Hearing Sabrina's words, Luo Yuan suddenly remembered: he'd forgotten to give her his new number after changing phones in Hoenn.
Actually, it wasn't entirely his fault.
Ever since he arrived in Hoenn, he'd been busy with missions and had been in less contact with Sabrina. And considering Sabrina's own personality, she wasn't exactly the type to initiate calls.
After a while, they basically only exchanged greetings during holidays. So, when he changed numbers, he hadn't remembered to tell her.
As for why Sabrina found out about his new number… Well, it must have been because she knew he was back in Kanto and had tried to reach him—only to get a disconnected line.
"Troublesome…"
Now that Sabrina had brought it up herself, it was obvious she didn't seem as indifferent as she let on. Beneath that calm, gentle expression, there was definitely a hidden undercurrent.
And though he, too, had some psychic powers now, Luo Yuan wasn't entirely sure his mind was strong enough to prevent Sabrina from turning him into a puppet.
"No… I can't just sit back and wait for the worst!"
With a plan in mind, Luo Yuan feigned ignorance with practiced ease.
"Huh? I didn't tell you?"
He nonchalantly took out his phone and called Sabrina's number.
"There, I'm calling you now."
Buzz
A vibration sounded from Sabrina's pocket.
Sabrina, who'd been about to speak, froze for a moment, realizing that Luo Yuan did still remember her number.
Taking advantage of this pause, Luo Yuan quickly changed the topic.
"So, Sabrina, let's discuss our next operation, shall we?"
---
Half an hour later
With a meaningful glance, Sabrina left the headquarters after going over the operation's details.
"Phew…"
Luo Yuan slumped into his chair, exhaling in relief.
"It's finally over."
Who knew how he'd managed to survive that last half-hour!
"How does it feel to be playing two boats at once?" Matori smirked with obvious amusement.
"You better watch it. If it weren't for you stirring the pot…"
Thankfully, he had a knack for thinking on his feet, or things wouldn't have ended so easily today.
"You've got Sabrina and you're still not satisfied? And I'm the one at fault?" Matori arched an eyebrow.
"But really, how do you plan to handle things between that 'little girlfriend' of yours and Sabrina?"
She gave him a smile, clearly ready to watch the drama unfold.
Luo Yuan thought about pointing out that he hadn't confirmed a romantic relationship with Misty. But to explain that to Matori would only make him sound guilty.
So he changed tactics and declared boldly, "Only kids make choices. Adults choose to have it all."
"…"
Matori was left speechless, momentarily at a loss for words in the face of Luo Yuan's shamelessness.
However, being his secretary and well-versed in handling paperwork, she quickly found a way to retaliate.
"Let's just hope Sabrina doesn't turn you into an action figure when she hears that," Matori replied with a sweet smile.
Whatever Luo Yuan said, she only needed to hit him where it hurt with Sabrina.
Luo Yuan: "…"
This woman was getting sharper and sharper.
Finding a verbal victory with her was becoming increasingly difficult.
But after the back-and-forth, Luo Yuan found his spirits lifted.
The Sabrina issue would have to wait for later—there'd always be a way forward.
Reassuring himself, he opened the door and walked out of the meeting room. "I'm off. Make sure you've got the operation team ready; I'll meet you in Vermilion City."
"Don't need you to tell me."
Matori huffed, though her mind involuntarily wandered back to Luo Yuan's comment about 'adults having it all.'
Her thoughts drifted, and a slight blush crept onto her cheeks.
"Ugh, what am I even thinking?!"
Shaking her head, she quickly cast aside the strange thoughts and got back to organizing the operation's details into an actionable report.
Just then, the meeting room door suddenly opened. Luo Yuan's head poked back in, giving her a jolt.
"Oh, one more thing, Matori. I sent this month's expense report to your inbox—make sure to process that for me. And I'll need approval for twenty million Poke Dollars in funds for this operation."
Before Matori could react, Luo Yuan vanished from the room in the blink of an eye.
Snap
Matori gritted her teeth as the pencil in her hand snapped.
Luo Yuan had the final word, after all.
---
Leaving the Rocket HQ, Luo Yuan headed back to Cerulean City.
He wasn't in a rush to get to Vermilion City just yet.
After all, the S.S. Anne hadn't docked in Vermilion's harbor yet, so there was no hurry.
He booked a luxury suite at a five-star hotel in Cerulean's city center.
Lying on the soft bed, he petted the smooth, scaly body of his Dratini while checking his system.
"System, start the lottery!"
Luo Yuan used the lottery chance he'd earned from collecting the Cascade Badge.
The system's rewards had never let him down—he couldn't wait to see what he'd get this time.
[Initiating lottery… please wait.]
The familiar mechanical voice echoed.
A moment later…
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Shiny Gengar.]
"A Shiny Gengar?"
If he had to make a list of his favorite Pokémon, Gengar would undoubtedly be in the top three.
This was the second Pokémon he'd won from the system, after Dragapult.
And to think it was a Shiny Gengar!
"This'll make the next operation even smoother."
The Pokémon summoned by the system always had high affinity and impressive strength.
His Dragapult had started off at Elite level and, after years of training, was now on the cusp of becoming Champion level.
It was safe to assume this Shiny Gengar's power wouldn't be far behind Dragapult's.
"Claim!" Luo Yuan said.
Swish!
A luxury ball dropped into Luo Yuan's hand.
He clicked it open lightly.
Flash!
A dark figure appeared in the suite.
Luo Yuan could immediately feel the room temperature drop significantly.
This chilling effect was clearly due to Gengar's presence.
"Mii—~"
Dratini, startled by the sudden temperature shift, instinctively squirmed closer to Luo Yuan.
After soothing Dratini, Luo Yuan looked up at Gengar.
Unlike the usual deep-purple Gengar, this one was a darker, shadowy black—the telltale sign of its Shiny status.
Clearly fond of Luo Yuan, Gengar floated around him excitedly upon release.
It occasionally shot a glance at Dratini, pulling funny faces to spook it further into Luo Yuan's arms.
"Alright, that's enough. Don't scare it," Luo Yuan chuckled, stopping Gengar.
Every Gengar loved a good prank.
"Gengar, let's work well together from now on!"
Luo Yuan extended his hand toward the round, mischievous-looking black Pokémon in front of him.
"Gaa~!"
Gengar laughed, baring its snow-white teeth as it clasped Luo Yuan's hand.
---
T/N: LMAO HOW IRONIC IS IT that he says hes gotta choose them all with what I said last chapter