Chapter 31: I Can Sit on This Team Rocket Boss Throne Too!

Recently Kukui hasn't been sleeping well; originally, because of Mochizuki's "meteoric rise," his mood had been quite good.

A "monster" with such talent as Mochizuki is precisely the harbinger of Alola's rising star!

He planned to wait a while longer, then travel to the Kanto region again to apply for establishing the Alola League; though he didn't know if it would succeed, he had to try.

But recent subtle discoveries made him sense the storm brewing beneath Alola's calm surface.

The Team Skull sudden disbandment and Guzma opening an entertainment complex—these two matters truly left Kukui completely baffled.

It was far too strange, but now he understood.

"So is it confirmed? Really the Team Rocket from the Kanto region?"

Kukui frowned deeply; he was currently on a video call, and it was a group call.

The other three were precisely Hala, the Island King of Melemele Island; Molayne, the Island King of Ula'ula Island; and Olivia, the Island Kahuna of Akala Island.

One could say these were the individuals with the highest authority and power in the Alola region at present.

"Yes, I interrogated them personally. Black uniforms with a large capital letter 'R' on them; it is undoubtedly Team Rocket."

Hala said in a deep voice.

His subordinates had accidentally captured several disheveled Pokémon Hunters; after interrogation, they learned that their bases had been swept clean by someone, and they themselves had been driven to hide everywhere.

And the ones who swept clean the Pokémon Hunters' bases were actually the evil organization Team Rocket!

This...

Hala was stunned at the time; he wasn't familiar with Team Rocket, but he had heard of them by force, yet the problem was...

"Isn't Team Rocket only active in the Kanto region? How could they appear over here?" Olivia asked, puzzled.

The distance between the Kanto region and the Alola region is quite far, after all.

"Sigh~ What a troubled season," Molayne pressed his forehead and couldn't help but sigh.

"Expanding territory; for an evil organization like Team Rocket, there wouldn't be any other reason," Kukui said helplessly.

"In that case, the disbandment of Team Skull probably cannot be separated from Team Rocket; Team Rocket is now cleaning up the last dark forces on Melemele Island."

Kukui made a reasonable guess: since Team Rocket had come to the Alola region, the first thing they would definitely do was go look for trouble with Team Skull.

And now the result has already proven it: Team Skull is gone, and Guzma... is probably also joined Team Rocket.

"They come with ill intent; this is a man-eating tiger," Hala said in a low voice.

Molayne sighed again.

"Is it that exaggerated?" Olivia felt the three of them seemed to be making a mountain out of a molehill.

"Even if Team Rocket is troublesome, this is our Alola," Olivia said calmly, hands on her hips.

Team Rocket's roots are ultimately in the Kanto region; even if they are expanding outward, they absolutely cannot send out all their personnel.

And Alola and Kanto are separated by a vast ocean; travel between them requires time, let alone reinforcements.

"Compared to meaningless worry here, we should just send people to investigate Team Rocket's base, then we can all act together to eliminate them."

Olivia smoothed her hair, revealing a charming, confident smile.

"Let Team Rocket see the power of our Alola too. Honestly, so many regions to choose from, yet they pick our Alola; what does this mean? Do they look down on us?"

As the youngest Island Kahuna at present, Olivia indeed had the qualification to be proud, and she didn't feel that Team Rocket in Alola would be difficult to deal with.

Nonsense; although our Alola region has no League, nor four Elite Four members and a Champion, does that mean our Alola is weak?

The three Island Kings are all Elite Four-level powerful trainers, and Kukui is even Champion-level!

There is also Kukui's good friend Lusamine, Molayne's chosen successor Acerola, and the Champion of the Island Challenge from a few years ago, who is now traveling the world, Kahili; they are all Elite Four-level. (Lusamine and Kahili are the Alola Elite Four from "Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon".)

Do they really think our Alola region is easy to bully, you bastards!!

Olivia felt she alone could handle this Alola Team Rocket branch; she was the Island Kahuna of Akala Island, after all!

"What Olivia says makes sense; let's send people to investigate first. Regardless, we cannot allow Team Rocket to develop recklessly in our Alola," Hala, as the oldest Island King, said in a deep voice.

Team Rocket is an evil organization; without thinking, one knows they must come with ill intent.

"If you discover traces of Team Rocket, do not act rashly."

"Hmm, let's leave it at that for now."

"We must Needs Emphasis observe Guzma; I suspect Guzma has probably already joined Team Rocket."

Kukui added a sentence; his intuition was always very accurate.

After discussing a few more points, the group ended the video call. Kukui looked at the sea outside the laboratory, his expression heavy and profound.

The Team Rocket that could develop under the Kanto League's very nose must be extraordinary, especially for a region like theirs that hasn't even established a regional League yet.

But the only thing worth rejoicing is that Team Rocket certainly won't mobilize everyone; we don't know how many Team Rocket experts have come to Alola this time.

Inside a villa on Melemele Island.

"Young Master, I'm afraid Hala has already sensed our presence."

Lance lowered his head and respectfully addressed Mamon, who was holding Domino.

"According to my subordinates' report, some fleeing Pokémon Hunters have been captured by Hala's men."

"It's fine; this was only a matter of time."

Mamon, holding Domino's soft, slender waist, replied indifferently.

In fact, it was rather slow for the Island Kings to discover Team Rocket's existence only now.

But it wasn't strange; aside from wiping out Pokémon Hunter bases, Team Rocket's other activities were currently very obscure.

"Continue the cleanup operation; have Guzma and Caitlin go together to completely eradicate the underground forces on Melemele Island," Mamon ordered.

"Yes, I will notify Caitlin and Guzma."

Lance nodded; the cleanup operation on Melemele Island had always been under Caitlin's responsibility.

"Young Master, recent operations will probably make Hala's side alert," Domino asked, puzzled.

"I should at least say hello to them. After all, we'll all be 'friends' developing together in the same region, right?"

A slow grin spread across Mamon's mouth. He had long wanted to meet up properly with Hala and the others.

"Young Master, you want to appear in person? But what about the Boss's side?"

Lance was a little worried. After all, the fact that Mamon was Giovanni's son was not hidden from the public.

Once Mamon became a high-ranking executive of Team Rocket, when the people from the Kanto League compared notes with Hala and the others, wouldn't Giovanni, as the father, end up being investigated?

"Don't worry. I've already thought it through. I'll just have that old man cut ties with me when the time comes."

"Huh?" Lance was stunned.

"A true man born between Heaven and Earth—how could he sulk and remain beneath others for long? When the time is right, that old man should step aside and yield his place to me, and go be his Gym Leader in peace."

"I, Mamon, am the one who can lead Team Rocket to rise! That Boss seat—I want to sit in it too!"

Mamon's mouth stretched into a wide grin, wild and unrestrained beyond words.

Lance: (⊙. ⊙)

Domino: (°—°)

(End of Chapter)