Chapter 86: Chairman, Lorelei Said She'll Have Ten Children with Mammon
Bruno thought Mammon was genuinely unhinged. Dancing right in the middle of Lorelei's absolute no-go zone.
Lorelei was objectively striking — face and figure both. But Bruno, whose heart belonged entirely to training and weightlifting, had never had particular feelings about her either way. He did think she was a bit extreme.
Agatha was unsettling. Lance was arrogant. Lorelei was extreme. Bruno had long privately concluded that all three of his colleagues were, in their own ways, deeply strange — and none of them lightly.
But today, Bruno felt, Lorelei had genuinely met her match.
What kind of person just said things like that out loud?
This guy was weirder than all three of them combined.
"If you actually push me to it, there's nothing I won't do — after all, I'm the evil Team Rocket you keep talking about."
Mammon's smile widened. He leaned in slightly toward Lorelei.
Lorelei bit her lip. This time she didn't say anything.
She wasn't afraid to die. She'd made her peace with that long ago — a clean death in battle against people who deserved it. That was fine.
What was not fine was whatever scenario Mammon was implying. Being rendered helpless by Armored Mewtwo's psychic control, she couldn't even guarantee her own last resort.
In short: Lorelei had backed down.
"There we go. With a face like that and a figure like that, why be so difficult about everything?"
Mammon raised a hand and rested his palm lightly against Lorelei's cheek. Cool, smooth skin. Very nice texture.
"Hmph. I genuinely pity Giovanni, Mammon. To think he produced something like you."
Lorelei couldn't move away. She fixed him with ice-cold eyes and let the contempt do the work instead.
"Maybe so. Though if he knew that Elite Four Lorelei had become my woman, he might actually be proud of me." Mammon's tone was utterly unreadable.
"Heh." Two cold laughs. "Does humiliating me amuse you this much?"
"Humiliating you?" Mammon looked puzzled. "Why would you think that?"
"I genuinely like you, Lorelei. My feelings are completely sincere."
(Sincere desire to absolutely destroy you in a battle of wills, but feelings are feelings.)
Caitlin's brow had been creasing steadily throughout this exchange. She was increasingly displeased and wasn't entirely sure why. She knew perfectly well that Mammon was playing a game and none of it was real, but—
It sounds like a confession. Arceus above, why does she get to have that kind of figure.
If only—
"That's how you show you like someone?"
Lorelei allowed Mammon to lift her chin slightly. Her expression remained cold, but something calculating had appeared in her eyes.
She was thinking about what Agatha and Goodshow had told her. Both of them had expressed genuine regret that someone this talented had gone to the wrong side. And the reasons were — admittedly — understandable.
Which raised a question.
Lorelei activated her considerable strategic intelligence.
"It's just that our positions are different," Mammon was saying.
"If you genuinely like me," Lorelei said, voice measured and flat, "then leave Team Rocket and join the Kanto League. I'll marry you."
The sharp intake of breath came from two directions simultaneously — Mammon, and Bruno approximately fifteen meters away.
Bruno felt a wave of profound gratitude wash over him.
This is exactly why I came to Celadon City.
He was devastated that he hadn't started recording sooner.
"What did you just say?" Mammon was genuinely startled.
"Leave Team Rocket. I'll marry you. You said you like me, didn't you?"
The corner of Lorelei's mouth curved into something that was, against all odds, stunning.
"You said you wanted to give me children. I'll give you ten. How's that?"
Mammon took two steps back.
Ten? She wants to produce ten—
Erika: (⊙⊙)
Caitlin: (o～o)
Bruno internally: OH OH OH OH—
Mammon concluded that Lorelei was, as he had always suspected, genuinely not entirely well. Leave Team Rocket and I'll marry you. Extraordinary.
"Lorelei, I feel like your principles have gotten a bit flexible."
He was having some trouble keeping a straight face.
"Principles can adjust. For someone like you, I don't think it would be a bad outcome."
Lorelei's voice stayed level.
She'd done the math. Mammon hadn't been in Team Rocket long. More importantly, his strength was already extraordinary — and he was seventeen. If he was allowed to continue developing freely, even Lance might not be able to stop him eventually.
Her conclusion was that her decision was correct. She was prepared to sacrifice for the greater goal of dismantling Team Rocket. If Mammon could be turned — if he left and came over to their side — what couldn't they accomplish?
Mammon clicked his tongue.
She was genuinely interesting.
"I'm very tempted. But I can't do it yet — I haven't finished what I came to Team Rocket for. That said, Lorelei—" He met her eyes, smiling. "I'll hold you to that offer."
"Ten. Not one fewer."
Lorelei went quiet.
He's actually accepting the ten.
Can he even—
"It's been a very enjoyable afternoon. Until next time, Lorelei. Bruno."
Mammon stepped back several paces and gave Bruno a friendly wave.
"Wait—"
"We have plenty of future ahead of us."
He pressed a finger to his lips. Armored Mewtwo's psychic force wrapped around all three of them and lifted them smoothly into the air. They were gone within seconds.
Lorelei watched until the figures disappeared.
"When we get back, I'm recommending Mammon's threat classification be raised to maximum. He's too strong." Her voice was cold and flat again. "His wanted notice needs to go out immediately."
From this battle alone — Champion-tier, strong even within that tier. Terrifying. Last year he'd been a complete unknown.
"His arrest warrant too."
"Isn't he your future husband?" Bruno said, without thinking. "The one with the ten babies lined up?"
Lorelei gave him the death stare.
Bruno looked away with a strained smile.
On a hillside outside Celadon City.
"Mammon — might you consider letting me go now?" Erika asked carefully.
The battle was clearly over. The regular Rocket grunts had been rounded up some time ago.
"When did I say I was letting you go?" Mammon looked genuinely puzzled.
"You're an extraordinarily strong Trainer. Why trouble yourself over someone as insignificant as me?"
Erika's expression went pained. Being near Mammon was genuinely dangerous. Who knew when he might decide to be unpredictable.
"Relax, Gym Leader. I won't be in Kanto long. While I'm here, I just need you to handle my daily meals and housekeeping. Once I leave, you're free."
"I—"
Erika wrestled with this. Mammon's live-in housekeeper. She was the Celadon City Gym Leader. Her family had a name. And she was being asked to be a man's domestic servant?
"If you're unwilling, that's fine too. There's a Rocket base nearby. I'm sure they'd accommodate—"
"I am delighted to help. Please, this is the least I can do."
Erika's voice was crisp and her speed of response was remarkable.
She was not going back to any base. Under any circumstances.
"I didn't force you."
"Completely voluntary."
"Good. When I return to Kanto in the future, I'll come collect you from the Celadon Gym."
"...What?"
Erika stared at him.
Not just this visit. Every time he came back to Kanto.
How was she ever going to get married?
"Is there a problem, Gym Leader?"
Mammon watched her with a pleasant smile, head slightly tilted.
She really was quite charming, especially like this.
"No — no problem at all."
Erika's face was a picture of misery. But what choice did she have.
She was already quietly planning whether she could move house before his next visit.
"Caitlin — how do you feel about this one?"
"Fighting two Elite Four members taught me a great deal." Caitlin shifted her gaze from Erika and smiled gracefully. "I lost, but reviewing it now, there are many places I could have done better."
"Good. Real battles are the fastest path to growth — opportunities like today don't come often. It would be a waste not to take something from them."
Mammon nodded. At this rate, Caitlin would cross fully into Champion-tier very soon.
"Mammon — Ariana and Gladion were captured by Bruno." Caitlin thought to mention it.
"I know. I already had Mewtwo retrieve them."
Armored Mewtwo had given him the full picture from the air early on — a genuinely invaluable asset.
"Should be about time."
Celadon City.
"Good work, both of you."
Goodshow's face on the video screen was warm, if tired.
"It was necessary. But I should report — Mammon appeared during the operation."
"Mammon?"
"Yes. His strength is exceptional. Bruno and I together were not enough to stop him." Lorelei gave the assessment plainly.
"And the executive Caitlin — she has Tapu Lele. Even for me, taking her down quickly wasn't straightforward."
"I believe we need to treat Team Rocket with considerably more seriousness, Chairman. With Mammon and Caitlin now active, the threat level has increased significantly."
"That boy…" Goodshow sighed. "What a waste."
As Giovanni's son, Mammon should have been following in his father's footsteps — working for the people, for the League. Instead he'd placed himself on the opposite side.
And with talent like that.
Goodshow rubbed his temples. If Lorelei and Bruno combined couldn't stop him — and Lorelei was saying as much plainly — and the boy was only seventeen—
"Agatha and Lance can handle him," Lorelei said.
"I suppose that's where we are." Goodshow nodded. The League still had Agatha and the undefeated Lance.
"Chairman, I think we should leave dealing with Mammon to Lorelei," Bruno said. "She and Mammon have already agreed to get married and have ten children."
Lorelei's death stare hit him with full force. The cold coming off her was remarkable.
Bruno gave her his most guileless smile.
Goodshow looked at Bruno. Then at Lorelei, who conspicuously did not deny it.
"...I beg your pardon?"
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