"Wallace‑sensei really does have sharp eyes."
Damian grinned. He honestly hadn't expected that, in a venue this big with so many people in the audience—
Wallace would still manage to zero in on his silhouette that precisely. And after just a few days apart, Wallace seemed a little mischievous now too, actually throwing him that heated glare.
Looked like he wanted to shoot a few more artistic photos, huh?
The corners of Damian's mouth quirked up. He gave Wallace‑sensei a little wave from the stands, then turned with Caitlin to head out.
Noticing this, Wallace's expression shifted. He couldn't be bothered with maintaining his elegant image anymore; he hurried offstage, leaving May standing there frozen stiff.
"Steven!"
"What's wrong?"
Steven looked up, puzzled, from the geological ore report he'd been reading as Wallace burst in.
"Damian! I just saw that evil Damian!"
Wallace's breathing was a bit uneven, but he was far more focused on Damian. He grabbed Steven and dragged him toward the door.
Hearing this, Steven frowned slightly. Team Rocket's Damian? He'd actually shown up here?
"Hurry! We've gotta catch up to him before he leaves!"
Outside the venue, Damian strolled along lazily with Caitlin until they reached an ice cream shop and each bought a Casteliacone.
Worth mentioning: this ice cream shop belonged to Team Rocket.
Damian had specifically sent people to Unova to buy up the Casteliacone brand at a high price. Of course, the original owner of Casteliacone had refused to sell at the start.
After all, Casteliacone was famous throughout Unova Region—its reputation had even spread to other regions. With prospects that good, why sell?
But they couldn't withstand Team Rocket's "bright and dark" tactics forever. In the end, the original founder of Casteliacone tearfully sold the brand and the recipe to Team Rocket.
There was a reason Casteliacone had blown up all over Unova—the ice cream really was delicious. Damian was personally a big fan.
"Damian, Wallace and Steven are following us."
Caitlin had noticed the two of them not far behind.
"It's fine. Send Zinnia a message, let her play with them a bit."
Damian didn't mind at all. He led Caitlin out toward the edge of Lilycove City.
Caitlin nodded, took out her phone, and sent Zinnia a text.
Before long, Damian and Caitlin reached the western outskirts of Lilycove. Damian had deliberately chosen a wide‑open, empty field. Not a soul around.
"You two really followed us all the way out here. Guess you don't get tired."
Damian smiled broadly as he turned to look at Wallace and Steven walking up.
"Wallace‑sensei, and Mr. Steven—the former and current Hoenn Champions, one after the other. Pfft～"
"Damian, you didn't expect it, did you? That we'd run into you again here." Wallace ground the words out between his teeth.
"I'll admit I'm a little surprised. But I'm actually pretty happy about it."
Damian tilted his head slightly, looking Wallace over from head to toe.
"Wallace‑sensei, your artistic photos have really set the entire net on fire. Don't you think you owe me a thank‑you?"
"You!!"
Wallace's face flushed red with anger again.
And Damian—this guy—actually had the nerve to bring it up himself!
Right now, of all the posts about Wallace online, nine out of ten were about his "artistic photos"!
And the last one? The last one had to be someone who'd just gotten internet access.
He wasn't even exaggerating. As Hoenn Region's Champion and a top‑tier Coordinator, Wallace had already been popular to begin with.
News about him had always spread fast—never mind something as "never‑before‑seen" as those artistic photos.
"Look at you, your face is getting all red again. Clearly, you want to shoot a few more, don't you? It's perfect, really. I still had some regrets from last time. And today's scenery is way better than Jagged Pass was."
Damian's tone stayed mild as he looked around.
Mountains, water, trees, grassland—and a little further out, you could even see the sea. The view was gorgeous.
"If we did another set here, I'm sure, Wallace‑sensei, that your name would definitely echo around the whole world. Don't you think?"
"Damian! You born‑evil Team Rocket scum! I'm taking you down with my own hands today—"
At those words, Wallace's blood pressure spiked. He popped a Poké Ball open on the spot, ready to settle things with Damian once and for all.
"'Fame around the world,' my ass!"
As an art master, of course Wallace didn't mind his reputation spreading across the globe—
But only for what he was actually good at: being a Trainer and a Pokémon Contest Coordinator.
Not because of "girls' outfits" and other shady gimmicks!
That wouldn't be "blowing up worldwide." That'd be social death on a global scale, bastard!!
"Calm down, Wallace."
Steven grabbed Wallace with a helpless look, afraid he'd just charge in and start swinging.
He really felt Wallace was a bit too emotional right now. In his memories, Wallace had always been a very calm, rational person, holding firmly to his personal creed of elegance.
So why was he this impulsive in front of Damian?
Yeah. That whole last incident must've hit Wallace way too hard.
"Team Rocket's Damian and Caitlin, right?" Steven looked over at them, voice sinking.
"You swallowed up Team Magma and Team Aqua, didn't you?"
"Didn't think that news would reach your ears this fast, Mr. Steven. But yes, that's right." Damian's lips curved.
"What exactly is Team Rocket planning to do here in Hoenn Region?"
Steven's heart grew heavier. He'd basically guessed it yesterday, but hearing it confirmed still made him wary of Team Rocket on a whole different level.
The Hoenn League had never fully prioritized Team Magma and Team Aqua, but they'd always had warrants out on both organizations.
Problem was, there had never been any real, solid progress. And now Team Rocket had only been in Hoenn for how long? Yet they'd already swallowed those two and grown even stronger.
It was unnerving.
"Mr. Steven, hearing you ask that is kind of funny." Damian chuckled.
"Team Rocket's already hit a growth ceiling back in Kanto. Of course we had to branch out into other regions. Actually, that just reminded me—there is something I wanted to talk to you both about."
Damian clapped his hands lightly, as if something had just occurred to him.
"Now that Team Magma and Team Aqua have disbanded, we're the only 'named' evil team left in Hoenn."
"So you could say Team Rocket went ahead and helped your Hoenn League get rid of two big tumors, right?"
"You're trying to say you did us a favor?" Wallace cut in coldly. "Damian, Team Rocket is way more dangerous than Team Magma and Team Aqua put together."
Team Magma and Team Aqua really were a blight on Hoenn. Most civilians hated them; there wasn't a single rotten thing those two groups hadn't tried.
But from Wallace's point of view, he'd rather see Team Magma and Team Aqua survive—than see Team Rocket set foot in Hoenn Region at all.
"Wallace‑sensei, your prejudice against us really runs deep."
Damian let out a very put‑upon sigh and spread his hands, playing the innocent.
"Team Rocket hasn't actually done anything heinous in Hoenn yet, has it? You're the ones wearing tinted glasses here."
Wallace almost laughed. You haven't done anything heinous?
You forced me into girls' outfits, do you have any idea what that did to my mental health?!
My name's been dragged into other regions!!
"Damian, whatever Team Rocket's planning, the Hoenn Region doesn't welcome you." Steven said flatly.
"And Team Rocket's reputation… need I recite it for you?" Wallace added.
In Kanto, evil Team Rocket's reputation was only a little better than Team Magma and Team Aqua's—if at all.
"That stings, you know. Sounds like you two don't want to talk."
Damian shrugged. There really was no way to keep this chat going. Then again, it made sense.
Wallace and Steven weren't like Alola's Kukui and the others. The Hoenn League was strong. They had no reason to "swallow their pride."
"We were never planning to 'talk,' Damian! We're taking you in today! Get ready to spend the rest of your life cell!"
Wallace declared with righteous fervor.
"Oh? So after just a few days, Wallace‑sensei, are you gonna hit me with 'I'm the strongest man in this land! Wallace!' again?"
Damian raised a brow.
Wallace: "…"
Steven gave Wallace a very odd look. Wallace… said lines like that?
"Shut up! No need for any more words! Damian, whatever you say, it won't change what's coming for you today!"
"Looks like Mr. Steven's the one giving you confidence this time. Shame for you that with just you and Wallace‑sensei, it's still not enough to catch me."
Damian regarded the two of them with a half‑smile.
"Hmph! It's two‑on‑two—we've got the advantage!"
Wallace was very confident. He believed Steven could handle Damian.
As for that blonde girl Caitlin—her file said only Metagross and Tapu Lele had reached Champion‑tier.
Besides, in Kanto, Lorelei and Bruno—two Elite Four members—had already taken her down. Was he really supposed to believe he, the Hoenn Champion, couldn't beat her?
Impossible.
Right then—
Rooaar～!!
A domineering dragon's roar rang out from the distant sky, instantly catching all four people's attention.
A powerful Salamence swept in on beating wings and came to a stop overhead. The Draconid people's Lorekeeper vaulted down in a single smooth motion, landing beside Damian and Caitlin.
That Salamence!
Steven's expression turned serious as he stared at the pseudo‑legendary Salamence. Its aura was intense—far stronger than Drake's ace Salamence.
Another Champion‑tier?!
Steven looked at the cloaked girl with the tattered mantle. She didn't seem that old.
What the hell was with Team Rocket? Were they all this insanely talented and young?
And…
Steven frowned slightly at Zinnia. He had the oddest feeling that the way this girl was looking at him was… strange. Complex, even.
But Steven was sure he didn't know her.
"So how about now, Wallace‑sensei?"
Damian beamed at Wallace.
"Stop calling me Wallace‑sensei!!"
Wallace was furious. Wallace‑sensei was bad enough?!
He had a strong feeling that nickname was profoundly disrespectful.
"All right, all right, Wallace‑sensei. So—do you have any ideas for today's shoot? What kind of style are we going for?"
Damian spoke lazily, completely at ease, while flicking a glance at Steven.
I'll shoot your grandpa!!
Wallace almost swore out loud, but good upbringing barely kept him in check.
"And since you've got a partner with you today, how about a couples shoot—starring you and Steven‑sensei?"
Damian thought it over, then made the suggestion in all seriousness.
A couples special was bound to be popular too, right? With Wallace‑sensei looking that gorgeous in girls' outfits, and Steven‑sensei being so handsome and refined—
A photo set with the two of them together would absolutely blow up.
"???" Steven froze. Couples shoot?
Wallace crossdressing to play his girlfriend? Emmm*
"Damn you! How dare you insult me like this!!" Wallace's pale, fine‑boned face flushed red again with anger.
"It's just a numbers advantage, that's all. So what? Steven and I still won't lose to you!"
Sure, it was three‑on‑two now—but Wallace still felt like their side had the bigger edge.
Because Steven was right here.
His good bro Steven was the one who truly stood at Hoenn's absolute peak!
"Right, Steven? We're gonna win, aren't we?" Wallace searched Steven's face for reassurance.
No way he was getting caught by Damian again and forced into another shoot.
That absolutely could not happen!
Steven looked at the three across from them—then at Wallace, standing alone beside him—and fell silent.
This was… gonna be hard to win, wasn't it?
~~~
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