Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [478]

As Luo Yuan and Sabrina chatted idly, the plane gradually entered Galar’s airspace.

Looking through the window, the Galar region spread out clearly below them.

Galar was shaped like a long strip, stretching from south to north and covered in dense forests, sweeping plains, and a network of snow-covered mountain ranges.

Pastoral villages, bustling towns, and industrial cities were scattered across the land, weaving together Galar’s uniquely diverse landscape.

“I heard the Galar League passed some kind of legislation a few years ago to protect the region’s Pokémon ecology? Something about restricting what kinds of Pokémon are allowed here?” Sabrina asked, flipping through articles online about Galar.

“That’s right.” Luo Yuan chuckled. “The whole thing started with a theory proposed in an academic paper by a Galarian scholar.”

“The paper argued that non-native Pokémon could disrupt Galar’s local ecosystems—crowding out native species and damaging the balance of their habitats. It stirred up quite a storm at the time.”

“Environmental organizations petitioned the Galar League to pass a law regulating which species were permitted in the region. That’s how the legislation came about—any Pokémon not on the approved list couldn’t enter Galar. Basically, they couldn’t get a ‘Galar visa.’”

“But later on, someone dug up evidence that the scholar behind the article had engaged in academic fraud. The theory didn’t hold water.”

“The Galar League didn’t want to admit they’d made a mistake, but pressure from other leagues forced their hand. That’s why they established special zones on the Isle of Armor and the Crown Tundra to partially open the borders.”

“Still, there are a few species that remain unapproved to this day. They’re completely barred from entering Galar through legal channels.”

Sabrina: “…………”

After listening to the explanation, Sabrina found herself at a rare loss for words.

Calling it ‘stupid’ might be a bit harsh… but it’s certainly not clever.

Seeing the look on her face, Luo Yuan chuckled. “You’re wondering how the Galar League could be so… ridiculous, right?”

Sabrina gave him a questioning glance—clearly, she was wondering exactly that.

“One person can be dumb. Two people can be dumb. But a massive bureaucratic organization like the Galar League? You really think they just made a dumb decision?” Luo Yuan didn’t wait for her to answer. “Of course not.”

“Let me give you a few key details,” Luo Yuan said. “First: the scholar who wrote that paper, and the environmental groups who led the petition, were all funded by Macro Cosmos.”

“Second: the paper was published right around the time Macro Cosmos was locked in a commercial turf war with companies from other regions trying to break into Galar’s market.”

“Third: after the law was passed, over 90% of the executives and employees those rival companies had sent to Galar were deported due to lack of visas. Macro Cosmos, which had been on the defensive, suddenly flipped the situation—crushing its opponents and absorbing their assets in one swoop.”

“That was the moment they became the giant monopoly that now controls everything in Galar.”

By this point, Sabrina understood completely.

What had looked like an absurd, short-sighted policy by the Galar League was in fact a deliberate move—using administrative power to fight Macro Cosmos’s corporate battle by proxy.

That one regulation allowed Macro Cosmos to become a force no one in Galar could afford to ignore.

The people behind it weren’t dumb—they were sharp. Ruthless, but sharp.

Whether Macro Cosmos’s rise was ultimately a blessing or a curse for Galar… that was up to perspective.

“They have that much influence over the entire region?” Sabrina frowned.

She’d already anticipated as much before coming, but after hearing this story, her understanding of Macro Cosmos deepened—and the difficulty of their mission felt like it had just jumped another level.

“But… where did you even find all this?” she asked.

“From Rocket’s intel archives, of course. Giovanni sent scouts into Galar years ago,” Luo Yuan replied.

Though he had complete confidence in his own abilities, Luo Yuan still liked to be thorough. He’d asked Nanami to compile and organize all major information related to Galar and Macro Cosmos for reference.

While Sabrina was still processing that information, the plane began its descent.

Their first stop in Galar: Stow-on-Side.

Stow-on-Side—an industrial city infused with history and tradition.

Known for its mining and energy sectors, it was the heart of Galar’s heavy industry. And ever since President Rose developed the region’s unique [Dynamax] battle system, Stow-on-Side had also become the central hub supplying power to every Gym running [Dynamax] matches.

As soon as they disembarked, Luo Yuan immediately spotted their target.

Long platinum-blonde hair, a white trench coat with a red lining, a black pencil skirt, and sheer black stockings—Oleana stood waiting, flanked by several Trainers in Galar League uniforms and dark sunglasses.

As Luo Yuan and Sabrina stepped off the plane, Oleana took the lead and walked up to them, offering a polite smile.

“Elite Four Luo Yuan. Miss Sabrina. Welcome to Galar.”

Her entourage was visibly stunned.

Most of them were not only her subordinates—they were members of the Oleana Fan Club. They were well-acquainted with her usual cold, aloof demeanor.

To see her smile—even a formal one—was enough to leave them momentarily speechless.

But Oleana herself paid them no mind.

To her, a smile was merely a tool—a professional courtesy, nothing more.

This exchange program was something Chairman Rose took extremely seriously. And what mattered to Rose, mattered to her. If it was for Rose’s sake, she would see this task done perfectly.

Luo Yuan, for his part, didn’t react at all to Oleana’s smile.

He was notoriously face-blind, after all.

Though he had already decided that Oleana would be his breakthrough point in Galar, there was no rush. He showed no hint of anything unusual on his face.

He simply offered a polite handshake. “Miss Oleana, apologies for keeping you waiting.”

It was autumn in Stow-on-Side. Was Oleana really not cold, dressed like that?

—

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!