Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [407]

Luo Yuan thought for a moment. “Keep sending people to investigate Mount Silver.”

He couldn’t personally handle every matter, so he would have his subordinates look into it first. If they couldn’t uncover the truth, then he would intervene himself.

Koga nodded.

He would have dispatched people to investigate regardless of Luo Yuan’s instructions.

Just as Luo Yuan was about to continue speaking, his communicator at his waist beeped.

He answered the call, and Giovanni’s holographic projection appeared before him and Koga.

Seeing Giovanni, Koga immediately straightened up. “Boss Giovanni!”

“Luo Yuan… Koga’s there too? Perfect. There’s something I need to tell you both.”

In the projection, Giovanni absentmindedly stroked his Persian’s head. “The Kanto Champion selection has officially begun. I’ve decided to enter the race for Champion.”

Luo Yuan, already aware of Giovanni’s long-term plans, remained calm. Koga, however, couldn’t hide his shock. While he had suspected Giovanni might take this step, hearing it confirmed still made his heart race.

For Team Rocket, this was a monumental event.

If Giovanni succeeded in becoming the Champion of Kanto, it would be a significant breakthrough for Team Rocket, whose operations had long been hindered by the Kanto League.

With Giovanni as Champion, the headquarters in Kanto would undoubtedly enter a period of rapid growth.

Giovanni’s chances of winning were also notably high.

As Koga pondered the benefits Giovanni’s victory would bring to Team Rocket, Luo Yuan had already started considering the logistics.

“I’ll have Jessie, James, and Meowth help drum up support for you,” Luo Yuan said.

The newspaper and television network that Jessie and her team had established would finally have a chance to shine.

“Additionally, I’ll arrange for Silph Co. to back your campaign.”

Considering all the advantages Silph Co. had gained from their cooperation with Team Rocket—such as the holographic communication technology that brought them profits they wouldn’t have seen in over a decade—it was only fair for their president to contribute to Giovanni’s campaign.

“Good.” Giovanni nodded in satisfaction. That was precisely why he had called.

“By the way, who are your competitors?” Luo Yuan asked.

“Lorelei,” Giovanni replied.

His only rival was Lorelei, just as Luo Yuan had expected.

Among Kanto’s Elite Four, Lance had already moved to Johto to become its Champion. Agatha, meanwhile, was nearing retirement due to her age. Bruno, while strong, lacked the temperament and charisma required for a Champion.

That left Lorelei as Giovanni’s sole opponent.

“Should we cause Lorelei some trouble?” Koga suggested.

With only one competitor, removing Lorelei from the equation would practically hand Giovanni the Champion’s title.

Of course, Koga wasn’t suggesting anything extreme.

While Team Rocket had the means to eliminate Lorelei, doing so would cause massive unrest in Kanto and draw suspicion directly onto Giovanni.

Koga’s plan was to create some issues in Lorelei’s hometown, the Sevii Islands.

Everyone knew Lorelei had long sought to improve conditions in her hometown. Although the Sevii Islands had struggled to develop over the years, her dedication to them was evident.

If something were to happen there, it would undoubtedly distract Lorelei.

Hearing Koga’s idea, Giovanni fell into thought, considering its feasibility.

Luo Yuan, however, nodded briefly before shaking his head.

Seeing this, Giovanni asked curiously, “What’s your take on this, Luo Yuan?”

Giovanni had immense trust in Luo Yuan’s strategic thinking, especially given how he had single-handedly dismantled teams like Flare, Magma, and Aqua, as well as covertly taken control of the Aether Foundation.

“Koga’s suggestion is solid, but it shouldn’t be Team Rocket making the moves. At this critical juncture, even the smallest misstep could bring unnecessary trouble,” Luo Yuan said.

In situations like this, maintaining stability was paramount. It wasn’t about achieving exceptional results but avoiding mistakes.

“So what’s your plan?” Giovanni asked.

“We recently caught a few Galactic spies, didn’t we?” Luo Yuan’s lips curled into a sly smile. “Spread a rumor that Sird has defected, betraying Galactic and fully siding with Team Rocket. Say that he helped us capture those spies in the Sevii Islands while also leaking critical Galactic secrets.”

“Leak this information to Team Galactic. I’m sure they won’t be able to resist sending people to investigate the Sevii Islands.”

“Once Galactic operatives arrive, arrange for them to encounter League personnel there.”

“In this way, Team Rocket will remain nothing more than a background player in the whole affair. Yet we’ll successfully drag both Galactic and Lorelei into the fray,” Luo Yuan explained.

“…”

Koga was left dumbfounded.

All he had intended was a simple plan to distract Lorelei and split her focus. But somehow, Luo Yuan had managed to rope in Team Galactic as well.

Finally snapping out of his amazement, Koga smacked his lips, silently marveling at the devious brilliance of tactical masterminds.

Of course, he wouldn’t dare voice this thought aloud in Luo Yuan’s presence.

On the other side of the communicator, Giovanni’s eyes lit up as he listened to Luo Yuan’s proposal.

Compared to Koga’s straightforward approach, Luo Yuan’s plan was more feasible, far more covert, and offered maximum benefits for Team Rocket.

The betrayal by Sird had already built up significant resentment within Giovanni toward Team Galactic.

Though he had suppressed his anger for the sake of Team Rocket’s growth, Galactic’s continued provocations had pushed him to the brink.

Luo Yuan’s strategy was perfect: bait Galactic into the Sevii Islands, entangle them with Lorelei, and let Giovanni sit back and enjoy the show.

When the time came, Giovanni could either take down Galactic as a League Champion or eliminate them as Team Rocket’s leader. Either way, it would be a win for Team Rocket.

“We’ll proceed with your plan. You’re in charge,” Giovanni said decisively.

“There’s one more issue,” Koga interjected. “Currently, only Orka remains from the Sevii Islands’ trio of enforcers. I doubt he can handle this level of activity alone.”

Staying out of a confrontation while playing the role of the opportunistic third party required strength.

With both Koga and Luo Yuan occupied in Johto, and Lt. Surge tied up with smuggling operations in Vermilion City, the question of personnel was a real concern.

As for Sabrina…

—

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!