[Mimikyu has been knocked out!]
[Mimikyu defeated Vileplume, gaining massive EXP!]
[Mimikyu's level has increased!]
Three consecutive notifications flashed by. The HP restoration from leveling up forcibly pulled Mimikyu back from the brink of fainting.
Mimikyu's Pikachu-costume head lolled to one side, but it hadn't been completely taken out by the Solar Beam.
It had exploited a level-up glitch...
Meanwhile, Vileplume had succumbed to Destiny Bond's backlash and collapsed unconscious.
"This... can't be real?" Lucien's face was a picture of disbelief. Understandably so...
A Level 1 Mimikyu had not only survived against a Level 25 Vileplume, but had managed to take it down through sheer tactical brilliance.
Even web novels wouldn't dare write something this absurd!
Ariana licked her lips, eyeing Caleb with newfound interest as she studied her fallen Vileplume.
Without warning, she asked, "What's your name?"
Caleb, who was busy adjusting Mimikyu's crooked costume head, replied without looking up, "Caleb Chase."
"Caleb Chase..." Ariana repeated softly, as if tasting the name. Then, abruptly, she asked, "Do you know Lance?"
Caleb's hands stilled. He finally looked up, meeting Ariana's probing gaze, "The Dragon Master Lance? I think everyone in Kanto knows who he is." he answered.
Ariana stared at him for a long moment before shifting her attention to the others, her voice turning icy, "Team Rocket has only one requirement for its members: absolute loyalty..."
"...I don't care what you did before joining. That life is over. From now on, you live as Team Rocket and die as Team Rocket." She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in, before continuing, "As for the consequences of betrayal... I doubt you want to find out..."
"Of course! I swear my undying loyalty to Team Rocket!" Lucien was the first to pledge his allegiance.
Ariana's expression shifted back to its earlier casual indifference, as though the cold threat had never existed.
She then shrugged at Caleb, her tone almost playful, "Good. Starting today, you're with me."
There was an unmistakable ...~I've taken a liking to you, so you're mine now~... undertone to her words that left Caleb momentarily speechless.
He blinked, "Me?"
Ariana arched a brow, "Got a problem with that?"
Caleb shook his head, keeping his face neutral, "Not at all. I'm honored."
Ariana smirked, then recalled her fainted Vileplume. The interrupted battle had killed her interest in training recruits... Not that she had come here for that in the first place. As an Executive, menial tasks like this were beneath her.
The real reason for her visit was a tip-off from Giovanni: The League had recently sent undercover agents to infiltrate Team Rocket.
Being Team Rocket's most skilled manipulator; a master of deception, performance, and former spy... Ariana was naturally tasked with vetting the four new recruits.
The results were... unexpectedly interesting.
At least three of these four were hiding something...
...
Leaving the conference room, Ariana took the elevator down to the base's lowest level.
A suited man with cropped hair lounged on a sofa, swirling a glass of red wine in one hand while idly stroking a Persian's sleek fur with the other.
The large screen before him displayed footage of the earlier battle.
"Well, Boss? What do you think?" Ariana asked after having reported her observations.
Giovanni's dark eyes gleamed with calculated amusement, "Interesting... Deal with the two at Mt. Moon Base first. As for these four... keep them around. I have plans..."
.....
Back in the conference room, the four players exchanged uneasy glances after Ariana's departure...
Lucien studied Caleb and Gwen suspiciously, "Your missions wouldn't happen to be infiltration-based, would they?"
Before they could answer, Victor's face twisted in discomfort, "The hell does it matter? Goddammit, I need a bathroom, now! Someone get me toilet paper!"
His overreaction was painfully clear.
Due to this, Caleb suspected Victor had the same undercover mission.
But Lucien, being accustomed to Victor's crudeness, merely rolled his eyes and left to fetch supplies, muttering something about "disgusting habits"...
Team Rocket's underground base was sprawling, granting its members surprising freedom... they could even leave to explore the city.
With Ariana gone, the scenario's tutorial phase had officially ended... Now, the players were on their own...
Caleb wasn't worried though. He still had thirty days to complete his mission.
But as he ate in the cafeteria with Mimikyu, two universal notifications abruptly flashed across his interface:
[Players Hope Deepwater and Leon Maris have died!]
[Scenario difficulty adjusted! All mission rewards have been significantly increased!]
Years of hardship had honed Mimikyu's ability to read emotions. The instant its Trainer's mood shifted, it noticed.
Its costume head tilted, the Pikachu-like ears drooping as it stared up in silent concern.
"I'm fine, don't worry."
Caleb steadied himself, pushing the notifications aside to focus on Team Rocket's specialty meal... rice balls with mushroom bisque.
Mimikyu didn't doubt its instincts, but it couldn't understand its Trainer's distress, leaving it anxious and confused.
Caleb didn't notice at first, too busy reviewing Mimikyu's status screen.
The battle had skyrocketed the little Pokémon to Level 11. As a Trainer, he felt compelled to praise his partner properly.
But when he finally looked up, he found Mimikyu lost in thought.
Mimikyu ate differently from other Pokémon... it had to slip food beneath its disguise.
Though curious about its true form, Caleb thought asking so soon would be rude.
Now he wondered if his earlier dismissal had hurt its feelings.
Meanwhile, Mimikyu fretted over whether its new Trainer already disliked it.
And so, a first-time Trainer and a first-time partner Pokémon found themselves trapped in parallel spirals of self-doubt...