"Damn, couldn't you at least give me a heads-up before barging in?" Nanli was hastily pulling up his pants, and in his rush, his hand trembled while zipping up, accidentally catching a certain delicate part. A sharp cry of pain immediately followed: "Agh...!"
"Where's Nanli? Where did he go?" Lucius asked as he entered the base.
"Oh, Officer Nanli is in the command room working on research. We've already sent someone to fetch him. Please wait a moment, sir," a Team Rocket grunt on the tarmac responded to Archer.
"Hah, 'research work'?" Lucius let out a mocking chuckle.
From what Archer knew about Nanli, he was hardly the type to be passionate about work.
As a local recruit from the Orange Archipelago, Nanli had the same laid-back and pleasure-seeking nature as many islanders. He had only been appointed as the head of this base due to his unwavering loyalty to Archer.
"Lord Archer, what brings you here so suddenly? If you had given me a little notice, I could have prepared a proper welcome." Nanli hurriedly jogged over to Archer, wiping the cold sweat off his forehead.
Facing Archer's unannounced arrival, Nanli was feeling incredibly nervous.
Even though Archer had personally promoted him, Nanli knew his superior well. If he had truly messed up, Archer would not hesitate to deal with him harshly.
"Gather everyone in the base. I have something to announce," Lucius ordered.
"Everyone?" Nanli, his sun-darkened face showing no hesitation, immediately issued the order, summoning all personnel to assemble for a briefing.
It appeared that the execution efficiency of this base was quite decent, as the entire team quickly gathered in the base's main hall.
"Sir, excluding the eleven members currently out on missions, the remaining sixty-three personnel of the Nanyl Island base are all present!" Nanli reported loudly.
"Good." Lucius stepped forward, scanning the assembled Team Rocket members with an unreadable expression.
"I assume most of you recognize me. I came here today to announce something important." His sharp gaze swept across the crowd.
Under his imposing presence, everyone he glanced at instinctively avoided eye contact.
After all, among the rank-and-file of Team Rocket, few truly knew the identity of their supreme leader. Compared to the enigmatic Giovanni, the Four Executives were far more notorious.
"I've received intelligence that a Crystal Onix has been spotted near Sunburst Island. This unique Pokémon could be extremely valuable for our research." As Lucius spoke, he carefully observed the reactions of those below. "I need you all to mobilize and capture it."
"Crystal Onix?!"
The Team Rocket members began whispering among themselves. Clearly, this name wasn't unfamiliar to them.
"Lord Archer, may I ask where you obtained this intelligence?" Nanli hesitated before asking softly.
Where did the intel come from?
Of course, it came from the anime…
Lucius scoffed internally but replied instead, "Does the source of intelligence really matter?"
Nanli felt a bit awkward. As someone born and raised in the Orange Islands, he naturally knew of the legend of the Crystal Onix, though he had never taken it seriously.
In his view, it was nothing more than a marketing ploy by the glass merchants of Sunburst Island to attract tourists. After all, what's a themed tourist attraction without a legendary story?
Looks like Lord Archer has been stationed on the mainland for too long and isn't familiar with these island gimmicks.
Every year, plenty of gullible trainers, enchanted by the legend, would come to search for the Crystal Onix, only to leave empty-handed—except for a suitcase full of overpriced glass souvenirs.
Nanli smacked his lips, pondering how to tactfully explain this to Archer without making him feel embarrassed…
"This is your mission. Within three days, I want that Pokémon in our hands. Whoever captures it will be promoted by two ranks." Lucius announced before turning and walking towards the command room, ignoring the murmurs of discussion behind him.
"Two ranks?! Such a high reward?!"
"A two-rank promotion? Such a high reward?"
"Heh, don't even think about it. I'm from Sunburst Island, and that whole Crystal Onix thing is just a made-up story to fool people..."
"Really? Then why would Lord Archer assign this mission?"
"Maybe he got tricked."
"What? Tricked? Are you questioning Lord Archer's intelligence?"
"Hey, don't put words in my mouth—I never said that..."
Though Team Rocket was an illegal organization, it treated its members well.
As a criminal syndicate, empty promises about loyalty and mission statements weren't enough to gain followers. Only tangible benefits could attract and retain members, allowing the organization to thrive.
Even the lowest-ranking grunts, once promoted two levels, would become squad leaders—earning in a month more than an average person did in a year.
While many were tempted by the opportunity, some members—believing they knew the "truth"—shook their heads in dismay.
The Crystal Onix, as a species that had appeared in canon, did indeed exist.
However, Lucius wasn't truly interested in capturing it. He wasn't a real Pokémon Trainer—he wasn't even human.
If he truly wanted a Crystal Onix, all he had to do was visit Sunburst Island and find Mateo, the glass artisan who had seen it alongside Ash Ketchum.
Lucius's real goal was to use the search for Crystal Onix as a distraction—to conceal what he was actually planning.
And if someone did manage to capture it? That would prove they were talented enough to be considered for evolution—granting them a place in his new organization.
"Lord Archer, the legend of the Crystal Onix has been around for years. There's no rush. How about tonight, I accompany you to Mandarin Island? There's a festival going on—it should be lively."
Mandarin Island was the most commercially developed of the Orange Islands, rivaling even Saffron City in prosperity.
Lucius glanced at Nanli. "Are you trying to say that the Crystal Onix is just a hoax created by the people of Sunburst Island?"
"Uh..." Nanli scratched his head awkwardly, caught off guard.
"Idiot." Lucius's tone was calm. "I can assure you—the Crystal Onix is real."
"Whether or not you can find it depends on your abilities."
"Y-Yes, of course." Nanli nodded repeatedly, a look of guilt crossing his face.
Of course, Lucius knew he was faking it. A belief ingrained for over a decade wouldn't be overturned by a couple of sentences. But Lucius didn't bother arguing further.
Neither of them noticed the thoughtful expression on Sham's face as he stood behind them.
Before long, most of the Team Rocket members—aside from those assigned to guard the base—boarded ships and set sail for Sunburst Island.
Since the mission had already been issued, it didn't matter whether the Crystal Onix was real or not—they had to at least put on a show.
Ignoring the mission altogether would be an insult to their superior's authority.
This was the general mindset among the Team Rocket members.
Before long, the base was nearly empty, with fewer than twenty people remaining.
"Sir, should we head to Mandarin Island?" Nanli asked cautiously.
"Heh. Sure, why not?" Lucius turned to him, flashing a toothy grin.
For some reason, Nanli felt a sudden chill run down his spine.
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