"I can give you the freedom to choose your target region."
Silas resisted the urge to smile.
This opportunity gave Silas far more control over his future than he expected.
"We will sponsor you as much as we reasonably can."
Giovanni's expression hardened.
"But failure isn't an option."
The room became quiet and Giovanni looked directly into his eyes.
"Do you accept the mission? Think carefully."
Silas didn't need much time. A mission like this was dangerous but it would also place him in a position to gain exactly what he wanted.
Serious opportunities often existed alongside real danger. Personal power and status were within reach. Freedom to operate outside Team Rocket's traditional territory.
"I appreciate the opportunity. Fortune favors the bold, right?"
His expression became serious.
"I accept the mission, and I will not let you or Admin Archer down."
Giovanni nodded.
"Very good."
He seemed genuinely satisfied.
"You can discuss the specifics with Archer at a later date."
Giovanni reached into his jacket.
"For now, here is your reward for your recent contributions to Team Rocket."
He handed Silas 2 objects. The first was a new TR device. The second was a black card.
Silas studied the device.
It resembled an advanced smartphone, with a sleek black exterior and Team Rocket's red R displayed prominently on the back.
The black card looked simple by comparison.
Silas still understood immediately that neither item was ordinary.
He bowed slightly toward Giovanni and Archer.
"I will not let you down."
"I am sure you won't."
Giovanni gestured toward the new device.
"That device has the privileges of an executive."
Silas' eyes narrowed slightly.
"However, you will not be promoted until you possess the required strength."
Silas had no objection.
Privileges without the title were already valuable.
The organization clearly wanted him functioning above his current rank while still requiring him to prove he deserved the official promotion.
Giovanni then gestured toward the black card.
"The card contains 150 million Pokédollars."
Silas remained composed externally. Internally, he was shocked.
Giovanni continued as though the amount were nothing.
"I am taking those diamonds off your hands."
Silas' expression remained neutral.
"The ones taken from the Stone family in Cerulean."
Silas almost froze.
Nobody had traced that incident back to his group.
At least, that was what he had believed but Giovanni had known all along.
"That accounts for the first 100 million."
Giovanni continued.
"The remaining 50 million is payment for your various contributions."
Silas immediately produced the bag containing the diamonds.
There was no point feigning ignorance after Giovanni had directly named them.
He handed the bag over. Giovanni accepted it without further comment.
Silas suddenly understood something important.
Team Rocket knew far more about its members than most of them probably realized.
"I appreciate the help once again."
The meeting soon concluded after exchanging a few pleasantries.
Silas was dismissed.
Unexpectedly, Sabrina offered to send him where he needed to go.
Psychic power gathered around them. Silas barely had time to prepare before the office disappeared.
When his surroundings returned, he was standing in a secluded area near Pallet Town.
Sabrina was already gone.
Silas stared at the empty space for a moment.
He had gotten the distinct impression that Sabrina had taken an interest in him.
Normally, Silas wouldn't complain about the attention.
She was exceptionally beautiful. Her physique certainly didn't hurt either. Unfortunately, Silas had also heard rumors about Sabrina's… hobbies.
He had absolutely no interest in becoming her literal toy.
Silas quickly pushed those thoughts aside. There was somewhere else he needed to go first.
Before entering the orphanage, Silas followed an old routine.
He visited Tangrowth's grave.
No matter how strong he became or how far he traveled, that was one tradition he had no intention of abandoning.
Silas stood quietly in front of the grave.
For a few moments, everything was peaceful.
Suddenly he heard something.
"ROOOOAAARR!"
A savage roar erupted behind him. Silas moved entirely on instinct. He jumped away from the sound and spun around in one fluid motion.
Aura already gathered throughout his body.
Then he stopped.
2 imposing Ursaring stood nearby.
Silas immediately smiled.
He recognized them. They were members of his own Ursaring's family.The noise had already attracted someone else.
A Poké Ball opened.
Silas' Ursaring emerged and immediately noticed the pair.
His aggressive expression disappeared. The 3 Pokémon rushed toward each other and began excitedly communicating.
Silas activated his scanner.
They had grown to level 41 and 42.
Both had comfortably entered the early pseudo advanced tier.
They had made impressive progress.
Unfortunately for them, Silas' Ursaring had progressed even faster.
Level 51.
The difference between them was now enormous.
Silas watched the family excitedly talk for a while.
He decided not to interfere.
"You stay here with them."
Ursaring nodded in appreciation. He clearly wanted to spend time with his family after being away for so long.
Silas continued toward the orphanage alone.
The moment he entered the large living room, chaos erupted.
"Brother Silas is back! Look!"
Several children immediately rushed toward him.
"Why does he look almost like a grown-up now?"
Another child pushed closer.
"Brother Silas, did you bring me back anything?"
Silas barely had time to answer before several more children began speaking over each other.
Then a familiar voice restored some order.
"Kids, why don't you let Silas breathe for a minute so he can actually talk to you all?"
Madam entered the room.
Her eyes immediately settled on Silas. Unlike the children, she didn't rush toward him. Instead, she simply stared.
Silas noticed the surprise on her face.
From Madam's perspective, he hadn't been gone particularly long.Yet Silas had physically lived through nearly another year.
His body had matured. His demeanor had changed. Even the way he carried himself was different.
Silas laughed uncontrollably when he realized.
"Haha! Madam, why are you looking at me like that?"
She continued studying him.
"Silas."
Her expression became more serious.
"What have you been through?"
Silas blinked.
"You seem to be growing so quickly."
Silas laughed again.
"Hahaha! Madam, just trust me."
He raised his hands slightly.
"I promise nothing is wrong I'll explain later."
Madam continued staring at him for another moment before finally nodding.
She knew him well enough to realize pressing him wouldn't accomplish anything.
"So, to what do we owe the pleasure?"
Silas shrugged.
"I'm just passing through my old stomping grounds. That's all."
Madam stared at him.
Silas maintained an innocent expression.
"Right."
She clearly didn't believe him.
"Kids, go play outside with the Ursaring while Silas and I chat."
The children immediately protested. They begged Silas for stories and gifts. Eventually, however, they were herded outside.
Once the room became quiet, Silas laughed.
"You are as perceptive as ever."
Madam crossed her arms.
"I really came to see if you would be able to do me a favor."
"That depends on the favor, kid."
Madam sat down.
"I run an orphanage, not a charity."
Silas stared at her.
Madam's expression remained perfectly serious.
"There is a difference, believe it or not."
Silas laughed.
"Yes, ma'am."
Then he became more serious.
"What I need is simple."
Madam waited.
"I want you to sell Pokéblocks on my behalf."
Her eyebrows rose slightly.
Silas continued.
"I imagine that with your status, it should be easy enough to pull off."
Madam thought about it.
"Your Pokéblocks are good, don't get me wrong."
Silas listened.
"But unless you're producing medium-grade or better, you might as well sell them yourself."
Silas smiled.
"Madam, that's precisely what I'm selling."
She looked at him more carefully.
"Medium and high grade."
That got her attention.
Silas continued before she could interrupt.
"The pricing will be simple."
He raised one finger.
"1,000 Pokédollars for each medium-grade Pokéblock and 3,000 for high grade."
Madam remained silent.
"Custom orders will cost 1.5 times the standard price."
Silas had already thought through the profit split.
"You can keep 30%."
Her eyebrows rose.
"I'll keep 60%."
Silas smiled.
"The remaining 10% will directly fund the orphanage."
Madam looked at him for several seconds.
"Is that fair?"
She laughed.
"Fair?"
Madam shook her head.
"A normal distributor would probably keep around 10 to 15%."
She looked genuinely impressed.
"So yes. That works."
Her expression softened.
"My, have you grown."
Silas smiled.
"Being able to sell batches of medium and high-grade Pokéblocks is impressive enough."
Madam looked around the orphanage.
"But remembering this place when you finally have something valuable?"
She nodded proudly.
"Silas, you make this old woman proud."
The compliment meant more to Silas than most praise he received.
His idea itself was relatively simple.Madam already possessed something valuable, her reputation. Her berry farm was well known for producing quality berries.
That alone made her an excellent person to sell Pokéblocks through. More importantly, berries weren't the only thing she grew.
Madam was related to the Joy family and possessed respectable breeder skills herself.
Her farm produced numerous natural herbs commonly used in Pokémon nutrition and medicine.
Those herbs were important. Plants absorbed the chaotic natural energy of the world over time.
More importantly, they made that energy significantly easier for Pokémon to consume and absorb.
Even specialized energy could become stored inside plants. Some could hold chaotic energy like fire type or even dragon type.
The longer certain herbs remained planted in energy-rich environments, the more effective they became.
Grass type Pokémon were especially useful for cultivating them.
Their natural connection to plant life allowed them to accelerate the process.
Pokémon like Bellossom, Venusaur, Tropius, and Meganium were generally considered some of the best species for this kind of work, although plenty of other Grass types could accomplish similar things.
Silas had come to better understand the world's natural energy over the past year.
Given enough time and the right conditions, that energy accumulated.
Sometimes it condensed into evolutionary stones.
Other times, it formed powerful battle items like Life Orbs or items like specialized minerals, crystals, and energy-rich herbs.
All of them were simply different expressions of the same fundamental phenomenon.
That made Madam's farm potentially far more valuable than it appeared.
She already possessed the berries, herbs, knowledge, and most importantly, her reputation.
Silas would provide the Pokéblocks. It was a simple partnership. If things went well, this wouldn't be where the business stopped.
Silas already had several ideas for expansion.
However, there was no reason to become greedy.
First, they needed to grow a customer base and a reputation for consistent quality. Once that foundation existed, Silas could begin expanding.
For now, medium and high grade Pokéblocks were more than enough.
Especially when the business simultaneously earned him money, strengthened Madam's operation, and provided a steady source of funding for the orphanage.
Silas smiled to himself.
For once, one of his plans didn't require anyone getting punched, poisoned, robbed, or killed.
That alone made it unusual.