmare in a war of attrition.
If Metagross wanted to get in close, it had to charge straight through—but the combined blizzards from Dewgong and Lapras were downright monstrous.
And even if she forced Metagross into melee, Lorelei's wealth of battle experience meant she always knew exactly how to handle it.
For the first time, Caitlin felt like she genuinely didn't know what move to make next.
But at the same time, she was thrilled—
A fight like this, an opponent like this—she was enjoying every second of it.
"Your strength really isn't bad. But you're still not my opponent."
Lorelei's gaze was like ice.
By this point in the battle, she more or less had Caitlin's level figured out.
"The fight's not over yet, Lorelei.
Saying stuff like that now is way too cocky."
Caitlin didn't agree in the slightest.
Until the very last moment, who knew how things would turn out?
To temper herself, she'd been careful not to use any "cheap" methods.
She was a Psychic, after all.
But if things got truly desperate, then of course her own safety came first.
Caitlin had no intention of ending up in a cell.
"Is that so?
Maybe start thinking about whether the prison food's going to agree with you instead."
Lorelei glanced to the side as she spoke.
Caitlin followed her line of sight.
A heavily built, bare‑chested man was walking toward them, slow and steady.
"Elite Four Bruno!"
Caitlin's expression shifted.
This was indeed one of the Kanto Elite Four—Bruno.
"Lorelei, you haven't finished up yet?"
Bruno's deep voice rolled across the snow.
"I told you to watch the perimeter."
Lorelei's tone stayed flat.
"I already dealt with the two executives.
Waited around a bit, then figured I'd come help."
Bruno's reply was as gruff as ever.
He still had training to get back to; he couldn't stand just sitting outside doing nothing.
As for Gladion and Ariana—
"Behave yourselves!"
An Officer Jenny snapped coldly as she slapped cuffs on Gladion and Ariana, then marched them toward a patrol car.
Ariana's face was dark, while Gladion stared down at the cuffs on his wrists, sinking into deep thought.
He, the young master of Aether Foundation, one of Alola's prodigy Trainers, the man who wielded Silvally…
Was about to go to jail.
This was his first time in Kanto—
And he was already riding in the back of a squad car.
Was this… right?
Gladion felt completely numb.
Lord Damian, come save me already!!
"Two executives?
You caught Mr. Gladion and Miss Ariana?"
Caitlin's lovely brows drew together.
"Ah～ yeah, I think those were the ones."
Bruno glanced at Caitlin, thought for a second, and answered.
Caitlin fell silent.
"In that case, let's take her down together. No point dragging this out."
Lorelei didn't bother saying anything extra.
Her opinion of Bruno wasn't exactly glowing.
Bruno said nothing.
Hitmonlee just casually lifted one leg, stretching it a bit.
Caitlin's expression grew even more solemn as she looked at Lorelei and Bruno closing in from both sides.
This was no joke—
Facing two Kanto Elite Four at once.
The battle resumed.
And there was no doubt:
Even going one‑on‑one, Caitlin had already been at a disadvantage against Lorelei.
Now that Bruno had joined in, the fight was completely one‑sided.
Lorelei's Pokémon excelled at ranged pressure and battlefield control, while Bruno's were masters of close‑quarters combat.
With both combined, Caitlin was in a brutal spot.
It didn't take long before Metagross went down under Hitmonlee's Blaze Kick.
Tapu Lele had taken some serious hits as well.
Caitlin immediately sent out Gallade and Gothitelle, but it didn't help.
Lorelei and Bruno's strength was just too overwhelming.
For Caitlin, who had to face both at once, the pressure was immense.
Gallade and Gothitelle soon fell in turn, leaving only Tapu Lele still fighting on, battered and panting.
"Looks like this is as far as it goes."
Caitlin let out a long breath.
She'd pushed herself to the limit—
And this was as far as she could go right now.
"For you to make it this far, I could almost compliment you.
But at the end of the day, Evil Team Rocket only ever had one possible outcome."
Lorelei's tone was calm, almost detached.
"Sounds like you're pretty sure of your victory, Lorelei?"
Caitlin's lips curved into a faint smile, her voice regaining its usual elegant ease.
"Hm?"
Lorelei's brows drew together.
Caitlin's composure made her eyes narrow thoughtfully.
What was that supposed to mean?
Was there another Team Rocket ace hiding nearby?
"Even if I don't want to say this…
If you want to drag me off, you'll have to get past him first."
The smile at the corner of Caitlin's mouth softened a little, but her tone carried a quiet note of pride.
Him?
Bruno scratched his head.
So there was still a strong Trainer from Team Rocket in hiding?
Lorelei's expression turned colder by the second.
"You agree with me, don't you, Damian?"
Caitlin asked softly.
She could already feel it—Damian's presence.
Psychics could be very sensitive sometimes.
And as long as Damian was nearby, she could be completely at ease.
"Pff～ If you're trying to bully Caitlin, yeah, you're gonna have to go through me first."
A light, teasing voice floated over from not far behind Caitlin.
With an eerie "keh‑keh‑keh" laugh echoing as background noise, a boy in a white shirt and black pants slowly stepped out of the shadows.
…And then, a second later, the "soundtrack" cut off as Damian casually stomped on a shadow.
"Damian? And—Erika?"
Lorelei's eyes narrowed at the sight of the boy.
She recognized him—Giovanni's son, Damian, who'd now joined Team Rocket as well.
Her gaze then shifted to Erika standing behind Damian, dressed in a striking, vivid floral kimono that looked completely out of place on this ravaged battlefield.
Erika felt Lorelei's eyes on her and could only give a helpless little gesture toward Damian.
"So that's how it is.
Kidnapping an official Gym Leader—Damian, you're bold."
Lorelei's expression turned frosty as she glared at him.
"I'm already with Team Rocket, Lorelei.
You saying that is what's really funny here."
Damian had no intention of humoring her and just shrugged.
"And if we're talking about 'big' here, you're the big one, Lorelei."
Damian's eyes dropped to Lorelei's chest, his gaze openly impressed.
Brutal, huh!!
He had to admit—Lorelei's figure was insanely good.
He didn't even dare imagine how it would feel to use that as a pillow.
At his words and gaze, Lorelei's face instantly darkened, her eyes turning pitch‑black and glacial.
Unbelievable.
This kid…!!
Even Bruno looked genuinely startled.
Bro, are you tired of living?
You dare flirt with Lorelei?
That's… wild.
~~~
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