Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [58]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on achieving the milestone: "Victory over the Psychic Gym!" You have earned 1 lottery chance.]
Another chance for a reward.
But Luo Yuan didn't rush to use it.
Sabrina had just invited him to dinner.
"Would you like to try my cooking?" she asked with a smile.
"Of course." Faced with Sabrina, Luo Yuan couldn't refuse.
After a meal filled with delicious flavors, Luo Yuan ended up spending the night at the Saffron Gym.
The bed was comfortable, the experience superb—five-star rating. He'd happily stay again.
---
The Next Day
With his hair neatly styled, Luo Yuan accompanied Sabrina to Silph Co. headquarters.
As a large corporation that rivaled Devon Manufacturing, Silph Co. was much bigger in reality than it appeared in the games.
The most obvious sign of this difference lay in the size of their building.
In the games, Silph Co. had only an eleven-story building.
But in the real world, Silph Co. held numerous properties in Saffron City, the heart of Kanto's business world, including a thirty-story skyscraper.
"Come to think of it, I've been to a lot of tech companies, but this is my first time going in through the front door."
Sitting on a lobby sofa, Luo Yuan sipped some juice, speaking to Sabrina through telepathy.
Back in Hoenn, he'd made the rounds at every notable tech company.
He usually snuck in through a side entrance, acquired whatever he wanted, and then left by blowing a hole in the wall with a Shadow Ball.
Simple, direct, and fast.
Going in through the front was a new experience.
"..."
Sabrina sighed, responding with telepathy herself. "Don't even think about it. This building is three percent yours, after all."
Luo Yuan rolled his eyes. "I'm just making conversation, not looking for trouble."
He had no problem with money.
Besides, as a shareholder, he could get what he wanted through internal channels.
That was much easier than resorting to drastic measures.
Just then, a woman dressed as a secretary approached them.
"Ms. Sabrina, Mr. Luo Yuan, the president is ready to see you in his office. Please follow me."
There were no flashy warp tiles.
No Poké Balls hidden in odd corners.
No researchers lurking, waiting to ambush trainers.
Following the secretary up a private elevator, they reached the top floor, where Luo Yuan finally came face-to-face with Silph Co.'s president—a man he'd seen many times on TV.
The Silph Co. president wore a brown suit, with graying hair and a kindly expression.
Of course, Luo Yuan didn't let the warm exterior fool him.
Anyone who could grow Silph Co. to its current prominence and balance between the League and Team Rocket for so long was no ordinary figure.
While Luo Yuan assessed the president, the president sized up Luo Yuan in turn.
When he saw Luo Yuan, his eyes flashed with surprise.
So young!
Though Luo Yuan looked more mature than his age due to his experience, he still appeared to be only eighteen or nineteen.
The president had known from Sabrina's report that the new shareholder was young, but he hadn't expected him to be this young.
Silph Co. had been around for many years, and while shareholders had come and gone, the youngest ones had always been over forty.
It was as if a single Alolan Exeggutor had appeared in a grove of Kantonian Exeggutor—strikingly different.
But the president quickly recovered, his face brightening with a welcoming smile as he stepped forward.
"Welcome!"
---
After some brief introductions, everyone took their seats.
"Sabrina has informed us of the details already. This meeting is just to finalize everything."
In truth, the president was more than pleased about Luo Yuan's arrival.
Now that Silph Co. had cut ties with Team Rocket, he felt vulnerable, always worrying that Team Rocket might retaliate. He had long been trying to win the support of the Saffron Gym.
But no matter what he tried, Saffron Gym always maintained a distant relationship with Silph Co., causing him much frustration.
Then, unexpectedly, Sabrina had come to him with news.
She'd informed him that someone had acquired shares in Silph Co., and that she would serve as their proxy, representing them when they were away.
This was a huge relief for the president.
This partnership was practically an alliance between Silph Co. and the Saffron Gym, with its hundreds of Psychic trainers.
It would provide much-needed security for Silph Co.
Sensing the president's relief, Luo Yuan smirked inwardly.
After speaking with Giovanni, he understood why the president was so pleased.
"If only he knew he was inviting wolves into his own home."
Luo Yuan stifled a laugh.
Both he and Sabrina were, without a doubt, key members of Team Rocket.
Previously, Team Rocket's influence at Silph Co. was limited to lower-level employees.
Now, they'd quietly planted a stake right in Silph Co.'s board of shareholders.
Luo Yuan silently offered the president a few seconds of sympathy.
"So, I've heard you're a trainer, Mr. Luo Yuan?" the president asked, suddenly curious.
"That's right. I set off this year as a new trainer and have earned four badges so far," Luo Yuan replied casually.
"!"
The president's eyes widened in shock.
He'd only asked out of politeness and had stumbled upon a jackpot.
A new trainer?
That meant Luo Yuan was only fifteen or sixteen!
"You young people these days are incredible!"
The president sighed, genuinely impressed.
When he was fifteen, what had he been doing? Studying under a Poké Ball craftsman in Johto, learning how to make Poké Balls.
And here was Luo Yuan...
The president shook his head, feeling out of place in this era.
His thoughts began to drift.
With such a young shareholder, maybe Silph Co. could use his image in their marketing?
Perhaps they could increase their market share among younger trainers?
This wasn't unheard of.
Devon Corp.'s Steven Stone had boosted their market significantly by being a Champion.
As the president pondered the possibilities, the secretary finally completed the document verification.
"Sir, everything has been confirmed. These are indeed shares from our original stock issuance, and they account for exactly three percent of our current total."
"Well then, welcome to Silph Co.!" The president extended his hand.
---
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