When discussing the Aether Foundation, one couldn't avoid mentioning its president, Lusamine.
Luo Yuan's mind conjured an image of the golden-haired, obsessive, and twisted woman who had become synonymous with the foundation.
The Aether Foundation's technological prowess was formidable, and its monopoly in the Alola region was well established. Yet, Luo Yuan couldn't discern their motive in reaching out to Silph Co.
Then again, nothing Lusamine did would surprise him.
"You're thinking about something strange again, aren't you?"
Sabrina's voice cut through his musings as she looked down at him, her expression slightly curious.
From his vantage point—lying on her lap—a glimpse of white skin peeked from her neckline, her long hair brushing against his face. The faint floral scent that accompanied it tickled his nose, making him almost want to sneeze.
"Don't mess with me," Luo Yuan muttered, brushing her hair back behind her ear and gently touching her cheek. "I'm reading an email from President Silph."
Having a psychic prodigy as a girlfriend did have its drawbacks—like never knowing when her intuition might unexpectedly kick in.
Yet Luo Yuan found himself utterly captivated by Sabrina, flaws and all.
Perhaps it was just the magnetic pull between two psychics.
As he reflected on this, his hand instinctively slid down...
"Bi~?"
Celebi, nibbling on a Pokéblock nearby, glanced at the two humans.
Its wide, inquisitive eyes reflected confusion.
The atmosphere between them felt… peculiar.
The Next Morning
Luo Yuan paid a visit to Silph Co.
President Silph himself walked him through the proposed plan to topple Devon Corp and claim a foothold in the Hoenn region.
Luo Yuan took a moment to experience the new holographic communication device—a product combining Lysandre Labs' holography technology with Silph Co.'s years of expertise.
The device was polished and well-designed, far superior to the Pokémon Navigator that Steven had let Luo Yuan use during his time in Hoenn.
This innovation was poised to crush Devon Corp's communications sector.
After discussing the strategy further, Luo Yuan casually asked, "What's the situation with the Aether Foundation?"
Though his interest in Alola's developments was genuine, there was another reason for the question—Giovanni's interest in the region.
As one of the newest League-affiliated territories, Alola was a prime, untapped market for Team Rocket's global expansion efforts.
Before Luo Yuan's return to Kanto, Giovanni had already dispatched a team to gather intelligence in Alola.
However, the chaos Luo Yuan caused upon his return had accelerated Team Rocket's growth beyond Giovanni's expectations, prompting a temporary hold on the "Alola Expansion Project."
Now, with Kanto secure, Kalos' Team Flare entirely assimilated, and Hoenn firmly under control, Alola had become the most viable target for Team Rocket's next moves.
For Team Rocket to infiltrate Alola, the Aether Foundation couldn't be ignored.
In fact, the foundation might be the perfect springboard for their ambitions.
President Silph, unaware of Luo Yuan's inner calculations, took the question at face value.
"They didn't provide many details," he said after a moment's thought. "Just a single invitation."
He retrieved a card from his desk and handed it to Luo Yuan.
The card was pure white with gold trim, exuding elegance. It invited a Silph Co. representative to visit the Alola region for a tour.
No specific date was mentioned—only a phone number, with instructions to call for arrangements.
The mysterious tone fit Lusamine's eccentric reputation perfectly.
"If you're interested, take the invitation," President Silph offered.
"Oh? Are you sure?" Luo Yuan asked.
"I'll be busy overseeing our Hoenn market expansion, so I don't have the time. I was planning to send a representative anyway, so if you want to go, that's even better."
With that, Luo Yuan pocketed the invitation and left, offering a polite farewell.
Watching Luo Yuan's departing figure, President Silph let out a quiet sigh of relief.
---
Unspoken Questions
There were several matters Silph had originally planned to discuss during their meeting:
Why had Luo Yuan requested a Master Ball before heading to Hoenn?
Why did the Master Ball used by the Tech Hunter in the Groudon vs. Kyogre battle resemble Silph Co.'s design?
These lingering doubts had led to certain unsettling suspicions.
But in the end, President Silph said nothing.
It wasn't that he had found clarity. Rather, he had come to a simple realization:
No matter what Luo Yuan's connection to Team Rocket or the Tech Hunter might be, it didn't concern Silph Co.
Even if Luo Yuan had used a Silph Co. Master Ball to capture Rayquaza, there was no way Silph could reveal this to anyone.
If Luo Yuan was implicated, what about Giovanni, his traveling companion?
What about Sabrina, always by Luo Yuan's side?
What about the collaborations Luo Yuan had facilitated, such as those between Lysandre Labs and Silph Co.?
And what about Luo Yuan's relationship with Professor Oak's grandson, Gary? Could Oak himself be involved?
The more President Silph thought, the more terrifying the possibilities became.
Realizing how deeply Silph Co. was entangled with Luo Yuan, President Silph decided there was only one safe course of action:
Stay quiet.
He was just an ordinary businessman who neither knew nor suspected anything.
As this thought crossed his mind, his communicator beeped with an incoming message.
"One more thing, President Silph—please add an order for two more Master Balls. Deduct the cost from my dividends."
"..."
President Silph stared at the ceiling for a long time before typing a simple reply:
"Got it."
And with that, he hit send.
---
T/N: Smart, I was thinking about that whole thing, I was wondering if they were gonna gloss over it but they didn't!
check out my first fanfic! Is It Wrong To Stay Composed In A Dungeon!
...
If you're reading this, then you've wandered all the way to the end. I'm impressed. Stories are like wine—meant to be savored, not rushed. So if you took your time? Thank you.
Of course, the real thanks goes to WiseTL—the one who turned tangled words into something beautiful. I just got asked to wrap things up with a ribbon. Hopefully this counts!
If you enjoyed the journey and want to support the person who made it possible, you can find them here:
👉 [patreon.com/WiseTL]
Go on. Be generous. They've earned it.
Until next time—read well, rest often, and maybe come visit me at the Hostess of Fertility sometime.
– Syr ✨