A large indoor conference room.
This was the largest indoor conference room of the Team Sky at the moment.
Many people continuously entered from outside the door. Some would greet Rose, Kaito, and others amicably, while some only nodded. A portion of people walked with their heads held high, as if they looked down on everyone in this conference room.
These seemingly arrogant individuals were all remnants of the former Team Magma, Team Aqua, and Hunter's Guild. Once they believed they had figured out the Team Sky's true nature, they felt superior, having served as cadres in major organizations like the Team Magma or Team Aqua.
Especially when Rose and the others lacked sufficient suppressive power at this time.
The entire conference room could accommodate over forty people, most of whom were squadron leaders with quasi-Elite Four strength. Only about ten people had reached Elite Four level and become cadres.
Of course, Sky, Alec, and Miyamoto, among others, due to their seniority, also held cadre positions even though their strength hadn't reached the Elite Four level.
Moreover, judging by the seating arrangement, they sat closer to the front than the newly joined cadres.
The main seat remained empty. Rose merely placed a smaller seat beside the main one for herself.
"Lady Rose, may I ask why you've called us so urgently? Our brothers have been very busy lately. If there's nothing important, I'll have to leave early, as our mission is quite demanding," a red-haired middle-aged man, sitting in a cadre's seat with his legs crossed, said.
Although he called her "Lady," there was no hint of respect for Rose in his tone.
As he spoke, others echoed his sentiment. Most of them were former members of the Team Magma. Under this middle-aged man's leadership, they had formed a faction within Team Sky which was completely beyond Rose's control.
They were also the most insubordinate group within the entire Sky Team at the moment.
Bang—
Before Rose could speak, the red-haired middle-aged man was directly sent flying from his seat, crashing heavily against the wall behind him.
"Who?! Don't you know that you can't use Pokémon during Sky Team meetings?" someone immediately snarled.
As he spoke, everyone present gripped their Poké Balls tightly and vigilantly looked around. Human strength, in the face of Pokémon power, was indeed excessively weak.
The red-haired middle-aged man's face turned completely red, but he couldn't move. He didn't fall from the wall even after hitting it, as if he were being pressed firmly against it by a giant hand.
The conference room door opened again, and two people entered from outside: Aoki and the black-robed woman who respectfully followed behind him.
"Leader!" Seeing the newcomers, Rose and the others immediately stood up and respectfully called out.
Many people were seeing Aoki for the first time, but since Rose had called him "Leader," this person must be the elusive leader of Team Sky.
Scattered shouts of "Leader" emerged, but only those who had just been making a fuss with the red-haired middle-aged man looked at Aoki with a hint of uncertainty.
Aoki ignored them and sat down in the main seat, looking at the man on the distant wall who was on the verge of suffocating.
His psychic power loosened, allowing the man, who was almost suffocated, to drop from the wall.
"Cough, cough, cough—cough, cough, cough... Damn... Damn it, just because you say he's the leader, he is? Playing tricks!" he said, staggering to his feet and throwing out three Poké Balls.
As the three Pokémon appeared, a commotion also arose within the conference room.
Aoki frowned and quietly called out, "Honchkrow, Weavile."
"Caw—"
"Weavile—"
Two dark figures appeared from the corners of the conference room, rushing directly towards the red-haired man!
Bang—Bang—Bang—
His three Pokémon fell in response. Honchkrow and Weavile, with just a few casual attacks, directly defeated his three Pokémon, which were newly at the Elite Four level and about to reach official Elite Four status.
For a moment, the entire conference room became extremely quiet.
Even the red-haired middle-aged man was somewhat dazed at this moment. Only after feeling the cold sensation of sharp claws on his neck did he react.
He was filled with shock.
"With such weak strength, who allowed you to jump out and show off? Was it you? Or was it you?" Aoki's faint voice sounded as he looked at the two people sitting at the conference table and asked.
Immediately, large beads of cold sweat appeared on their foreheads, and they didn't know how to explain themselves.
However, Rose saw it very clearly. It was these three who wanted to usurp the authority. The red-haired middle-aged man was just being used, jumping the most to attract hatred, while the two silently sitting individuals were the true masterminds.
"Leader, no... no..." one of them immediately said, terrified.
They had always thought that the empty leader's seat was just for show, never expecting such a person to actually appear, and he seemed terrifyingly strong. They were clearly not on the same power level.
Aoki ignored them and glanced at Rose, who was sitting beside him.
She immediately understood, took out a notebook, and listed the names of some people and the mistakes they had made, or rather, their provocations, without missing a single one.
Those whose names were called immediately turned pale.
"Everyone whose name was not called, after this meeting, go to Rose to collect your rewards. Everyone whose name was called, I can let bygones be bygones! As long as you behave yourselves from now on! Of course, except for a few of you," Aoki said.
Immediately, most people's faces showed joy, except for those few individuals.
"Bastard, no matter how strong you are, you're only one person. As long as we unite, we can control Team Sky. Are you willing to be someone's subordinate forever?" The only person Aoki had pointed out who hadn't spoken couldn't help but shout at this moment.
Aoki smiled and said to the person who had been standing behind him, "I'll leave them to you!"
"Yes! My Lord!"
The person in the black robe slowly pulled down their hood, and several Poké Balls appeared in their hand.
"Cadre Izumi?!"
"Lady Izumi!!"
"It's really Lady Izumi of Team Aqua, I can't believe she's joined Team Sky?!"
For a moment, loud exclamations once again filled the conference room.
Izumi's appearance had a greater deterrent effect than Aoki's partial display of strength. The faces of those who had been the most boisterous suddenly turned pale.
They never would have thought that Aoki had even subdued Izumi.
It seemed that this leader of Team Sky was truly terrifying!
Izumi went to deal with those few people, but did that mean the rest of them weren't responsible?
No, everyone present, except for the few who had followed him from the beginning, had been implanted with a psychic seed by Aoki, making them completely under Aoki's control.
They didn't dare to say much, but those who hadn't been called out earlier would be rewarded with one of the three Elite Four-level Pokémon from the previous individuals.
This made them see Aoki's generosity.
Izumi's joining Team Sky immediately stabilized the somewhat turbulent organization.
Aoki could once again be a hands-off boss.
But from this moment on, no one dared to underestimate Aoki, the elusive leader of Team Sky.