"That look in your eyes is a bit disrespectful."
Damian noticed Gladion's gaze and couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
"Don't look down on our evil organization. We're at the forefront of the era. I commissioned a high-end researcher to build this app, and it's packed with features."
Damian spoke with pride. This had been his idea; with it, Team Rocket members could submit or accept missions anytime, even while they were out in the field.
"I'm also planning to add a group chat feature to the app. That way, our Senior Executives can communicate and share their experiences. In the future, even simple meetings can be handled through video calls so no one has to travel long distances."
"Gladion, you need to work hard. I believe that with your ability, you'll be promoted to Senior Executive in no time."
Damian patted Gladion on the shoulder and laughed.
"..." Gladion didn't know what to say for a moment.
He felt there was a subtle difference between the Team Rocket in his imagination and the one in front of him. Hadn't he come to join an evil organization? Why did it feel like he had just joined a company to work a nine-to-five job?
"Right, take a look. These are the most outstanding Pokémon currently available in the organization."
Damian scrolled the exchange interface all the way to the bottom and showed it to Gladion. Gladion leaned in with intense interest.
R | Category / Pokémon • Ability • Merit Points
R | Pseudo-legendary: Dratini • Shed Skin • 50,000
R | Pseudo-legendary: Dratini • Marvel Scale (Hidden) • 50,000
R | Pseudo-legendary: Larvitar • Guts • 50,000
R | Pseudo-legendary: Jangmo-o • Overcoat • 50,000
R | Mythical: Phione • Hydration • 100,000
Pseudo-legendary Pokémon—also known as "late-bloomer Pokémon"—were incredibly precious and rare. Although the training process was much longer than that of a normal Pokémon, it was completely worth it once they reached their final form. Pokémon with superior talent were especially hard to come by, yet in Team Rocket, you could exchange for them directly as long as you had enough merit points.
Most importantly...
"The Mythical Pokémon Phione?! Is this real?"
Gladion's gaze locked onto the last row. A Mythical Pokémon! Legendary and Mythical Pokémon were the most precious creatures in existence, bar none! What did "Mythical" mean? It meant they almost only existed in legends and stories, with very few people ever having a confirmed sighting.
Team Rocket was actually offering a Mythical Pokémon as a reward? This was incredibly generous!
"Of course it's real. Phione is currently being raised at our farm back in Kanto." Damian glanced at the picture of Phione with a strange look in his eyes.
He had actually come across this Phione by chance. He had been soaking in the hot springs on Cinnabar Island and happened to see this Phione enjoying the sunlight while he was out at sea. So, he caught it on a whim.
The only pity was that it was a Phione and not a Manaphy. If it had been a Manaphy, Damian probably wouldn't have been able to catch it so easily; Manaphy actually had some real skill.
In the games, Phione is produced when a Manaphy breeds with a Ditto, and Phione cannot evolve into Manaphy. Don't ask how a genderless Manaphy breeds in the games—that's just how it works. Lugia is genderless too, yet the anime clearly shows a mother Lugia and a baby Lugia.
It was also worth mentioning that while Phione was a Mythical Pokémon, its base stat total was only 480. That was right—it wasn't even as high as the final evolutions of the starter Pokémon. Phione was indisputably the weakest among all Legendary and Mythical Pokémon.
If Manaphy was the "Prince of the Sea," then Phione was... the "Commoner of the Sea."
But even as a commoner, Phione was still a Mythical Pokémon. That didn't stop Damian from using its title to motivate his subordinates. Just think about it: if you work a little more overtime and accumulate enough "points," you could exchange them for a legendary Mythical Pokémon. Wouldn't that get your motor running?
"!!!" Gladion's eyes instantly burned with passion.
This was a Mythical Pokémon! If he could obtain it, wouldn't his path to becoming invincible begin? At that time, he could stand before Lusamine, lift his head high, and tell her he no longer needed her protection!
"This is just the current reward list. We will be adding more outstanding Pokémon later, so don't just focus on what's here now."
Damian saw Gladion's "pumped up" look and was worried he might settle for just Phione. He wasn't lying, either. While they hadn't found the habitats for pseudo-legendaries from other regions yet, Team Rocket had already discovered the whereabouts of the Three Legendary Birds of Kanto.
When the time came, Giovanni would send the Executives to capture them. Although Team Rocket had abandoned genetic experiments and wouldn't be doing any "Three-Birds-in-One" fusions, the wild Legendary Birds were still legendary Pokémon. Giovanni felt they shouldn't be missed; after spending so much manpower and resources to find them, it would be a waste not to go.
Damian felt this was necessary. Using Phione as the top-tier reward felt a bit like false advertising. Replacing it with something like Moltres would be much better.
"I understand! Don't worry, Master Damian, I will work hard!"
For the sake of Phione!
Gladion replied to Damian with a serious expression. He felt completely full of energy now. An organization like Team Rocket, where one could truly become stronger, was exactly where he belonged. He had to protect Lillie!
"Very good! Such spirit!"
Damian was gratified and patted Gladion on the shoulder.
However, accumulating 100,000 points was no simple task. For context, the person with the most merit points in the organization was currently Archer, who had about 80,000. Clearing out a single base of a Hunter organization would yield anywhere from 100 to 1,000 points, depending on the size of the location.
And Gladion wasn't the only one eyeing Phione; that guy Proton seemed to be particularly fond of it as well.
"Plumeria, take Gladion to Akala Island next. Clear out the Hunter organizations there as quickly as possible."
Damian gave Plumeria her orders.
"Yes, Master Damian."
Plumeria nodded. Compared to the task of recruiting people, she was actually more interested in wiping out the Hunters.
"Alright, I'm heading out then. Set out as soon as you're ready."
Damian turned and left. He had only come to "interview" Gladion, and he was very satisfied with the result.
Alola's Team Rocket was truly on the rise!