Chapter 549: The Best Option for Now

Huo La didn't rush to touch the Master Ball, lifted his gaze toward Dr. Sai Ge opposite him, and said with a steady tone, "Doctor, you sought me out, it can't be just to give me a Pokéball, can it?"

Dr. Sai Ge heard that and turned his head to look at Natsume beside him.

Natsume instantly understood, showed no hesitation, rose and whispered, "I'll wait outside the door."

Having said that, she walked straight out of the reception room, leaving a private space for the two to talk.

The door closed softly, leaving only Huo La and Dr. Sai Ge inside. The atmosphere instantly fell silent.

Dr. Sai Ge looked at the now self-reliant Huo La, spoke slowly, his tone tinged with emotion: "I never imagined that nearly five years have passed since we last met. I also never expected that the little brat who infiltrated the Rocket Team back then has now become the Rocket Team Heir chosen by Sakaki."

"I didn't expect it either," Huo La said helplessly, rubbing his nose, and smiled calmly, "My original intention was just to infiltrate the Rocket Team as an undercover operative; no one could have foreseen it leading to this point."

Now that everything is set, there's nothing left to hide, so he spoke plainly.

"I've come to you this time with no other purpose," Dr. Sai Ge restrained his emotion, his expression turning serious, "Now that the Rocket Team and the League have reached a cooperation, the research of our batch of researchers is most likely impossible to continue."

"We may even all be completely purged by the League."

Huo La fell silent, understanding in his heart.

He knew the ins and outs of the Team Rocket Research Department.

Especially the various experiments led by the Four Great Doctors, most of which crossed the League's red line, violated universal principles and moral standards, and were mired in controversy.

Now they fear retribution later, and there's nothing they can do about it.

"So you came to me because you want me to help you?" Huo La asked, puzzled.

He couldn't make sense of it in his mind.

Given Dr. Sai Ge's abilities and connections, long before the League and Rocket Team finalized their cooperation, he could have quietly withdrawn a group of researchers, leaving the League with no trace, so there was no need to specifically ask him.

"Help me? What could you help me with? Help me escape?" Dr. Sai Ge sneered, with a hint of self‑mockery.

Huo La touched the tip of his nose, looking slightly embarrassed, unsure how to reply.

"I came to see you, actually just to see you with my own eyes," Dr. Sai Ge said, easing his tone, "I want to see whether that little brat from back then has become so powerful that he's sprouted three heads and six arms now."

"Besides that, I have one request: look after those three guys for me."

Huo La was slightly startled, instantly realized who the three were, and blurted out, "You're talking about Musashi, Kojiro, and Miao Miao?"

Dr. Sai Ge nodded lightly, his expression solemn, "Exactly."

"Dr. Sai Ge, what exactly is your relationship with those three?" Huo La couldn't help but ask, puzzled.

He had always been confused about it.

Given Musashi, Kojiro and Miao Miao's abilities and unreliable personalities, it was indeed abnormal that they could stay in the Rocket Team so peacefully for years, with Dr. Sai Ge secretly supporting them behind the scenes.

"Relationship?" Dr. Sai Ge was slightly taken aback, old memories flashing in his mind, then shook his head lightly, "It's not really a special bond. Though the three often fail to accomplish anything and cause trouble, their hearts are pure, and they are truly loyal to the Rocket Team."

Huo La nodded in understanding.

"And if I recall correctly, the three have helped you a lot," Dr. Sai Ge's gaze fell on Huo La, "Now that you're in a high position, you can speak up; looking after them a bit shouldn't be difficult."

To Huo La's surprise, he chuckled self‑deprecatingly and said outright, "I'm afraid I can't help you."

Dr. Sai Ge's complexion darkened instantly, a flash of surprise and coldness passing through his eyes.

"Don't misunderstand," Huo La quickly gestured, "It's not that I'm unwilling to help; on the contrary, there's no need for me to act."

"During this period, Musashi and the others have been on the front lines cooperating with the League, earning many merits. Given the current situation, the League not only won't hold them accountable for past crimes, they might even receive commendations."

He paused, then continued with the key point, "Moreover, I, as the Rocket Team Heir, am only a figurehead. Once the situation stabilizes, the one truly controlling the Rocket Team is the Sakaki who once led you."

"Given their loyalty, as long as they don't overstep in the future, staying in the Rocket Team will cause no trouble; no one will make things hard for them."

After hearing Huo La's words, Dr. Sai Ge's face instantly showed obvious astonishment, his tone tinged with disbelief, "Sak… the previous Sakaki, is he coming back?"

"Exactly," Huo La said with certainty, calmly confirming, "It's one of the Three Major Cooperation Conditions we struck with the League and the current Sakaki."

He sighed lightly, with a hint of self‑mockery, and continued, "Honestly, as an outsider taking over the Rocket Team, I can't stand on my own. Should I merge the Rocket Team entirely into the League? Even setting aside whether the League would accept it, the veteran members of the Rocket Team would never accept such an outcome."

"But if we let the current Rocket Team continue to develop freely, covertly infiltrating the League and controlling regional powers, the League would never agree; this cooperation would have been deadlocked from the start."

"Weighing all pros and cons, having the original native Sakaki resume command of the Rocket Team is the only win‑win solution."

Changing tone, Huo La's expression grew solemn, his attitude frank, "As for you researchers, to be honest, I still don't approve of, even despise, many of your past studies and deeds."

"But for the stability of the Whole World, as long as the returning Sakaki is willing to accept you and restrain your actions, the League and I will not interfere further or deliberately purge you."

"Of course, the premise is that you behave, no longer breach taboos or cross the line, and truly do nothing intolerable to anyone."

Dr. Sai Ge listened to these words, remained silent for a long while, and the room fell into a prolonged silence.

After a long while, he finally exhaled a breath of stale air, sighed lightly, and the tension in his brows and eyes completely eased.

"It seems this may indeed be the best option for now."