Lance seriously suspected he had misheard.
He blinked. "What did you say?"
"A Dragonite," Armin repeated calmly.
Lance, one of the Kanto Champion and Member of Elite Four, the Dragon Master, heir to the ancient Dragon Clan—of course he knew exactly what those two words meant.
Dragon-type Pokémon were powerful and exceedingly rare. Their value couldn't even be measured in money.
Even within the Dragon Clan, not everyone was qualified to own a Dragonite.
Lance hesitated.
He had spoken too confidently earlier. Backing out now would look bad.
After a brief pause, he chose a compromise.
"Personally, I don't mind," he said. "But the elders in my clan… they may have objections. Still, don't worry. I'll do my best to secure one for you."
Armin understood Lance's position. Lance wasn't the clan head yet.
He nodded and didn't press further.
Instead, he shifted the topic.
"What's the situation with Team Rocket now?"
Lance's expression turned serious.
"The underground Rocket base in Celadon has been completely destroyed. From the materials confiscated, it's safe to say they've suffered a devastating blow."
He looked at Armin firmly.
"And all of that is thanks to you."
Officer Jenny stood and bowed deeply.
"On behalf of the citizens of Celadon City, thank you."
"No need," Armin replied smoothly, already switching to polite League-citizen mode. "It was my duty as a Kanto native."
Outwardly calm.
Inwardly calculating.
After today, returning to Team Rocket was impossible.
Giovanni and Ariana probably wanted him cut into pieces.
If his main quest hadn't changed, he could now ignore everything else and focus entirely on the hidden quest.
But his main quest still belonged to Team Rocket.
That was the real problem.
Armin lowered his head and continued eating, eyes drifting as his mind raced.
Team Rocket's executive roster…
Their undercover agents within the League…
Their hidden bases…
And then—
A bold idea formed.
If the mountain won't come to me, then I'll go to the mountain.
And right in front of him—
Was the perfect tool.
But before that, he needed five names. Five League infiltrators.
Lance's upcoming memorial service would be the perfect opportunity to gather information.
…
Lance and Officer Jenny didn't stay long.
Lance had to report to League Headquarters. Jenny had work waiting at the station.
Before leaving, Lance stopped by a roadside phone shop and bought Armin a mobile phone, saving his own number inside.
Technology in this world was still somewhat outdated—the phone was an old-fashioned keypad model.
After they left, Armin returned to the ward.
Amber had finished lunch and was quietly reading a children's book about a Trainer and Pikachu going on adventures together.
Armin took out the bundle of Poké Balls from his backpack and released a Charmander.
"Amber," he said gently, "I need to attend a memorial tomorrow. Do you want to come with me?"
"Wherever Brother goes, I'll go," she replied without hesitation.
He hesitated.
Her body wasn't stable.
But leaving her alone felt even worse.
So he made preparations.
The Team Rocket card hadn't been frozen yet.
It still held one hundred thousand Poké Dollars.
Armin withdrew 50 thousand and dropped the thick stack of cash onto the hospital director's desk, renting an ambulance and two accompanying doctors.
The memorial would be held in Saffron City.
The Elite Four and multiple Gym Leaders would attend.
At first, Armin had been worried—
But after checking the attendance list Lance gave him and confirming Giovanni's name was absent, he relaxed.
Giovanni was likely drowning in damage control.
There was no way he'd attend a memorial service for the people who destroyed his Celadon base.
-----
The next day.
Armin attended the memorial in a black suit.
It was held in a church in Saffron City.
Aside from Giovanni, all seven Gym Leaders and the other three members of the Elite Four were present.
Along with League executives and city mayors.
Melancholic piano music drifted through the church.
A refined priest stood at the altar, Bible in hand, delivering prayers for three individuals whose bodies no longer even existed.
Guests bowed their heads in silence.
Armin watched for a while with Amber at his side—
Then retreated to a corner pew.
While tending to Amber, he scanned the crowd.
Lorelei, the Ice-type Elite Four member, stood tall and elegant. Her long red hair was tied back, and faint sorrow lingered in her beautiful eyes.
Bruno, the Fighting-type master, wore a black suit that strained against his massive frame, creating an oddly disproportionate silhouette.
Agatha, the elderly Ghost-type master, kept her head lowered, her expression unreadable—
Until suddenly—
She sensed something.
Her eyes lifted.
Locked directly with Armin's.
He gave her a bright smile.
Agatha lowered her head again without expression.
Across the hall, Lance watched Armin constantly—not out of suspicion, but concern.
All his fellow investigators had perished.
Armin alone survived.
And now he had to attend their memorial.
Lance worried he might break.
In Lance's eyes, Armin's smile was forced.
A mask hiding grief.
Lance felt a pang in his chest.
He walked over, rehearsing comforting words in his mind.
"Armin," he said gently, "don't worry. The League will never forget their contributions."
Armin: …
He had always considered himself dramatic.
Apparently, Lance was worse.
Armin coughed softly and instantly slipped into full performance mode.
He lowered his gaze.
"I was just thinking… about the other undercover agents assigned to different Rocket bases. I wonder how they're doing."
Lance brightened immediately.
"That's perfect timing! There are several investigators here today who also completed undercover missions."
Armin kept his expression steady.
"Really? Could I meet them?"
"Of course."
Armin's heart skipped.
He left Mimikyu to watch over Amber and followed Lance through the crowd.
In the far corner of the church—
Six young men and women sat solemnly in formal attire.
Undercover investigators.
And perhaps—
Among them—
The five names he needed.