Chapter 67: Damn! That Damn Team Rocket!

Indeed, the results Mamon spoke of were all true, and Kukui admitted as much.

But Kukui did not agree, for in his view, this was all sophistry.

What Mamon was saying now was nothing more than fabricating pretexts and mistaking the effect for the cause!

The result is this, but what about the original intention?

The original intention of Team Rocket was entirely for their own benefit; that is the difference.

"Mr. Mamon, is that all you wish to say?" Kukui remained very calm.

"Oh?" Mamon looked at Kukui with a half-smile, waiting for his next words.

"These are all one-sided claims from you: snatching Pokémon from passersby, using Pokémon for genetic experiments, maliciously seizing ordinary people's enterprises, secretly accepting commissions that violate the law..."

Kukui listed the past crimes of Team Rocket one by one; he did not even need to verify them personally.

Because this was the reason the Kanto Team Rocket was explicitly wanted by the Kanto League.

"Even last month, Team Rocket hijacked the S. S. Anne, luring trainers aboard under the guise of a trainer event, attempting to steal their Pokémon."

Kukui's eyes fixed tightly on Mamon as he cited a fresh example.

"Mr. Mamon, do you still intend to argue?"

There was no need to refute what Mamon said, because Team Rocket's crimes were simply too numerous.

"I do not deny it, but what does that have to do with me?" Mamon admitted it openly.

As for the S. S. Anne incident, it was indeed true; Mamon had learned some details from Giovanni. This was a plan orchestrated by Apollo.

It was said to be for a certain very precious Pokémon, but in the end, the plan failed because two powerful young trainers defeated all the Team Rocket members on the S. S. Anne.

"?" Kukui was stunned upon hearing this.

"Dr. Kukui, that was done by the Kanto Team Rocket; what does it have to do with my Alolan Team Rocket?"

Mamon's tone was very self-righteous as he directly performed a holy severance.

Kukui fell silent involuntarily.

"Snatching Pokémon from passersby is a very foolish act with meager profits; genetic biological experiments are even more against heaven and earth; as for seizing others' enterprises? Our own companies can develop to prosperity and rank among the world's top hundred enterprises; why would we need to occupy others' nests?"

Mamon refuted the examples Kukui listed one by one.

"Are you trying to say that your Team Rocket is different from the Kanto Team Rocket?"

Kukui now understood Mamon's meaning.

"Isn't that obvious?" Mamon smiled in response.

Kukui frowned in thought, various thoughts flashing through his mind as he recalled the situation after Team Rocket appeared in Alola.

After a while, Kukui looked deeply at the evil-looking youth before him.

He roughly guessed Mamon's thoughts; this guy joining Team Rocket was not at all for the purpose of developing Team Rocket into a greater power.

No, it would be more accurate to say it was not just about developing Team Rocket; what he wanted was his own Team Rocket!

Otherwise, why would Mamon have to emphasize the distinction between the Alolan Team Rocket and the Kanto Team Rocket?

"What exactly do you want to say?"

"Legitimization. I want Team Rocket to be legalized in Alola itself."

"Impossible!"

Kukui refused without hesitation; this was an utterly impossible thing.

"Mr. Mamon, have you thought about the consequences of doing this?"

Legalizing Team Rocket in Alola? Was this damn thing trying to kill Alola?

Even if the Alolan Team Rocket had not yet carried out any heinous activities locally in Alola, the Kanto Team Rocket was an evil organization wanted by the Kanto League.

And if the Alolan Team Rocket were legalized, would Alola not be openly opposing the Kanto League?

What difference is there between this damn thing and Alola declaring war on Kanto?

"Do not be so agitated, Dr. Kukui." Mamon, of course, knew this was impossible, and spoke to Kukui with a smile.

"Since Dr. Kukui is unwilling, I will not force you, but what I wish to say is that fighting us Alolan Team Rocket to the death brings no benefits to you, correct?"

"The more prosperous the Alola region becomes, the more beneficial it is for me, with a hundred benefits and no harm."

Mamon organized his wording, trying to avoid touching Kukui's sensitive areas; he knew Kukui's heart was gradually compromising.

"To be honest, does Team Rocket lying low in the underground of Alola bring any harm to the Alola region?"

"There are many things you yourselves cannot handle well or do not know how to handle in a short time, right? But we Team Rocket are very professional in this regard."

"Evil organizations like the Skull Gang, and tumor-like Hunter organizations, we Team Rocket will absolutely not allow them to appear."

"And as for things like Ultra Beasts, as soon as they appear, our organization will also mobilize immediately to protect those innocent civilians from harm."

Mamon described the benefits Team Rocket would bring to the Alola region one by one.

"And what we want is nothing more than to coexist peacefully with your side on this land of Alola."

After all, competing and clashing with Kukui and others would be extremely detrimental to the development of the Alolan Team Rocket.

Especially since Mamon could not stay in the Alola region forever, and once Mamon left, Kukui, a Champion-level trainer, along with the Island Kahunas, would inevitably attack the Alolan Team Rocket, which would surely affect Team Rocket's profits.

Even with Lusamine as this hidden chess piece, this point could not be avoided.

"..." Kukui fell into a long silence, but in reality, a storm was raging within his heart.

Reason was frantically warning him not to make a deal with a tiger, especially since this Alolan Team Rocket led by Mamon was a greedy, powerful man-eating tiger.

"I need to discuss this with Hala and the others; this is not a decision I can make alone." Kukui spoke to Mamon in a heavy voice.

"Of course, but I still hope Dr. Kukui and you can view our Alolan Team Rocket rationally. I can assure you that we Alolan Team Rocket are all law-abiding citizens."

Mamon smiled in response; the fact that Kukui did not directly refuse was already a very good signal.

Kukui: "..."

Law-abiding citizens? Hehehe...

Kukui of course didn't believe it. The Team Rocket under Mammor's command in Alola really wasn't as viciously evil as the Team Rocket in Kanto, but to say Mammor's Team Rocket were good citizens?

That would be complete bullshit!

Or rather, in Kukui's view, the danger of Alola's Team Rocket was completely hidden beneath that "harmless" exterior.

Having cast aside the Kanto Team Rocket's "flamboyant" evil deeds of making enemies on all sides, Alola's Team Rocket focused on low-key development, like a venomous snake coiled in the shadows waiting to strike.

Moreover… Alola's Team Rocket's ambitions were in no way smaller than Kanto's.

Mammor looked harmless on the surface, but Kukui, who had seen Mammor's "evil" side, knew very well that this youngster was absolutely ambitious and ruthless — by no means a good sort.

Kukui's mood was heavy; his feelings at this moment were truly complicated. Agree to coexist with Alola's Team Rocket, let Alola's Team Rocket operate in Alola's underworld?

That would absolutely be raising a tiger to cause disaster, and it would be giving Alola's Team Rocket the chance to gnaw away at the Alola region.

But to completely turn against Alola's Team Rocket and fight to the bitter end? Setting aside whether they could even wipe out Alola's Team Rocket.

At this point in time, tearing faces with Alola's Team Rocket and engaging in open battle — could they even win?

Although they could ask the Kanto League for reinforcements and call in help, Alola's Team Rocket could also completely play turtle for a while, lying low and avoiding battle, making it even harder to deal with later.

Dammit!! Kukui's head was swelling. Damn that Team Rocket! Why did they have to come to our Alola!

(End of chapter)