The night before the ship ran aground.
3:00 a.m.
After hesitating for a long time, Apollo finally decided to speak with Ash first.
The outcome of this "team-building operation" would be extremely beneficial to his future promotion within Team Rocket, possibly even paving the way to becoming CEO. He couldn't afford a single mistake.
He was even willing to hand over half of the operation's profits to Ash—so long as the boy stayed out of it.
"Where is that kid right now?" Apollo asked.
"He's in the recreation room on Deck Two," a grunt replied honestly.
Apollo nodded, clutching the folder titled
"Kidnap the Rich, Achieve Common Prosperity — Operational Proposal",
and headed toward the recreation room, fully intending to have a proper business discussion with Ash.
Just a month ago, he had used this very proposal to talk all night with Boss Giovanni, which was how the S.S. Anne operation had come into existence.
As Team Rocket's number-one strategist, Apollo was confident this time he could talk his opponent into submission.
"Boss, he's in the innermost card room," a guard added quietly.
Apollo frowned.
Three in the morning… playing cards?
Is this the realm of true elites—gaming through the night like immortal cultivators?
"And, boss," the grunt continued hesitantly,
"it's not just him. The other two Trainers from Pallet Town are in there too."
Apollo nearly dropped the proposal folder.
He steadied himself, gestured for everyone to withdraw, and approached the card room alone.
Before he even pushed the door open, voices drifted out.
"Red, don't just drink—eat some peanuts too. I seriously don't get how you ended up this socially withdrawn."
"…"
"Hey, Blue, you're cheating, aren't you?!"
"Tch. We're gambling anyway—who cares if I cheat? Come on, drink, drink!"
"Isn't this kind of bad? Aren't these bodies only ten years old…?"
"Kids from Pallet Town can drink at three years old! Cheers!"
"Nice one—cheers!"
"…Cheers."
Apollo swallowed hard.
He reached into his pocket and slowly pulled out a familiar device.
Team Rocket Black Tech — Combat Power Scanner.
This was his second scanner. He had tested it thoroughly.
This one was definitely authentic.
"Are they human… or gods?" he muttered. "Let me take a proper look."
Apollo put on the scanner and peered through the glass panel of the door.
In less than 0.001 seconds, the numbers skyrocketed—
six digits.
BOOM!!
The scanner exploded cleanly and decisively.
Apollo: "…"
The explosion drew the attention of the people inside.
"Who's there?" someone called lazily.
Swallowing again, Apollo took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
The card room had been completely reserved and felt unusually spacious.
At the entrance stood three fully evolved Kanto starter Pokémon, gathered together as if reminiscing.
Charizard. Blastoise. Venusaur.
"Roar?"
"Blas…?"
"Saur?"
They glanced at Apollo briefly, then went right back to their quiet reunion.
Just that single glance—
The overwhelming aura of apex predators nearly drove Apollo to his knees.
What kind of monstrous presence is this…?
Even my Houndoom couldn't withstand it!
His body trembled as he looked further inside.
A boy in a cap, a spiky-haired boy, and a girl in a sunhat were sitting around a small table.
Each of them held a beer mug bigger than their heads, poker cards in hand, faces flushed red from alcohol.
They barely spared Apollo a glance before continuing to drink, as if he didn't exist.
What kind of nobodies are these…?
Giovanni himself might qualify, but these three—
These were no ordinary people.
They were transcendent beings from another world.
Red. Green. Blue.
While their young bodies slept, these veterans had temporarily taken control—drinking, chatting, and catching up.
This was the first time the three of them had gathered together in this world.
Green suddenly burst into laughter, pointing at Red.
"Hahahaha! Red, is that all your alcohol tolerance? That's it? That's it?! This is priceless!"
"…"
Red's face turned beet red as he lowered his head in shame.
Damn it!
This old drunk—normally all brooding and melancholic!
Why does he turn into someone just as obnoxious as that kid Gary once he drinks?!
Guess they really are cut from the same cloth…
"Hic!"
Red gulped down half a mug in defiance, only to let out a loud belch. His body shook, and his eyes went unfocused.
He was officially drunk.
"S—S_b Green…"
Red pointed at him hazily.
Green: "…"
Blue rested her chin on her hand, giggling softly.
"Ehehe~"
Her cheeks were flushed, eyes half-lidded, wearing the unmistakable auntie-smile as she watched the two.
But noticing the shadow beside them, she frowned and snapped,
"Hey, who are you? Don't interrupt a hometown reunion."
Drunk Green laughed arrogantly.
"Team Rocket, huh? Hehehe—this is a Master-tier table, buddy. You're just Gold rank, you won't survive here. Get lost!"
"Ch—hic—izard…"
Red tried to speak, but another drunken hiccup escaped.
Apollo: "…"
Unbelievable.
He was being completely ignored.
Yet with those three terrifying starter Pokémon staring him down, he didn't dare move.
In the end, he forced a smile and slowly took out the proposal.
"Oh? Robbing the rich? Not bad. I'm a rich second-generation myself—one day the entire Oak Laboratory will be mine! Hahaha!"
"Can you add some punctuation and paragraph breaks? Ever been to school? This proposal's painful to read."
"Too long. Not reading."
Apollo: "…"
Even so, as Team Rocket's foremost strategist, he maintained his smile and carefully explained the plan in full.
His words flowed brilliantly, vivid and persuasive.
When he finished, Green slammed the table, face flushed.
"Little Pineapple's got a point! Blue, tip him! I want a big tip!"
"Tip you with a hammer," Blue rolled her eyes flirtatiously, then turned to Apollo.
"Little Pineapple, I think what you said makes sense. Let him summarize it in three points."
She raised a slender finger—pointing straight at Red.
Red: "…"
The next second, Green and Blue burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! It really is three points! Hahahaha!!!"
Blue slapped Red's shoulder.
"Brilliant! You're a natural entertainer!"
Green slapped the other shoulder.
Red: "???"
Completely lost, Red downed another half mug and waved his hand dismissively, signaling Apollo to scram.
Damn those two…
"Oh! So that means you agree, right?" Apollo beamed.
"On behalf of Team Rocket, I sincerely thank the three of you for your strong support!"
Ecstatic, Apollo hugged the proposal folder and exited the card room.
As expected, these three are true hidden titans,
only wandering the mortal world for experience.
They only reveal their brilliance when drunk…
Team Rocket must be warned!
And with these three no longer in the way—
This operation is guaranteed!
What, is the heavens themselves going to gank me?!
"Hahahaha!!"
After Apollo left, the three old drunks looked at each other in confusion.
"Huh? Did we agree to something?"
"No idea. Flashy weirdo."
"Whatever. Kid stuff. I'm not getting involved."
"Same. I sleep during the day anyway."
"Red, eat more peanuts."
"S—S_b Green—hic!"
Green: "…"
The next day, the S.S. Anne ran aground.
The heavens successfully ganked Apollo.
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