Time slipped by, and evening had already fallen. Lucas and Marnie were walking along a bustling commercial street.
"Lucas, do you think this looks good?"
Marnie's large eyes lit up slightly as they passed by a street stall. She picked up a yellow flower-shaped hair clip and placed it in her hair before turning to ask Lucas.
She wore a pink camisole dress, standing with her hands behind her back like a delicate young girl. Although her petite face held no expression, the anticipation in her eyes was hard to miss.
"It looks very good. Our Marnie really does suit the girly style," Lucas rested his chin on his hand, inspecting her closely before nodding in approval with a smile.
In truth, he thought the clip looked a little tacky, but with Marnie's high appearance score, she could pull off anything—even something that cutesy.
"Hmph~"
Marnie gave a light snort and took the clip off. What did he mean, "suit the girly style"? She was a girl to begin with!
"Wear this one instead. I think it looks much better."
Lucas glanced over and finally picked up a green four-leaf clover hair clip, placing it gently in Marnie's hair.
After observing for a moment, he nodded with satisfaction.
Marnie blinked her beautiful eyes, the corners of her lips rising slightly. The feeling was... not bad.
"Hey? What's the status?"
After purchasing the clip and continuing their stroll, Lucas took out his phone. The caller was Archer.
"We've all successfully escaped, thanks to your help. We're deeply grateful, Mr. Lucas."
Archer's low voice came from the phone. Though the retreat had been successful, his tone was far from pleased.
Naturally so. While the mission had managed to rattle the League, the actual gains were minimal—not at all what they had expected.
And with Lorelei's sudden appearance forcing them into a hasty retreat, Archer's mood couldn't have been worse.
"You're too polite. After all, we're all comrades. But just to warn you, Lt. Surge's identity may have been exposed," Lucas said, scanning the area and lowering his voice slightly.
Marnie clung to his arm like a girl in love, playing the part perfectly. Though she knew he was on the phone with Archer, she quietly browsed the street stalls without interrupting.
"What?"
Archer furrowed his brow. Being a Gym Leader came with significant advantages—it would be a huge loss if Surge was compromised.
"The young man who almost fought Lorelei saw Surge. His disguise was weak and easily seen through."
Lucas spoke plainly. It was Surge's fault for being too careless with his disguise. Still, his loss to Red didn't help either.
Had Surge been stronger, things wouldn't have ended so poorly for him. He wouldn't have been unmasked.
"I understand. I'll report to the boss and take responsibility."
Archer's face darkened further. Not only had the mission failed to deliver, it was technically a complete failure.
They had advance warning—Surge could've escaped cleanly. But now that his identity was likely compromised, the Vermilion Gym Leader position would be forfeit.
"We're not yet sure if that kid has reported anything. If not, there's still a way to fix things," Lucas said calmly, as he and Marnie exited the commercial street and headed toward the pier for a stroll along the sea.
"Please teach me, Mr. Lucas."
Archer asked quickly. His loyalty to Giovanni was absolute. He wouldn't let Team Rocket suffer because of him.
"That kid's name is Red, a Trainer from Pallet Town. With his personality, you'll never recruit him—he's loyal, emotional, and responsible. You know what I mean, right?"
Lucas's smile deepened as he hinted subtly to Archer.
Archer was smart—he didn't need things spelled out. His eyes lit up immediately.
Of course. He was a top Team Rocket executive. And what did evil organizations do best?
Exploit weaknesses.
If Red was a soft-hearted, duty-bound youth, then his weak spots would be easy to find. A little pressure—like threatening his loved ones—should work just fine.
"Move quickly. If he reports this, it'll be too late," Lucas added with a faint chuckle—until something ahead made him pause. "...Also, there's one more thing."
"What is it?" Archer asked.
"There's someone who wants to meet you," he replied hesitantly.
Archer turned around. A mature man in a round gentleman's hat smiled and nodded politely at him.
Archer's eye twitched. This man had somehow snuck into their retreat group unnoticed.
By the time they realized, he was already ashore.
Archer's first instinct had been to capture him, but the outcome...
They couldn't lay a finger on him.
Despite their numbers, they'd been completely outmatched by this middle-aged man. Fortunately, he hadn't been hostile. In fact, he'd even helped them. His only request was a meeting with Lucas.
"Oh? Who is he?"
"He said his name is Rose."
Lucas raised an eyebrow. Rose? That couldn't just be a coincidence.
"I see. Have him meet me in Vermilion City."
After a moment of thought, Lucas agreed to see him.
He hadn't expected that the Galar League Chairman would personally come all the way to Kanto.
"If there's nothing else, I'll hang up. Something's come up on my end."
He ended the call as a group of figures began approaching from ahead.
Those people also noticed Lucas and Marnie. After a brief moment of stunned recognition, they instantly raised their guard.
"Why the hell is he here?!"
They cursed inwardly. They had just gotten off the ship not long ago!
"Well well~ what a coincidence, huh? Fate is such a funny thing~"
Lucas swept his gaze across them, a sinister smile curling on his lips.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, by the shoreline…
"Mr. Lucas is currently in Vermilion City. You can go find him there."
Archer hung up, his face dark, and told Rose.
His mood was already foul from the retreat, and now he'd been schooled by this mysterious old man.
Well… that was after he tried to attack him and got thoroughly humiliated.
"Vermilion City, huh? Understood. Thank you for your help, Mr. Archer."
Rose's deep eyes gleamed as he smiled gracefully and nodded.
He had started following Team Rocket once they began retreating. After seeing Lucas wasn't among them, he had no choice but to ask Archer to help contact him.
"Mobilize all our people in Vermilion City. Find a Trainer named Red."
Watching Rose leave, Archer turned to his subordinates with a grim expression.
They had to find Red fast. If he reported Surge's identity, it'd be too late.
As for Rose…
"Tell Oleana to prepare the gift. When we reach Vermilion City, have it teleported over."
He turned to his trusted aide. This negotiation could not fail.
They weren't far from Vermilion now—they'd arrive soon.
"Yes, sir," the aide nodded.
---------------------------------------------------
At the Vermilion City harbor...
"You! What are you doing here, you villain?"
Ash glared at Lucas with a mix of fury and caution.
They had only just returned to Vermilion City around dusk. After dinner, they came out for a walk—and unexpectedly ran into him. The final boss from the S.S. Anne!
Yes, in their eyes, Lucas was the final boss. Archer was just a mid-boss at best.
Alongside Ash stood Brock, Misty, Caitlin, Green, and Red.
It seemed their group had grown quite close since the incident on the ship.
"You've changed fast, Ash. Weren't you calling me a good guy before? And now I'm a villain? Men, huh~"
Lucas shrugged, shaking his head in faux disappointment.
"I can confirm that," Marnie chimed in with a wink, totally uninvited.
"You tricked me!"
Ash turned red with embarrassment and anger. Dammit, stop acting like I'm the unreasonable one!
Everyone else winced slightly—except one person, who was hiding quietly behind Caitlin.
"My dear Green, we're childhood friends. Isn't it a bit much to hide from me after such a long-awaited reunion?"
Lucas shifted his gaze toward Caitlin—or rather, the figure behind her. His lips curled into a faint smile.
Caitlin's brows furrowed. She could feel the hand clutching her clothes freeze in place.
Childhood friend?
Red, Brock, and the others were sharp enough to catch that. Did Green and Lucas know each other from childhood?
They all looked at Green with astonishment. The lively, cheerful girl... knew Lucas?
But Green said nothing. She continued hiding behind Caitlin.
"Still not coming out? I really do miss you. And so do Karen and Will. They're dying to see you."
Lucas's smile widened as he twirled a Poké Ball between his fingers.
"You know I don't have much patience."
Red and the others immediately tensed.
This wasn't just some smooth talker—they were dealing with a Team Rocket executive.
Green slowly stepped out from behind Caitlin.
"…How did you recognize me?"
Her disguised face was still in place. She bit her lip, her voice melodic yet filled with resentment.
She knew escape was impossible.
She wasn't a match for Lucas. Not even Red could beat him.
"Looks and voice can lie. But the eyes... the eyes are the windows to the soul. They told me who you were."
Lucas smiled gently.
He had let her go back on the S.S. Anne. He hadn't expected fate to reunite them so soon.
"Now then... will you come with me peacefully to see Teacher, or shall I drag you there myself? Green, you're seventeen now. Isn't it time to get over this rebellious phase?"
His tone cooled. In his eyes, Green was merely going through a teenage tantrum.
They were all taken by the Masked Man as children. Strictly speaking, they were the only family they had.
Even if that "family" was more like a cold prison.
"Rebellious phase? Is that what you think it is?"
Green's disguised face twisted in anger.
"Lucas! Do you not understand? That old man kidnapped us!"
"He destroyed our families! He took away our parents and tortured us for years!"
"What's wrong with me wanting to escape? What's wrong with wanting to find my real parents?!"
Her voice cracked. All the pain and hate she'd kept buried exploded out of her.
Unlike Lucas and the others, Green couldn't accept that life.
"He also gave us a future, Green. You just refused to accept his teachings."
"You can't face the reality of this world. You chained yourself with delusions. No matter what, he raised us for ten years."
"If you return and apologize, I'm sure Teacher will forgive you," Lucas replied flatly.
Everyone made different choices.
He and Karen had embraced their circumstances. But Green and Silver had rejected them.
You couldn't say Green was wrong. She had been kidnapped. Her hatred was justified.
Their philosophies were simply different.
"He raised us to be tools. I look down on you, Lucas!"
Green sneered. Why should she accept the guidance of a kidnapper?
"You have more talent than all of us combined. You could've broken free. But instead, you stayed. Lucas, I truly look down on you!"
Her usually clear eyes now burned with defiance as she stared straight into the eyes of the boy she once feared.
She couldn't run anymore.
She'd fight if she had to.
Even if she lost.
Everyone could sense the tension. Brock, Ash, and the others braced themselves.
Green had just outright insulted a Team Rocket executive—to his face.
"She's got some nerve," Marnie muttered with a frown. She really wanted to teach this girl a lesson.
Lucas narrowed his eyes. Green didn't back down.
Her gaze said it all: "Come at me. I don't care anymore."
"…Such a cheap provocation, Green. Is this all you've learned in a year?"
Lucas finally chuckled, shaking his head in disappointment.
Clearly, Green was trying to bait him.
But...
A wicked smile slowly spread across his lips.
It had been too long since he last disciplined her.
Now she dared talk to him like this?
(End of Chapter)