"Don't say I didn't warn you," Jessica whispered, leaning closer to Feng Che. "If security finds any contraband on you during the search, you'll be sent straight to feed the Ekans."
Taking her warning to heart, Feng Che reached into his spatial bracelet and pulled out a thick stack of cards. "I also found these. I wasn't quite sure what they were for."
"Whoa! That's... that's a lot," Jessica stammered, staring at the pile in his hand. "These are Team Rocket Credit Cards. In a rookie trial, finding just one is considered lucky. I never expected you to dig up this many."
Her eyes widened until they were nearly round. "Good heavens, am I seeing things? Two 100-point cards?!" Her jaw practically hit the desk.
Jessica quickly began to tally them up:
100 Credits: 2 cards50 Credits: 5 cards20 Credits: 10 cards10 Credits: 16 cards
Total: 810 Credits.
Combined with the points from his captures and the bonus for being the first to arrive at the base, Feng Che's total haul for the trial reached a staggering 1,610 Team Rocket Credits.
"I'm striking it rich today, too! Thanks to you, I get a 161-credit kickback," Jessica chirped, looking at the screen with pure delight. This was an incredible windfall for her.
If a dark horse like Feng Che showed up every year, I could stay a 'salted fish' and slack off for days, she thought happily.
"Alright, pick a codename for your registration. You can use your real name if you want, but I wouldn't recommend it," Jessica said as she scanned the cards one by one, officially recording his spoils into the system.
"Kongjian," Feng Che replied. "The 'Kong' for sky, and 'Jian' for see."
He decided it was best to keep his real name under wraps for the time being.
"Kongjian, your account is set up. Hand me your badge."
Feng Che watched as Jessica pressed his Rocket insignia into a specialized slot on a wristband. With a soft click, the band emitted a double beep and displayed the current time on a small screen.
"Your Rocket Bracelet is ready. It contains a small spatial storage of about one cubic meter. This is the mark of a Team Rocket Reserve Member; you won't be a full member until you pass the final training."
"All your credits have been loaded onto the band. When you need to make a transaction, just press the insignia part of the bracelet."
Jessica carefully demonstrated the interface. A holographic projection flickered into life before Feng Che, showing two main options: Mission Board and Credit Exchange. The Mission Board icon was currently greyed out and inaccessible.
"The Mission Board is for once you graduate to 'Rookie' status. If you're ever in the field without a computer, you can access the system through this. But use it carefully—the League can sometimes trace the connection back to a base," Jessica warned.
"Other functions will be added once you become a formal member. And this," she said, handing him a device that looked remarkably like a smartphone, "is your Navigator. It's the standard communication device for our members."
"It can scan for basic Pokémon data, record your captures, and it has a built-in map of the Kanto region. It also functions as a phone. Here's the manual—read it thoroughly later."
She paused, her expression softening into one of genuine concern. "Look, since you've netted me quite a few points, let me give you one more piece of advice: keep your wealth hidden. Some of the 'senior' members love to extort newcomers, and 1,610 credits is a massive sum for a rookie."
"Follow this path down, and you'll reach the Education Center for your written curriculum. Once you pass that, you'll be sent to the Training Grounds where all the reserves live and work. That's where they'll distribute the standard Pokémon."
Jessica was truly impressed by Feng Che's potential. She was being patient and thorough, hoping to earn his favor now so he might look after her once he inevitably rose through the ranks.
"By the way, Jessica, do you know where the Ranch is? I have a letter of recommendation from Lady Sabrina saying I can collect a Pokémon from there."
"Shh! Shh!" Jessica hissed, lunging forward to cover his mouth with her hand. She darted her eyes around, making sure the room was empty and no one was eavesdropping in the hall. Only then did she sigh and release him.
"Don't you ever mention the Ranch in front of other members," she whispered sternly. "Ranch Pokémon are premium stock. Whoever recommended you probably hasn't been to headquarters in a while—the rules have changed."
"Now, only formal members are allowed entry. Reserves are strictly barred from the Ranch. It's to prevent accidents during trials that might lead to a high-quality Pokémon being lost or, worse, being found by the League, which could expose our location."
Jessica's face was deadly serious. "Pokémon from the Ranch are so valuable that even Captain-rank members would kill to steal one. Do not tell anyone you have that letter, or you might not live to see tomorrow. Even if Lady Sabrina introduced you, people can make you disappear very quietly."
She pulled out her own Navigator. "This is my account ID. If you run into something you don't understand, message me privately. If I'm not busy, I'll help you out."
They exchanged IDs, and Jessica sat back in her chair. "Rocket credits are handled as internal rewards. No one but me knows exactly how much you earned. Keep your mouth shut and stay safe. And remember, when you hit the big time, don't forget your big sister!"
Just as she finished, the door swung open. A man stumbled in looking utterly disheveled, as if he had just taken a nasty tumble down a flight of stairs. He was cursing under his breath.
"I don't know what's wrong with your tunnels, but there was a sweet smell in there... I passed out and just woke up! I almost missed the deadline!" he grumbled, shaking his head. "Anyway, here are my captures and whatever I found."
Feng Che glanced at him. It was the rat-faced man from the bus. The poor fool must have walked right into the passage Feng Che had just cleared and inhaled the lingering Milu Grass fumes.
Feng Che and Jessica shared a knowing, silent look, but neither said a word.