Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [445]

At this point, for Luo Yuan, learning that the Sinnoh League was preparing to move against Team Galactic was a good thing.

Not only did it mean that Team Rocket could save considerable effort in dealing with Team Galactic, but it also presented a golden opportunity—an opportunity to eliminate the Sinnoh League as a potential future threat in one decisive stroke.

Luo Yuan certainly didn’t believe that the Sinnoh League would just stand by and watch Team Rocket take control of the Sinnoh region.

After all, Sinnoh wasn’t like Hoenn back then. They hadn’t experienced anything like the clash between Groudon and Kyogre. Without this current development, once Team Rocket had gained a foothold in Sinnoh, the League would’ve had all the time and resources they needed to deal with them.

But now, the Sinnoh League’s decision to act gave Luo Yuan a chance—an opportunity to preemptively remove a future thorn in his side.

Standing nearby, Malva had guessed Luo Yuan’s intent, but her concerns ran deeper than his.

“Can we really handle that many League members?”

To be honest, she had her doubts.

They already had to rely on Luo Yuan’s strength just to take on Team Galactic. Now, with the Sinnoh League entering the fray under Cynthia’s command, taking on both sides at once—even Malva was starting to feel uneasy.

“This isn’t a bad thing,” Luo Yuan replied with a calm smile.

Meeting Malva’s puzzled gaze, he continued, “Who said we have to fight Team Galactic and the Sinnoh League at the same time?”

“In this war, we’re the invisible third party. Neither Team Galactic nor the Sinnoh League has any idea we’re even here—and that’s our greatest advantage.”

After hearing Luo Yuan’s explanation, Malva immediately understood what he was planning.

Right now, no one knew Team Rocket had arrived in the Sinnoh region. That meant they could simply watch from the shadows as Team Galactic and the Sinnoh League wore each other down.

It was just like what Luo Yuan had done before on the Sevii Islands, when he played the Kanto League and Team Galactic against each other.

A highly feasible strategy.

Malva made a quick judgment in her mind.

“So, what’s our next move?” she asked.

“Keep heading to Veilstone City,” Luo Yuan said. “But keep the airship cloaked. We’re here to enjoy the show.”

Veilstone City, located in the eastern part of Sinnoh, was built atop a cliffside. Its northern edge faced the ocean, with the Battle Frontier visible across the sea.

Normally a relatively peaceful place, the city was now shrouded in a tense atmosphere.

The reason? None other than the arrival of the Sinnoh League, led by Cynthia herself.

In front of a game corner, Cynthia met up with “Looker” from Interpol. She looked him over.

“I need intel on Team Galactic’s presence in Veilstone City.”

Just like Team Rocket, the Sinnoh League had arranged for someone to scout ahead before taking action.

That person was Looker.

After hearing Cynthia’s request, he didn’t waste time. He quickly relayed the current situation regarding Team Galactic.

However, compared to Team Rocket, Looker was working alone. All he had managed to uncover was that there were more than 500 Galactic trainers inside the Veilstone Building, and that Cyrus seemed to be planning something.

Beyond that, he knew nothing.

The vague nature of the intel made Cynthia frown, but she understood that in such a short timeframe, it was already impressive that Looker had gotten this much.

She looked down at the rough floor plan of the Veilstone Building that Looker handed over.

Cynthia gave a small nod.

“Let’s move.”

With Flint, Aaron, and a group of League trainers at her side, Cynthia led the charge to the front of the Galactic Veilstone Building.

She stared at the sealed entrance to the building.

Just moments ago, she had issued a formal warning, demanding the occupants open the doors for inspection.

But the doors remained shut.

Clearly, the members of Team Galactic inside planned to resist to the bitter end.

Cynthia’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.

She hadn’t expected them to surrender in the first place.

She made a hand gesture to her Garchomp standing beside her.

In response, Garchomp began charging a yellow energy sphere in its mouth.

Then—

Boom!

With a thunderous explosion, the [Dragon Rage]-infused energy ball slammed into the front doors of the building, triggering a massive blast that tore a huge hole through the entrance.

“Move in!”

Cynthia called to the others behind her, then charged into the Galactic Veilstone Building through the lingering smoke.

Under normal circumstances, as the regional headquarters and a landmark building in Veilstone City, the Galactic Veilstone Building should have been heavily fortified.

Cynthia had been fully prepared to face a storm of counterattacks the moment they stepped inside.

But what she encountered was something completely unexpected.

There was no storm of attacks.

No overwhelming number of enemies.

In fact, there wasn’t a single person on the first floor.

It was completely empty.

Behind her, Looker, Aaron, Flint, and the other League trainers who had followed her in all froze.

Totally unexpected.

Everyone turned to look at Looker—he had said there were at least five hundred Team Galactic members inside.

So where were they?

Forget five hundred—there wasn’t even a single guard at the entrance.

Looker looked just as confused. He’d been monitoring this place daily. There was no way that many people could have just disappeared.

Maybe they were hiding on other floors?

Just as Looker was about to suggest they begin a floor-by-floor sweep—

Clack!

The ceiling above them suddenly opened.

A series of Poké Balls rained down from above, catching the League trainers off guard.

Midair, the Poké Balls opened all at once.

Pop pop pop pop…!

Flashes of blinding white light burst forth.

Cynthia and the stronger trainers reacted quickly and shut their eyes in time.

But the rest weren’t so lucky.

The entire first-floor lobby was filled with dazzling light, and the blinding flashes from the Poké Balls nearly seared the eyes of those caught off guard.

And just as their vision blurred—

From the Poké Balls emerged a massive swarm of eyeless Zubat, completely unaffected by the light.

They bared their fangs and dove toward the stunned Sinnoh League trainers below!

Caught by surprise, overwhelmed by the sudden flash and then the Zubat assault, the League members found themselves facing their first real crisis!

And at that moment—

Just arriving in the skies above Veilstone City, Luo Yuan raised an eyebrow as he sensed the chaos below through his psychic link.

Team Galactic’s preparations are more thorough than I expected.

Everything’s in disarray again… my schedule’s out the window…

—

T/N: who the hell is handsome (its looker :D)

This is a fan translation of 我，火箭队二把手！ by 落唯 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!