The moment Aiden's psychic power surged forward, it crashed straight into Karen's mind without resistance. In an instant, everything about her past—her choices, her ambitions, and her connection to Team Rocket—was laid bare before him.
So that was the truth.
Karen hadn't been part of Team Rocket from the beginning. A few years ago, when she was still only at the pseudo-Elite level, she had come into contact with them. With Giovanni's resources backing her, her strength rose rapidly, allowing her to step into the ranks of the Elite Four. From that point onward, her relationship with Team Rocket deepened.
To her, Team Rocket wasn't loyalty.
It was opportunity.
A stepping stone.
Whether the Pokémon League or Team Rocket ultimately won didn't matter—she had positioned herself to survive either outcome. No matter who stood at the top, she would remain.
Aiden couldn't help but let out a faint chuckle.
"What a perfect plan."
But in front of overwhelming power, schemes like that meant nothing.
With a single surge of psychic force, Karen's will was quietly rewritten. Her allegiance shifted without resistance, her loyalty redirected entirely toward Aiden.
Of course, Aiden didn't make it obvious. To the others present, Karen still appeared unchanged. There was no need to alert Lance or Lorelei—at least not yet.
When everything was done, Aiden withdrew his psychic power calmly.
Another powerful piece had just been added to Sky Team.
Turning toward Lance, he spoke casually, as if nothing unusual had happened.
"Champion Lance, I've already confirmed Karen's situation. She wasn't originally part of Team Rocket—she joined for power and resources."
He paused slightly before continuing.
"As for my reward… I'll be taking her to Hoenn."
The words were straightforward.
No attempt to hide his intention.
The expressions of everyone present shifted instantly.
Aiden wasn't even pretending anymore.
Lance's expression twitched slightly, but after a brief moment of silence, he nodded.
"…Fine."
It was a heavy decision, but one he couldn't refuse. Aiden had contributed too much already, and more importantly—he was someone they could not afford to oppose.
Lorelei, however, watched quietly from the side, her eyes narrowing slightly.
It wasn't fear.
It was realization.
If Aiden had been an enemy instead of an ally… there would be no such thing as resistance in this world.
Even the Pokémon League itself could fall under his control.
Koga, on the other hand, was visibly shaken. Seeing Karen's fate, he immediately resisted.
"Lance!" he snapped. "I have no allegiance to Team Rocket. But if you let him dig into my mind—"
His voice turned cold.
"I'd rather die."
Aiden didn't even bother looking at him.
Lance sighed lightly.
"Koga, your strength is not something we can discard lightly," he said. "You'll be detained for now. Once everything is confirmed, your fate will be decided."
With a simple gesture, guards stepped forward and took Koga away.
Just like that—
The three Elite Four members connected to Team Rocket had all been dealt with.
One captured.
One reassigned.
One neutralized.
Team Rocket's internal advantage… had already begun to collapse.
…
With matters settled, Lance gave a final nod.
"The rest… I leave to all of you."
He turned and left, leading his forces toward their respective battlefields.
Aiden didn't linger either.
Before departing, he gave Karen a simple command through their psychic link—return to Hoenn and assist J in locating legendary Pokémon.
Then, without another word, he vanished.
His destination—
Cerulean City.
…
Cerulean Gym stood lively as ever.
Inside, a grand water ballet performance was underway, drawing crowds from across the region. Ever since Misty returned and took charge, the once weakest Gym in Kanto had completely transformed.
Her Gyarados alone—capable of unleashing Flamethrower—was enough to crush most challengers.
Meanwhile, her three sisters—Daisy, Violet, and Lily—were busy performing in dazzling outfits, captivating the audience with their beauty and elegance.
Aiden arrived just in time to witness the show.
He glanced over them briefly before shifting his focus.
Compared to them, it was hard to believe they were even related to Misty.
Then again… she was still growing.
Aiden stepped forward calmly.
He wasn't here to watch a performance.
He needed cooperation.
Although he was a regional Champion, this was still Kanto territory. Acting directly would create unnecessary complications. Having Misty assist him would be far more efficient.
At the same time…
He was curious.
How strong had the original heroine become?
"Hey! Are you here to challenge the Gym?"
A familiar voice rang out.
Aiden turned.
Misty approached quickly, eyes sharp with curiosity as she sized him up.
Aiden smiled slightly and revealed his Champion emblem.
"You must be Misty," he said calmly. "I'm Aiden Flint—Hoenn League Champion, and a friend of Ash Ketchum."
He paused briefly.
"I'm here under Champion Lance's request. I need your help with something important."
Misty blinked, then her eyes widened in recognition.
"Wait—you're that Aiden?! The one who beat Steven and Wallace?"
Excitement flashed across her face.
"I've seen your matches! You're insanely strong—even Ash couldn't beat you!"
Aiden chuckled lightly.
"We can catch up later," he said. "Right now… there's something more important."
His tone shifted slightly.
"Something that concerns Team Rocket."
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