Rex and the unnamed girl stood in the briefing room, silently observing their surroundings.
Silas immediately recognized Rex. The last time they had met was during the Mount Moon mission when Rex intervened to stop Meowth from killing Butch and Cassidy. Back then he had already been talented, but now he seemed noticeably more mature.
His posture was steadier, his movements more deliberate, and the confidence he carried felt earned rather than youthful arrogance.
The Nidorino standing beside him had also grown significantly.
The girl was unfamiliar to Silas.
A Vaporeon walked calmly beside her, its sleek blue body moving with effortless grace. Unlike many pokemon that constantly watched their surroundings for danger, this Vaporeon appeared completely relaxed. It radiated confidence, as though nothing in the room posed a threat worth acknowledging.
Silas activated a scan.
Nidorino — Level 43
Ability: Poison Point
Potential: B
Moves: Rank B Horn Attack, Rank B Peck, Rank B Mega Horn, Rank B Drill Run, Rank C Focus Energy, Rank C Poison Sting, Rank C Double Kick, Rank C Ice Beam, Rank C Thunder, Rank C Poison Jab, Rank C Hone Claws, Rank C Protect, Rank C Toxic, Rank C Venoshock, Rank C Sludge Bomb, Rank C Shadow Claw, Rank C Earth Power, Rank C Water Pulse
The scan caused Silas to raise an eyebrow slightly.
That movepool was impressive.
Mega Horn alone represented a tremendous offensive threat. Combined with Drill Run and Poison Jab, Nidorino possessed answers for a wide variety of opponents.
His gaze shifted toward Vaporeon.
Vaporeon (M) — Level 40
Ability: Water Absorb
Potential: B-
Moves: Rank B Quick Attack, Rank B Water Gun, Rank B Water Pulse, Rank C Refresh, Rank C Wish, Rank C Protect, Rank C Shadow Ball, Rank C Ice Beam, Rank C Bite, Rank C Aqua Ring, Rank C Helping Hand, Rank C Baton Pass, Rank C Haze, Rank C Acid Armor, Rank C Substitute, Rank C Calm Mind, Rank D Double Kick
Silas nodded inwardly.
A textbook Vaporeon, it was defensively strong and reliable.
Annoyingly difficult to put down. The pokemon practically screamed endurance.
Umbreon and Vaporeon had long been considered the tanks of the Eeveelutions. While other evolutions focused on overwhelming offense, these two specialized in surviving situations that would cripple most pokemon.
Looking at their levels, Silas found himself reflecting on how much things had changed.
A little over 4 months ago, they had all been beginners.
Now they were elite officer candidates participating in operations that would directly challenge League forces.
Yet despite their growth, the progress wasn't nearly as explosive as the games from his previous life suggested.
This world didn't operate like that. Pokemon didn't casually climb from level 5 to Champion class strength within a single year.
The higher one climbed, the harder every step became. When pokemon reached the 40s, growth naturally slowed.
This was the stage where fundamentals mattered. Move mastery. battle instincts, energy control, and tactics were all strengthened during this stage.
Countless trainers rushed through these stages chasing levels, only to permanently damage their future potential.
Silas had no intention of making that mistake.
For pokemon with Champion aspirations, the 40s represented the foundation upon which everything else would be built.
Most pokemon never progressed much further.
A pokemon with D talent would usually peak around level 50 and could take a few decades to reach that point.
That was reality.
Strength wasn't obtained through rare candy and experience points. It came from years of effort.
You had to train consistently and engage in battles that risk your life and come out on top.
The process couldn't be rushed. If anything, seeing Rex and Andra reinforced that lesson.
Their pokemon were strong.
Very strong.
Yet neither had advanced dramatically in levels over the past few months.
Instead they had improved their foundations.
Silas respected that.
At the same time, his competitive spirit stirred. Meeting trainers his own age who stood at a similar level always had that effect.
If not for the mission, he would have loved an all out battle against Rex. The thought vanished when Ariana spoke.
"I've already explained the mission fully to Andra, so she can fill you both in on the rest."
A Gardevoir appeared beside her.
The next moment both pokemon and trainer vanished. Silas stared at the empty space.
"Does everyone in Team Rocket's upper ranks have a teleporting pokemon?"
The comment slipped out before he could stop himself. Archer constantly appeared with Alakazam. Ariana traveled through Gardevoir.
Team Rocket's leadership seemed obsessed with showing off their teleportation capabilities.
Rex laughed.
"Probably, they love to flex their power any chance they get."
"It is what it is."
"So Odin, have you gotten any stronger since Mount Moon?"
Silas smirked.
"I can show you my pokemon. We need to familiarize ourselves with each other anyway."
Two pokeballs opened. Teddiursa and Frogadier appeared. Both immediately positioned themselves beside Silas.
Andra studied them carefully.
"Not bad. They look well trained."
She released her own pokemon.
A Primeape emerged first, then came the Combusken.
Silas' attention immediately focused on the fire type. Even in his previous life, he had always loved the Blaziken line.
The pokemon stood upright with powerful legs built for explosive movement. Bright orange feathers covered most of its body while a sharp yellow crest swept backward from its head.
Its red eyes radiated determination. This wasn't a pokemon that had coasted through training.
Silas scanned it.
Combusken (F) — Level 42
Ability: Speed Boost
Potential: B
Moves: Rank B Flamethrower, Rank B Brick Break, Rank B Bulk Up, Rank B Night Slash, Rank B Sky Uppercut, Rank C Fire Punch, Rank C Thunder Punch, Rank C Blaze Kick, Rank C Detect, Rank C Slash, Rank C Quick Attack, Rank C Baton Pass, Rank C Swords Dance, Rank C Protect, Rank C Focus Blast, Rank C Aerial Ace
Silas couldn't help feeling impressed. The investment alone told a story.
Countless training hours and resources had been invested into Combusken. It wasn't simply strong. It shared a real bond with its trainer. Andra clearly cared deeply for her partner.
Silas gestured toward his own pokemon.
"My Frogadier is a speedy mixed attacker. Teddiursa is a close range brawler. Few pokemon in the same class can match him after Belly Drum."
Teddiursa immediately puffed out its chest.
The bear wore a huge grin. Silas didn't bother correcting him. If any pokemon on his team had earned the right to be arrogant, it was Teddiursa.
The three trainers spent the next hour discussing mission details.
Andra filled in everything Ariana had already told her.
The operation would begin after the SS Anne's party had been underway for approximately 1 hour.
At that point, 15 squads consisting of 3 Elite Officers each would reveal themselves simultaneously.
Their purpose was simple. They would cause chaos by robbing guests of their Pokémon and valuables, forcing league personnel into a confrontation.
The assault would continue for roughly 30 minutes.
During that time, 5 separate infiltration squads would search the ship.
Silas, Rex, and Andra would form one of those teams. The remaining members had yet to arrive.
Their mission was straightforward. Find valuables. Anything useful would be stolen while the most important objective remained the meteorite.
Executive Hun would personally lead the assault on Captain Keith Black's quarters.
Keith Black himself was a famous water-type specialist with mid advanced tier strength.
That made him far too dangerous for ordinary officers. Only an Executive or stronger could reliably engage him.
The operation also had one final advantage.
Lt. Surge.
While his involvement would remain secret, Team Rocket would receive assistance from within Vermillion itself.
Having a Gym Leader on their side dramatically improved their chances.
After finalizing plans and exchanging contact information, the trio separated.
Regular grunts escorted each member to their assigned quarters.
Silas deposited his belongings before deciding to explore Vermillion.
Eevee accompanied him.
The young pokemon happily trotted beside him while wearing her gravity vest.
The setting had recently increased to 1.3x gravity.
Silas had no intention of rushing her development. Too much pressure could easily damage future growth. Patience was important.
The pair spent hours exploring the city. They sampled local food, visited various shops, and walked through a few parks.
Eventually they made their way toward the western beaches. The ocean stretched endlessly before them. Warm sunlight reflected off rolling waves.
Children played near the shore while trainers relaxed alongside their pokemon.
It was peaceful, a welcome change from Team Rocket bases and mission briefings.
Eevee used the opportunity wisely. Even while walking, she continuously practiced Calm Mind.
Silas smiled as he watched.
The training looked awkward at first but she persisted diligently.
The crushed psychic crystals mixed into her pokeblocks were already showing results.
Combined with Stored Power and Calm Mind, her future path toward Espeon seemed increasingly likely.
Eventually they reached a more secluded section of beach. Few people came this far which was precisely why Silas chose it.
Earlier, he had noticed a few individuals watching Eevee and initially he ignored it.
Then he noticed them again. Rather than confront them immediately, he decided to test their intentions.
They were clearly determined since they followed him all this way.
Silas sensed them approaching long before they spoke. Two figures emerged from the direction they had come.
One was a man in his mid-30s. The other was a woman barely in her 20s. The age gap was noticeable.
The woman's eyes immediately locked onto Eevee.
"What a cute pokemon. Can I hold it?"
Without waiting for permission, she reached toward Eevee.
Eevee dodged effortlessly but the woman was tenacious, she tried again.
Silas remained calm.
"Eevee is still young. She doesn't take well to strangers."
The woman looked annoyed. Still, she forced a smile.
The older man stepped forward.
"How about this? Since the lady likes the Eevee so much, I can—"
"My pokemon is not for sale."
Silas cut him off.
"Please leave us alone."
The man's smile disappeared while Silas' expression remained unchanged.
He could already sense movement beneath the sand. A presence approached rapidly.
Without warning, Silas recalled Eevee while he jumped several meters backward.
The ground exploded. Sand and dust flew everywhere as a pokemon erupted from below.
Its long jaws snapped shut where Silas had been standing moments earlier.
Dark markings surrounded its eyes like natural sunglasses while powerful claws dug into the sand.
A Krookodile.
Silas scanned it immediately.
Krookodile (M) — Level 40
Ability: Moxie
Potential: C-
Moves: Rank B Crunch, Rank B Dig, Rank C Hone Claws, Rank C Foul Play, Rank C Sand Tomb, Rank C Thunder Fang, Rank C Sand Storm, Rank C Torment, Rank C Swagger, Rank C Dragon Claw, Rank C Iron Tail
Silas looked toward the couple.
His expression cooled considerably.
"What exactly is the meaning of this? You would kill a stranger just to steal a pokemon?"
The older man laughed.
"Enough talking."
"Give the Eevee to the lady."
He pointed lazily.
"Actually, leave all your valuables too. You can keep your clothes and shoes. I'm feeling generous today."
The arrogance was almost amusing.
They clearly assumed Eevee was his strongest pokemon. After all, most trainers his age didn't possess anything noteworthy.
Silas smiled.
"Actually I think I'll fight."
The couple immediately released additional pokemon, a Mightyena, Fearow, Primeape, Arbok, Beedrill, Venomoth, & Magmar.
A small army appeared around them.
The younger woman giggled.
"Baby, let's kill this kid."
"Yes, he has the audacity to refuse us."
The man looked at her affectionately.
"You know what they say. Happy wife, happy life. For my girl to smile, you have to die. You only have yourself to blame for being difficult."
Silas looked around.
There were 8 enemy pokemon and no witnesses. This was a perfect opportunity.
His smile widened.
"We'll see who dies."
The perfect training dummies had presented themselves.