Vermilion Gym.
Li Wei caught up with Lt. Surge on Team Rocket's current operations. The purge had been remarkably decisive.
Team Rocket would face growing pains for a long time to come, but those cancers had to be cut out.
Seeing Li Wei and Lt. Surge discuss Team Rocket so openly, deputy captain Biscuit exchanged a glance with Tony. For a moment, neither knew what to say.
Li Wei saw nothing wrong with it.
Now that Giovanni had returned, Rocket Logistics could operate freely within the Pokémon League's jurisdiction, which meant the League had given its approval too.
Li Wei began correcting Lt. Surge's way of thinking.
"I think you're still treating Team Rocket like the old Team Rocket. Aren't they in the middle of a transformation? It's time to change your outlook."
Lance had yet to launch another thorough investigation into Giovanni.
Li Wei had good reason to suspect the two were already working together.
They really did have common ground for cooperation.
Namely, Giovanni's son, Silver.
Lance and Silver were on good terms.
If Giovanni wanted to mend his relationship with Silver and have Silver acknowledge him as his father, Lance would make an excellent bridge.
And if Giovanni wanted Silver to return to Team Rocket, or at least acknowledge him as his father, he would have to change Team Rocket.
Lt. Surge couldn't help repeating himself.
"Why do I feel like you're the real Team Rocket executive here?"
Biscuit and Tony nodded vigorously.
They clearly agreed wholeheartedly with Lt. Surge.
Lt. Surge shrugged and laughed. "Still, there's nothing wrong with accepting an invitation to join Team Rocket. Who hasn't been invited by them?"
The same figure sprang to both their minds.
Li Wei and Lt. Surge spoke in unison.
"Akin!"
"Hahaha!"
Far away in the Johto Region,