Chapter 22: Lillie, This Matter of Yours Is Not Easy to Handle

"I see. Lillie wants to meet with us?"

Inside the villa, Mamon swirled the blood-red wine in his goblet, a smile of keen interest curling his lips.

"Yes." Guzma, who had come specially from the entertainment city, nodded.

"The Aether Foundation has always had a very positive reputation in Alola. The Foundation's President actually has contact with you, Mr. Guzma?"

Caitlin spotted the blind spot and voiced her confusion.

"And why would she want to meet with us, an evil organization?"

Caitlin felt something was very wrong.

"I don't know either, but Lillie is not as righteous and great as she appears on the surface. Before... I was working for Lillie."

After a moment of hesitation, Guzma spoke thus.

He did not know Lillie's purpose, but having contacted her a few times, though her temper was indeed short-tempered, Guzma was not completely without brains; he could see that Lillie was acting strangely.

"Of course, Young Master, I am no longer in contact with Lillie now."

Fearing Mamon might misunderstand, Guzma hurriedly stated his position.

He felt he was born to be a member of Team Rocket!!! Loyalty!

"No harm. Everyone has a past."

Mamon expressed his trust in Guzma.

"Since Lillie wants to meet us, there is no reason to refuse. Guzma, arrange a time with her."

Mamon spoke with a light laugh; he had roughly guessed what Lillie wanted to do with them.

But it was just right; he also had his own ideas about the Aether Foundation.

"Good!" Guzma immediately called Lillie on the spot.

Time quickly arrived two days later.

And as expected, the response to the Alpaca Entertainment City was very good; especially the arcade inside the entertainment city, which was almost packed to the brim every single day.

Nothing else, because the highest rewards in the arcade were Dratini, Larvitar, and Jangmo-o.

The juvenile forms of these three pseudo-legendary Pokémon were too attractive to many people.

Whether exchanging them to raise themselves, keeping them as pets, or trading them with others, all were excellent choices.

One must say, in this world themed around Pokémon, precious Pokémon never lack a market.

Moreover, most people playing in the arcade were just playing for the 'gamble'; betting small to win big is an temptation most people cannot refuse.

Where are the gambling dogs who lose every single day, right?

With this thought, even if they couldn't exchange for Dratini and the others, obtaining rare Pokémon like Eevee or Poryong would be completely worth it, wouldn't it?

So the arcade exploded, so the arcade made a fortune; not just on Melemele Island, but people even came specially from other islands to play.

And today in Alola, it was another fine day.

In a private room of a high-end hotel, Mamon sized up the glamorous woman sitting opposite him.

A head of gorgeous, smooth golden long hair, skin very Bai Xi, a figure very slender; a white-gold slim-fit dress outlined her slender, soft waist, while black-and-white long pants perfectly displayed her long, straight legs.

A very beautiful and glamorous woman, and different from Caitlin, who was also golden-haired and glamorous.

Lillie's mature and dignified temperament was completely different from Caitlin's; she also possessed the leadership aura of someone long accustomed to a high position, making her extraordinariness apparent at a single glance.

She was Lillie, President of the Aether Foundation, and the creator of the Aether Paradise artificial island.

She was a very capable woman; the Aether Foundation was only a small foundation organization many years ago.

But under Lillie's leadership, it had now clearly become a dominant force in the Alola region, with even its base being an artificial island like Aether Paradise.

In the eyes of the Alolan people, the Aether Foundation was a very kind organization.

Because the Aether Foundation's mission was to protect injured Pokémon, especially those harmed by Team Skull.

And Lillie, the President of the Aether Foundation, was full of love for Pokémon; she was a person with ability, responsibility, and a sense of duty.

This was how the people of Alola viewed her.

But actually, no one knew that since her husband, Professor Mohn, went missing while researching Ultra Space, Lillie had started to change.

Her love for Pokémon began to twist; she wanted to incorporate all Pokémon into her collection.

Her most intense desire was the Ultra Beasts within Ultra Space!

It was precisely because Gradgio and Lillie gradually discovered their mother beginning to 'change', and being suppressed by Lillie's dictatorship to the point of near suffocation, that they successively escaped Aether Paradise, wanting to break free from Lillie's control.

But this was unknown to outsiders; in the eyes of ordinary people, Lillie was still that Gao Ya, unconventional, and loving Foundation President.

"Chairman Lillie, I have heard your name with great reverence."

Mamon did not hide his gaze, scanning Lillie up and down; one must say, although Lillie was the mother of two children.

Her appearance truly gave no indication of it; even though she was in the tropical Alola region, Lillie's skin was actually so Bai Xi and lustrous.

Her beautiful appearance made it completely impossible to tell that this woman was already forty years old.

For example, Caitlin was quite surprised at this moment; Lillie's photos looked very young, and she had originally thought it was beauty filters.

Who would have thought Lillie herself looked even 'younger' than in the photos? How did she maintain herself like that?

"The name of Team Rocket is also thunderous in my ears; I never expected your organization to come to Alola."

Lillie's dark eyebrows furrowed imperceptibly; the young man opposite her, with his unrestrained gaze scanning her body, made her very displeased.

However, she had come this time to ask for a favor; besides, Team Rocket was an evil organization, so Lillie merely tolerated it.

"Alola is a good place, and I feel it has great potential." Mamon leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on Lillie's face.

"Then I wonder, Chairman Lillie, what specifically do you want from our Team Rocket?"

"I wish to request your organization's help; of course, I will provide compensation."

Lillie said indifferently.

"Tsk~" Mamon couldn't help but make a tsking sound.

"Easy enough, President Lusamine is too polite. Then please speak plainly—has someone offended you?" Mamon asked with feigned curiosity.

"No, I wish to request your organization's help in finding two people and bringing them back."

Lusamine's tone remained calm; she took out a photograph, placed it on the table, and slid it toward Mamon.

"Oh?"

Mamon raised an eyebrow, picked up the photo, and glanced at it; sure enough, it was Gladion and Lillie.

Mamon was not surprised at all; after all, if Lusamine sought a villainous organization, there were only so many options.

In the game, she had used Guzma to mobilize the Team Skull forces to find Lillie, but now that Team Skull had merged into Team Rocket, she could only turn to Team Rocket.

"President Lusamine, this matter of yours is not easy to handle."

Mamon's finger traced over Lillie's face in the photograph, and he gave Lusamine a half-smiling, half-serious expression.

Lusamine's brows immediately knitted tightly together.

(End of this chapter)