Haunter provided support to Matori.
After a brief moment, Matori's eyes slowly opened.
"Hey!"
Matori immediately exploded with energy, jumping aside and regarding Luke with a suspicious look.
Luke felt somewhat helpless. "If I told you it was Haunter's Hypnosis... Would you believe it?"
Matori was startled for a moment, then shook her head vehemently, her trust in Luke faltering.
No wonder Boss Giovanni advised me to stay vigilant, Matori thought to herself. First, he used words to put me at ease, and then he had Haunter launch a surprise attack. If I were carrying weapons, I might have been brutally defeated!
She cast another glance at Luke, and her face blushed slightly as she cleared her throat, pushing up her glasses frames with trembling hands. She inexplicably felt a sense of loss when she realized that her clothes were intact.
"So, which organization are you here to invite me to join?" Luke asked in his thoughts.
Considering that he was dealing with someone from Giovanni's team, Luke didn't see too many possibilities for other organizations.
Suddenly, Matori snapped back to reality, her expression serious. "This isn't the right place... If possible, please allow me to invite you to our headquarters."
While there were legitimate enterprises associated with Team Rocket in the Orient, it wasn't suitable for negotiation. Matori's suggestion to meet at their headquarters was a gesture of goodwill.
Luke was taken aback for a moment. She wanted him to visit Team Rocket's headquarters?
Why did this sound so strange?
"You want me to join Team Rocket, right?" Luke said calmly. "I'm not interested. Please excuse me."
Matori was surprised. She held a position of high authority within Team Rocket, but she rarely made appearances. This time, she had infiltrated Orient under a false identity, believing that she had concealed her true intentions well. But why had he been able to deduce her identity with just a sentence? Were other organizations' information networks infiltrating Team Rocket as well?
Matori was horrified, and her tone became more respectful. "Yes, that is indeed my mission."
Luke sighed. "I'm just an ordinary content creator in the gaming world. Although Team Rocket has legitimate business operations, joining a criminal organization is not something I'd consider."
"Please reconsider," Matori implored.
Luke picked up the vegetable basket and said, "I have to get back to cooking."
"Jie jie~!"
Haunter waved to Matori, eager to devour a hot dinner and sang joyfully.
Matori fell silent, gazing at Luke's retreating figure as he walked away with the vegetable basket. She couldn't help but see him in a different light now, viewing him as a seasoned expert.
"Your Excellency Luke!" Matori called out. "We can discuss the details of your compensation!"
Luke raised an eyebrow and continued walking without stopping. "You won't force me to join?"
Matori tried to entice him, "The salary is quite attractive!"
Luke chuckled, his expression unchanged. "If I don't need to join Team Rocket and still get paid, then sure."
In the night, Matori watched Teacher Luke, the handsome content creator, slowly walking away. She suddenly felt a sense of nervousness creeping in.
Luke handed the vegetable basket to Matori and said, "Take this for now, and we can continue talking as we walk."
...
In a pavilion, a security guard yawned while on duty.
Two figures approached in the dimly lit night, and the guard grumbled with irritation, "This is the second time! Youngsters these days have no interest in being trainers and are just messing around with relationships."
Teacher Luke's residence appeared somewhat aged, but it might also be a well-concealed hideout.
Matori considered this as a sign of respect, noticing a touch of admiration on her face.
"Excuse me." Matori, now barefoot, removed her high heels.
Luke didn't say a word, but his peculiar behavior—sniffing his nose and discreetly taking a half-step back—did not escape Matori's notice.
In an instant, Matori's face turned crimson as she realized the meaning behind Luke's actions. Had he seriously taken a step back because of her?
Eevee voiced her discontent with an indignant "Vui~!!"
Squirtle had withdrawn and secluded itself, while Haunter remained unfazed and even took out its Toxic Orb, licking it a couple of times.
"Maybe... I should stand outside and speak," Matori suggested softly.
"Sure," Luke agreed.
Matori couldn't help but feel puzzled. Wasn't this just a matter of politeness?
However, she had already spoken, so she gritted her teeth and positioned herself outside the door. She began to speak humbly, "Even though Master Giovanni mentioned that it was unnecessary, I believe it's important to explain his intentions..."
Considering that he could receive a salary without having to join Team Rocket, Luke tolerated her rambling and occasionally nodded in response.
Matori's speech grew increasingly animated, and excitement flushed her cheeks.
Luke furrowed his brow and pinched his nose.
Suddenly, Matori's demeanor resembled a frost-bitten eggplant as she said, "So these two conditions are set by Master Giovanni..."
Teacher Luke's enthusiasm surged out of nowhere.
Seeing Matori appearing somewhat disheartened, Luke consoled her, saying, "I can understand some of it..."
"Really?" Matori's eyes sparkled with hope.
Luke thought for a moment before nodding.
Giovanni was an exceedingly principled individual. Although his values appeared contrary to those of Red, there was a certain underlying order to his villainy, much like Red's own philosophy...
Viridian Forest would only bestow its blessings upon those who were deemed worthy.
Boss Giovanni, recognized by Viridian Forest, was seen as having a unique form of tenderness...
"I greatly admire Giovanni," Luke said with a slight smile. "He is a figure deserving of the utmost respect as Boss Giovanni."
Matori's eyes welled up with tears.
Now she understood why Master Giovanni had gone to such great lengths to recruit Teacher Luke from a faraway place. Trainers possessed a certain magnetic attraction to each other, and in Teacher Luke, there might be qualities reminiscent of Master Giovanni.
Matori cleared her throat. "Regarding your compensation, here's the arrangement."
"If you choose to join Team Rocket, you will hold the title of Instructor, which is equivalent to the rank of a third executive within our organization. You will enjoy benefits such as the five insurances, a housing fund, shares in legal enterprises, and the authority to make personnel changes..."
"You won't be required to be on active standby; your primary role will be to continue uploading tactical videos."
"In essence, you won't even be a non-staff member of Team Rocket; this was a direct decision made by Master Giovanni himself."
Matori adjusted her glasses frames and said solemnly, "There's no risk involved; all you need to do is give your consent."
Luke fell into deep contemplation.
The offer was enticing—it came with no obligations, only rights. No matter how he looked at it, it was a thrilling proposition. However, Luke had always believed that the burden of owing a favor was the most difficult to bear. With Giovanni's charisma, he could easily be swayed by Teacher Luke, ending up in a position where he owed Master Giovanni a significant debt.
"Is this a test for the executives?" Luke inquired with a smirk.
"Which executive wouldn't pass such a test?" Matori replied, her surprise evident. After all, Kanto Region had come quite close to falling due to Team Rocket's influence...
Matori thought for a moment and added, "There will also be dividends at the end of the year..."
"Executives can receive over 5 million, right?"
Luke coughed abruptly.
A tinge of regret washed over Matori's face.
Seems like it's still not enough...
If this were during Team Rocket's peak, the dividends would easily reach seven figures.
Luke looked perplexed. Though he had the confidence to make such an investment, 5 million was not an insignificant sum.
But the spirit of buying a rare horse bone for his daughter was a bit overwhelming for Luke.
"Let me think it over," Luke pondered, then continued, "Please leave for now."
Since there were no additional conditions and Matori had conveyed the offer, she had completed her mission.
The task was rather straightforward: Luke would continue to post videos and enjoy the privileges and dividends offered by Team Rocket. Even if Interpol arrested Team Rocket, it would have no impact on Teacher Luke.
Despite feeling a bit tempted, Luke decided to consult with his superior.
Matori exited the room.
As she gazed at the closed door and reflected on the evening's events, Matori mumbled to herself, "Indeed... Teacher Luke is someone worthy of Master Giovanni's attention."
...
Luke crossed his arms, lost in thought.
Suddenly, he detected a peculiar scent in the air and made an odd expression.
Perhaps he should consider hiring a cleaning service tomorrow to Defog his home...