On a bench in front of a fashionable boutique, Damian and Serena were chatting while sipping juice.
Serena really enjoys this relaxed vibe, and Mr. Damian is clearly a big shot, but he has no airs.
They interact as equals, and truth be told, Mr. Damian is really handsome.
His handsome face, the black tousled hair, sharp fashion, and that sunlit, clean-boy vibe make Damian's head turn rate incredibly high, his recognizability off the charts.
Passersby can't help but glance; the astonished, envious looks from those bystander girls lift Serena's mood considerably.
Hm, although she knows she and Mr. Damian are just normal friends, outsiders wouldn't think so when they're walking with a guy like him.
"I let me think, where should I start?"
Damian took a sip of the watermelon juice, gathering his thoughts.
"First, if you join Team Rocket, you'll receive a monthly salary every month that matches your identity, something every member gets—you can think of it as salaries."
"The exact salary level will be tiered according to your strength and abilities, just like you, Serena."
"If you're willing to join Team Rocket, I can directly grant you an executive post, a senior managed location within the organization, and you'll receive 100,000 per month from here as your base monthly salary."
"That much?"
Serena's eyes widened a little at the idea of a monthly 100,000—could she really pull in that much every month?
Goodness, how much pocket money would that be for how many trainers' careers?
One Ultra Ball is only 1,200!
No wonder Caitlin and Dawn are so rich.
"More? Actually not that much, Serena. You should know that capable people never worry about money; it's really just a question of how much."
Damian stifled a laugh; after all, he's still talking to a girl.
"Money for people like us is just a number. Once you've joined the organization for a while, you'll understand."
Serena tightens her lips. Is that really the case?
"To be honest, I'm very optimistic about your potential, and I believe your future achievements will be at least as good as Dawn and Caitlin's."
Damian looked toward Serena. If money could keep Serena, he wouldn't hesitate to spend it.
But he knows this is unrealistic.
For Serena, she obviously places more value on other things.
"I still have quite a gap between me and Dawn right now," Serena confessed, a rare blush crossing her face.
Of course, this isn't modesty; yesterday Dawn defeated her prodigy with a crushing defeat.
As for Caitlin…
Dawn had told her last night that Miss Caitlin's strength specializes in Psychic-type as a Champion-tier, something that's already predictable.
"Don't be discouraged, Serena. Your potential isn't inferior to theirs; you just need a better environment to grow."
"And that's the second point I want to tell you."
Damian smiled faintly and continued.
"Serena, what's your dream?"
"Dream … my current goal is to win the Lumiose Conference."
"And then?" Damian asked.
"If possible, I'd also like to challenge the Elite Four and Miss Diantha, and become the Champion of the Kalos Region."
"Ambitious ideology. Starting out in your first year aiming for Region Champion, I'm on board," Damian praised.
Serena pressed her lips together, her big eyes reflecting Damian's face.
If she were speaking to someone else, that line might only earn a few jokes or a simple word of encouragement.
But in reality, people would doubt that a rookie just starting out on a journey could take Diantha down.
Why not?
Serena isn't convinced; why assume she can't when she hasn't even tried?
Ordinary people have narrow views.
Region Champion represents the strongest trainer of that region, and only the region's strongest trainer is the Region Champion.
Kalos' strongest trainer right now is Diantha.
Serena is just a rookie who has just started traveling with Pokémon; of course people would think she can't do it.
"With your talent and growth rate, beating Miss Diantha by year-end is something I think you can achieve," Damian smiled.
In Damian's view, Diantha, Wallace, and Alder are the weakest floor tiles among all Region Champions.
Alder lost his drive after an early ace died; Wallace's Water-type team struggles on proper competition grounds, and his main roster is weak.
As for Diantha, there's nothing to say—she's simply not that strong.
"Really? Mr. Damian, you really think so?"
Serena's eyes brightened in surprise.
"Yes, after all you're about to enter Champion-tier soon, aren't you?"
Damian caught her rising mood and nodded with a smile.
Serena bit her pink lips, a stunning smile lighting up her pretty face.
Damian thought Serena's smile was truly beautiful.
Indeed, Serena is very pretty, especially since she loves fashion and dresses well.
Her figure among game heroines is also excellent.
"But I must tell you, Serena, even if you become a Champion, you won't have reached the pinnacle; this world is vast, and there are countless strong people."
"And how should I put it? Our era might truly be ushering in a brand-new era, with prodigies in this era more than ever."
Damian murmured softly.
"Other regions?" Serena asked curiously.
"Yes, Serena, you should be able to sense it too—you're a prodigy yourself, and arguably one of the rare trainer prodigies."
"…"
Serena awkwardly tucked back her ash-gold hair; many people have admired her talent, praising her; some Gym Leaders even said she's Kalos' Future or something.
But…
Dawn clearly sobered her yesterday.
"But you might not believe it: there are prodigies with talent across every region."
Serena froze.
"You've already met one in Sinnoh—Dawn—and there's at least four in Kanto, one in Hoenn, two or three in Unova, one or two in Alola, and two in Paldea."
"Galar? I haven't seen any, but there should be one or two as well."
Damian affirmed. Paldea and Galar he hasn't visited, but Nemona is one, and Juliana is probably there too.
As for Galar, there are many prodigy boys and girls.
Gloria, the protagonist, isn't the only rival; Hop is Leon's little brother, Bede is Rose's adopted trainee, and Marnie is Piers' little sister.
All three rivals haveChampion potential, especially Hop. Though he struggled in the early game, he becomes the strongest rival later on among the three.
"Really… that many?"
Serena gasped in shock, a hint of disbelief.
She had thought she was special, but now it seems not so special after all.
Those gym leaders along the way and Miss Diantha—they're all deceivers!!
She's supposed to be a once-in-a-century prodigy trainer, yet there are prodigies across every region, especially in Kanto… four? Or at least?
"So even if you become a Region Champion, your trainer career is just beginning; after all, you'll always head for the world stage, right?"
"This is actually the best era!"
"Serena, don't you think so?"
Damian tilted his head slightly, his hand gently stroking Jirachi's belly.
Yes, in Damian's view, this kind of flourishing era is the best.
After all, a person's path to being the strongest is dull without strong roadblocks to hurdle.
"Yes! This is… what I've been hoping for!"
Serena's eyes lit up with a fierce fire—Mr. Damian was right.
Even if every region has their own prodigies, so what?
Their existence makes this "strongest" worth fighting for!
"Very good, very spirited."
Damian nodded in satisfaction.
"Now let me spell out a few things, Miss Serena. Do you know where your gap with Dawn is right now?"
"Your current environment isn't enough to catalyze your growth!"
Damian cut straight to the point.
"Environment?"
Serena seemed to understand.
"Yes, you need a better growth environment, more opponents, and better resources."
"And Team Rocket can provide all of that."
Damian smiled.
Serena listened thoughtfully.
"Strengthening a Trainer can come through focused training, but for you, Serena, that pace would never be enough."
"Through real battles, you can better push yourself and your main roster; eradicating evil teams and training with their top-tier trainers can teach you a lot, and the organization has many Champion-tier trainers and Elite Four-level executives you can spar with for special training."
"On lineup composition and tactics design, you can work with them to train and progress; and for the resources Pokémon need, you can apply within the organization."
What Damian said clearly moved Serena.
She was beginning to understand what Dawn meant about Damian helping her grow.
Holy crap!
Mentors, strong sparring partners, real-world battle grit, lineup strategy discussions, plus all the growth resources the organization offers.
No wonder Dawn is so much stronger than she is; going it alone can't compete with this.
"Additionally, for someone like you, an excellent Trainer, once you join the organization, I can unconditionally entrust you with a talentfully qualified Ultra Beast."
Ultra Beast?!
Serena instantly thought of Dawn's fearsome Pheromosa yesterday, and the idea of being handed one after joining the organization...
"Finally, the organization itself runs two massive farms housing many excellent Pokémon, including Legendary Pokémon. With merit you can redeem merit to catch them."
Damian took out his phone and opened the Pokémon redeem merit page in the app.
Zapdos, Landorus, Thundurus, and more.
Serena's breathing quickened.
"Miss Serena, I can tell you Dawn hasn't gone all out yet; she still has an Entei in her main roster."
"So if you want to beat Dawn, you'll need a stronger main roster; your lineup must be reinforced."
Damian's words aren't baiting or coercive; with Serena's current main roster, even if she trained for ten more years, she wouldn't beat Dawn.
After all, effort is relative; Serena is trying, but Dawn won't stand still, and without strengthening the lineup, Serena will never defeat Dawn.
Entei…
Serena fell silent. The legendary beast Entei—Dawn actually caught it?
But seeing the Pokémon on the Team Rocket app's redeem merit page, Serena wasn't surprised anymore.
"Now one more question, Serena: are you willing to join Team Rocket?"
"I'm in!"
The girl from Vaniville Town answered with no hesitation.
Team Rocket is her best belonging and home!
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