"Useless!"
Giovanni's voice came through the communicator, simmering with suppressed anger, and a sheen of cold sweat broke out on Apollo's forehead.
He stood in a filthy corner of the black market, quietly reporting what had just happened.
"...Boss, that merchant won't budge. I say we just take it by force! With our manpower, wiping out this little black market would be a breeze!"
This was the most direct solution Apollo could think of, and it was also Team Rocket's usual way of doing things.
The other end of the line fell silent for a moment.
Giovanni forced down his anger.
Steal it?
Steal it again?
If that "strategist" were here, he'd probably call me a stupid pig again.
Taking it by force would only expose Team Rocket's movements and objectives. Alerting the enemy over a mere Dratini would cost more than it was worth.
Besides, he had only just decided to change the organization's way of doing things.
"Don't make any rash moves."
Giovanni's voice turned cold. "Stand by and wait for my new orders."
He ended the call, a calculating gleam flashing through his eyes.
The opportunity is here.
This problem would make the perfect bait to lure the snake out of its hole.
He immediately issued an emergency meeting notice through the internal system.
[Emergency meeting notice: all administrative personnel are to report to meeting room three in ten minutes. Repeat: administrative personnel only.]
The strange order left everyone who received it utterly baffled.
But no one dared question it. They all put down their work and headed toward meeting room three.
Ye Li received the notice too.
He grumbled inwardly. Why another meeting? And why only administrative staff?
Could it be that my minutes from the last meeting were so good that the boss wants to praise me in public and give me a bonus?
With a little anticipation, he walked into the meeting room.
Inside, Giovanni was already seated at the head of the table, his expression grim.
At the sight of that expression, Ye Li's heart sank. He knew there would be no bonus; he would be lucky not to have his pay docked.
He found the most inconspicuous corner and sat down, taking out pen and paper, ready to continue serving as the minute-taker.
Once all the administrative staff had arrived, Giovanni cleared his throat and got straight to the point.
"Apollo's operation at the black market has hit a snag."
He briefly explained how the seller had raised the price of the Dratini on the spot and how an unidentified faction was competing for it.
"Now, Apollo proposes taking it by force. What do you think?"
Having finished, Giovanni slowly swept his piercing gaze over everyone present.
The meeting room was utterly silent.
These administrative staff usually only handled paperwork. What did they know about fighting and killing? Every one of them kept their head lowered, terrified of being called on.
Ye Li kept his head down too, but a storm of scathing commentary had already erupted inside him.
[Steal it? Steal it, my ass! Is Apollo's head full of nothing but muscle?]
[Isn't this exactly the stupid-pig behavior I was worried about? Exposing Team Rocket's name and strength over one little dragon-is he afraid the League and our competitors won't know what we're up to?]
[Once several major factions come after us, our base will get raided before the game corner even opens. That's stupidity taken to the limit!]
Ye Li mentally tore Apollo to shreds.
In his view, commercial disputes in a black market like this should be resolved through commercial means.
Resorting to weapons was the worst option.
[Taking it by force is the stupidest way to handle a crooked merchant like this. You have to make him deliver the goods willingly, and thank you profusely for it.]
[It's not like there's no way. In fact, it's simple.]
Ye Li's mind began racing, one underhanded scheme after another springing up.
[Step one: spread false information. Say traces of a Dragonite have been found deep in Viridian Forest, and throw in a few blurry, doctored photos. Once word gets out, the major factions with real power will definitely turn their attention there. Who would still bother with a Dratini that might not even evolve into a Dragonite?]
[Step two: get someone to drive up the price. Have Apollo disguise himself as another buyer and bid like crazy against that supposed rival. Push the Dratini's price sky-high and create the illusion of a booming market for a rare prize worth hoarding.]
[Step three: pull the rug out from under them. Once the price peaks, let that rival take it off the seller's hands at an exorbitant price and be the sucker. Then we send people to intercept it en route. That way, we get the Dratini without spending a cent, fleece our rival in the process, and weaken their finances.]
[Wouldn't this plan kill three birds with one stone and be a hundred times smarter than simply stealing it?]
Ye Li thought smugly to himself, completely unaware that every word of his "sinister schemes" was entering Giovanni's mind.
Seated at the head of the table, Giovanni leaned forward slightly. His expression seemed calm, but towering waves had already risen within him.
Spread false information to draw away the main forces!
Create a false boom to lure the target into the trap!
Then secretly intercept the goods and get both the Pokémon and the money!
Every link fed into the next, every step accounting precisely for human nature and market dynamics. Ruthless, precise, efficient!
Compared with this plan, Apollo's "taking it by force" was nothing more than childish fooling around.
Even Giovanni's breathing grew a little rapid.
That's the voice!
That's the way of thinking!
There's no mistake!
The "strategist" I've been searching so desperately for is in this very meeting room! Among these administrative staff!
He forcibly suppressed his excitement, slowly sweeping his intensely oppressive gaze across every face in the room.
He wanted to see just who possessed such a terrifying mind.
Before you continue