"Beep~"
Mission No.: 00001
Level: None
Description: Recruit a newcomer
Time Limit: None
Reward: Contribution points based on recruit quality
Ordinary person: 10 points
Beginner trainer: 20 points
Normal-level trainer: 50 points
Elite-level trainer: 1000 points
---
"Just as I thought—it's still here."
Seeing the mission, Icarus' eyes lit up.
"For other Team Rocket members, this mission is a headache… but for me? Heh."
Most Rocket members couldn't even enter towns. They had to recruit in the wild—through intimidation, coercion, or ambushes.
But Icarus was different.
He was a legitimate League-registered trainer.
As long as his identity remained hidden, the city's surveillance and detection systems wouldn't affect him at all.
That freedom… was exactly why Team Rocket valued him.
After all, once someone was listed as a wanted criminal, the city's automated surveillance—using biometric data like iris scans, fingerprints, and facial recognition—would instantly flag them.
Ordinary people were registered by the League from birth.
Unless someone reached the Elite rank and underwent a complete physical transformation, bypassing that system was nearly impossible.
---
"Finding people isn't the problem…"
"There are always gangsters willing to take risks. Orphans too—some of them would gamble everything for a chance."
"But the real issue… is exposure."
If even one recruit slipped up, it could trace back to him.
And once the authorities started connecting dots, he'd be finished.
After thinking it through, Icarus shook his head.
"Recruiting one or two people might be fine… but farming 100 points with ten recruits? That's just asking to get caught."
---
"So quantity won't work… which means I need quality."
His eyes sharpened.
"Uncle Sam… 1000 points…"
For a moment, the idea tempted him.
But he quickly dismissed it.
"Impossible."
Uncle Sam was already living comfortably within the League—status, wealth, stability.
Why would he risk everything to join Team Rocket?
Once exposed, a Rocket member could only hide in the shadows for the rest of their life.
Sure, staying undercover brought massive benefits.
That was why some corrupt officials and families took the risk.
But it wasn't something you could just convince someone into.
---
"Then what about… targeting someone like Akizawa?"
A cold glint flashed in Icarus' eyes.
But after a moment, he frowned.
"No… that won't work either."
He only had two Pokémon. His strength wasn't enough to guarantee victory alone.
He'd have to rely on Captain Okamoto—and if that happened, most of the contribution points would go to the captain.
"At best, I'd get scraps."
"And worse… I'd be making enemies."
Anyone he betrayed would definitely hold a grudge.
That kind of risk wasn't worth it.
---
"The 'best' method would be recruiting weak newcomers… then handing them over immediately…"
A darker thought surfaced.
Easy points. Possibly even reclaiming the resources those recruits had just obtained.
But he quickly shook his head.
"No. That's too obvious."
"If it were that simple, others would already be doing it."
There had to be restrictions.
---
To confirm, he used his special Rocket-issued phone card and called Okamoto, carefully probing for information.
After ending the call, he let out a long sigh.
"Just as I thought…"
Ordinary recruits didn't count until they successfully captured a Pokémon.
Only then would they grant contribution points—and afterward, they'd be kept in the base for training until reaching at least the mid-Beginner stage.
No loopholes.
No easy farming.
---
"Then I'll need a different mission…"
Thinking back, Icarus recalled something odd.
"Akizawa wasn't trying to recruit us at all… he was targeting us."
The more he analyzed it, the clearer it became.
That wasn't recruitment—it was a hunt.
---
He scrolled further down the mission list.
Soon, a different type of task appeared.
---
Mission No.: 00249
Level: ★★
Description: Collect experimental materials for the organization
Examples include:
Pokémon that have exhausted their life force
Live Pokémon
Hostile trainers (minimum: Normal rank)
Time Limit: None
Rewards:
Normal Low-level: 25 points
Normal Mid-level: 40 points
Normal High-level: 60 points
Captured trainer: Double reward
---
"…So this is it."
Icarus' expression turned serious.
Team Rocket truly lived up to its reputation.
This wasn't just crime—it was organized, systematic exploitation.
"Akizawa was probably doing this mission…"
With insider information, ambushing A Shu had been easy.
Much easier than hunting wild Pokémon.
"Too bad Captain Okamoto took everything in the end…"
By his estimate, the captured Pokémon alone had earned the captain nearly 200 contribution points.
---
"…Alright. I think I've got a plan."
A faint smile formed on Icarus' lips.
"If my next 'teammate' just happens to attack me first…"
"And I defend myself…"
"…then that's not my fault."
He wasn't planning to overuse this method.
Too many incidents would damage his reputation—and people would start noticing.
But used carefully?
It was efficient.
---
"Next step… gather information."
"I need targets—people with bad reputations, weak strength… and just enough greed."
With his plan set, Icarus began reaching out.
Small teams.
Independent trainers.
Anyone looking for partners.
One by one, he started making contact.
---
(End of Chapter 125)
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