Chapter 59: You Want Me to Become League President?!
"Now that's a beauty."
Mammon studied the Shiny Pheromosa, looking it up and down with an approving nod.
Ultra Beasts were extraordinarily rare in the normal world, but here in Ultra Space, they were just ordinary wildlife.
The entire Ultra Desert was home to only one species of Ultra Beast — Pheromosa. With this many individuals, finding a Shiny among them wasn't out of the question. But encountering one this quickly? That was genuine good fortune.
"Time to clean up."
Mammon tossed out two Poké Balls. Tapu Fini and Annihilape materialized in front of him.
"You captured Tapu Fini too?" Lusamine blinked. Kukui hadn't mentioned that either.
"Not just Fini. Tapu Lele was captured by one of our members as well." Mammon said it like it was nothing.
"..." Lusamine was speechless. What could she even say?
"Can you handle this?"
She moved past the topic, eyeing the nine surrounding Pheromosa with visible unease.
"They're just ordinary Ultra Beasts. Nothing to worry about."
Mammon's tone was breezy, entirely unconcerned. He clearly didn't consider these wild specimens a threat.
Ultra Beasts were all strong Pokémon, sure, but wild ones varied enormously in power. There might be the odd Champion-tier individual among them, but that would be the exception.
Nine? He wouldn't sweat it if there were twenty more.
Tapu Fini was buzzing with battle-lust. As an Island Guardian, she was well aware of Ultra Beasts' existence — and she had zero fondness for these "things from beyond." They were outsiders. Invaders.
At Mammon's signal, Tapu Fini and Annihilape charged headlong into the pack of Pheromosa. Shiny Gengar, naturally, stayed back to guard Mammon and Lusamine.
The Pheromosa weren't about to tolerate such "provocation" from creatures they'd classified as prey.
And then—
There was no "and then." Every last Pheromosa was on the ground.
The two useless rental Dragonite stared with literal stars in their eyes, gazing at Tapu Fini and Annihilape with naked worship.
(absolute legends.jpg)
Mammon captured the Shiny Pheromosa first — this one he'd keep for his own roster.
Then he examined the remaining eight. With this many specimens to choose from, there were bound to be differences in quality between individuals.
Mammon didn't have a system that could display a Pokémon's talent stats at a glance.
But a well-developed specimen generally had strong innate potential, and you could gauge it from physical indicators: body size, proportions, overall vitality, and the sheen of their exoskeletons.
"Let's move."
After selecting three more Pheromosa whose builds stood out above the rest, Mammon left the other five and called to Lusamine.
They'd encounter more ahead. No rush.
"Lusamine, take note of this." Mammon stowed the three Poké Balls in his bag and turned to her.
"?" Lusamine looked at him, puzzled.
"Pheromosa — Bug/Fighting type. The Lissome Pokémon.
Ability: Beast Boost.
Pokédex entry: One of the Ultra Beasts. It may have concluded that all objects in this world are unclean, refusing to touch anything at all."
Mammon recited it calmly.
"That's… Pokédex data?" Lusamine stared in disbelief. Aside from moves, he'd just given her a complete Pokédex profile from memory.
"Correct. We can catalog the move data once we're back." Mammon nodded.
"After we return from Ultra Space, send all the Ultra Beast data to Kukui. Better yet — bring the Ultra Beast you captured and go talk to him in person."
"To push forward the establishment of the Alola League?"
Lusamine wasn't stupid. The excuse she'd used with Lillie about the Alola League had been Mammon's idea in the first place.
"Exactly. Once the reality of Ultra Space is confirmed, Kanto has no legitimate grounds to oppose the creation of an Alola League."
"And you, Lusamine — the woman who provided this invaluable Ultra Beast intelligence — will have earned monumental credit in the eyes of Kukui and the others."
Mammon grinned, his voice laden with implication.
Lusamine's pupils contracted. She finally understood.
"Mammon — you want me to become the Alola League President?!"
She stared at him, stunned. Her standing in Alola was already considerable.
And now, with this expedition clarifying the Ultra Beast situation — providing the crucial piece that would make the Alola League viable — the credit belonged to her.
Kukui and the Island Kahunas would naturally feel gratitude, and their opinion of her would soar.
Which meant she could ascend to the presidency of the newly formed Alola League as the obvious, unchallenged first choice.
Who in all of Alola could compete with her for that seat?
Well — Kukui could. But Kukui had no interest in the political side of things. He'd never contest it.
"Is that not a good thing?" Mammon replied with an amused smile.
"..."
Lusamine's emotions churned. Her eyes flickered with one complex feeling after another.
Alola League President. The single most powerful position in the entire region. Apart from the Elite Four and Champion — who held a different kind of authority — she would wield the greatest influence of anyone.
Did she want it? Of course she wanted it.
Lusamine's breathing quickened. She wanted it badly.
"I told you — I'd put you at the very top. That was my promise, wasn't it?"
Mammon stepped behind Lusamine and wrapped his arms around her — a gentle embrace that pulled her back to the present.
The two Dragonite, witnessing this, hastily covered their eyes with their claws and turned away. Can't look, can't look.
Lusamine glanced sideways at Mammon's handsome face and the smile on it. Her heartbeat ticked up a notch.
But then the Aether Foundation President let out a cold laugh.
"Pretty words. Even if I become League President, I'd still be your puppet. This is all for your precious Team Rocket, isn't it?"
"Our Team Rocket."
Mammon corrected her.
"Lusamine, you're part of the organization now. This benefits both of us — there's no downside."
"We're in public. Keep your hands to yourself."
Lusamine shot Mammon an exasperated glare but didn't actually stop him.
"There's nobody around. Relax." Mammon planted a quick kiss on her cheek, grinning.
"Fine. I understand."
Lusamine sighed, resigned. She couldn't refuse Mammon's directives regardless.
And even if she was a puppet — she'd be the puppet sitting in the League President's chair.
In terms of pure status, she'd vault into the ranks of the most powerful people on earth.