Three days later.
Hoenn region, Rustboro Airport.
Aoki stepped out of the airport alone.
He didn't stay long in Rustboro. At this time, Steven should still be digesting the gains from the Sinnoh competition.
Aoki left Rustboro and summoned his Flygon.
His destination was Verdanturf Town.
He quietly entered his residence in Verdanturf Town—no one knew Aoki had returned.
Matsuda had been holding meetings at the Hoenn League headquarters ever since returning from Sinnoh due to the news about the Fairy-type Pokémon revealed by Aoki.
This matter was far too significant, and the timing was awkward. Handling it smoothly without pressure was nearly impossible.
The League had little time to prepare. Fairy-type Pokémon had already appeared in the Sinnoh competition. Before too many Trainers became aware of the situation, the Fairy type had to be officially announced, and existing Pokémon's attributes needed re-evaluation.
A vast number of League testing instruments required updates—adding Fairy-type detection, listing Fairy-type moves, and determining their effects and power.
Even though Aoki had informed the League's higher-ups that Fairy-type Pokémon resisted Dragon-, Fighting-, and Dark-types, they still needed to conduct thorough testing.
The most critical point was verifying whether Fairy-types were truly immune to Dragon-type moves or if moves like Miracle Eye could bypass this immunity. Otherwise, Dragon-type specialists would be at a severe disadvantage.
Drake, one of Hoenn's Elite Four and the Dragon Master, was familiar with Aoki. He had watched Aoki's announcement via video call and was now the primary figure overseeing Fairy-type testing in Hoenn.
As the Dragon Master, did he feel uneasy about the Fairy type's introduction?
Of course.
Raising powerful Dragon-types was no easy feat—only to learn a new type now hard-countered them.
It was frustrating.
Fortunately, Drake wasn't overly power-hungry. Assigned the task by the League, he carried it out dutifully.
After all, who understood Dragon-types better than the Dragon Master himself?
Knowing Aoki had discovered the Fairy type, Drake contacted him multiple times, hoping for deeper insights.
Aoki respected Drake, who had openly shared his Dragon-type research. In return, Aoki provided as much information as he could—omitting only details his current standing shouldn't know.
This saved Drake considerable time.
Simultaneously, Aoki realized the Fairy type's emergence presented a lucrative opportunity.
After settling his Pokémon to rest, he immediately called a meeting with his Sky hunters.
The Sky hunters had expanded significantly. Under Aoki's orders, new recruits only learned they were a Team Rocket subsidiary after passing initiation.
More crucially, Aoki instructed operatives to prioritize loyalty to Sky hunters leader first, Team Rocket second, and temporary commanders last.
Aoki rarely interfered with Kaitou's management. This underground force, originally created on a whim, now served as a steady resource stream—a pleasant surprise.
Skye and the others had proven competent.
With Team Rocket scaling back operations, they left the Hoenn branch largely autonomous, making Skye and the team its de facto leaders.
Having been away so long, Aoki noted their improved confidence upon summoning them—a clear sign of growth.
Yet they remained as deferential as ever, without a hint of defiance.
Aoki had recruited them precisely because they were overlooked but held potential.
Otherwise, why select these few from Trial Island's many rejects?
"It seems all three of you have reached Elite level," Aoki remarked, seated at the head of the meeting table.
While they might still struggle against his second-tier Pokémon like Swampert, their progress from their former strength was commendable.
Elite-level Trainers could apply for captaincy within Team Rocket—granting them some authority, at least placing them in the mid-ranks.
"Thanks to the Pokémon you provided, sir, and the Sky hunter's resources," said Skye, the most trusted of the four. Though not the strongest, he managed Kaitou's finances and served as its strategist.
Kaito is no longer the lone hunter Aoki first met—he now led the Hunting Division, training recruits. Many of Sky hunter's fighters owed their skills to her.
The thief was the strongest among them, already consolidating her Elite status while the others were just beginning.
Aoki dismissed Skye's flattery with a wave.
Previously, the profits seemed trivial. But now, with the League's upheaval approaching, the faction stood to gain massively. Aoki had many Pokémon to train, and the mine's income alone wouldn't suffice.
The investment in creating the Sky hunters was about to pay off.
"The League is on the verge of a major shift—one that will ripple across all factions," Aoki said, resting his hands on the table. "We will capitalize on this."
His gaze swept over them, sharp and commanding.
Now a Pseudo-Champion-tier Trainer—stronger than in his past life—and an intermediate level Psychic, his presence alone was intimidating.
Surviving among powerhouses had honed him.
And Aoki was far from weak.