While here, Ariel also conveniently exchanged the 2 million league coins in cash and those two Camerupt for resources.
The funds flowed out like water; he didn't hesitate for a second. Money only had meaning when converted into strength.
For Krokorok, he got specialized ore for sharpening teeth and enhancing bite force, along with some high-protein meat chunks.
Malamar received several Psychic capsules to purify and amplify its mental power.
Weavile's resources were Soft Sand specifically for polishing claw blades, and a set of speed training equipment that simulated various extreme environments.
As for Frogadier, it was a large amount of Mystic Water capable of increasing the condensation speed of Water-type energy.
Finally, the remaining money was all exchanged for Dark-type energy cubes for daily consumption and energy reserves.
Having done all this, Ariel felt much more at ease.
The strength of his Pokémon was the foundation of his standing in this world.
Just then, the pokédex on his wrist vibrated slightly, and an encrypted message popped up on the screen.
It was a new mission!
[Mission Information: Copy all data from the Weather Institute and obtain weather information for the Hoenn region.]
[Additional Information: Magma Team has occupied the Weather Institute; the mission is highly dangerous. To ensure the mission's completion, all members of the Fortree City base are, effective immediately, placed under the command of the cadre codenamed "Ruth".]
Ariel's fingertips slid lightly across the screen, his gaze pausing for two seconds on the phrase "all members... placed under the command."
The authority was a bit excessive.
He knew his position in Team Rockets very well.
A junior cadre—a title that sounded good but actually had limited power.
Mobilizing all members of a small base was a privilege usually reserved for an Intermediate Cadre, or perhaps even a Senior Cadre executing a major mission.
Although the Fortree City base was small, it was still a complete combat unit.
"Ariana..."
That woman's figure appeared in Ariel's mind.
This move was undoubtedly hers.
Maximizing the value of him as a "core member," while also being an undisguised test.
"Weather information... Kyogre."
Ariel's thoughts raced.
The ambitions of the Team Rockets high command were never hidden. With Magma Team and Team Aqua causing such a stir in the Hoenn region, it was impossible for Giovanni to remain indifferent.
Magma Team wanted to expand the land, and Team Aqua wanted to expand the ocean.
Correspondingly, they sought the god of the earth, Groudon, and the god of the sea, Kyogre.
And Team Rockets was interested in both of these legendary Pokémon.
Using weather data to deduce Kyogre's awakening location and activity patterns was indeed Team Rockets' style.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the treehouse base suddenly changed.
All Team Rockets members' communication devices received the highest directive from headquarters.
The whispering within the base vanished instantly.
Dozens of gazes—some in awe, some curious, some defiant—all turned toward the room where Ariel was.
An airborne cadre codenamed "Ruth" had become their temporary superior.
Ariel didn't go out immediately.
He unhurriedly took off his casual clothes and retrieved a brand-new black trench coat from his pack.
The fabric was stiff, and the cut was sharp. Wearing it, his entire presence gained an air of sharpness and killing intent.
He adjusted his collar against the blurred reflection in the window glass, making sure his gaze was cold and detached enough.
As a temporary commander, he didn't need approachability; he needed absolute authority.
When he pushed open the door and reappeared before everyone, the previously noisy common area instantly fell silent.
Forty Team Rockets members were split into eight squads, standing in a scattered fashion.
The eight squad leaders at the front, all around level 30, watched him with scrutinizing eyes.
They were the old-timers of this base, the true local power.
Ariel's gaze swept calmly across every face without stopping for a moment, as if he were looking at a group of lifeless tools.
"I am your temporary commander, codename: Ruth."
His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
"Now, everyone, assemble."
No unnecessary words, no inaugural speech.
A slight stir arose in the crowd, but after the eight squad leaders exchanged looks, they immediately took action, shouting at their members to begin forming ranks.
The chaotic positions quickly became orderly, with the forty people divided into eight rows standing before Ariel.
That was Team Rockets' discipline.
You might not be convinced, but you must carry out orders.
Ariel was fairly satisfied with this result. He was about to start laying out the mission details—
Woo—woo—woo—!!!
A sharp, piercing alarm sound tore through the peace inside the treehouse without warning!
Red warning lights spun frantically, casting everyone's face in a blood-red glow that flickered in and out.
"What's going on?!" A squad leader's face turned pale instantly as he blurted out.
Before his voice faded, a member responsible for perimeter security scrambled in from the entrance, his face covered in a mix of rain and tears, his voice trembling uncontrollably with a sob.
"Enemy attack! It's an enemy attack!"
"What's the panic! Is it a League investigation team?!"
Another squad leader shouted sternly, trying to stabilize the situation.
"No... it's not!"
The member pointed outside in terror, as if he had seen the most terrifying thing in the world.
"It's... it's the Gym Leader! Winona!"
"She's alone... she's charging in all by herself!"
The words "all by herself" were like three heavy hammer blows, slamming into everyone's hearts.
The entire base instantly fell into a deathly silence.
You could hear a pin drop.
Everyone's breathing hitched; instinctively, their gazes went through the window, looking out at the forest shrouded in torrential rain.
Amidst the downpour, a figure was coming, treading upon the gale.
Riding atop an Altaria, her pure white clothes fluttered wildly in the storm.
Her gaze was colder than the icy rain, like an unsheathed blade piercing straight through the soul.
Terrifying air currents, visible to the naked eye, swirled around her, shredding and evaporating every falling raindrop.
The elegant Altaria spread its massive, cotton-like wings and let out a clear, sharp cry.
That cry pierced through the curtain of rain, and the Dragon-type pressure was like a physical tidal wave, slamming hard against the Team Rockets' treehouse!
Creak—
The entire massive treehouse let out a strained creaking sound under this pressure.
The Fortree City Flying-type Gym Leader, Winona.
Team Rockets had been entrenched here for so long without being purged.
Today, she had actually come alone, charging right to the front door of their nest!