Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [456]

Pluto gave up struggling. Behind him, the rest of the Team Galactic members finally breathed a sigh of relief.

For them, just standing here without running the moment their boss left was already as loyal as they could hope to be.

Especially when they saw Cynthia show up—they had long since abandoned any thoughts of resisting.

There was no way they could ever stand a chance against a combination like Cynthia and a tech hunter.

Since the outcome was the same anyway, there was no point in putting up a desperate fight just to end up half-dead. Better to surrender early.

Luo Yuan didn’t spare a glance at the Team Galactic members behind him, all raising their hands in surrender. He looked directly at Pluto and asked, “Where did Cyrus go?”

Pluto stiffened. He wanted to show some backbone, as one of Team Galactic’s senior commanders.

But… when he met Luo Yuan’s gaze—mocking, almost amused—he forced the words that had risen to his lips back down.

He had the distinct feeling that this man didn’t care whether he cooperated or resisted.

In fact… it seemed like he was hoping Pluto would choose to resist.

And he wasn’t wrong. Luo Yuan didn’t actually need Pluto to talk—he could just extract the information he needed through hypnosis.

In fact, using psychic power to forcibly put Pluto under might even serve as a good way to intimidate Cynthia a little.

But Pluto didn’t give him that opportunity.

Seeing the faint disappointment in Luo Yuan’s eyes, Pluto wiped the sweat from his brow. Sorry, Boss, he thought guiltily, and then gave up the information.

“Boss Cyrus went to Spear Pillar, at the summit of Mt. Coronet.”

Pluto chose not to lie. He had no way of knowing if Luo Yuan had some kind of lie detector on him, but even so, he held back some critical information.

Cyrus had already been gone for a little while. If he moved quickly, he might be able to summon Dialga and Palkia before Cynthia and the tech hunter could catch up.

The thought eased Pluto’s guilt slightly—selling out his boss didn’t feel quite so bad if it might actually help him succeed.

Cynthia’s expression turned grim the moment she heard Pluto’s words.

She whipped her head toward Luo Yuan. “We need to move—now!”

If that lunatic Cyrus really managed to gain control over Dialga and Palkia… Cynthia didn’t even want to imagine what would happen to the Sinnoh region.

But unlike Cynthia, who was visibly anxious, Luo Yuan remained calm. “No rush. We should deal with things here first.”

As he spoke, footsteps echoed from the corridor behind them. Looker strode in, flanked by Rocket operatives in uniform.

“The entire base is under control,” Looker reported. “All the prisoners’ Poké Balls have been secured—no one slipped through the net.”

Standing beside Mewtwo and Deoxys, his words carried undeniable weight.

No one could escape a joint sweep from Deoxys and Mewtwo. Every last Team Galactic member hiding in the base had been dragged out of their holes.

Cynthia stood off to the side, dazed. Just like that? Team Galactic’s headquarters was taken down this easily?

But to Luo Yuan, it was just business as usual.

“Good. I’ll leave things here to you. Keep an eye on the prisoners.”

With a parting instruction, Luo Yuan used telepathy to contact Rayquaza waiting outside.

A deafening boom shook the walls as an entire section exploded outward, revealing a gaping hole. Rayquaza’s massive head poked through the breach.

Luo Yuan leapt onto its back, then turned to Cynthia, who was still frozen in disbelief.

“What are you waiting for? Come on—aren’t we going to save Sinnoh?”

Cynthia: “…………”

You’re a Rocket executive. Don’t you feel even a little weird saying something like that?

But she knew she didn’t have the luxury of hesitation. Casting one last glance at the trembling Team Galactic members now under Rocket control, she followed Luo Yuan onto Rayquaza’s back.

“Rooooaaar!”

Rayquaza let out a mighty cry and shot into the sky with the two riders on its back.

Behind Looker, Mewtwo and Deoxys flickered and vanished from the control room.

Through the hole in the wall, watching the direction Rayquaza had disappeared in, the remaining Team Galactic members silently prayed that their boss would succeed in summoning Dialga and Palkia—

And save them from the disaster to come.

—

Mt. Coronet – Spear Pillar

Spear Pillar, the summit of Mt. Coronet. Legend says that it was here Arceus created Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina—and from them, the entire Sinnoh region.

At this moment, just outside the ancient ruins—

“At last… the moment has come…”

Cyrus stood before the ruins, two uneasy Team Galactic grunts behind him.

On one hand, they were thrilled to be part of their boss’s grand plan. But on the other, the situation back at headquarters was… not encouraging.

Cyrus, however, had no time for such concerns. He stretched out a hand. “The case.”

One of the grunts quickly opened the case and handed it over.

Inside, neatly arranged, were the items needed to summon Dialga and Palkia:

The Adamant Orb, the Lustrous Orb, and the Azure Flute.

Cyrus wasted no time. He knew that even if he’d left Pluto behind, the man wouldn’t be able to stall Team Rocket for long.

He pulled out the Azure Flute and inserted it into the slot on the ruin’s door.

A flash of light, and the stone doors began to transform and open.

Carrying the case, Cyrus stepped inside, ascending the long staircase. Before long, he arrived at the central platform.

He stared at the ancient altar without a flicker of emotion.

He had spent years preparing for this. He knew exactly what to do.

Setting the Adamant Orb and the Lustrous Orb in place, Cyrus gave a signal. One of his grunts stepped forward, carefully carrying the restraints for the lake guardians.

One by one, they positioned the restraints in a precise formation.

Cyrus personally pressed the activation button.

With pained cries, Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf were forced to unleash their power—three beams of light shot into the sky.

Two chains burst forth, soaring into the air.

They twisted and spiraled mid-air, forming two great rings.

As the energy of the lake guardians surged upward, two shadows were pulled from the void within the red chains—gradually taking shape.

“They’re coming!”

One of the grunts behind Cyrus could barely contain his excitement.

By now, they had stopped worrying about the situation back at base. As long as their boss gained control of Dialga and Palkia…

While they imagined a glorious future, the shapes in the sky solidified further.

Dialga and Palkia had arrived—bound in midair by two glowing red chains, their faces contorted in pain.

—

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!