Koga's battle was still ongoing.
His Crobat darted through the air, skillfully dodging the attacks of the opposing Dusknoir.
While the match appeared intense, Luo Yuan could tell at a glance that Koga had complete control over the battle's flow.
The opponent also seemed to realize this, commanding Dusknoir to launch attack after attack in a desperate attempt to break free from Koga's grip.
But the gap in their abilities was clear.
While Koga had struggled against Luo Yuan in the past, it wasn't because Koga was weak—it was because Luo Yuan was too strong.
Now, against a less formidable opponent, Koga's true strength was on full display.
The tide of battle slowly but inevitably tipped in Koga's favor.
Finally, a Dark Pulse from Crobat drained the last of Dusknoir's energy, leaving it unable to battle.
Koga was declared the winner.
"Is the gap really this big?" one of the trainers who had faced Luo Yuan murmured.
He had thought his loss to Luo Yuan was just bad luck, that he had run into an unusually strong opponent. But seeing Koga's overwhelming strength shattered that illusion.
"So much for the idea that Kanto Gym Leaders are lazy…"
He realized everything he'd heard before had been fake news.
If anyone dared to claim Kanto Gym Leaders were weak again, he'd personally set them straight.
---
With the challenge concluded, both Luo Yuan and Koga were officially installed as Elite Fours.
Koga, as the former Gym Leader of Fuchsia City, naturally represented the Poison type.
As for Luo Yuan, while his most iconic Pokémon was his giant Dragonite, the Dragon type was already claimed by Lance. Thus, Luo Yuan was assigned the Flying type.
"Well, Flying it is," Luo Yuan said with a shrug.
When he thought about it, the number of Flying-type Pokémon he owned wasn't much different from Lance's.
What Lance had, Luo Yuan also had.
Being a Flying-type Elite Four was perfectly fitting.
---
"Where to next?" Sabrina asked, looping her arm around Luo Yuan's.
Her new status as a Elite Four made Luo Yuan's workload seem light compared to her responsibilities as a Gym Leader.
Although Luo Yuan was nominally tasked with guarding against Team Rocket in Johto, Sabrina knew the job was practically a vacation, given their shared affiliation with Team Rocket.
Luo Yuan thought for a moment. "Let's do a quick inspection. Even if they're our own people, I need to put on a show for Lance."
After all, even slacking off required finesse.
"Where to inspect?" Sabrina asked.
"Let's start with the game corner," Luo Yuan replied. "I trust those three, but I'd feel better taking a look myself."
---
Goldenrod City
Inside a building owned by one of Team Rocket's front companies, Jessie, James, and Meowth stood nervously before Officer K, anxiously watching him review their documents.
As Luo Yuan flipped through the reports they had submitted, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
The trio's business acumen hadn't disappointed him.
What would normally take over six months to construct had been fast-tracked into near completion in just two months through round-the-clock shifts. All that remained were minor finishing touches and the installation of equipment before the game corner could open.
However, Luo Yuan's smile faded as he reached the latter part of the report.
Placing the papers on the desk, he tapped a section with his finger. "What's this about the construction being forcibly halted?"
At this, the trio's expressions turned indignant, and they began talking over each other to explain.
In short, the owner of the rival game corner across the street, upon learning of the new competition, had conspired with Goldenrod's biker gang to disrupt construction.
"..."
Luo Yuan was speechless.
He could understand others fearing a biker gang—but this was Team Rocket!
For Team Rocket to be stymied by a group of low-level thugs was an embarrassment to their name.
Seeing Luo Yuan's displeased expression, the trio quickly tried to justify themselves.
"K-boss, it's not that we didn't want to deal with them," Jessie explained. "But Giovanni specifically instructed us not to expose the game corner's connection to Team Rocket…"
"Giovanni didn't want you exposing our ties to Team Rocket to avoid attracting the League's attention," Luo Yuan said flatly. "What does that have to do with dealing with a biker gang?"
"So, your orders are…" James asked, his eyes lighting up with hope.
The trio had clearly endured more than enough harassment from the bikers and were eager for payback.
"Contact Archer. Have him send someone to clean them out. Keep it quiet, and make sure the League doesn't catch wind of it," Luo Yuan ordered.
Of course, the last part was just a precaution.
As the League officer in charge of monitoring Team Rocket in Johto, Luo Yuan wasn't about to investigate his own operations.
Without interference from himself, the bikers' fate was sealed.
The trio eagerly nodded, relieved that their frustrations would finally be addressed.
"What about the rival game corner's owner?" James asked thoughtfully, not forgetting the root of the problem.
After all, if the owner wasn't dealt with, they might hire someone else to cause trouble.
"You don't need to worry about that. I'll handle it," Luo Yuan said.
Dealing with someone like that didn't even require Team Rocket's direct involvement. A quick word to Koga, arranging for a few surprise inspections, would be enough to ruin the rival's operations.
As always: when both the players and the referees are on your side, what chance does the other party have?
The trio, still oblivious to the full extent of their organization's influence, nodded obediently before leaving to contact Team Rocket's Johto branch.
After they left, Sabrina walked over.
"Making such bold moves right after arriving in Johto—is that okay?" she asked.
"It's fine. Giovanni has already taken his seat as Kanto's Elite Four. Everything's under control," Luo Yuan said, showing her his phone.
News of the recent leadership changes in both Kanto and Johto had already made the headlines.
With Team Rocket's power reaching unprecedented levels, there was no longer any need for the extreme caution of their transitional period.
"So, what's next?" Sabrina asked.
"Since we're in Johto, we might as well visit Bell Tower first," Luo Yuan said.
After all, Bell Tower was one of Johto's most iconic landmarks—too significant to miss.
---
T/N: HMMM, There's CHARIZARD, Dragonite, Gyarados, Aerodactyl uhhh who else for his Elite Four team? He can't use Rocket side pokemon obv.