Time, the next day.
Lilycove City airport.
"Back to Alola, drop me a message when you're free, and come visit me again."
Damian tidied up Lillie's collar, then rubbed her soft blonde hair and spoke softly.
Yes, Lillie is returning to the Alola Region; she's already stayed in Hoenn for quite a while, and Lusamine is pushing her.
Maybe Lusamine picked up on something off too.
"Mm-hm."
Lillie obediently answered, tilting her head slightly, her moist, shimmering eyes gazing loving at Damian.
Trying to build up the nerve, the girl opened her lips to speak her ideology.
"Mr. Damian, I…"
But at the words' edge, the blonde young lady blushed and realized she couldn't seem to say it.
"What's wrong?"
Damian looked puzzled at Lillie.
"Nothing… nothing." Noticing Damian's gaze, Lillie's pretty face reddened, and she lowered her head like a shy insect.
Lillie, Lillie! Be braver!
Lillie's heart kept wailing, why can't she just say a few words?
"The flight to Alola is about to depart; passengers, please board."
The airport PA blared.
"Go on, don't be late," Damian said with a smile to Lillie.
"Sure thing, Mr. Damian, look over there." Lillie suddenly raised a hand, pointing behind Damian.
Damian turned instinctively, but there was nothing there; as he turned, a soft touch brushed his lips.
Damian raised an eyebrow, surprised at Lillie's blushing face.
The girl's hands were clasped behind her back, bowing her head shyly, tapping her toes in a small circle.
Clearly, she was extremely nervous and unsettled.
"Lillie, you…."
Just as Damian spoke, "That… I'm boarding now, Mr. Damian. I'm boarding," the girl bolted toward the boarding gate, her white pleated skirt fluttering.
That girl.
Damian was amused, watching her run to the gate, then turning to wave at her with a smile.
Lillie's little face lit up instantly, waving back.
Not far from them, Caitlin sat on a stool, softly sipping coffee, though Caitlin was not happy with the coffee's sour hint.
Jirachi sat beside Caitlin, adorable head nodding off to sleep, completely unaware of what was happening.
After sending Lillie back to Alola, Damian and Caitlin returned to their villa.
"Hoenn's affairs are basically under control now; I'll hand things off here for a few days. Maxie and the others can handle it," Damian said, leaning back on the sofa, staring at the world map in his hand.
Hoenn's matters had mostly steadied, and Steven had been forced to acknowledge Team Rocket's legitimacy.
Things in Hoenn were basically secure.
"To leave Hoenn already?" Zinnia froze.
"Yeah, Hoenn is just one of many goals; we can't waste too much time here," Damian nodded.
Right now growth has only reached the two regions of Alola and Hoenn; there's still a long way to go to reach the Goal.
"Do you want to come with us, or stay here to guard?" Damian asked Zinnia.
"Rayquaza is with you now, I've got to follow you." Zinnia crossed one leg over the other, her smooth leg swaying.
She still hasn't given up on Rayquaza; now that Rayquaza is temporarily in Damian's hands, she'll naturally follow.
Caitlin gave Zinnia a warm smile; she still likes Zinnia a lot, and importantly, Zinnia's a girl but has no interest in romance.
"Fine, then we'll head to Johto first."
Damian thought for a moment; fulfilling the promise to Zinnia would conveniently solve something as well.
"Johto Pokémon Association—the real culprits can't be left alone."
Damian tapped his knee rhythmically; the Rayquaza Capture Plan's organizers are Johto Pokémon Association.
These folks are greedy; they're a menace to keep around, so we'll clean them all out.
"Alright!" Zinnia's smile faded; a dragonlike coldness sharpened in her eyes.
Those Pokémon Association people…
...
One day later.
"How about this, Steven, you really ok with it? The doctors said you should rest for two days," Wallace looked at Steven with worry.
"No problem, resting at home is still resting," Steven shook his head.
"And also Wallace, if you're willing to take over as Champion, I don't need to rush this," Steven expressionless.
In the end, isn't it that Wallace doesn't want to take over the Champion role? Otherwise he could rest for a while.
"Steven, I don't have that kind of ability, you know that,"
Wallace was very innocent; if it were the old days maybe, but now Hoenn has Team Rocket, and he's got a hammer‑like power to be Champion?
Even Steven is busy to death, ends up in hospital; if he takes over, wouldn't he end up in the morgue?
Steven rubbed his temples, brows furrowed deeply; of course he knows this.
But Steven also felt a deep self‑reproach; he felt he really doesn't deserve the Hoenn Champion position.
Yet who else in the Hoenn Region could inherit this post besides Wallace?
Steven sighed, and he and Wallace headed toward a nearby hotel; Leon and the others were there at that moment.
Everyone shared a meal, then Leon and the others bid Steven and Wallace farewell.
They'd been out long enough; it was time to head back, and Steven understood, so he sincerely expressed his gratitude.
Although they hadn't eradicated Team Rocket, Steven understood it wasn't Leon and the others' fault.
"Steven, what are you planning to do next?"
Lilycove City airport, Leon and the others were waiting for a plane, and Steven and Wallace naturally came to see them off.
"Take it one step at a time. For now, there's nothing we can do."
Steven replied helplessly; what can he do? With Damian and Primal Kyogre, he really has no idea how to deal with it.
"Yeah, if you need help, feel free to reach out," Leon patted Steven's arm, smiling.
He really has a good read on Steven; he's happy to talk with Steven more.
"When you have a moment, Steven, you should come to Galar with Wallace; I'll personally pick you up. Our Dynamax stuff over there is pretty interesting."
"Sure." Steven's mood brightened a bit, and he joked, "Just don't get lost finding the airport."
"Hah…," Leon scratched his head awkwardly, his zero‑sense‑of‑direction trait now well known to Steven and the others.
"Paldea too! Senior Steven, when you have time you folks should come to Paldea; Geeta Champion will definitely welcome you all," Nemona tossed in playfully.
"Definitely next time," Steven nodded with a smile.
"And you're always welcome to come to Sinnoh Region, Champion Steven," Cynthia said with a gracious smile.
Steven nodded with a smile; though the outcome isn't perfect, he's nonetheless met these outstanding Trainers.
"Kanto is the same; if you need help, reach out anytime." Giovanni and Steven shook hands, a faint smile on their lips.
"By the way, Gym Leader Giovanni, what about Groudon?"
Steven nodded, remembering Groudon, and the day Damian gave Giovanni the Red Orb.
"I've already discussed with it; for now we've reached a consensus, nothing to worry about," Giovanni spoke in a low tone.
After Groudon's "spurt" had its mind slowly recover, he communicated with Groudon, calming it.
"That's good; Gym Leader Giovanni still needs to be careful, Groudon is dangerous." Steven mused, still reminding him.
He actually wants to say, let Giovanni Release Groudon, such a super‑ancient Legendary is too dangerous.
But thinking about what would happen if it were released suddenly, provoking Groudon to clash with Kyogre—Hoenn would be the one to suffer, and Steven wouldn't be able to handle it.
"I understand." Giovanni nodded firmly.
At five thirty in the afternoon, in Lilycove City, inside a private room of a high‑end restaurant, all the upper echelons of Hoenn Team Rocket gathered for the first time.
Damian, Caitlin, and Zinnia—the top‑tier Admins.
Gladion, Maxie, Archie—the executives, plus Courtney, Shelly, Matt, and other Admin members.
"Right now, the organization's growth is going smoothly, and that's thanks to all of you; I raise a glass to you."
Damian stood, lifting a glass and smiling at Maxie and the others.
"Ha ha—Lord Damian, you're too kind."
Archie laughed loudly, though his rough face made him look quite fierce.
"Lord Damian, you're the one who's carried the load; we're just here to implement it. We don't dare take credit."
Maxie adjusted his glasses, coolly not even glancing at Archie.
Oh, this sycophant!
Archie clicked his tongue; Maxie, that guy sure knows how to suck up.
Although the two aren't exactly at odds in front of Damian, clearly they still don't get along well.
"Next I'll be leaving Hoenn for a while; you two should lead Team Rocket well."
Damian pretended not to see and, after a drink with Maxie and others, spoke.
"Lady Caitlin and Lady Zinnia will also leave Hoenn?"
Maxie asked.
"Yes, the three of us will temporarily leave Hoenn."
"Don't worry, Lord Damian; you can leave it to us!"
Archie patted his chest.
"Lord Damian, with no Champion‑tier trainer here, if Steven or Wallace come for trouble…"
Maxie glanced at Archie with a quirked brow; he's not the type to kiss up.
Forget Steven; Wallace isn't someone they can handle, in fact Hoenn's Elite Four would be on them if they pushed.
That day at the island base, Archie wasn't Drake's opponent.
"As long as you two don't cause trouble, the Hoenn League won't target Team Rocket for a while," Damian shook his head.
Steven isn't a two‑faced guy; since he's already agreed to Team Rocket's organization's legitimacy, he won't back out.
Of course, provided Hoenn Team Rocket doesn't actively do evil.
"Lord Damian is awesome!" Archie exclaimed, making Maxie's mouth twitch.
"So if you run into real fighting, keep it quiet; don't give away any handles."
Damian warned them.
"Maxie, you in charge of the organization's projects; Archie, you in charge of leading the organization's combat members, clearing out those hunter organizations; our turf never needs those filthy."
"Understood!"
"Leave it to me, Lord Damian."
Maxie and Archie nodded.
"Well, I'm confident in you two; when I come back next time, I hope to see your results."
Damian said with satisfaction.
Although they don't always get along, as long as it doesn't affect the organization's interests, Damian is happy to see them compete.
...
Meanwhile, all of them have returned to their respective regions.
In Wyndon, Rose Tower, Leon reached the top floor.
"Welcome back, Leon; how did Hoenn treat you this time?"
Rose sat in the president's chair with a mature, calm smile, using a magnetic voice to comfort the Hoenn Champion.
"Lots of feelings; this world is really big after all."
Leon sighed; honestly, he feels his prior life as a Galar resident was too sheltered when young.
Hoenn broadened his horizons greatly.
"Oh?" Rose showed interest.
"Seems you've gained a lot this time; mind telling me about it?"
Rose gestured for Leon to sit, and Oleana brought over two cups of coffee.
"Sure thing, Mr. Chairman; you probably don't realize just how terrifying Team Rocket is."
Leon's expression was serious.
"Before that, Mr. Chairman, you know in our Galar Region besides the sensei Urshifu, are there any other legendary Pokémon?"
Leon asked Rose.
"Legendary Pokémon?" Rose raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise.
"Yes—the kind far stronger than Urshifu, the ones whose power could annihilate a city."
Leon nodded; he's worried that their Galar might have Primal Kyogre and Mega Rayquaza as well.
"Are you interested in them?"
"Yes—indeed. This time heading to Hoenn, I truly witnessed how terrifying Legendary Pokémon can be, Mr. Chairman. You can imagine: as long as that Primal Kyogre wills it, it can drown a region with rain."
Leon's feelings were intense; that power is like a walking disaster.
"Hoenn's Legendary Kyogre?" Rose's deep eyes shimmer slightly; a Legendary Pokémon that can drown a region with rain?
"Mr. Chairman, you're well‑traveled; do we have a Legendary Pokémon like that in Galar?"
He hasn't heard of it, but Rose is wise and broad‑minded; perhaps she has.
Rose pondered for a moment, then her lips curled into a meaningful curve.
"Indeed we do, of course—there are four such Legendary Pokémon in our Galar Region."
~~~
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