Chapter 172: That's Right, Team Rocket Is My True Home!

"Silver? Your younger brother?"

Hearing this, Rika and Iju were both stunned, staring in shock at the handsome youth before them.

Silver, the two of them were certainly not unfamiliar with; after all, they grew up together, and in a sense, could even be called childhood friends.

But the two truly never expected that one day, Silver's older brother would actually find them.

"Ah~ Do I not look like him?" Mamon's smile deepened.

"Indeed, very different." Rika carefully sized up Mamon, unable to help but click her tongue in amazement.

It would be more accurate to say that except for a certain similarity in the contours of their features, everything else was truly nothing alike.

Silver was a silent, cold person, and usually kept strangers at a distance.

Whereas the man before them who claimed to be Silver's brother looked like a social terrorist.

"If the two of you know Silver's whereabouts, could you please tell me? After all, it has been ten years, and I miss him very much; my father, I fear, misses him greatly as well."

Mamon took it lightly, still speaking with a smile.

"I'm very sorry, young man. Although I would like to tell you so your family can reunite, currently we are also searching for Silver; we do not know where he has gone."

Rika smoothed her beautiful gray-blue long curly hair, shrugged, and said helplessly.

"I see. Then may I have the honor of treating the two of you to a drink?"

Mamon was not too surprised; his gaze focused heavily on Rika. Compared to Iju, he valued Rika more.

"This occasion is not really appropriate, and besides, young man..."

Rika's lazy, charming eyes swept past Caitlin behind Mamon, keenly noticing Caitlin's displeased emotion toward her.

Rika's lips curled up slightly, a trace of malice appearing.

"I have no interest in a drink, but if it were a candlelight dinner, I might consider it properly."

Rika gave Mamon a flirtatious wink.

"Oh?" Mamon raised an eyebrow.

"But there is no time today; let's meet again next time, young man."

Rika waved goodbye to Mamon, twisting her small waist as she slowly walked away with Iju.

Mamon slightly narrowed his eyes, watching the backs of Rika and Iju disappear from his sight.

"My lord Mamon, should we send someone to follow them?" Gladio asked Mamon in a low voice.

After all, it appeared that Mamon's younger brother seemed to be related to the two of them.

"No need; there will be another chance." Mamon shook his head.

Rika and Iju are currently members of the Mask Organization; the so-called Mask Organization is an organization composed of children kidnapped by Ho-Oh and Lugia across Kanto ten years ago, along with an old monster.

According to the situation, Blue and Silver should have already defected from the Mask Organization, while Rika and Iju are responsible for pursuing these two traitors, especially Blue.

Because when Blue escaped, she took a very important treasure of the old monster.

"It seems you value that woman very much, Mamon." Caitlin asked as if casually.

"Correct, her strength is excellent; she can be recruited into the organization."

Mamon did not hide it; he indeed valued Rika quite highly.

Unlike Iju; Iju is merely an ordinary Elite Four-level trainer; although he is a difficult Psychic-type, that is all.

But Rika's strength is outstanding!

As the head of the Johto Elite Four in the special series, Rika's strength is absolutely Champion-level; after all, she overcame Chuck by reversing type advantages and became the leader of the Johto Elite Four.

"I see." Caitlin nodded; she had already seen that Mamon's attitude toward Rika was somewhat ambiguous.

But if it is valuing Rika's strength, it can be explained.

And at this moment, on Rika's side.

"Those three people just now were very strange." Iju said in a low voice, his tone very serious.

"That woman with golden hair, she is also a Psychic-type, and very strong."

Iju is also a Psychic-type, so he could feel Caitlin's terror even more.

"Do you need to say that? I fear this incident is inseparable from those three people just now." Rika frowned slightly.

"And... how did he know we know Silver?" Rika's fair face was unpredictable.

This was the point that confused her the most; the Mask Organization hid very deeply, after all, Mask Man strictly ordered that they could not expose the organization's existence when acting outside.

Silver has been defected for some time; the two of them have been searching for Blue and Silver's whereabouts, but have made no progress, let alone exposing their relationship with Silver.

"How interesting~"

Unable to figure it out, Rika stopped her steps slightly, turned back to glance at the huge, formidable Rayquaza in the sky, and slowly grinned.

Did this suddenly appearing Rayquaza become your masterpiece?

The Pokémon Association in Goldenrod City was attacked by Rayquaza and terrorists; this heavyweight news instantly spread across the Kanto region online.

This was no different from setting off a 'tsunami'; criminals attacking a city so brazenly in broad daylight naturally caused fear.

And the Kanto League immediately issued a statement, stating that the public need not worry; the Pokémon League would absolutely guarantee everyone's safety.

They were also fully searching for the wanted criminals, determined to capture and bring them to justice; currently, the criminals have already fled Goldenrod City; please rest assured, everyone.

But in reality...

Inside an underground base in Goldenrod City.

"Young master Mamon, you are truly... causing such a huge commotion as soon as you arrive."

The speaker was a man with a small, thin build resembling a child; his face did not look very good at the moment.

Because his main seat, which originally belonged to him, was currently being 'occupied' by Mamon; moreover, Mamon even put his two legs on his desk.

This made the dwarf man's face twitch irregularly, because with his short arms and legs, he was obviously unable to do this.

"This is the way of greeting our Kanto Rocket Team should have; Chakra, I heard you have been a bit restless lately."

Mamen took a sip of juice, looking at the dwarf man with a half-smile.

His name was Chakra, the leader of the Rocket's Three Beasts. Although his stature was as short as a child's, perhaps it was precisely this abnormal build that led to his twisted psychology.

Chakra had a violent and cruel personality, and was extremely self-centered and insane; he could be called a standard member of a truly evil organization.

After all... what kind of decent person could carry eleven Forretress with them to use as bombs?

"What are you talking about? I, Chakra, am utterly loyal to the boss and have never dared to harbor any second thoughts."

Cold sweat instantly broke out on Chakra's forehead, and he hurriedly professed his loyalty.

"I didn't say you had second thoughts about the Rocket Team, did I?" Mamen's smile deepened at the corner of his mouth. "Why are you so anxious?"

Chakra's face turned even more grim, but he still lowered his head and dared not speak again.

He did have ambition, but that could only be when he was not in front of Giovanni or Mamen. Although Chakra was arrogant and overbearing, he clearly knew which people in the Rocket Team he could not provoke.

Especially today, Mamen had just arrived in Johto and immediately created such a huge news sensation.

"Chakra, do as much as your ability allows." Mamen slowly stood up, bent down, and patted Chakra's shoulder.

"The boss sent you to Johto to expand the Rocket Team's territory, which also shows he values your abilities greatly. As long as you do not overstep, I believe you will definitely achieve a brilliant result in Johto, right?"

Mamen looked into Chakra's eyes with deep meaning.

People like Chakra certainly had abilities; that was beyond doubt, but if he wasn't tapped on the shoulder occasionally, he would easily jump.

"Young Master Mamen speaks the truth." Chakra lowered his head.

"How is the matter I asked you to investigate going?"

"I am very sorry. We have not yet found any clear whereabouts of Lugia. However, in the Whirl Islands, we have found many legends and stories about Lugia. Perhaps that is Lugia's habitat."

Chakra hurriedly reported. A few days ago, Mamen had already contacted him and ordered him to send people to search for Lugia's whereabouts with all their might.

But obviously, finding the whereabouts of a legendary Pokémon like Lugia was truly no simple task.

"Well done. Continue the investigation. I will stay here for a few days."

Mamen nodded. He naturally knew this news, but that alone was not enough.

Mamen's target was the pair of Lugia, mother and son, from the anime; he did not know if they existed in this world.

Mamen was still very interested in raising a young Lugia.

"Yes. Do you need us to arrange accommodation for you?" Chakra expressed his enthusiasm.

"No need. By the way, what about that guy Xie Si?" Mamen glanced behind Chakra, seeing only Ouka and Saki.

Mamen's gaze lingered on Saki for an instant before moving away; it was not yet time to reveal that card.

"I have already notified him, but he has not replied." Chakra immediately distanced himself from Xie Si.

"Recently, I heard that Xie Si has been searching for information on Celebi; perhaps he is interested in it." Chakra reported cautiously.

He was also very dissatisfied with Xie Si. Xie Si's character was also arrogant and presumptuous, and Chakra had long wanted to deal with him.

But Xie Si was, after all, a high-ranking executive. Although Chakra investigated secretly, he did not dare to target him directly in the open.

"Tsk~ A dog that doesn't listen and has rebellious thoughts is not worth keeping. Chakra, Xie Si attacked a colleague with the intent to betray. You handle it. Just feed him to the fish. We Rocket Team don't lack one person anyway."

Mamen made a tsk sound and gave the order lightly.

Compared to Chakra, that guy Xie Si was even more of a top-tier specimen. As long as Chakra had Mamen and Giovanni suppressing him, at least he could still obediently listen and be used.

But that guy Xie Si had great ambitions but little talent. Keeping him was just wasting food; letting Chakra deal with him was fine.

"Yes!" Chakra felt both excitement and a chill down his spine.

A high-ranking executive, and Mamen really just cleaned him up on the spot.

"Keep a closer eye on the Whirl Islands. If you discover any trace of Lugia, notify me immediately."

Mamen reminded Chakra of this again with emphasis.

"Please rest assured." Chakra nodded solemnly.

"Hmm." Mamen nodded and left the office with Caitlin and the others.

"Saki, arrange the personnel. We will go find Xie Si."

After Mamen left, a cruel smile stretched across Chakra's lips.

"Alright. Shouldn't we report to the boss? Chakra, Xie Si is, after all, a high-ranking executive." Saki feigned concern.

"Hmph~ No need. Since the young master said so, we just follow suit." Chakra snorted coldly.

Indeed, by the rules, one should report to Giovanni, since Giovanni was the boss. But although Chakra was not in Kanto, he also knew that Mamen was now the actual ruler of the Rocket Team.

And Giovanni had almost completely retreated to the background.

"I understand."

Saki nodded and turned to go down to arrange the personnel, but after walking out of the office, her gloomy, pale face was furrowed, and her eyes constantly shifted between gloom and brightness.

The recent changes in the Rocket Team had indeed appeared, especially today when she hid in the shadows and witnessed that powerful Rayquaza with her own eyes.

And the Caitlin and Cynthia behind Mamen; both of them were Champion-level trainers!!

The Rocket Team was growing and becoming stronger at a rapid pace...

For Saki, this was not a good thing, because... her true identity was, damn it, a Team Galactic spy!!

"Perhaps..."

Saki's eyes flickered uncertainly. She felt she had to make a choice soon. There is a saying: "A good bird chooses its tree to perch on."

If she waited until the day her identity was exposed, she would probably meet the same fate as Xie Si, thrown directly into the sea by Mamen to feed the fish.

Saki reached her hand into her pocket and tightly gripped a Poké Ball, but her heart was still very hesitant.

Although from a rational perspective, the Rocket Team seemed to have more future, Team Galactic was her original home.

But very quickly, Saki made her decision.

Team Galactic? What trash organization. I was born to shed my blood and pour my life for the Rocket Team!!

That's right, the Rocket Team is my home!

(End of this chapter)