Chapter 78: The Three Executives of Team Rocket

A massive cargo ship sailed across the vast ocean, with a thick column of white smoke rising from its tall smokestack, giving it the appearance of solitary smoke in a desert.

At the ship's bow, a young man with black hair and clothing leaned against the railing, tilting his body slightly forward, his hair freely waving in the sea breeze. The humid air provided a feeling of great comfort.

Beside the young man, perched on the railing, was a crow-like Pokémon, completely black, with sharp eyes gazing intently at the horizon.

This young man and his Pokémon were none other than Cain and Murkrow.

After the last trial, Cain's results had left Umbra quite satisfied, so as agreed, he pulled him out of Judgment Island early.

This cargo ship belonged to Team Rocket, and it delivered supplies to Judgment Island every month. With Umbra's permission, Cain boarded the ship to return.

Although in his previous life he had left Judgment Island once, this time, unlike before, he could clearly see the return route from the cargo ship.

Cain realized that the location of Judgment Island was on the maritime border between the Kanto and Johto regions.

"How does it feel? Even though you've been away for less than a month, doesn't it feel like you've been far from civilization for a long time?"

Just as Cain and Murkrow looked toward the horizon, a slightly hoarse voice sounded from behind.

Umbra emerged from the cargo hold and walked onto the deck, approaching Cain and leaning on the railing alongside him.

"Mr. Umbra."

Cain greeted him respectfully.

Umbra waved his hand, indicating formality wasn't necessary.

Though his status in Team Rocket was very high, he was the person least concerned about such formalities. He had always believed in the supremacy of power: those who possess power, possess privilege.

Cain didn't yet have power, but his potential had caught Umbra's attention, and for a few other reasons, Umbra wasn't overly authoritative with him.

"It doesn't feel much different. I was an orphan before, and surviving in society wasn't much different from surviving on Judgment Island. The weak get beaten, it's a devouring world, and everything we do is only to survive."

Cain answered calmly. Although those memories had gradually faded, the feeling deeply etched in his bones remained.

Umbra was surprised by Cain's response, then laughed, a laugh that was sincere and genuine.

"Seems like we've had similar experiences." His eyes began to lose focus, as if sighing or remembering something.

The two fell silent, with only the sound of the sea wind and waves crashing against the ship as the background.

After a moment, Umbra came back to himself, smiled wryly, and said, "Living so long, you're bound to remember the past."

Cain smiled with him, showing no other expression.

Though Umbra was extremely powerful and, as a deputy leader of Team Rocket in the most secretive division, he should have been a ruthless figure.

However, after several encounters, Cain realized that Umbra wasn't difficult to deal with; as long as he kept his presence in check, he could seem like a friendly neighbor.

"This is a League ID card I had prepared for you. All the data has been manipulated, so as long as no one above the Elite Four level investigates thoroughly, there won't be any issues."

Umbra took out a League ID card from his pocket with the League insignia and a photo of an unknown person, handing it to Cain.

Cain was somewhat surprised to receive it; it was a League ID personally prepared by Umbra.

If it was as he said, Cain could have a legitimate identity and openly live under the sun in the future.

"This is a human-skin mask crafted by so-called experts in Team Rocket. They say that as long as it's not torn or burned, no one will be able to tell it apart from a real face. This mask matches the appearance in the photo on your League ID card."

Umbra pulled out another mask, as thin as a cicada's wing, and tossed it to Cain.

With this ID card and special mask, Cain believed that even people who knew him well wouldn't recognize him in a face-to-face encounter.

Of course, as long as his Pokémon didn't reveal his identity.

So when Umbra handed him the ID card and mask, Cain had already decided that in the future, his Pokémon would need to correspond to his two different identities.

Murkrow would be his Team Rocket Pokémon, while Slowpoke would be his Pokémon within the League.

Although this might be a bit complicated, if it could guarantee the independence of his two identities.

Then, in the future, he might even try infiltrating the League and eventually reach a position like Koga's, rising to the Elite Four. It wouldn't be an unlikely possibility.

At the same time, if he advanced in Team Rocket, his power would grow quickly with the resources of both sides.

Probably, the purpose behind the ID card and mask Umbra prepared for him had this very goal in mind.

"Half an hour until we arrive. Our destination is Vermilion City. When we get there, disembark on your own."

Umbra continued, "With the badge I gave you, go to Team Rocket's base at the Lake of Rage in Mahogany Town, in the Johto region. I need you to bring something to me. Someone will contact you when you get there."

After saying this, he took a deep breath and stretched before heading back to the cabin.

"Vermilion City." Cain looked at the League ID card and the mask in his hand, then watched Umbra walk away after assigning the task, with a glint of intelligence in his eyes.

No wonder Team Rocket's Judgment Island had never been discovered by the League. Vermilion City, being the location of Surge's gym, one of Team Rocket's three great executives, surely has been secretly covering some of their actions.

The three great executives of Team Rocket are Surge of Vermilion City, Sabrina of Saffron City, and Koga of Fuchsia City. They are the three deepest nails Giovanni has embedded within the League.

Among them, Koga is the most formidable. When the Indigo Pokémon League split into the Kanto and Johto regions, Koga rose to the Elite Four poison-type position in the Johto region, becoming one of Giovanni's greatest internal supports within the League.

Though Surge and Sabrina didn't reach the same level as Koga, their skills are not much lesser.

Even Sabrina, known as the Psychic Queen, if we talk about a full 6-on-6 battle, Koga might not be able to beat her, as the Psychic type has an advantage over Poison.

Furthermore, as a ninja, Koga is skilled in ambushes and assassinations, and in a direct confrontation, he'd struggle to defeat Sabrina, whose psychic ability is comparable to an elite-level Pokémon.

As for Surge, unlike Sabrina and Koga, his greatest strength lies in group combat tactics. He's the most skilled in leading large groups of people in mass battles, like a general leading an army.

Therefore, the three have their own strengths and are considered equals among Team Rocket's three great executives.

(End of Chapter)