Sabrina accepted the Mega Stones without much hesitation.
After all, by Team Rocket's standards, she had earned the right to her share of the loot for being instrumental to the mission.
"Are you coming with me to the base?" Sabrina asked Luo Yuan.
"No, thanks. I'm still a Trainer, you know." Luo Yuan pointed to the badges sewn into the lining of his jacket. "I'll stay in Lampurchi for a few days, then head to Saffron City."
"To challenge my gym?" Sabrina raised an eyebrow, looking amused.
"What, I'm not welcome?"
"If you want the badge, I'll just give it to you," she replied.
Like Lt. Surge, Sabrina didn't see the point in Luo Yuan jumping through these hoops.
"As a Trainer, I'm earning my badges fair and square. And if I plan to compete in the Indigo League, I'll at least follow Kanto's rules," Luo Yuan said with conviction.
"…" Sabrina still didn't get his logic.
In the end, she took the remaining Mega Stones to the base on New Island. Besides distributing the stones to Team Rocket's top ranks, Giovanni had another plan—he intended to study the Mega Stones to incorporate a Mega Evolution feature into Mewtwo's design.
Luo Yuan was less than optimistic.
It wasn't that he doubted Giovanni's ability to develop a Mega Mewtwo. Team Rocket's research division was unparalleled, and with Giovanni's resources and the reference of the other Mega Stones, it seemed only a matter of time.
What he doubted was Giovanni's ability to control Mewtwo.
In countless timelines of the Pokémon world, Mewtwo eventually escaped Giovanni's grasp—without even needing to Mega Evolve.
Adding a Mega form would only intensify that risk, whether it was Mega Mewtwo X or Y.
And if Team Rocket's billion-dollar Mewtwo project were to backfire, it would inevitably send shockwaves through the organization, possibly even impacting him as a Team Rocket executive.
But there was little he could do to prevent it. Giovanni was set on his path, and any objections from him wouldn't matter.
"All I can hope is that the losses aren't catastrophic."
---
Lampurchi
Lampurchi, a coastal resort city in southern Kanto, boasted a mild, comfortable climate.
With a group of girls around him, Gary Oak strolled along the beach, looking for a quieter spot to enjoy his holiday.
"Sun, sand, and… Luo Yuan?"
Catching sight of a familiar figure, Gary quickly pulled down his sunglasses. He spotted Luo Yuan lounging on his Dragonair and called out.
"Luo Yuan!"
Hearing someone call his name, Luo Yuan, basking in the sun, briefly panicked, thinking he'd been caught. He was about to grab a Poké Ball when he recognized Gary.
"... What are you doing here in Lampurchi?" he asked, casually moving his hand away from his Poké Ball.
Blissfully unaware of the close call with Dragapult's Dragon Pulse, Gary replied, "I heard my grandpa's coming to town to judge some kind of beauty contest, so I thought I'd come check it out."
"But… Luo Yuan, your Dratini evolved into a Dragonair? So soon?"
Gary had last seen the Dratini coiled around Luo Yuan's neck back in Pewter City, but now it had evolved into Dragonair. Seeing it lying next to Luo Yuan, Gary looked on enviously.
After all, every Kanto native had a special fondness for Dragonite.
His grandfather, Professor Oak, owned a Dragonite, and Gary had long hoped to raise one himself—if only he could find a Dratini.
"Must be all the good food my Dratini's been eating." Luo Yuan petted Dragonair, slipping it a Pokéblock.
"Draaa~" Dragonair gave a satisfied purr.
"Good food?"
"Her main diet is Pokéblocks, with berries added in for balanced nutrition."
Gary's mouth fell open, at a loss for words.
He'd heard of Pokéblocks before, but the machine needed to make them was incredibly expensive. And the cost of berries for the same amount of Pokéblocks was ten times the price of even the best store-bought Pokémon food.
"Impressive."
Gary gave him a thumbs-up, realizing that, as wealthy as he was, he was no match for Luo Yuan's extravagance.
Not that Gary would know Luo Yuan was spending Team Rocket's budget with zero remorse.
"Luo Yuan, how about a battle?"
After wrapping up the topic of Dratini, Gary's competitive spirit was rekindled.
Since becoming a Trainer, Luo Yuan had been his greatest rival, and he'd never given up on challenging him.
Luo Yuan raised an eyebrow, surprised by Gary's guts after seeing his Gyarados last time. Could it be he'd caught some new Pokémon?
But regardless of whatever new additions Gary had, Luo Yuan wasn't worried.
After a tense fight with an Elite, a more casual match seemed like a good way to unwind—and give his Pokémon some additional training.
"I'm game."
It wasn't every day someone volunteered to get beaten.
"Let's head to a battle field!" Gary, excited, led the way.
They paid a modest fee to the attendant, securing an hour on the field complete with a referee.
"By mutual agreement, this will be a 3v3 standard match. Victory goes to the Trainer whose three Pokémon are all still standing!"
The referee raised his flag.
"Let's do this, Luo Yuan!" Gary was brimming with energy.
"Alright…" Luo Yuan glanced at Gary and patted Dragonair beside him. "Dragonair, let's make this your debut battle!"
"Draaa~"
Dragonair lifted its elegant body and glided into the arena, fixing its gaze on Gary.
"If it's Dragonair, then my choice is… you, Exeggutor!"
"Exeggutor!"
Gary threw a Poké Ball, and a three-headed Exeggutor appeared on the field.
Unlike typical Exeggutor with its carefree expression, Gary's Exeggutor had sharp, determined eyes, ready for battle.
"Your Exeggutor looks like a tough one."
"Of course! My Exeggutor is really strong!" Gary said with confidence.
Luo Yuan gave a slight nod. "Then let's see it in action."
The battle was about to begin.