Video conference.
Kukui had invited Hala, Olivia, and Nanu, the three Island Kahunas, as well as Lusamine.
In his eyes, Lusamine was also one of the pillars of the Alola Region.
"So what do you all think? Do we accept Damian's request to 'coexist' or not?"
Kukui rubbed his brow in exhaustion. He honestly couldn't make up his mind.
Hala's brows were tightly furrowed. Nanu let out a long, weary sigh.
As for Lusamine, attending this Alola "upper‑echelon" meeting for the first time, she remained silently thoughtful.
"I'm against it!"
Olivia spoke up first.
She had absolutely zero goodwill toward Damian—and in her eyes, Team Rocket was nothing but an evil organization.
No amount of pretty words from Damian could change that.
"Kukui, get this straight! Team Rocket is an evil organization officially wanted by the Indigo League. How are we supposed to coexist with them?"
"This is our Alola Region! Alola doesn't need Team Rocket's help at all!"
Olivia's voice was sharp with righteous anger.
There was no way she'd support this suggestion.
"And that Damian even caught Tapu Fini—that's the island guardian deity Alola has revered for generations!"
"Olivia, I have to remind you—it's not just Tapu Fini anymore."
Lusamine spoke quietly.
Olivia: "?"
"According to our intel from the Aether Foundation, that Team Rocket executive Caitlin appeared on Akala Island's beach area with Tapu Lele in tow.
So Tapu Lele has likely already been caught by her." Lusamine reported.
"!!"
The temperature in Olivia's face shot up instantly, flushing bright red.
"Damn Team Rocket!!"
Tapu Lele was Akala Island's guardian deity—and she had been personally chosen and certified as Island Queen by Tapu Lele itself.
"Senior Hala, Senior Nanu, Chairman Lusamine—what about you?"
Kukui turned to Hala and Nanu on the screen.
Olivia clearly wasn't going to agree; that much was already decided.
"I think…"
Hala hesitated, clearly torn.
"I'll go with whatever you all decide."
Nanu, as usual, just "checked out" of the decision.
"At this point, going to war with Team Rocket is not a wise choice.
But letting Alola's Team Rocket run wild unchecked isn't a long‑term solution either. I'll defer to the majority opinion."
Lusamine briefly laid out her stance, much like Nanu—minority obeys the majority.
"I'll be blunt. For now, Team Rocket hasn't shown any real threat in Alola.
If they remain this way, a temporary coexistence with Team Rocket wouldn't be an unreasonable tactic."
Hala's voice was low and steady.
Of course, this was all predicated on Alola's Team Rocket continuing to act as "harmless" as they had so far.
"Senior Hala?"
Olivia stared in disbelief.
"Olivia, going all‑out against Team Rocket right now is anything but easy.
We can't win that fight." Hala's tone grew solemn.
"Damian is far too strong—and so is Caitlin, now that she's caught Tapu Lele.
If we start a full‑scale war, regardless of the outcome, the peace and stability Alola currently enjoys will be gone."
"But…"
Olivia bit her lip.
"The establishment of the Alola League is right around the corner.
We can't afford a war with Team Rocket at this stage. We'll have to wait for the new generation to grow."
Hala was clearly placing his bets on the younger Trainers.
On the monstrous prodigy Selene—and on his own grandson, Hau, another prodigy in the making.
Once the two of them fully matured, even without reinforcements from other regional Leagues, they wouldn't have to fear Alola's Team Rocket.
A temporary compromise, for the sake of a better future.
And during that time, they could observe Alola's situation more closely.
If Alola's Team Rocket continued operating this "peacefully," and really cut ties with Kanto's Team Rocket, then true coexistence might not be impossible.
"For now, we can coexist and keep a close eye on Team Rocket's movements.
And we should quietly put limits on their growth from the shadows."
Kukui arrived at his own conclusion.
Right now, the Alola League had to take priority.
"I don't agree! With that guy's personality, there's no way he'd sincerely back down and seek peace!"
Olivia still stubbornly refused to budge.
"Then let's put it to a vote. Majority rules."
Kukui sighed softly.
He understood where Olivia was coming from—but did they really have a better option right now?
As for the vote, the result practically went without saying.
Kukui and Hala both agreed to temporarily coexist with Alola's Team Rocket.
Nanu silently raised his arm in favor.
Lusamine abstained.
Olivia voted against.
"Kukui, you're definitely going to regret this!"
Olivia let out a bitter laugh.
"Olivia, be reasonable. Majority rule."
Hala frowned.
He felt Olivia's ideology was a bit too extreme—she was still young, after all.
Olivia clenched her teeth and hung up the video call.
She thought Kukui and the others had lost their minds.
Coexisting with an evil organization—had their brains all gone soft?!
...
"Let me think… how can I make taking the Team Rocket boss chair look nice and 'legitimate'?"
On the streets of Hau'oli City, Damian strolled along in a fantastic mood, a bag of snacks in hand.
Tapu Fini floated beside him, happily licking a fluffy Casteliacone.
The Fini felt like life had never been better.
This was so much more fun than aimlessly drifting through her days back on Poni Island.
Damian had already received Kukui's reply—his request had been approved, though Kukui had attached a few conditions.
For example, Damian was not to make any moves on Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu, and Tapu Fini was to hurry back to Poni Island to choose a new Island Kahuna.
Damian had agreed to all of it.
Things in Alola were basically locked down.
For now, he didn't have to worry about Kukui and the others going after Team Rocket's legitimate businesses in public.
And as for the underground side of things—well, there was nothing to worry about there at all.
The Aether Foundation, the Pokémon Ride service network, and the like could all expand freely.
Sooner or later, Alola would end up molded in Team Rocket's image.
As for Hala staking everything on Selene and Hau…
Damian could only say the old man was giving those kids way too much credit.
Ula'ula Island.
"Miss Selene, here's your delivery."
At the Aether House, an Aether Foundation staffer handed two Ultra Balls to Selene.
"Thx～ Huh? Why are there two?"
Selene tilted her head in confusion.
Last night, her beloved had clearly said it was just one Pokémon.
"It should be something amazing, I'm sure.
Come on, Selene, open them up already."
Lillie smiled gently.
"Yeah, yeah! Hurry up, Selene, let's see what kinda Pokémon your boyfriend sent you!"
Acerola, who was also at the Aether House, egged her on.
"Hehe～ fine, fine. That guy, honestly… I'm already this strong, and he still worries I don't have enough Pokémon."
Selene giggled as she walked out of the Aether House and opened the two Poké Balls in her hands.
"Articuno～"
A clear, melodious bird cry rang out—followed by an airy, almost emotionless, echoing call.
"Whoa!!"
Acerola's eyes went wide in shock as she stared at the left‑hand side, where a bird Pokémon with gorgeous ice‑blue wings hovered in the air.
Lillie, on the other hand, found herself staring blankly at the milky‑white, jellyfish‑like Pokémon on the right.
That was…
No.
How could Selene's boyfriend possibly have that Pokémon?
Unless he really was…
Lillie pressed her lips together, her delicate pale face clouded over.
Why… did it have to be like this…
~~~
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