"Guests?"
Professor Lund put down the report he was holding. He turned around to look at the group of three people: Damian, Caitlin, and Lillie.
"Hello, Professor Lund. I heard that you know a lot about how Pokémon live, so I came specifically to visit," Damian said. He gave a small bow.
Mewtwo, can you feel it? Damian asked Armored Mewtwo using his mind.
Damian, this gem is alive, the deep and raspy voice of Armored Mewtwo replied immediately. Even inside its Poke Ball, its psychic powers were very strong. This gem was truly special.
The power inside it is also very big, but it is not fully awake yet.
It is a Deoxys after all. Do you have a way to wake it up?
I am not sure, Armored Mewtwo replied after thinking for a moment. It could feel the strong power hidden inside the gem. However, Armored Mewtwo could not promise that it could wake the gem up. Its psychic powers could not do everything.
That means there is at least a chance, Damian thought and nodded. This would be easy to handle then.
"Oh? Are you interested in this field?" Professor Lund asked. He looked interested. He had sky-blue hair and a very cold, distant face. He looked like a person who was hard to talk to.
"Yes. I am especially interested in Pokémon that do not belong to our planet," Damian said. The corners of his mouth went up slightly.
The expressions of Professor Lund and Yuko both changed a little.
"Are you talking about Pokémon like Solrock? People say they fell from space. Their habits are worth researching," Professor Lund said calmly. He stayed very cool as he replied.
There were many Pokémon that people said were from space. For example, Solrock and Lunatone from the Hoenn region.
"You are as smart as I expected, Professor Lund. Could you tell us more about them?"
"Of course."
Damian had a small smile on his face. He did not continue to say the truth about Deoxys right now. There was no rush. Deoxys was a very powerful Mythical Pokémon. In reality, Deoxys could change its forms freely, and it was great at fighting. It would be very good if he could catch one.
They stayed at Professor Lund's institute for a long time. Professor Lund and Yuko were very helpful. They explained many things about Pokémon habits to the three of them.
"I feel like I have learned so much knowledge," Lillie said. She tilted her head as they walked out of the institute.
When she ran away from home, Professor Kukui helped her and she became his assistant. Lillie really liked these research professors. They all knew many things.
"Mhm. After all, he is the most famous research professor in this city. Let's go to the hotel first."
It was getting late. The three of them went toward the hotel they had booked. Lillie felt a bit tired, so she went to her room to rest early.
Damian and Caitlin went to a training ground near the hotel. Damian planned to help her with special training. Lately, Caitlin was getting strong very quickly. She was now at the Champion level. She became Team Rocket's fourth Champion-level trainer!
Team Rocket was doing very well! Damian was very satisfied. These were the results of his hard work, and it made him feel proud.
However...
"Hmm? Eh?! Senior Cynthia, it's those two!"
Damian was using Suicune to train against Caitlin's Gallade. Suddenly, a girl shouted in surprise.
Damian raised an eyebrow. He turned his head and saw it was Cynthia and Nemona.
"My, my~ look who it is. We really are lucky to meet again." Damian smiled at the two of them.
"Wait, are people from evil groups always this bold? In the middle of the day, you are just doing battle training in the city??" Nemona was still a bit nervous. After all, the person in front of her was Damian. He was the man that Senior Cynthia and two others could not beat even when they worked together.
Also, there was Caitlin, who was also powerful. This time, there was only her and Cynthia. How could they beat Damian and Caitlin?
"Relax. We are not planning to do anything bad today. You do not have to be so serious." Damian waved his hand at the two. He showed them that he did not want to start a fight.
Nemona's face looked very strange. What did he mean by "we are not planning to do anything bad today"?
"As long as you do not start anything, we can get along just fine."
Since Cynthia and Nemona had arrived, the training could not continue. Caitlin walked slowly to Damian's side. She looked at Cynthia with a calm gaze.
Cynthia's face looked a bit complicated.
"Damian, what did you come to LaRousse City for?" Cynthia asked. She looked at Damian calmly.
The two of them had met alone once in Hau'oli City in Alola. She wanted to trust Damian's words. Though, it was quite strange to believe someone from an evil group.
"LaRousse City is such a modern city. I came to walk around and relax. What about you two?"
Damian spoke like they were friends. This made Nemona feel very uncomfortable. After all, they had a fierce battle in Rustboro City just a few days ago!
Nemona blinked and looked at Senior Cynthia. She really liked and was jealous of how Senior Cynthia stayed so calm!
"The Hoenn League has not been able to find Team Rocket lately, so Nemona and I came out for a walk." Cynthia was very direct. She did not feel embarrassed at all.
"Aha~ Champion Cynthia really is not afraid of me turning hostile at all." Damian raised an eyebrow.
Nemona was sweating now. If a fight started here, the two of them would lose. Also, they were inside LaRousse City. No one had told the people to leave. It would be terrible if innocent people were hurt.
So, Nemona knew very well that it was best not to fight right now.
"Damian, I do not know your true thoughts, but I know that your future is not with Team Rocket." Cynthia knew that if Damian really wanted to fight, he would have attacked at the start. She even tried to make him leave the group again.
"Those words are boring. Champion Cynthia, instead of that, I would rather talk about love with you." Damian looked at Cynthia. He looked at her from head to toe. She was wearing casual clothes and her hair was in a ponytail.
Cynthia was truly beautiful.
"?" Cynthia looked confused.
"??" Nemona's head was full of questions.
Caitlin's eyes became a bit narrow.
"Just talking will not convince me."
"Then what do you want?" Cynthia thought deeply. This was not wrong; they were all adults. If she could make Damian leave the evil group by paying a price, it would be worth it.
"Let me think. Back in Kanto, Lorelei from the Elite Four said something. She said if I leave Team Rocket, she will marry me and give me ten children."
The smile on Damian's lips was very mean. He looked at Cynthia with a playful grin.
"What do you think, Champion Cynthia?"
"Huh?" Nemona was shocked!
Cynthia's brow went down deeply. What did Damian mean by this? Caitlin stayed expressionless.
"You're joking, right?" Nemona asked in shock. Was he serious??? It was too much. Nemona had seen pictures of the Elite Four from other regions. Lorelei from Kanto was very beautiful and had a very nice body.
"Who would make such a boring joke with you?" Damian looked at Nemona.
Nemona gasped. This was such big gossip! She would not even tell her friend Penny!
"Damian, this kind of thing is not funny."
Cynthia bit her lip. She understood what Damian meant. But should she lose her innocence and her whole life? Cynthia felt that even for her, this was very hard to do. She was the Champion of the Sinnoh region. She should be ready to give up everything for the League and the people. But not like this.
Cynthia was different from Lorelei. Lorelei was very smart and a bit strange. And besides the marriage, ten children? Was he trying to kill her? Could a normal woman handle that many children?
"Tsk~ it seems Champion Cynthia is not that determined. I was just thinking that if Champion Cynthia was willing to marry me and never leave me, I might leave Team Rocket."
Damian made a sound with his tongue. He shook his head and looked like he was sorry.
This was a lie.
It was a joke. One Cynthia or even ten Cynthias would not make him leave Team Rocket. He wanted to make Team Rocket great. But Damian liked to play jokes.
Caitlin still did not show any emotion.
"..." Cynthia was silent.
Did I just miss a big chance to stop Damian? Nemona thought.
Damian was too strong. If they could make Damian leave Team Rocket without fighting, it would be a big problem for Team Rocket.
No, no, no! If it means giving up Champion Cynthia's whole life, then that is wrong! Nemona stopped that dangerous thought and looked at Damian. But this Damian of Team Rocket was young, handsome, and strong. If a woman had a man like that as a husband, it did not seem like a bad thing.
"Well then, see you next time. Even though Champion Cynthia will not marry me, I still like you very much. Maybe one day I will kidnap you and lock you in a basement."
Damian was smiling, but his words were not friendly.
Cynthia: "..."
Nemona: (⊙ｏ⊙)
What did he mean by kidnapping her and locking her in a basement? Was that like a story from a manga? That is too scary! Only a crazy person would do that! Oh, wait—he is from the evil Team Rocket. That makes sense.
"Wait, Caitlin."
Damian and Caitlin were about to leave, so Cynthia finally spoke. She did not take what Damian said seriously. She thought the man was mostly joking.
"?" Caitlin turned her head.
"Caitlin, do you still have nothing you want to say to me?" Cynthia's voice sounded very sad.
She still wanted her best friend to come back
"I have already told you, Cynthia. I have my own path. And..." Caitlin shook her head. She looked at Damian and she smiled.
"Damian will not let me leave, either," Caitlin said slowly.
"That's right. Caitlin is one of my most important partners. I will not let anyone take her away," Damian replied.
Caitlin's eyes became narrow because she was happy. She was glad.
Cynthia: "..."
Cynthia had nothing more to say. She watched them walk away. She thought about it for a long time.