Team Rocket's Second-in-Command!-Chapter 403: Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [] [50 PS]

Although the proposal Luo Yuan handed to Iron Wattson was meticulously prepared by Matori, she couldn't help but notice something odd.

If she recalled correctly, Luo Yuan hadn't contacted Lusamine even once since proposing Neo Mauville as Team Rocket's next target.

Using the Aether Foundation's name without informing Lusamine, its president, seemed absurd.

Furthermore, before leaving Alola, Matori had reviewed the foundation's future plans. The Aether Foundation's financial resources were already stretched thin. While it was a wealthy organization, finding room for such a significant investment wouldn't be easy.

"How did you know I was about to call Lusamine?" Luo Yuan asked, holding up his communicator to show Lusamine's number already half-dialed.

Pocketing the device, he continued dialing as he answered Matori's second concern. "Whether the Aether Foundation has money or not doesn't matter. We're only borrowing their name for credibility. The real funding will come from Team Rocket."

"If the Aether Foundation can't finance it, we can. And if Team Rocket's resources fall short, I've still got reserves of my own. Worst case, we can leverage the funds from Flare Team and Lysandre Labs. With those resources, we'll have more than enough to acquire Mauville Holdings and restart the Neo Mauville Project."

While the deal would appear as an Aether Foundation investment, the actual funding needn't come from them.

Using the Aether Foundation's reputation was strategic. Not only did its status as a Pokémon conservation organization lend legitimacy to the project, but Alola's recent entry into the League meant the region was enjoying a subtle but significant preferential treatment.

As an Elite Four member, Luo Yuan was well aware of these dynamics. Involving an Alola-based organization like the Aether Foundation would make the acquisition easier and reduce resistance.

Hunter J, surprised by how far-reaching Luo Yuan's considerations were, found herself growing even more impressed by him.

Matori, however, merely nodded in acknowledgment. She was already accustomed to Luo Yuan's meticulous thinking.

---

When Lusamine finally answered the call, she appeared on the screen in loose pajamas that revealed a distracting amount of pale skin through its folds.

Yawning groggily, she gave Luo Yuan a mildly annoyed look. "What is it?"

Her expression made it clear she wasn't happy about being woken from her sleep.

Classic morning grumpiness.

"I've got a great opportunity for you," Luo Yuan said with a smile, explaining the plan to acquire Mauville Holdings and invest in the Neo Mauville Project.

However, as soon as she heard Luo Yuan mention spending a fortune on a bankrupt company and funneling even more into constructing a new city, her face darkened.

While the Aether Foundation was financially stable, this proposal sounded like pouring berries down a Snorlax's throat—wasteful and unrewarding.

She even found herself reconsidering her disdain for Faba's Ultra Beast research projects. At least those had the potential for measurable returns.

"If you're unwilling to fund it, you only need to lend your name. I'll cover the costs personally, and Lysandre Labs will also contribute," Luo Yuan said confidently.

Lusamine hesitated, her resolve wavering. Luo Yuan's confidence, coupled with his willingness to invest his own money, made her rethink her initial assumption that the project was a losing proposition.

If Luo Yuan believed in its potential, perhaps it really was a worthwhile venture.

After all, establishing Neo Mauville would be akin to controlling an entire city.

After some consideration, Lusamine finally agreed to participate, committing to 30% of the investment. It wasn't a large share, but it was enough to ensure she wouldn't regret missing out if the project succeeded, while minimizing potential losses.

Luo Yuan, of course, accepted without hesitation.

"In that case, make sure your statements align with ours. And contact the Hoenn League to signal your interest in the project," Luo Yuan instructed.

Aligning their statements was crucial. If their true plans were exposed, Team Rocket's public Hoenn operations wouldn't suffer much, but the Aether Foundation's reputation could be irreparably damaged if its ties to Team Rocket were revealed.

Lusamine nodded. "You don't need to remind me of that. As the president of the Aether Foundation, I know how to handle the League."

With the call nearly over, Lusamine added, "Oh, by the way, Lillie's been wanting to see you. She's already preparing to head to Kanto. She'll probably arrive before you return."

Luo Yuan immediately understood what she was implying.

She was worried about Lillie traveling to an unfamiliar region alone.

It wasn't unreasonable. Leaving Lillie in Kanto by herself wasn't ideal.

"I'll send Sabrina to meet her," Luo Yuan said.

Of everyone currently by his side, Sabrina was the only one Lillie was familiar with, making her the best candidate for the job.

---

Luo Yuan didn't place all his hopes on Iron Wattson.

After returning to Team Rocket's Hoenn base, he and Matori began acquiring Mauville Holdings shares from its scattered stakeholders through various means.

At the same time, they waited for the plan to gain momentum.

As expected, Iron Wattson's submission of the Aether Foundation's acquisition proposal to the Hoenn League caused a massive uproar across the region.

Surprisingly, the loudest opposition didn't come from the bankrupt Mauville Holdings or the Hoenn League, which had once shut it down.

Instead, it came from Devon Corp, Mauville Holdings' long-time rival.

Devon Corp had built its monopoly on Hoenn's technology and energy sectors by trampling over Mauville Holdings.

The idea of Mauville Holdings rising from the ashes—especially backed by the Aether Foundation, with its immense resources—was the last thing Devon Corp wanted to see.

---

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