Chapter 18: My Team Rocket Has Gained Another Fierce General!

Gladion, the son of Lusamine, president of the Aether Foundation, but before the game's plot began.

Gladion had already escaped the Aether Paradise with Type: Null, while Lillie fled with Cosmog.

One could say that between Lusamine and her children, Gladion and Lillie, the performance of a mother's love and a child's filial piety was truly exhaustive.

But Mamen truly did not expect Gladion to actually come looking for Team Rocket.

Although in the game Gladion did indeed debut as a member of the Skull Gang, that was still very different.

Mamen was naturally very interested in Gladion; he prepared to personally give Gladion an 'interview'.

About half an hour later, Mamen met Gladion.

Gladion possessed golden hair inherited from Lusamine; his facial features were sharp and cold, and his gaze was equally stern.

Hmm, he is an ascetic-type handsome man; one must admit, the three of Lusamine and her children truly have very high good looks.

"Young Master."

When Beautifly saw Mamen enter, she stood up and bowed.

Gladion's gaze fell on Mamen's outstretched hand; his brows furrowed slightly as he scrutinized him subtly.

'Young Master'? The Young Master of Team Rocket?

"You want to join our Team Rocket?"

Mamen sat in Beautifly's seat and asked Gladion with great interest.

Beautifly stood by Mamen's side; to be honest, when Gladion found her saying he wanted to join Team Rocket, Beautifly hadn't paid much attention at first.

But a subordinate reminded her; Beautifly pulled out the special watch list provided by Domino, and Beautifly was shocked!

The eldest young master of the Aether Foundation, Gladion!

"... Yes."

Gladion fell silent for a moment; he spoke few words, and his voice was rather cold.

"Why?"

"Does joining your Team Rocket require a reason?"

Gladion asked in return.

"Of course it does; even ordinary people need a reason. Some do it for money, some purely for thrills, some are unwilling to accept the status quo, and some have nowhere else to turn."

Mamen chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair and rhythmically tapping his fingers on the table.

"And you, Gladion, son of Lusamine, president of the Aether Foundation, and the legitimate heir to the Aether Foundation in the future, why do you want to join our Team Rocket?"

Hearing Mamen's question, Gladion's expression darkened, but he immediately relaxed.

After all, it was Team Rocket; it was no surprise they had investigated his identity.

"I have no connection to the Aether Foundation now," Gladion said in a deep voice.

He did not want to bear this identity label; he was Gladion, and only Gladion.

He did not want to be tied to that terrifying woman in any way.

"That is not the answer I want; after all, regardless of your subjective thoughts, you are still the eldest young master of the Aether Foundation, are you not?"

"A prestigious Team Rocket, afraid of the Aether Foundation?"

Gladion looked at Mamen.

"Ha? Afraid? What a ridiculous notion." Mamen laughed with great mockery.

The Aether Foundation? What could they possibly use to fight our Team Rocket?

"A mere Aether Foundation, even worthy of comparison with our Team Rocket? Gladion, you are far too dismissive of us."

Mamen made no attempt to hide his disdain for the Aether Foundation.

Although the Aether Foundation held great power in the Alola region, in the end, an organization without even a Champion-level Trainer was simply beneath notice.

If Mamen so wished, he could sink Aether Paradise Island into the sea today!

The destructive power of a Champion-level Trainer was no joke.

"..."

Gladion fell silent.

"Let me put it this way: what is your goal in wanting to join our Team Rocket?" Mamen asked Gladion again.

"Our Team Rocket is not an organization where one can come and go as one pleases; understand, Gladion? If you have sufficient resolve, our Team Rocket welcomes you very much."

"But if you dare betray the organization in the future, the consequences..."

Mamen did not finish, merely smiling as he looked at Gladion.

Gladion was a youth with great potential; Mamen did not doubt this. Whether in the game or the anime, Gladion's strength was ultimately very great.

One could say that among all the locals in the Alola region, aside from Hala's grandson Hau, no one had higher potential than Gladion; as for Moon? She was not a local of Alola; she had moved from Kanto.

Furthermore, Gladion possessed Type: Null, a legendary Pokémon created by the Aether Foundation specifically to target Ultra Beasts; once it evolves into Silvally later, its combat power will be very strong.

Gladion naturally understood Mamen's meaning; the hands resting on his legs involuntarily slowly clenched into fists, and his heart was in violent turmoil.

But remembering that nightmare-like mother and his lovely sister, Gladion gritted his teeth.

"I... want to become stronger!"

Gladion spoke word by word.

"I will become stronger! As long as you can make me stronger, I will join you! I will never regret it!"

Gladion looked up at Mamen and said in a deep voice.

Yes, this was Gladion; he had escaped Aether Paradise to become stronger; he wanted to break free from Lusamine's control; he wanted to protect his sister.

"Of course, that is no problem at all; Gladion, your joining is very welcome."

Mamen broke into a brilliant smile, stood up, and extended his hand to Gladion, welcoming this new colleague.

Excellent, excellent; my Team Rocket has gained another fierce general!

Grazio stood up and silently shook hands with Mamon.

He had already made his choice, though he still didn't know whether this decision was truly the right one.

"Trust me, Grazio—Team Rocket will give you the best stage. Whether it's resources or Pokémon, we'll provide you with the very best. Of course, you'll have to earn it yourself."

Mamon said with a smile.

"I'm quite optimistic about you, Grazio. But since you haven't earned any merit yet, you'll start from the bottom. It just so happens you need some tempering, don't you?"

"That's fine, but…"

Grazio hesitated for a moment.

"If you have any issues, you can speak plainly."

"Stealing Pokémon from passersby—I won't do that."

Grazio still voiced his condition. He had the resolve to plunge into darkness, but he also had his own bottom line.

"Relax, we're not Team Skull—that kind of chaff we've long discarded." Mamon said casually.

Grazio also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Next, you'll be following Bormeli for now. The Hunter organization here on Melemele Island has already been cleared out, but the other three islands haven't started yet."

"As long as you work hard, you'll climb the ranks quickly."

Mamon walked over, patted Grazio on the shoulder, and said with a smile.

"Power, wealth, status, Pokémon—as long as you do well enough, you'll have them all."

"I just want to get stronger," Grazio said flatly.

"Of course, but getting stronger can't be separated from excellent Pokémon. As long as you have enough merit, you can apply to the organization to exchange for Pokémon with outstanding talent." Mamon neither affirmed nor denied.

"The organization has professional Pokémon breeding bases and farms, managed by excellent breeders who raise large numbers of Pokémon young—there are quite a few precious Pokémon from various regions among them, as well as young of the quasi-legendaries."

"Grazio, if you want to get stronger and climb to the peak, Pokémon with outstanding talent are essential—they can save you from many detours."

Mamon reminded Grazio.

Grazio was lost in thought for a moment, then nodded to show he understood.

"Come, let me show you the top-tier rewards in the organization."

Mamon took out a tablet, tapped into Team Rocket's exclusive app, and opened the exchange page.

Grazio was shocked—wait, is Team Rocket this in step with the times?

They even have an exclusive app?

(End of chapter)