"It seems that after all this time, you haven't grown at all."
Lucas spoke with disappointment. He had genuinely expected that Green might offer some kind of unusual, surprising resistance. But this… was it?
Green bit her lip. As expected, trying to provoke Lucas emotionally was useless. But she had no other plan. Resort to violence? She could already imagine what it would feel like to get flattened like a rag doll.
"Our little chat is over. Green, come with me."
Seeing that she had no more to say, Lucas spoke casually. In truth, he didn't particularly care about Green's situation. When it came to Guyan, he already had his own plans.
Hand her over to the Masked Man? Let him begin the Celebi Project?
From Lucas's perspective, that was not a good outcome.
Green's lips were tightly pressed together, her mind racing through countless thoughts… but none of them were useful! Usually clever and resourceful, she now felt like her brain was filled with mush. Not a single workable idea came to her.
"What the heck! Green, you don't have to listen to him! Why should you go with him!?"
While Green had given up mentally, those behind her clearly hadn't. Ash stepped forward, glaring fiercely at Lucas with righteous anger.
He didn't fully understand the nature of Green's connection to this Lucas—whatever it was, it sounded complicated. But from what Green had said, he knew her past was dangerous.
"Mr. Lucas, to force a woman like this—such behavior is hardly befitting of a gentleman."
Caitlin, her refined and stunning face showing a rare trace of seriousness, spoke softly. She knew full well that they were no match for Lucas, but watching a newly made friend walk straight into the lion's den—it was something she couldn't just ignore.
Her rational side told her to stay silent, but emotionally, she couldn't.
Red remained silent, clutching a Poké Ball tightly in his hand—ready for battle at any moment.
"Oh? So, you're all planning to fight me for her?"
Lucas raised an eyebrow, amused as he looked at the clearly tense group standing before him.
"Miss Caitlin, I've always considered you a composed and rational lady."
"But if one approaches everything solely through logic," Caitlin's crystal-clear eyes sparkled faintly as she spoke, "then that person is no more than a machine, devoid of feeling."
She had grown up under the strict traditions of a prestigious noble family in Sinnoh. Apart from Cynthia, she had never had a real friend. Her social circle had always been fixed and cold.
But this voyage on the S.S. Anne was different. Dangerous, yes—but also deeply moving in ways she had never experienced.
That was how she had met Red, Ash, Misty, Brock and Green.
Their purity and passion had even moved someone like Caitlin, born into aristocracy. Even though, apart from Red, the rest of them seemed weak in her eyes—if relationships were only based on equal power or status, then wasn't that a miserable way to live?
"Mr. Lucas, I know we are no match for you. But for someone of your caliber to coerce someone you call an 'insignificant bug'—that would be a disgrace to your identity."
Her words were beautifully phrased and held full respect toward Lucas.
She had personally witnessed the fight in the ancient ruins of Michina. She knew how terrifying he was—even Dialga, the god of time, could be defeated by him. His power was beyond imagination.
In fact, Caitlin doubted whether there was anyone in the entire world who could truly stand against Lucas.
But sometimes, just because someone was overwhelmingly powerful didn't mean you should simply give up.
"And yet, in your eyes, Team Rocket can't exactly be called 'noble,' can it?" Lucas chuckled lightly. As expected of Caitlin—this was the art of language.
Although she was plainly accusing him of bullying a weak girl, the way she said it was smooth and easy to listen to.
"You all don't need to be so tense. I'm not going to hurt Green. After all, she's one of my few childhood friends. And besides… this might not be a bad thing for her."
Lucas glanced briefly at the slightly moved Green and smiled casually.
Normally, he wouldn't bother explaining himself in front of others, but today—he was in a good mood.
Yes, in a good mood, Lucas didn't mind setting everyone at ease.
Hearing this, the group fell into silence. Should they believe him? Deep down, they were still worried.
"…Fine. I'll go with you. Just don't hurt them."
Green finally spoke after taking a deep breath.
She was afraid that if she delayed any longer, Lucas would lose patience.
"A wise choice." A faint smile curled at the corner of Lucas's lips.
"Green!" Ash and the others tried to speak, clearly reluctant.
"There's no point," Green forced a bitter smile. "With Lucas… we'll just have to wait for another chance."
If she had any choice, she would have tried to resist.
But Lucas's shadow had loomed over her since childhood. The difference in power between them was simply too vast.
Any useless struggle would only endanger Ash, Red, and the others. That was the last thing Green wanted.
"Come on now, don't make it sound like I'm some villain forcing myself on a helpless maiden," Lucas raised an eyebrow. "I'm a very democratic man."
Still, the whole scene did feel a bit like a tragic farewell between a bullied girl and her friends, didn't it?
"That's because you are a villain." Marnie, watching all this unfold, rolled her eyes and quipped sarcastically.
Probably the only person who dared to talk to Lucas like this to his face.
He just shrugged and didn't refute her. With Marnie and the silent Green following him closely, the trio left the harbor.
"Damn it! Are we really just going to let them go?"
Ash clenched his teeth, furious. It felt like his whole chest was burning.
If Red and Misty hadn't held him back, he would've rushed after them.
"That damn Team Rocket!"
His rage was palpable—his whole body trembled from the sheer intensity of it.
"If it's him, he wouldn't need to lie to us…" Caitlin whispered after a pause, her luminous eyes flickering with complex emotions.
They had no way to stop Lucas.
Even if they tried to fight, this was Vermilion City! What would happen if Lucas got serious? That's why even Red held himself back—because the consequences would be unimaginable.
And most importantly… they didn't stand a chance.
"Besides Team Rocket, there's another organization."
Caitlin's mind was racing. The conversation between Lucas and Green contained a lot of hidden meaning.
Both of them had been taken and trained from a young age by someone—even Lucas!
His teacher—someone whom Lucas actually acknowledged!
Who could teach a trainer powerful enough to tame Eternatus?
Clearly, Green had refused to continue down that path and had chosen to escape.
So, besides Team Rocket … was there another even more mysterious organization hidden in the shadows of Kanto?
Could Team Rocket just be a disguise?
The moment she considered this, Caitlin's eyes lit up. That had to be it.
She'd always had this vague feeling—through both her encounters with Lucas, at the Michina ruins and now the S.S. Anne—his actions had never been purely evil.
Everything he did, whether chaotic or malicious, was consistent with what he had once told her:
He joined Team Rocket only to wear the uniform that would give him the freedom to do whatever he pleased—even if it meant doing "evil" things.
"Team Rocket, the Elite Four, and… that mysterious organization…"
Caitlin and Red exchanged glances. They saw the same suspicion in each other's eyes.
She pulled out her luxury lip balm and applied it—her lips were feeling dry.
The waters of Kanto… were far deeper than she'd imagined.
Far more dangerous and complex than Sinnoh. The forces here were nothing like what they seemed on the surface.
Compared to Team Rocket, even Sinnoh's notorious Team Galactic looked like child's play.
And yet… Caitlin felt a strange thrill deep within her chest.
Yes, this was why she left Sinnoh—to grow through true trials.
A faint, elegant smile curled at her lips. She would grow stronger in Kanto—she was sure of it!
And elsewhere, Lucas, Marnie, and Green had returned to the hotel.
"You really don't bother hiding yourself at all, do you?" Green asked as they entered the elevator, unable to hold back anymore.
This guy was just too much. He was supposed to be a dangerous Team Rocket figure, and yet he was walking boldly through Vermilion City—no disguise, no fear.
How could he be so arrogant?
"They wouldn't dare."
Lucas replied without even blinking. Strength was the ultimate protection.
The League hadn't even officially put a bounty on him. And even if they did, he wouldn't care.
As long as Red and the others weren't idiots, they'd never report him so carelessly.
Even if they did, it'd be done in secret with police preparing behind the scenes.
But Lucas was practically a human-shaped nuclear weapon. You think the local Vermilion police could handle that?
Ridiculous.
To subdue him would require the full force of the Kanto Elite Four.
And summoning them wasn't exactly instant—it would take time, coordination, and most importantly, evacuation plans.
People like Lorelei and Lance might not care about civilian casualties, but the League did.
"Ugh—" Green clicked her tongue in frustration.
She couldn't argue. What he said was true… painfully true.
She'd spent the last year running and hiding, constantly afraid her whereabouts would be discovered.
Meanwhile, this guy—this Team Rocket member—was living like a rich playboy.
High-end hotels, cute girls by his side, sightseeing, vacationing. And on top of that… he was a rich playboy.
Unbelievable.
"You're sleeping on the floor tonight."
As the three entered the hotel room, Lucas tossed that out casually and began pulling out his clothes for a shower.
"I'm sharing a room with you?" Green's expression shifted instantly.
Even Marnie looked stunned. What the hell? I haven't even shared a room with him, and I'm his girl!
"You're sleeping on the floor. Was I unclear?"
Lucas gave her a sideways glance. This little trickster—he had to keep an eye on her or she'd surely try to escape.
"What?! No way! I'm still a chaste maiden, you know!"
Green pouted with exaggerated righteousness.
A pure girl like her, sharing a hotel room with a man? That was scandalous!
"Let her sleep with me," Marnie said flatly. Clearly, she was not happy.
"You can't keep an eye on her. But… you can join us if you want."
Lucas considered for a moment before shaking his head. With Green's abilities, Marnie alone wasn't enough to stop her. Despite slacking off in training, Green was still extremely talented—and her growth over the year had been impressive.
Not enough to impress Lucas, of course. She was still just a low-tier in his eyes.
But Marnie's feelings mattered—he didn't want to upset her.
"Fine," Marnie blinked once and nodded after a moment's thought.
She didn't trust this pervert one bit.
Green, however, was stunned.
Wait—three people in one room? Then wouldn't that be a…
"Th-threesome…?"
(End of Chapter)