When Cain came out of the underground laboratory, he found two people waiting for him at the door.
Their appearance was somewhat unexpected.
"Eh, Cain is here." The one who spoke was Sabrina, pointing at the person beside her.
And standing next to her, without saying a single word, was Koga, who had also been in Giovanni's office not long ago.
Koga cast a glance at Sabrina.
Seeing that look, Sabrina twisted her lips in resignation. "Koga is looking for you. You two talk alone. Tsk, as if it were something that secret."
After finishing, she activated Teleport and disappeared.
The corridor was left with only Cain and Koga. But neither of them spoke. They simply stood there in silence, staring at each other.
A long time passed.
"I don't know what business Mr. Koga has with me." In the end, it was Cain who broke the silence; he didn't have time to stand around meaninglessly.
Koga was not someone known for his conversational skills, and as a master of assassination, talking was not something he enjoyed either.
"Were you the one who neutralized my poison?" he finally asked, his voice cold.
Hearing this, Cain understood that his master Drake, who had come to Kanto, really had been poisoned by him.
Being able to approach a veteran like Drake so silently showed that Koga's assassination ability far surpassed his direct combat strength.
But Cain was not afraid of such tactics. His psychic power could sense the proximity of any living being. Even if Koga had methods to evade mental perception, he would never be able to escape the system's detection.
Moreover, his Gengar was at the Quasi-Champion level, capable of appearing instantly to protect his life.
And as for the strength of Koga's Pokémon, Cain was not afraid of that either. Therefore, unlike others, Cain showed no fear—he simply looked at him with absolute calm.
"Yes." Cain replied, without emotion in his voice.
The relationship between Cain and Drake was known to anyone who investigated a little.
Drake had given him countless forms of help. Although Cain was a member of Team Rocket, he was still someone with feelings; in the Hoenn region, figures like Drake, Juan, and several elders had helped him greatly. Even Steven, Wallace, and Phoebe had lent him a hand.
Because of this, Cain had never done anything that harmed the interests of the Hoenn League. Even Team Heaven only filled the gap in Hoenn's underground forces, and even helped the League manage criminals in the gray zones.
When Koga learned that Cain had become a member of the Hoenn Elite Four, he investigated his past and learned of his relationship with Drake.
Thus, a rare, awkward expression appeared on Koga's eternally expressionless face. "What happened with Drake was because the Hunter Guild came looking for me, so..."
It was difficult for someone so proud to apologize, but Cain had already understood his intention.
Since Koga yielded first, Cain was not harsh with him.
"It's fine. It's already over, and it actually benefited me: I became an Advanced-level breeder." Although his face couldn't be seen, his tone made his stance clear.
Koga let out an imperceptible sigh. Speaking like this was not like him at all, but since Cain was the first member of Team Rocket to become one of the Elite Four, he had something important to say.
"Kanto will split, and it's very likely that I will become one of the Elite Four of the new region, Johto. I want to form an alliance with Elite Four Cain." He said it directly.
"An alliance?" Cain frowned slightly.
"Even though you're in Hoenn and I'm in Johto, the distance isn't that great. When the new region is established, there will be multi-regional activities and cooperation. I hope we can work together to consolidate control between Hoenn and Johto," Koga explained.
Hearing this, Cain understood.
Neither Kanto nor the newly split Johto had a designated Champion yet.
Koga was aiming for the Champion position.
Cain nodded in agreement, but inwardly he didn't think much of it.
Even if Kanto's separation came a bit earlier, would the influence of the Drako family in Johto be that weak? It was certain that Lance would be transferred to become the Champion there.
Because... in Kanto, someone would not allow it.
Moreover, for Cain, an alliance with Koga was nothing more than words. He would not trust someone so profit-driven so easily.
...
One day later.
Cain arrived quietly in Vermilion City.
There, a new group of trial candidates would board Team Rocket's ship heading toward Trial Island, an island full of danger in the middle of the vast ocean.
Among the candidates, some were volunteers, but many others were orphans or vagrants captured by Team Rocket.
Most were between twelve or thirteen and up to seventeen or eighteen years old, with the main group being fifteen or sixteen.
Young enough to be molded, but with basic independent thinking ability and potential.
Cain, as the highest-ranking member on this trip, was stationed on the upper deck, and no one could approach without his permission.
The original person in charge of the voyage, a Senior Officer with Quasi-Elite-level strength, was surprised and delighted to learn that a high executive would be traveling as well.
Surprised that someone so powerful was going to Trial Island. Delighted because he thought he saw an opportunity.
A high executive... probably an Elite Officer or above. If he could catch his attention and receive some benefit, it could mean a huge leap for his future.
And if he could be accepted as a direct subordinate, that would be even better.
But Cain paid him no attention.
When the candidates boarded the ship, Cain observed from above.
Very soon, he found the two disasters: Jessie and James.
While the others boarded in fear, they showed not the slightest trace of it; they even seemed excited, as if going to Trial Island were something wonderful.
In their minds, Trial Island was simply a shortcut to rapidly rising within Team Rocket.
Every year, hundreds of recruits entered, all as simple soldiers.
But those who survived Trial Island could receive positions as Captains or higher. And even without a position, they were much stronger than ordinary recruits, rising through the ranks faster.
Cain smiled. "As innocent as ever. I'll let them suffer a bit on Trial Island first."
(End of chapter)