Hearing Shadow's words, Aoki was taken aback.
Great danger, but also great rewards?
What did that mean?
Sensing Aoki's doubts, Shadow continued, "Team Rocket has recently discovered a highly concealed location. While exploring the sea, one of our scouting vessels stumbled upon a shielded island—completely untouched. It's teeming with wild Pokémon and has remained undiscovered until now. It might even serve as the next trial island."
Shadow quickly summarized the mission.
This was an internal Team Rocket operation, accessible only to mid-level members.
An unknown island with an unexplored ecosystem, hidden behind a natural barrier, had been accumulating resources for who knows how many years. The sheer potential wealth of such a place was enough to make any major organization go crazy.
And now, Team Rocket had found it first.
Naturally, the organization wanted to secure the island as soon as possible, extract its most valuable resources, and capture a large number of high-potential Pokémon.
With such an influx of resources, Team Rocket could see unprecedented growth. If they managed to harness everything the island had to offer, they might even expand beyond the Kanto and Johto regions.
An island like this was exactly the kind of discovery that would make the League mobilize all its forces to seize control.
Why had the League been aggressively scouting for new regions in recent years?
Because unexplored territories held immense potential. As they expanded and established dominance over new areas, they gained incredible resources, fueling rapid development. The benefits they reaped from these discoveries allowed the League to grow stronger and more influential.
So, it was no surprise that Team Rocket had issued this mission internally.
Why weren't the high-ranking executives taking action themselves?
The answer was obvious. Anyone at that level was at least on par with an Elite Four member or stronger. Their power was undeniable, but even they weren't guaranteed safety on the island.
These untouched ancient islands often housed one—or even several—wild Pokémon at the Elite Four level.
Unlike Pokémon in competitive environments, these wild elites had no survival pressures or resource shortages. The entire island's ecosystem had likely adapted to sustain a handful of these dominant Pokémon, making them immensely powerful.
If high-ranking Rocket members entered too soon, they could provoke fierce resistance. Worse, the island's elite Pokémon might even unite against the intruders.
Meanwhile, sending in lower-ranking grunts was pointless. They were neither strong enough nor reliable enough. At best, they'd serve as cannon fodder.
That's why the mission targeted mid-level operatives—specifically captains.
Quasi-executives might be allowed in, but their participation would likely be restricted.
According to Shadow, the top captains within Team Rocket were the highest-ranking individuals permitted to join this mission.
Each executive could recommend two to three team members to enter as part of the first wave. These pioneers would explore the island, identify any powerful Pokémon, and claim whatever resources they could find. Everything they obtained during the mission would belong to them.
That was why Shadow had emphasized the danger. No one knew what kind of powerful Pokémon or rival trainers they might encounter. Entering the island was extremely risky.
But the potential rewards were staggering. Uncharted islands meant abundant, untapped resources—a once-in-a-lifetime chance to accelerate one's rise in power.
Now, every captain in Team Rocket was scrambling to secure a spot, appealing to their superiors for the opportunity to participate.
As for the danger?
Compared to being stuck at a plateau with no way forward, most captains simply ignored it.
Opportunities like this didn't come often. They had to seize it.
However, Aoki was different from the others. He already had exceptionally strong Pokémon, deep knowledge of Pokémon breeding, and the rapidly growing town of Verdanturf as his foundation. His future was secure even without taking this risk.
There was little reason for him to wade into such dangerous waters.
After finishing his explanation, Shadow waited for Aoki's response.
As one of Team Rocket's most important operatives in Hoenn, Aoki's value was undeniable. Shadow wasn't trying to force him into this mission—Sakagi had simply instructed him to give Aoki the choice.
Even the boss himself was keeping an eye on Aoki, recognizing him as one of the potential next-generation executives.
Aoki thought for a moment. He had been about to refuse.
Then, suddenly, he remembered something crucial.
"Alright! I'll go. When is the gathering?"
Shadow was surprised. He had expected Aoki to decline.
With Aoki's current trajectory and potential, there was no real need for him to take such a risk. Sakagi had only suggested offering him the chance, not pushing him into it.
"Are you sure? With the way you're progressing, you don't have to get involved in this mess."
Shadow gave a final warning. Aoki was now firmly aligned with their faction, and his potential to rise as a Rocket executive was undeniable.
If Aoki continued growing, he could become a major asset to their group.
Of course, other factions within Team Rocket had also taken notice of Aoki. This mission wasn't just about surviving against wild Pokémon—it also meant dealing with ambitious captains who might see Aoki as a threat.
"I'm sure," Aoki responded firmly.
Shadow didn't push further. Aoki had made his choice. If he perished on this mission, it wasn't his concern.
No matter how promising Aoki was, he was still only a newly ascended elite-level trainer. The Elite Four level was still far beyond his reach.
"Three days from now, in Celadon City, Kanto. Team Rocket will gather at the base. Prepare your Pokémon and supplies—it's going to be a long mission."
After providing the details, Shadow hung up.
Aoki held the communicator, lost in thought.
In his previous life, he hadn't participated in this event. But he remembered it vividly.
Because this mission had directly impacted Team Rocket's future development.
An ancient, undiscovered island. A survival rate below 30% for the first wave of explorers.
It was eerily similar to an event depicted in a certain movie.
Originally, Aoki had planned to refuse. But there was one reason why he changed his mind so quickly.
On this island, something extremely rare was waiting to be found.
Mew's genes.
That's right—this was the beginning of Mewtwo's creation!