After Team Rocket began preparing for Lance's large-scale operation, Karen's betrayal quickly exposed her true allegiance.
This time, there was no doubt.
The moment confirmation came in, Lance immediately called Aiden, Lorelei, and Volkner to a private meeting.
"No matter how much we guard against outsiders…" Lance said with a bitter smile, "we still failed to guard against traitors within."
His expression hardened as he continued.
"But now, we've finally confirmed one of them. Karen—the Dark-type Elite Four."
He tapped the screen, and a recording began to play.
"I deliberately leaked false operational intel," Lance explained. "That very night, she passed it to Team Rocket through a hidden channel."
The video flickered to life.
Under the cover of darkness, Karen appeared silently, releasing her Umbreon. Its eyes glowed faintly as it connected with a figure dressed in black, the crimson "R" on their chest unmistakable.
A short exchange.
Then both vanished into the night.
Silence filled the room.
Lorelei clenched her fists slightly, her brows knitting together.
"So it's true…" she muttered. "These people… feeding off the League while serving our enemies."
She turned to Lance.
"What do we do? Do we arrest her now? Or will that alert the others?"
Lance didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward Aiden.
"You've dealt with organizations like this before," he said seriously. "Magma, Aqua, Galactic… all of them fell because of you."
"I want your opinion."
Volkner and Lorelei both shifted their attention toward Aiden.
There was no doubt—his experience spoke louder than anyone else's.
Aiden smiled faintly.
"Honestly? I already know who the infiltrators are," he said calmly. "Even if you hadn't called me tonight, I would've come to you."
He leaned back slightly, his tone turning colder.
"An organization that experiments on humans and Pokémon… I have no intention of letting something like that continue to exist."
"I was even considering bringing Steven and Wallace myself to wipe them out."
The room brightened instantly.
Lance's eyes lit up.
"Is that true?" he asked. "Then tell us—who are they?"
Aiden didn't rush.
He glanced at Lance and Lorelei first, then spoke lightly.
"You two can be ruled out."
"The Dragon heir of the strongest clan… and the genius of the Orange Islands. You're not the type to bend to something like Team Rocket."
Lance gave a dry laugh, while Lorelei shook her head slightly.
"That compliment came out of nowhere," she muttered.
Aiden continued.
"Bruno is also clean. No issues there."
Then his tone shifted slightly.
"As for Sabrina… she wasn't truly one of them."
This made both Lance and Lorelei pause.
"What do you mean?" Lance asked.
Aiden's gaze grew sharper.
"She had a psychic lock placed in her mind. Something left by a Psychic-type Legendary."
"I broke it last night."
The room fell silent.
"She had been controlled," Aiden continued. "By Mewtwo."
Both Lance and Lorelei froze.
That was the first time they had heard this.
"So that's why…" Lorelei murmured. "No wonder Team Rocket has been moving so freely…"
Aiden nodded slightly.
"Now that the lock is gone, Sabrina is no longer a threat. In fact… she has every reason to turn against them."
Lance's expression shifted awkwardly for a moment.
He had spent half the night suspecting something else entirely.
So that was what really happened.
Lorelei, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes slightly, clearly thinking more than she said—but she didn't comment further.
After a moment, she spoke again.
"If that's the case… can you detect others like her? If more people were controlled…"
Aiden shook his head.
"Not that easily."
"I'd have to check each person individually. It's not something I can scan all at once."
That answer sounded reasonable.
Though in truth—he could do it.
He simply had no intention of doing so.
This wasn't his League.
And he wasn't about to exhaust himself cleaning up their entire system for free.
Soon, the door opened.
Sabrina stepped inside.
Her expression was calm, but her gaze had changed completely.
No hesitation.
No confusion.
Only clarity.
"I can confirm," she said quietly. "Karen is one of them."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"And not just her."
"Koga. Will. Lt. Surge."
"And… Blaine."
The room fell into complete silence.
The scale of infiltration…
Was far worse than expected.
Lance exhaled slowly, his face turning grim.
"So it's reached this level…"
He clenched his fist.
"Then there's no turning back."
Aiden spoke calmly.
"In that case, we move step by step."
"Capture Karen, Koga, Will, and Lt. Surge first."
"And once they're secured…"
His eyes flickered slightly.
"We strike Viridian."
Lance nodded.
"Giovanni."
"Yes."
Aiden's voice remained steady.
"And Mewtwo."
The weight of those two names pressed heavily on everyone present.
Lance looked at him seriously.
"That battle… will be yours."
Aiden didn't refuse.
Instead, he simply smiled.
"Of course."
Silence followed.
Because everyone understood—
This wasn't just an operation anymore.
It was a war.
And only one side would walk away from it.
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