Chapter 53: It's Only a Hundred Years of Playing Hooky!
"That's our Caitlin. Well done."
After hearing the full account of the capture, Mammon couldn't help but smile with genuine satisfaction.
He'd always felt that trainers in this world were a little too straightforward for their own good.
Wild Pokémon captures, for instance — everyone insisted on some noble one-on-one affair. Would it kill them to use a little strategy?
And the way trainers in this world approached battles — stat-boosting moves were criminally undervalued, especially among mid- and low-tier trainers.
Pokémon stat boosts were incredibly impactful. Moves like Swords Dance and Nasty Plot could spike a Pokémon's Attack or Special Attack by two full stages in a single turn.
In an evenly matched fight, if one side successfully set up, the advantage in exchanges became overwhelming.
Of course, finding the right opening to boost mid-battle was no simple task when the fighting was fast and intense.
But you could create those openings. Especially in wild capture battles — throw up Light Screen or Reflect to cut incoming damage, tank a few hits at the cost of some HP, and use that breathing room to stack boosts and seize control.
Naturally, this approach was matchup-dependent. If the opponent fired off a Brick Break, things got ugly fast.
"It's because you taught me." Caitlin was clearly in high spirits — she'd just captured Tapu Lele, after all.
A Legendary Pokémon! And a Psychic-type Legendary that was a perfect match for her, no less.
"But Lele actually agreed to be your Pokémon that easily?"
Mammon propped his chin on his hand, studying the shell-shocked Tapu Lele with curiosity.
Despite looking like it was having an existential crisis, Tapu Lele did seem to have genuinely accepted Caitlin as its trainer.
The contrast with Tapu Fini was staggering. When Fini had been captured, she'd spent ages grumbling about wanting to be released — she still had Poni Island to protect, and so on and so forth.
Tapu Lele: "..."
"We made a deal beforehand. If I could beat it, it would come with me."
Caitlin smiled — elegant but just slightly sheepish — as she explained.
As if that's the same thing.
Mammon, do you have any self-awareness about how you "recruited" Tapu Fini? Fini didn't even want to fight. She was trying to leave. You had Gengar trap her with Mean Look and forced the battle.
Tapu Lele's regret deepened. It had already made its choice. Please, no more reminders.
But backing out now? Tapu Lele didn't have the nerve. It was an Island Guardian, for crying out loud — it had a reputation to uphold.
Besides, it didn't actually dislike this psychic human girl.
But if it left with her… what would happen to Akala Island?
Tapu Lele was stressed and conflicted.
"I see — so Tapu Lele is the honorable type. Keeps its promises. Unlike someone…"
Mammon mused aloud, but before he could finish, one of the Poké Balls on his belt popped open on its own. A flash of white light—
Shell Lady materialized at Mammon's side, fixing him with a long, silent, pointed stare. The look in her eyes was… how to put it…
"Diedie??" Tapu Lele snapped out of its funk instantly, gawking at Tapu Fini with wide eyes.
Wait — sis, you're HERE too?! When did you get captured? How did I not know about this?!
Tapu Fini said nothing.
"Oh, Fini! Cute as ever today. Here — have an apple."
Mammon, sensing the awkwardness, quickly fished a big red apple from his bag and offered it to Tapu Fini.
"QI!!"
Shell Lady was NOT happy. She'd heard everything just now.
That rotten man — the one who'd toyed with her feelings, who'd said things like "Even without Poni Island, you'd still have me" — and now, barely a few days later?
Talking trash about her right in front of her former colleague?! And to Tapu Lele of all guardians — that pink two-faced schemer!
"I was kidding! Just kidding! Don't be mad. How about I buy you an extra cake tonight?"
"Qi!"
"Five is way too many — that's not how negotiation works! And you've been putting on weight lately. Maybe ease up on the sweets?"
"Qi?"
Tapu Fini went quiet, contemplating. She looked down at her midsection. It… did seem a little rounder than before.
Tapu Lele: (⊙.⊙)
Fini actually seems to get along pretty well with this human? Tapu Lele thought it over.
Come to think of it — if Fini had already left her post to follow a trainer, then it was fine for Tapu Lele to do the same, right? It wasn't the first one to bail.
Besides, Akala's Island Queen Olivia was still young. She probably had a good few decades left in her. No rush picking a successor.
When the time came, Tapu Lele could just ask Caitlin to bring it back to Akala for a visit. Pick a new Kahuna, done.
Tapu Lele felt this logic was completely airtight. It had been pulling guardian duty for who even knew how long — was taking a few decades off to relax really so unreasonable?
A human lifespan was only about a hundred years, after all. So what if it played hooky for a century?
Once Caitlin died of old age, it'd just go back to Akala Island. Perfect. Settled.
Surely Tapu Fini was thinking along the same lines?
Tapu Lele had successfully convinced itself. Flawless reasoning.
With Tapu Lele on her team, Caitlin's power had taken a massive leap forward.
Mammon was thrilled. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before Caitlin formally crossed the threshold into Champion-tier.
Granted, with Tapu Lele's acknowledgment, Caitlin could technically borderline qualify as Champion-tier already — but that was really just Tapu Lele and a hyper-buffed Metagross carrying her to that ceiling.
Once Caitlin had a full team of Champion-tier battlers, she'd be the real deal.
Team Rocket was about to gain its third Champion-tier trainer. Mammon was in an excellent mood.
So that afternoon, he headed to Aether Paradise.
"You're here again?"
Lusamine — who had only just recovered — saw Mammon appear in her estate and immediately tensed up.
Equal parts indignant and apprehensive. His stamina was frankly unreasonable.
"Missed you." Mammon said it without missing a beat, pulling the Aether Foundation President into an embrace.
Lusamine's porcelain features flushed. She offered a token push of resistance, then gave in.
"Mammon, stop — I haven't even eaten yet…"
The rest of the evening proceeded exactly as Mammon had planned.