Chapter 344: "Didn't You Notice Caitlin's Look — Like She Wanted to Knife Us?"
"Epic-Tier Grand Mission: Lumiose City"
"FINALLY! This is exactly what I've been waiting for!"
Mei snapped fully alert instantly, buzzing with excitement.
"This mission looks... genuinely different from the usual." Touko studied the title. The last time they'd seen a "grand mission" label had been Mt. Coronet — and that one had had Team Galactic's boss Cyrus himself as the ultimate target, with no "epic-tier" prefix attached.
And this time, the mission location was Lumiose City?
Since Mammon was currently active in Kalos, Touko had done a bit of basic research — Lumiose City was the very heart of the Kalos region, one of the most populous cities in the entire world.
"Doesn't matter if it's different or not — I'm going, no question about it!"
Mei puffed her chest out confidently. Whatever evil target this was, it didn't matter one bit!
"..." Touko gave Mei a wordless look, but honestly, this probably wasn't going to be much of a problem.
Mr. Mammon would surely be supervising personally, after all, and honestly, Touko didn't expect it to be especially difficult regardless — she and Mei both already had several mainstays who'd already reached Champion-caliber strength.
"Still just registration for now, though — no idea when it'll actually kick off."
—
Kalos, Lumiose City.
"Nnh..."
A muffled, strained voice echoed in a room. Diantha, teeth clenched tight, her face twisted in visible strain.
Whew.
Finally over. Diantha collapsed, completely spent, without a shred of strength left to move.
"Drink some water."
Mammon lifted her up and handed her a glass.
After a few sips, Diantha finally felt like she might actually be alive again.
"You're honestly not human."
Diantha let out a long breath, voicing her complaint.
"You're just too weak. You really should hit the gym," Mammon said with a casual shrug.
"I already work out."
Diantha still firmly maintained there was something wrong with Mammon specifically — her own physical condition really wasn't bad at all, at least by normal human standards. But she genuinely couldn't hold up against him.
Every single time, she felt like she was about to die.
"Clearly it's still not enough." Mammon pulled Diantha into his arms.
She didn't resist, leaning against his chest, closing her eyes to rest for a moment.
Breathing in Mammon's distinctly masculine scent, Diantha found her feelings genuinely complicated.
What exactly are we, at this point?
The thought surfaced in her mind, unbidden, though she genuinely had no answer for it. Feelings? Didn't seem like it — at least, she never sensed anything resembling love from Mammon toward her. A purely transactional relationship, then? That didn't feel quite right either.
Diantha figured she was probably overthinking this.
"By the way, something fairly serious might happen in Lumiose City before too long. I'd recommend you get prepared for it."
Mammon thought it over and gave her a heads-up.
"What kind of thing?" Diantha startled.
"Mammon, you promised me — Team Rocket wouldn't do anything to Kalos."
"What are you thinking? Do I strike you as the type to break a promise?" Mammon raised an eyebrow.
"..." Diantha pressed his wandering hand down and stayed silent.
Yeah, she still had serious doubts about Mammon's character.
"Sure, I'm no saint, but I don't go back on what I've promised — you can rest easy about that much."
Mammon said lazily.
"Then who?" Diantha's brow furrowed. Kalos had never had any evil organization of its own.
And the target was Lumiose City itself? A group crazy enough to try that was another matter entirely.
"You genuinely don't seem to have any grasp of what's happening in your own region right now. Though, honestly, that's not surprising." Mammon smiled faintly.
Diantha ran through it in her mind — potential threatening forces within Kalos...
"No need to rack your brain over it. Even if you knew, there's nothing your abilities could do to stop it anyway — better to focus on how to minimize the damage instead."
Mammon said, unhurried.
"As for who exactly it is — he'll expose himself soon enough. You'll find out shortly."
"Then, could you..."
Diantha bit her lip, wanting to ask Mammon for help but unsure how to phrase it.
"Want me to help out?" Mammon looked at her, half-teasing.
"Mm..."
"Sure, of course I can. My dear Diantha."
Mammon cupped her face, his smile turning increasingly mischievous.
"Our Team Rocket is, after all, a righteous organization devoted to light and beauty. As long as the Kalos League is willing to offer up a little something in return, Team Rocket would be more than happy to step forward and help."
"...Just say it plainly."
Diantha was genuinely at a loss for words — not that she doubted this was a lie on Mammon's part. Given Mammon's actual standing and capability, there was simply no real reason for him to make up something like this. Whether a genuine crisis threatening all of Lumiose City was actually coming — well, the facts would speak for themselves soon enough.
"I want the Kalos League to formally support and back my company's local branch in the short term, along with some capital investment."
Mammon said. Same as always — whatever support the Kalos League could offer right now, he wanted all of it.
With official League backing, his business here in Kalos could grow at maximum speed.
"If what you're saying is true, I imagine the Chairman would agree to it."
Diantha considered it for a moment. If it genuinely involved the entirety of Lumiose City, she felt this was a deal worth accepting. After all, Lumiose was Kalos's economic heart, home to countless people — the cost of losing it entirely would be far too great.
They'd already tacitly accepted Team Rocket's presence in Kalos regardless — throwing a bit of support behind Mammon's business on top of that wasn't asking too much.
As for the money? Please. The League never wanted for funds.
"Genuinely quick to agree." Mammon was pleased.
"To celebrate our renewed cooperation, want to go again?"
"Are you even human? I genuinely can't take any more!"
Diantha's face went noticeably paler. She genuinely felt like she might end up dying at Mammon's hands one of these days.
No. Gym membership can't wait another day.
—
Three days passed in a blink.
Diantha spent those three days genuinely on edge, having only reported the matter to the Kalos Chairman. And yet, after three full days, absolutely nothing had happened — Diantha was starting to seriously doubt the accuracy of Mammon's intel.
But on Mammon's end, plenty was already underway.
"Mammon~!!"
At a plaza, a bun-haired girl in black stockings came sprinting straight at the young man.
Mammon had no choice but to spread his arms and catch her. Someone's tackling me with a full-body running start, seriously?!
Behind Mei, Touko approached at a much slower pace, palm to her forehead.
Zicao and the others stared, awed at Mei's sheer boldness, while Duruo and the rest let out playful, jeering hoots.
Right — Unova's "temp workers" — no, formally enrolled Team Rocket members now — had all flown into Kalos.
Traveling alongside Mammon, Caitlin's gaze had dropped instantly, several degrees colder, fixed squarely on Mei.
Serena watched, curious and a little startled — what a bold girl!
Platinum's brow creased slightly, clearly not entirely pleased, though she quickly masked it. Unova people! No manners at all, and no restraint either — she's basically taking advantage of Mr. Mammon right in the open!
"Careful, or you'll fall and hurt yourself," Mammon said, mildly exasperated.
"Ahh~ Mammon's smell!"
Mei clung tight to his waist, burying her face in his chest, breathing in deeply.
"???" Mammon was starting to think something was genuinely off about this girl.
"Heh~ that's because I knew Mammon would never let me get hurt," Mei finally tilted her face up, beaming a radiant smile.
"That's not necessarily true," Mammon said with a light chuckle.
He patted Mei on the shoulder, and she — reasonably obedient about it — pulled herself out of his arms, though her big eyes stayed locked unblinkingly on his profile.
Oh my god! The man I've set my sights on is SO gorgeous!
Mei, for her part, remained completely oblivious to the fact that Caitlin was, at that exact moment, watching her just as intently.
Compared to the other women who posed no real threat, Caitlin knew perfectly well — Mei's danger rating was leagues above someone like Erika's!!
This woman...
"Everyone, been a while — you're all still full of energy, I see."
Mammon's gaze swept over Duruo and the rest of the group.
"Alright, positions!" Duruo raised a hand and gestured.
The whole crew of Unova trainers snapped into a perfectly aligned formation, with Duruo and Wuli leading the front.
"Boss!"
The mixed chorus of male and female voices rang out in perfect unison — startling the passersby nearby.
Whoa!
Serena and Platinum flinched too, equally caught off guard. Once she recovered, Platinum's expression was thoroughly hard to read. Serena, meanwhile, watched this out-of-town Unova crew with genuine, thoughtful curiosity. Interesting.
"Not bad, not bad at all. I like this little surprise," Mammon said, laughing, thoroughly satisfied, nodding along.
"Thanks for making the trip out here, everyone. I've already booked you all hotel rooms — go get some rest first."
"I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing how you all perform going forward."
Mammon said, smiling and nodding.
"We definitely won't let the boss down." Duruo's expression stayed as lazily unbothered as ever, though his actual enthusiasm was running plenty high underneath it.
"Good. There's still a few days before things kick off — go enjoy some free time. This big city should have plenty to interest you all."
"Yes, sir!"
Two Team Rocket members escorted the Unova crew off.
"Mammon, Mammon, are you free tonight?"
But Mei wasn't in a hurry to leave yet, batting her big, lovely eyes at him, her voice syrupy sweet.
Caitlin's eyes were already glowing with a flickering, unsteady blue light. This bun-headed girl!!
"Nothing planned, why?"
"Heheh~ my Serperior finally learned a backflip! Want to come check out my room and—mmph!!"
"So sorry, Mr. Mammon, Mei's starting to talk nonsense — please, carry on, we'll head to the hotel first."
Touko, breaking out in a nervous sweat, clamped a hand over Mei's mouth, hauling her dear friend away and bowing out on their behalf.
"Sure, be careful on the way." Mammon couldn't help laughing.
Once Touko had dragged Mei a fair distance away, Mei let her thorough displeasure show.
"What was that for, Touko?!"
"Girl, are you actively TRYING to die? A backflip Serperior, seriously?! Didn't you notice — Miss Caitlin's eyes were literally like knives!"
Touko hissed at her, voice dropped low, gritting her teeth.
She genuinely suspected that if Mammon hadn't been standing right there, Caitlin would've walled Mei up inside one of those nearby stone shrine statues without a second thought.
And as Mei's own best friend, Touko figured she probably wouldn't have escaped the same fate either.
"Tch! So what? I don't care about—"
Mei kept insisting, stubborn as ever — she'd finally gotten to see Mammon again after all this time, and simply couldn't hold herself back.
"Yeah, yeah, I know you're not scared of her, but Caitlin's genuinely way too strong right now. Let's just lay low for a bit, okay?" Touko was genuinely at her wit's end.
"Just play it safe for now, alright? Please?"
"Ugh, fine!"
Mei was thoroughly displeased, but there wasn't much she could do — she really couldn't beat Caitlin as things stood right now.
"Who was that, just now — Mei?" Serena, seeming to mull something over, asked Platinum.
She seemed pretty into Mr. Mammon?
"Yeah, from Unova. How to put it — no sense of boundaries at all, kind of rude, honestly."
Platinum's impression of Mei and the rest wasn't especially favorable. These Unova people had no manners, sure — but on top of that, they'd formed their own little clique too.
If it hadn't been for Paul back then, Platinum probably wouldn't have gotten so much as a taste of the action during Sinnoh's very first raid on Team Galactic's base. After all, back then Platinum had still been too proud, too much the reserved young lady to push herself forward the way she did now, much more outgoing and bold these days.
"Ohh..."
Serena caught the note of dislike in Platinum's tone toward Mei and the others and didn't press further. But Serena also sensed something else underneath it, glancing over at Mammon.
Something flickered faintly in Serena's eyes — not entirely surprising, given how genuinely magnetic Mr. Mammon was. But hold on — didn't Mr. Mammon already have a girlfriend? He'd said so himself in that interview.
—
Nothing much happened over the next two days, until the morning of the third.
"To all holders of holographic communicators—"
Every holographic communicator across Kalos — the most popular device in the region — suddenly received a three-dimensional video message from Lysandre.
In the hologram, Lysandre appeared, his composed features betraying nothing, his voice as low and steady as ever.
The message reached every single holder of a holographic communicator across the entire Kalos region — after all, the technology itself had originally been invented and manufactured by Lysandre's own research institute, giving them easy control over it.
Out on the street, Diantha's fine brows knitted together. Her mind flashed immediately back to that conversation with Lysandre at Café Rising Sun.
In that instant, Diantha understood. Lysandre!!
"Please, listen carefully."
Lysandre slowly raised a hand.
"We, Team Flare, will bring the Ultimate Weapon back to life. We will eliminate every existence beyond Team Flare itself, and in doing so, reclaim a beautiful world."
Lysandre's delivery was expressionless, matter-of-fact.
Everyone who heard those words froze, eyes widening in genuine shock.
What the hell?
And back in the villa, Mammon simply smiled, thoroughly pleased.
Here we go.
(End of chapter)
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