"I never imagined a single Poké Ball would expose Team Aqua's base."
Shinhara toyed with the Poké Ball in his hand. "An impressive move, Mr. Dian."
He sighed after speaking. Over the years, Team Aqua had grown far more arrogant without even realizing it. Otherwise, their deeply concealed Secret Base would never have been discovered so easily.
Back when he was still a rank-and-file member, he had been ordered to inspect all the submarine's equipment and supplies on the return voyage.
They were only allowed to return after the inspection was complete. Otherwise, no matter what emergency arose, they were forbidden from heading straight back to the base.
But... that was all in the past. Team Aqua's current members no longer had that same discipline.
After all, many people had once joined Team Aqua simply because they had no other way to survive. But now, under the League's current policies, a Trainer might not live particularly well, but could at least make an ordinary living.
That was also why Team Aqua and Team Magma had needed to reform in recent years... only reform could reverse their decline. If they carried on without changing, sooner or later they would disband on their own.
Others might not have seen all this clearly, but Shinhara understood it firsthand.
He had been a double agent for Team Aqua and the Hoenn League from the start. Rising from an insignificant pawn to where he stood today, he had weathered more trials than he could count.
Today was a turning point for Team Aqua, and for him as well.
Today, he would either commit himself fully to the League, using Team Aqua's vast holdings as a stepping stone to advancement,
Or do the opposite, preserving Team Aqua's vital supplies and severing all ties with the Hoenn