…
"I was such a fool. Truly."
Armin lifted his dull, lifeless eyes and continued in a hoarse voice,
"I knew Team Rocket wouldn't kindly remove surveillance and let us act freely… but I never imagined they'd hide remote-controlled bombs inside the Poké Balls…"
"It's not your fault!" one of the female investigators burst out, her eyes reddening. "Team Rocket is the one to blame for all of this!"
"Exactly!" another male investigator with a bowl-cut chimed in passionately. "I'm sure those three seniors wouldn't want to see you blaming yourself like this. Senior Armin, please stay strong! You still have us—everyone!"
That's a bit much, brother…
Armin rolled his eyes internally, but outwardly he forced a grateful smile.
"Thank you. I feel much better after talking to you all."
"You don't need to thank us! This is what we should do!" The group of straightforward young investigators suddenly looked a little embarrassed.
Good.
This was the moment.
Armin casually swept his gaze across them.
"We've been talking so long… I don't even know your names yet."
Without a second thought, they introduced themselves one by one.
Armin memorized every name.
Once he got what he wanted, he made an excuse and left, returning to Amber's side.
Amber was leaning against the church pew, listening quietly to the priest's recitation. Mimikyu sat beside her, its tiny black-bead eyes locked firmly on Armin.
"Brother Armin, are you done?" Amber asked.
"Almost."
Armin tilted his phone toward her. A text message from Pidgeot Airlines was displayed.
"Tickets are booked. Four o'clock this afternoon. We'll be leaving soon."
…
The memorial ended beneath the sorrowful notes of a piano.
When Armin found Lance, the Dragon Master was deep in discussion with the other three Elite Four members.
Lance paused when he saw him approach.
"What is it?"
The other three turned their gazes toward Armin as well.
Armin pulled out a letter and placed it into Lance's hand.
"I don't want any of the rewards we discussed. I just need you to do me one favor."
Lance frowned. "What favor?"
"Please deliver this letter to Mr. Giovanni, the Viridian Gym Leader."
A flicker of confusion passed through Lance's eyes.
"As far as I know, you've never interacted with him. Why suddenly write him a letter?"
Armin scratched his head sheepishly.
"Well… I'm kind of a fan of his. He didn't attend today, so I was worried about his health."
Understanding dawned on Lance's face.
The eight Gym Leaders of Kanto were public figures just like the Elite Four—each with countless fans.
He didn't question further.
"I'll personally deliver it. And about the Dragonite—I'll do my best."
Armin nodded and left.
After he was gone—
Agatha finally spoke.
"He wasn't telling the truth."
Lance knew that too.
He had sensed it clearly.
Armin was hiding something important.
"Should we open it?" Lorelei glanced at the letter in Lance's hand.
Lance fell silent.
He had never opened someone else's letter before. Not out of principle.
But now—
He hesitated.
Suddenly, Bruno pointed at the back of the envelope.
"Wait. There's something written here!"
Lance flipped it over.
In small, deliberate handwriting:
…
Go on, read it. I left this for you on purpose.
What I'm about to say may sound unbelievable.
Giovanni, the Viridian Gym Leader, is the true leader behind Team Rocket.
Ridiculous, isn't it?
The Kanto League desperately plants spies inside Team Rocket,
yet your own organization has already been riddled with holes.
And it's not just Giovanni.
There are people within the League's upper ranks working for Team Rocket too.
Champions of justice—investigate properly.
P.S. Stop sending investigators undercover.
Every move you make is already under their watch.
…
Silence.
The four Elite Four members stood frozen.
Bruno swallowed. "Is… is that true?"
Agatha's expression darkened.
"No wonder our last operation failed… So the rot runs this deep."
Lorelei looked toward Lance.
"He knows a lot. If that's the case, shouldn't we bring him back and question him?"
Lance snapped out of his thoughts and rushed outside—
But Armin was already gone.
"Use your phone, you idiot!" Lorelei pinched the bridge of her nose.
-----
Saffron City Post Office.
Armin dropped another letter into the mailbox.
This one contained the list of League infiltrators.
Holding Amber's hand, he boarded the rented ambulance and headed to the airport.
By the time Lance's call came in—
Armin was already seated on a plane bound for the Alola Region.
"Powered off…" Lance lowered his phone, face grim.
Bruno frowned.
"You don't think he's going to… you know… end himself to join those three?"
Lance's expression turned even worse.
Agatha pinched Bruno sharply.
"Watch your mouth."
Bruno muttered, rubbing his side,
"I'm just saying… If the three of you died, I'd probably lose the will to live too."
Agatha slapped him hard on the backside.
"Shut up! Speaking less would do you good!"
Lance pressed his lips together, thinking deeply before finally speaking.
"This stays between us for now."
"Lorelei, Agatha—you two investigate the League's upper ranks."
"Bruno and I are going to Viridian City."
-----
That evening.
An express priority letter was delivered to Viridian Gym.
Giovanni frowned.
He rarely used letters. Communication was done through phone or encrypted video.
Still—
He opened it.
Inside, it read:
Hi Giovanni.
How have you been lately? Busy, I assume.
It's a pity you didn't attend the memorial.
As a former member of Team Rocket, I've gathered some information you might find interesting.
For example—the League's undercover agents inside Team Rocket.
Here are their names:
Sander.
Julia.
Heaton.
Heather.
Powell.
Hannah.
Floyd.
Rento.
Armin.
Giovanni's brows drew together tighter and tighter.
Who was this?
He had no memory of such a person.
But as he continued reading—
His eyes slowly darkened.
Because if even half of this list was true—
Then someone had just detonated a bomb
far more devastating than the one at the memorial.