Elf: Rewriting the script, starting with Black Stocking Hanako

"The current situation is," Makoto continued, "those three team members have been marked by Sabrina's superpowers. Now, Sabrina can sense them even when they enter Goldenrod City, and they may even be directly monitored."

"So this mission... is basically a complete failure."

Sakaki listened without showing any expression.

He simply sighed softly.

"Lt. Surge of Vermilion City has been captured by the League and won't be out for several years."

"The recruitment of Sabrina from Goldenrod City has also failed."

He reached out and patted the cat's head, his tone tinged with helplessness: "Lately, things really haven't been going well for our Rockets team."

The real bird stood to the side without saying a word.

She knew there was no need to interrupt at this point.

Sakaki took a drag of his cigarette and looked at Manori: "Has the Lt. Surge incident been investigated thoroughly?"

True Bird nodded: "The investigation is complete. It was a rookie trainer from Pallet Town who did it."

She paused, her tone slightly tentative: "Boss, should we... teach that rookie trainer a lesson?"

Sakaki waved his hand.

"Need not."

Zhenniao was somewhat surprised: "Boss? He ruined our big plan."

Sakaki placed his cigar on the ashtray and leaned back in his chair.

"The Mascherano affair was a landmine in itself. I reminded him many times to keep a low profile, but he just wouldn't listen."

"Even without this newcomer from Pallet Town, there would be other newcomers, or other trainers. Something's bound to happen sooner or later."

He paused, his eyes becoming deep: "Our Team Rocket isn't so destitute that we have to haggle with a rookie trainer."

"Besides, he's from Zhenxin Town."

Masahiro was taken aback: "Pallet Town...you mean...?"

Sakaki nodded: "That old guy is doing research in Pallet Town. Although he doesn't hold any position in the League anymore, do you think he'd just sit idly by if anyone messes with someone under his nose?"

The real bird understood instantly.

That old guy—Professor Oak.

Although he may appear to be just a scholar researching Pokémon, everyone knows how terrifying his status and connections are within the League.

It's really not worth getting into that level of trouble for a rookie trainer.

"Understood." Masato nodded. "So, is the matter with Lt. Surge temporarily settled?"

Sakaki picked up his cigar again: "Hmm, let's put that aside for now. The most important thing right now is the ultimate weapon project."

His eyes sharpened: "This plan has reached its final stage. Once it's completed, our conquest of the world will be truly guaranteed."

"Get everyone in all branches mobilized and fully cooperate with this plan. Put everything else aside."

Masato stood at attention: "Yes, sir!"

She turned to leave.

The high heels clicked crisply on the floor.

Her bodycon skirt swayed gently with her steps, outlining the alluring curves of her hips.

Her beautiful legs in black stockings gleamed faintly under the office lights.

"Oh, right."

Sakaki suddenly spoke.

Zhenniao stopped and turned around: "Boss, is there anything else?"

Sakaki looked at her, then suddenly remembered something: "What have Musashi and the other two been up to lately? We haven't heard from them at all!"

The bird's expression became somewhat subtle.

She walked back to her desk, reopened the folder, and flipped through it again.

"Their last report said they were going to Lampurch to implement some economic development plans."

"There has been no further news since then."

Sakaki frowned: "Lampshire City?"

He thought for a moment, then his expression turned strange: "Isn't that a resort city? Beaches, sandy shores, bikini-clad beauties... There isn't even a gym there, and hardly any rare Pokémon. What are they going there for?"

Masato's expression became even more subtle: "Well... I'm not quite sure either."

Sakaki's brow furrowed even more deeply: "I've been incredibly busy lately, with the Ultimate Weapon Project, the Lt. Surge affair, and Sabrina's situation—a mountain of messes to clean up. And these three, of all people, have the nerve to go on vacation?"

He grew angrier the more he thought about it, and slammed his hand on the table.

The eldest cat was startled, jumped off his lap, meowed in dissatisfaction, and went to lie down to the side.

Ignoring the cat boss, Sakaki angrily said, "Deduct all their bonuses for this month!"

Zhenniao paused for a moment, then said cautiously, "Um... Boss, they didn't get a bonus this month."

Sakaki: "?"

Masato added, "Not only this month, but also last month, and the month before that. And going back three months, there was none."

Sakaki: "..."

He looked at the real bird: "Hey, I really have no way to deal with these three guys?"

Sakaki was so angry that he shoved his cigar into the ashtray and crushed it hard.

"I can't handle them?"

He pointed at the real bird: "You contact them right now! By any means necessary, get in touch with all three of them! I want to speak to them personally! I want to give them a good scolding!"

Zhenniao nodded: "Yes, boss. I'll go right away."

In the corridor, the sound of Makoto's high heels clicking on the floor gradually faded away.

Sakaki was the only one left in the office.

He leaned back in his chair, looked at the ceiling, and sighed.

"Musashi... Kojiro... Meow meow..."

As he recited those three names, a vein throbbed on his forehead.

"You guys better actually be working on some kind of economic stimulus plan!!!"

........................

"Yes, yes, yes!"

"Okay, okay, okay!"

"I've got it, I've got it!"

The Team Rocket trio—Jessie, James, and Meowth—were bowing and scraping at the communicator screen, nodding their heads like woodpeckers.

On the screen, Boss Sakaki's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

"You three listen up! If you dare to cause any more trouble, your bonuses this month will be..."

A weak voice came from the other end of the communicator: "Boss, they didn't get the bonus..."

Sakaki's lips twitched, and a vein throbbed on his forehead: "Then deduct it from next month's! The month after that! The month after that!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

"Okay, okay!"

"I've got it! I've got it!"

The trio nodded frantically once more.

Finally, the communicator screen went black, and the call ended.

The three of them simultaneously let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from their foreheads.

Kojiro's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground, looking like a lump of mud. "We're so miserable... so miserable... We just finished doing hard labor in Lampurch City, we were exhausted like dogs, and now, after only a short time out, we've already gotten a good scolding from the boss..."

Meow Meow sat down next to Kojiro, gazing at the sky with dreamy eyes, and smacked her lips: "The dried fish rice in Lampurch City is so delicious, meow..."

"That taste... Meow Meow's mouth is watering just thinking about it... I miss it so much..."

boom!boom!

Two iron fists landed precisely on Kojiro and Nyanko's heads.

Musashi stood before them, hands on his hips, looking down at them menacingly: "You two good-for-nothings! Cheer up!"

"This little setback has really upset you like this?"

"Who are we? We are Team Rocket! The Team Rocket that will stand at the top of this world in the future!"

"Quickly! Get up, all of you! We must regain our former glory!"

She waved her fist, her long red hair shining brightly in the sunlight.

Kojiro and Meowth listlessly raised their heads and looked at her.

Kojiro: "So... what do we do now?"

Meow: "Yeah, meow, what are we going to do, meow?"

Musashi: "..."

Musashi's expression froze instantly.

She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but her mind went blank.

Yeah, what are you doing?

Pikachu's mission is still unfinished, he hasn't gotten any money, and now he doesn't even have a place to stay.

She maintained her hands-on-hips pose, but her composure was beginning to crumble.

Just then, a dazzling light shot into the sky from afar!

That was the light of lightning!

Yellow arcs of electricity exploded in the air, producing a deafening roar!

The entire forest was illuminated by this light for a moment!

The trio simultaneously jolted awake and turned to look in that direction.

"This electricity..." Kojiro's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Could it be..." Meow Meow's cat ears perked up.

"Pikachu!!!" Jessie shouted excitedly.

The three of them exchanged a glance, and a spark of hope ignited in their eyes at the same time!

"Charge!"

"We absolutely have to catch that Pikachu this time!"

"Meow meow's bonus depends on this, meow!"

The three of them took off running towards the direction of the electrical burst, completely forgetting that they were still holding wooden sticks.

At that moment, all they could think about was Pikachu.