"Silver? Your little brother?"
Hearing this, Karen and Will both looked at the handsome boy in front of them in surprise.
Silver, of course, they weren't strangers to—growing up together, in a sense they were childhood friends.
But they truly didn't expect that one day Silver's brother would find them.
"Ah~ don't I look like his brother enough?" Damian's smile deepened.
"He's indeed very different." Karen studied Damian closely and couldn't help but marvel.
In fact, apart from a similar angularity of features, everything else about him was very different.
Silver is a quiet, aloof person who keeps people at arm's length.
And the man before them, who calls himself Silver's brother, looks like a social terror.
"If you two could tell me Silver's location, could you share it? It's been ten years, and I still miss him. My father surely misses him as well."
Damian didn't bat an eye, still grinning as he spoke.
"Sorry, Kid, I'd love to tell you so your family can reunite, but right now we're also looking for Silver, and we don't know where he went."
Karen flicked her beautiful gray-blue long hair and shrugged helplessly.
"I see. Then may I extend an honored invitation for you two to have a drink?"
Damian wasn't too surprised, his gaze lingering on Karen more than Will; he places more weight on Karen.
"This occasion isn't quite suitable, and Kid—"
Karen's lazy, alluring eyes skimmed over Caitlin behind Damian, taking in Caitlin's displeased mood.
Karen's lips curled slightly, a hint of malice surfacing.
"I have no interest in a drink, but for a candlelit dinner, I might consider it."
Karen gave Damian a sultry glance.
"Oh?" Damian raised a brow.
"But there isn't much time today; until next time, Kid."
Karen waved goodbye to Damian, turning and swaying her hips with Will as they walked away.
Damian narrowed his eyes slightly, watching Karen and Will's silhouettes fade from view.
"Lord Damian, should we send someone to follow them?" Gladion whispered to Damian.
After all, it seemed Damian's little brother might be connected to them both.
"No need, there'll be another chance." Damian shook his head.
Karen and Will are currently members of a masked organization, and that organization is the ten-year-old kidnap-turned-old-monster group that comprised Ho-Oh and Lugia's abductees across Kanto ten years ago.
From what I gather, Green and Silver have already defected from the masked organization, while Karen and Will are in charge of chasing those two traitors, especially Green.
Because when Green fled, he took the old monster—an incredibly important treasure.
"Seems you value that woman quite a bit, Damian." Caitlin remarked, half-stirringly.
"Exactly, her strength is impressive enough to pull her into the Team Rocket."
Damian didn't hide it; he really values Karen.
Unlike Will, who's just a normal Elite Four level trainer, Will is a stubborn Psychic—tough but ordinary; Karen's strength is exceptional.
As the Johto head of the Elite Four later on, Karen's strength is undoubtedly Champion-tier; after all, she pressed Bruno down and became Johto's head of the Elite Four.
"I see." Caitlin nodded; she could tell Damian's attitude toward Karen was warmer.
But if he valued Karen's strength, that explains things.
On Karen's side now:
"Just now, those three people seemed off." Will lowered his voice, serious.
"That golden-haired woman is also a Psychic, and very strong."
Will, being a Psychic himself, felt Caitlin's fear more acutely.
"Do I need to say more? This incident is bound up with those three." Karen's brows knit.
"And how did he know we know Silver?" Karen's pale face showed uncertainty.
This is the most puzzling part: the masked organization hides itself deeply; the Masked Man strictly orders that they cannot reveal the organization's existence when outside.
Silver defected some time ago, and they've been searching for Green and Silver's location without much success, hardly any exposure of their ties.
"How interesting…" Karen paused, glancing at the Rayquaza in the sky, mouth curling.
Could this surprise Rayquaza be your handiwork?
...
Goldenrod City's Pokémon Association was attacked by Rayquaza and terrorists, and this major news quickly spread across the Kanto Region online.
This heavyweight news spread instantly across the internet in the Kanto region, as Goldenrod City's Pokémon Association is struck by Rayquaza and terrorists.
This is nothing less than a tidal wave, an assault on a city in broad daylight without restraint, naturally feared by all.
And Indigo League released a statement at once, saying civilians don't need to worry; the Pokémon League will definitely ensure everyone's safety.
They're also in full force, pursuing warrants to apprehend the criminals; the criminals have already fled Goldenrod City, so civilians, rest easy.
But actually, inside an underground base in Goldenrod City.
"Lord Damian, you really made a huge splash as soon as you arrived."
The speaker is a figure—a man with a slender build, almost childlike—whose face doesn't look good at the moment.
Because the person who used to sit at the head of the table is now being seized by Damian, and Damian even has his legs up on the desk.
This dwarf's face twitches irregularly; with that short, stumpy frame, obviously he can't be doing that.
"This is exactly the kind of greeting our Kanto Team Rocket should give, Carr. I've heard you've been a bit restless lately."
Damian drinks juice, looking at the dwarf with a half-smile.
His name is Carr, Team Rocket's foremost of The Three Beasts; though his figure is small like a child, perhaps that odd silhouette feeds a disturbed psyche.
Carr's personality is irritable and cruel, and extremely self-centered, a true standard member of an evil organization.
After all, someone who can carry eleven Forretress as bombs around is hardly a normal person.
"Where did you get that from? I, Carr, am utterly loyal to the boss; I'd never harbor a second thought."
Carr's forehead sweats instantly; he feverishly professes his loyalty.
"I didn't say you're disloyal to Team Rocket, did I?" Damian's smile deepens: "What are you so eager for?"
Carr's face worsens, but he still lowers his head and dares not speak.
He does have ambition, but that has to be kept in check in front of Giovanni or Damian. Carr may be arrogant, but he knows who in Team Rocket he can't mess with.
Especially today, Damian just arrived in Johto and already manufactured such big news.
"Carr, the bigger you can handle, the bigger the job." Damian slowly stands, bends to pat Carr's shoulder.
"Dad sending you to Johto to carve out territory for Team Rocket shows he values your ability; as long as you don't overstep, I think you'll achieve brilliant results here, right?"
Damian looks into Carr's eyes with meaning.
People like Carr have real ability, undeniably, but a light prodding now and then helps keep him in line.
"Lord Damian, you're speaking truthfully." Carr lowers his head.
"How did the investigation you asked us to do go?"
"Sorry, we haven't found Lugia's exact location yet, but near the Whirl Islands we've uncovered many Lugia legends; perhaps that's Lugia's habitat."
Carr reports; a few days ago Damian had already contacted him, telling him to send people to search Lugia intensively.
But Lugia, a legendary Pokémon, locating its location is not easy.
"Nice work, keep investigating; I'll be here for a few more days."
Damian nods; he knows this news, but it's not enough yet.
Damian's goal is the anime's Lugia mother and cub duo, not sure if they exist in this world.
Training a Little Lugia still fascinates him.
"So, do you need me to arrange lodging for you?" Carr asks eagerly.
"No need. By the way, where's Vicious?"
Damian glances behind Carr; only Orm and Sird remain.
Damian's gaze lingers briefly on Sird, then shifts away, not ready to reveal that card yet.
"I've noticed him, but he hasn't replied." Carr immediately disassociates from Vicious.
"Recently I've heard Vicious has been looking for Celebi's info; perhaps he's interested." Carr reports cautiously.
He's unhappy with Vicious too; Vicious is arrogant and reckless, Carr has long wanted to deal with him.
But Vicious is an executive; he investigates covertly, but dares not target openly.
"Pfft—a misbehaving dog with a rebellious heart isn't worth keeping. Carr, deal with Vicious; ambush him and feed him to the fish. We don't lack another body in Team Rocket."
Damian spits softly, giving a calm instruction.
Compared to Carr, Vicious is an even bigger joke; with Giovanni and Damian pressing him, Carr can still keep him in line.
But Vicious is ambitious and incompetent; keeping him is waste, just get rid of him.
"Yes!" Carr's mix of excitement and cold fear.
An executive—Damian really can clean up as he pleases.
"Keep a tighter watch on the Whirl Islands; if Lugia signs appear, notify me at once."
Damian reminds Carr firmly.
"Understood." Carr nods gravely.
"Mm." Damian nods, leading Caitlin and a few others out of the room.
"Sird, arrange manpower; we're going to look for Vicious."
After Damian leaves, Carr's mouth twists into a cruel arc.
"Shouldn't we report to the boss first? Carr, after all Vicious is an executive."
Sird, worried, nods and steps out to arrange manpower.
"Hmph—no need. Since the Lord Damian said so, we'll just follow along."
Indeed, technically they should report to Giovanni, since he's the boss, but Carr, even though not in Kanto, knows that the real power now lies with Damian.
Giovanni has largely retreated to the background.
"I understand."
Sird nods, then turns to arrange manpower. But as she leaves the office, her pale face tightens, brows knit, eyes shifting.
Team Rocket's recent changes are indeed taking shape, especially today as she watched from the shadows the powerful Rayquaza, and Caitlin and Zinnia behind Damian—both Champion-tier Trainers!
Team Rocket is growing quickly.
This isn't good news for Sird, because her true identity is a spy for Team Galactic!
"Perhaps—
Sird's eyes shimmer uncertainly; she feels she must decide soon—there's a saying about choosing the right tree to roost in.
If her identity is exposed, she might meet a similar fate as Vicious, thrown into the sea by Damian.
Sird slips a Poké Ball from her pocket, gripping it tightly, but still hesitates.
Rationally, Team Rocket seems to have a brighter future, but Team Galactic is her original Belonging.
Yet soon, Sird makes a decision.
Team Galactic? What a lousy organization—I'm born to spill blood for Team Rocket!
That's right, Team Rocket is my Belonging!
~~~
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