Chapter 29: Chapter Twenty‑Ninth: The Rocket Team

Huo La saw this, took a water‑blue stone from his backpack; its surface glimmered with a watery sheen, especially bright in the moonlight, and it was the Water Stone he had previously found in Viridian Forest.

He twirled the Water Stone between his fingertips and said, "I can give this Water Stone to you. Though a Water Stone isn't as impressive as a Rare Pokemon, its value is surely far higher than the ordinary Pokemon you originally planned to steal—take it back for your report, at least it can offset part of the mission‑failure guilt, and maybe even earn a bonus."

"Water Stone!" Musashi and the two others' gazes were instantly glued to the crystal, their breathing grew rapid.

Kojiro muttered, "The Evolution Stone from the legend of Route 1 forest—you actually got it…" They had previously searched the forest for traces of Evolution Stones but hadn't seen even a Shadow, never expecting Huo La not only found one but dared to use it as a bargaining chip.

"Naturally." Huo La weighed the Water Stone in his hand, a smile of composure on his face, "This is just a welcome gift. If you help me join the Rocket Team, there will be more benefits later."

The warehouse fell into dead silence. Musashi, Kojiro and Miao Miao exchanged glances, their eyes full of hesitation.

Huo La's offer was too tempting; the Water Stone could turn their fortunes around—but they couldn't gauge this kid's background, and if he were a League undercover setting a trap, what then?

Huo La seemed to see through their concerns, his tone suddenly turned cold, carrying an unmistakable Intimidation: "If I wanted to catch you, I wouldn't have deliberately shouted 'Open the door' at the Pokemon Center just now to let you go, nor would I come alone to find you—after all, delivering the three of you to Officer Jenny would earn me League commendation, even a bounty."

He paused, raised the Water Stone before his eyes, moonlight refracting a cold gleam off the stone: "You now have two choices: either trust me and gamble—Water Stone first to you, you lose nothing, and later you can get more benefits through me; or I call Officer Jenny now and let her 'pick you up.'"

Musashi's three faces turned pale and white, silent for a full half‑minute.

Finally, Musashi gritted their teeth, as if resolved, stared at Huo La and said, "Fine! We'll trust you once! But if you dare to cheat, to play dirty, my A Bo She poison fang won't recognize anyone!"

Kojiro and Miao Miao also nodded.

Huo La watched their compromised demeanor, a barely perceptible smile curling at the corner of his mouth—the first step had finally succeeded.

Huo La's wrist trembled lightly, and the Water Stone in his hand was tossed toward Musashi's direction; the azure stone traced an arc in the air, moonlight spilling over it, shimmering with a luminous sheen.

Musashi instinctively reached out to catch it, movement still a bit frantic; when the fingertips touched the stone's icy texture, they were stunned, eyes full of disbelief: "You… you just give us the Water Stone like that? Aren't you afraid we'll take it and run?"

After all, this is a rather precious Evolution Stone; any Rocket Team member would probably be unable to resist pocketing it.

Huo La smiled, tone calm: "I think you're not that kind of people—at least I can tell from Miao Miao. Though she follows you in wrongdoing, there's no malice in her eyes; she's more like a child wanting to prove herself. Of course, if you really take the Water Stone and run, I have no choice but to admit I misjudged you."

His words were half‑true, half‑false—offering them a way out while subtly highlighting the weight of trust.

Musashi held the Water Stone, lowered their head in silence for a while, then looked up, their gaze at Huo La now more complex: "I don't know why, I always feel you're not a ten‑year‑old child. Your thoughts, your speech, are far more mature than peers, even steadier than some lower‑level Executives I've seen in the Rocket Team."

Kojiro and Miao Miao also nodded.

From the first encounter with Huo La in the forest, every step he took was calculated far beyond his age, making it impossible to link him with an 'ordinary Trainer.'

"People always grow through experiences." Huo La gave no direct explanation, just a faint smile.

He couldn't say he was a time‑traveler; his soul was no longer that of a youth, some secrets could only rot inside his belly.

Musashi stared at him for a while, seemed to give up further questioning, clenched the Water Stone, tone turning serious: "Since you're so sincere, our Rocket Team isn't untrustworthy. I'll take you to meet my and Kojiro's direct superior—Dr. Sai Ge; if he nods, you can obtain the Rocket Team member Badge."

"But I must warn you," Musashi looked at Huo La, eyes now bearing a solemn admonition, "Our responsible superior is Dr. Sai Ge, his temper is notoriously odd, especially with slick people. When you meet him, better put away those little tricks and answer honestly—whether you can stay depends on if you can win his favor; we can't help you much."

"Dr. Sai Ge?" Huo La heard the name, a bright light flashed in his eyes—so it's him!

He secretly celebrated; Musashi and Kojiro's direct superior really being Dr. Sai Ge was luckier than meeting an ordinary battle squad leader.

If it were other Rocket Team Executives who only cared about records, given Musashi's three's failed mission mess today, they wouldn't even recommend a newcomer, they'd probably strip a layer of skin.

But Dr. Sai Ge is different; he rarely cares about subordinates' "small mistakes," as long as they aid his research, everything else can be overlooked.

Huo La knows the Rocket Team's hierarchical system.

At the pyramid's apex is Boss Sakaki; below are the Five Great Commanders responsible for core affairs, codenamed "Iron Mask," "Secretary," "Instructor," "Agent," and "Tulip," controlling the Rocket Team's combat, intelligence, training, assassination and logistics sectors;

Below them are the Four Great Generals and Nine Great Captains, handling specific regional missions, the backbone of the combat line.

But besides these power‑based Executives, the Rocket Team also has another force not to be ignored—its research team.

High‑end researchers like Dr. Sai Ge hold a "special" status in the Rocket Team: in combat they may not match ordinary members, but in speaking power they can compare with the Five Great Commanders.

Because many core projects of the Rocket Team—such as artificial Pokemon development, rare energy extraction, even high‑tech weapons against the League—rely on these doctors' support.

More importantly, each research doctor can cultivate his own exclusive faction to serve his research—this is the perfect opportunity for Huo La.

If he can join Dr. Sai Ge's side and, with his own strength, aim to become the smallest 'Executive'—JuniorCaptain, it shouldn't be difficult.