Chapter 259: Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command! [259]
After arriving in Lampurchi with the transformed "Malva," Luo Yuan didn't rush to enact his plan.
Instead, he first compiled a report of the mission and sent it to Giovanni.
Only then did he take a leisurely stroll around Lampurchi with Ditto-turned-"Malva," ensuring they were seen together by plenty of onlookers.
Once Luo Yuan was confident enough people had witnessed their "parting ways" in the city, he and Ditto slipped into a secluded forest.
There, Ditto reverted to its original form and was promptly recalled to its Poké Ball.
But the alibi wasn't complete. A few eyewitness accounts wouldn't be enough to absolve Luo Yuan of suspicion should Malva's disappearance come under scrutiny.
His next step required "Malva" to appear in other cities while Sabrina fabricated an alibi for him elsewhere.
The thought of all this extra effort made Luo Yuan sigh.
Still, he had no choice. A missing Elite Four member, even one secretly aligned with Team Flare, wasn't a trivial matter. If the League found out, it could bring Team Rocket significant trouble.
In hindsight, leading Malva into a trap on the island was a gamble. Direct confrontation risked spooking someone as cautious as her, but the approach had its pros and cons.
Summoning his smaller, less conspicuous Charizard, Luo Yuan patted its back and took off, heading toward Celadon City.