As Porygon2 materialized in Malva's room, Luo Yuan received its message along with an updated map of the facility.
Stepping over the psychically restrained Team Flare operatives, Luo Yuan approached the concealed door leading deeper into the base.
"You'll never get me to tell you where the hidden door is!" one of the restrained grunts sneered.
Luo Yuan paused mid-step, turning to glance at the overly confident grunt.
Then, without a word, he raised his hand and tapped the wall.
Shhhk!
A keypad slid into view, leaving the grunt dumbfounded.
Before he could fully comprehend the situation, Luo Yuan began entering a series of commands with practiced ease.
Beep!
The secret door to Lysandre's research facility swung open.
The grunt's jaw dropped in disbelief.
Questions raced through his mind: How did this intruder know the location of the secret door? How did he even have the code? And why did it seem like Luo Yuan was casually strolling into his own house?
But Luo Yuan wasn't interested in answering.
As he stepped through the door, a flick of psychic energy sent a wave of pressure across the room, knocking out every disguised Team Flare operative in one fell swoop.
A series of heavy thuds echoed behind him.
With the Flare operatives incapacitated, Team Rocket members disguised as tourists flooded into the café. After leaving a few behind to maintain their cover as café staff, the remaining agents followed Luo Yuan into the base.
---
Lysandre Labs, Basement Level 1
"Dragapult, Dragon Darts!"
Luo Yuan's Dragapult launched two shimmering arrows of energy, swiftly dispatching a Muk and a Heliolisk.
Simultaneously, Luo Yuan used psychic energy to render two lab-coated researchers unconscious.
These were the 11th and 12th trainers he had taken down since infiltrating the facility.
The defenses of Lysandre's lab were formidable, as befitting one of Team Flare's key bases. Many of the trainers inside were skilled, but against Luo Yuan's overwhelming power, even the strongest only managed to last a few seconds longer.
The two Dreepy nestled on Dragapult's head darted back to Luo Yuan, circling him gleefully as if seeking praise.
Chuckling, Luo Yuan handed each of them an energy cube. Satisfied, the Dreepy retreated to Dragapult's launch chambers, munching happily as they awaited their next deployment.
After ordering his subordinates to hide the unconscious trainers in a secluded corner and secure the area, Luo Yuan continued advancing through the labyrinthine halls of the lab.
Four corners and three defeated trainers later, he arrived at a meeting room.
Pushing the door open, he found Malva waiting for him, her preparations complete.
"It seems you've held up your end of the deal," Luo Yuan remarked.
Malva's expression was conflicted as she watched Luo Yuan stroll through Lysandre's lab as though he owned the place.
She had intended to demonstrate her value by helping him infiltrate the base, but it turned out he didn't need her help at all. With Porygon2 at his side, Luo Yuan moved through the facility like a phantom, unhindered and unstoppable.
After a long pause, she finally asked, "What's your next move?"
"Taking down Lysandre, of course," Luo Yuan replied nonchalantly.
His calm tone made the task sound trivial, which unsettled Malva.
Still, recalling her firsthand experience with his strength, she chose to believe in him.
Luo Yuan pondered for a moment before asking, "Do you have a picture of Xerosic?"
Malva hesitated but pulled out her phone, scrolling through until she found one.
The image showed Xerosic in his trademark red uniform, bright red hair, round glasses, and a slightly portly frame, engrossed in an experiment.
Luo Yuan snapped his fingers.
Shwoom!
A flash of blue light heralded the arrival of Mewtwo, who appeared holding its ever-present spoon and book.
Luo Yuan handed Mewtwo the photo.
"Mewtwo, this is your target for this mission."
Glancing at the picture, Mewtwo gave a small nod.
Having read extensively under Luo Yuan's guidance, Mewtwo no longer minded assisting with missions, especially ones within its capability.
Malva, who had never seen Mewtwo before, eyed it curiously. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of Pokémon it was, and whether it could truly handle Xerosic alone.
Just then, an alarm blared through the facility, shattering the relative calm.
After nearly fifteen minutes of Team Rocket's presence, Team Flare had finally realized they were under attack.
"Luo Yuan?" Malva looked to him for direction.
Calmly, Luo Yuan detached the Master Ball from his belt, gripping it tightly.
"Stick to the plan. You take care of Chalmers; I'll handle Lysandre."
Without waiting for a response, he strode out of the meeting room.
Outside, the waiting Rocket agents quickly split into tactical groups, securing the areas they had already captured while expanding their control deeper into the research facility.
---
As Luo Yuan coordinated Rocket's advance, deep within the lab, Lysandre's expression was stormy.
"They've been inside the facility this long without detection?"
He glared at his subordinates, his frustration palpable.
If not for a spur-of-the-moment decision to call the surveillance room and check on Malva, he might not have discovered the breach at all.
The complete silence from the surveillance team told him everything he needed to know.
Someone had infiltrated the lab, incapacitated his staff, and seized control of their systems.
He suspected a mole among his ranks.
Sensing his scrutiny, one of his subordinates stammered, "The enemy used unknown methods to breach our network and seize control of the base's systems…"
The explanation sounded feeble to Lysandre.
Still, he knew this wasn't the time to investigate.
Turning to Chalmers, who had just entered, he demanded, "What about Malva? Who are the intruders?"
Chalmers shook his head, delivering the answer Lysandre least wanted to hear.
"The trainers assigned to monitor Malva were found unconscious and tied up in her room. As for the intruders…"
He pulled out her communicator, playing a video feed.
The footage showed Rocket operatives moving in teams of three, methodically sweeping through the lab. They quickly overwhelmed any Flare members they encountered, using superior coordination to isolate and defeat their opponents.
Lysandre's frown deepened as the sounds of distant explosions echoed through the halls.