"How did you know I like dolls?" Lorelei asked curiously.
Her hands, however, spoke more honestly — she was clutching the Marshtomp doll tightly to her chest.
"In games — you pick up little details from dialogue or NPCs," Nozomi thought silently, though he'd never say that out loud.
He replied, "I saw a stall in the foyer and just bought it on a whim. I thought you might like it, so I gave it to you."
His relationship with Lorelei was delicate. On one hand, they were simply colleagues: Lorelei was handling Team Rocket's operations, and Nozomi was assisting her. That was straightforward.
But on the other hand, there had been that evening when he had helped a drunken Lorelei back to her hotel room, and their interactions had grown subtly more intimate — not quite innocent anymore.
This relationship was complex: whether to draw closer or pull away was always a single decision away.
Nozomi decided to follow his heart.
Lorelei was a stunning beauty, and after all the time they'd spent together, he couldn't reasonably claim to feel nothing. He consciously worked to bridge the gap between them — which led to this moment.
"Are you flirting with me?" Lorelei teased, looking at Nozomi. "Handsome young man?"
She immortalized the nickname she'd used while drunk, fully abandoning the usual aloof front she maintained in public.
Of course, in truth this was her counterattack — she didn't want to lose face in front of Nozomi. She was, after all, the Indigo area's Elite; she couldn't look like a child swooning at a single gift or she'd lose all prestige.
"You're overthinking it. It's just a gift between friends."
Nozomi did not fluster; he didn't panic at being teased. He remained calm, as if this truly were nothing but a simple gesture between friends.
He could never admit his deeper feelings just yet. Their current rapport hadn't matured so far. To confess abruptly would be awkward for both of them. It was wiser to draw closer step by step first.
Lorelei clearly didn't believe him — gifting a doll after only two days of acquaintance? That's no ordinary friendship, she thought. But she couldn't voice that either. Quietly, she made a mental note: Nozomi would be given his turn later.
"Mission comes first. Let's go." Lorelei returned her usual cold composure.
Nozomi nodded, adopting a serious expression. Together they entered the ship's interior, heading toward the cargo hold.
…
In the corridor, two sailors in uniforms patrolled. Their clothes carried no sea scent, and the faint 'R' logos on their attire betrayed them: they were members of Team Rocket, the greatest evil organization in Indigo.
"Man, this mission is such a drag," one Rocket thug kicked at an exposed pipe in the floor, grumbling. "We finally get to board a luxury cruise ship in our lifetime — and we're stuck patrolling hallways."
"Yeah, it sucks, but what can you do?" his partner sighed. "At least here we're freer. You really think you'd prefer being up there, serving tea and wiping tables, like those poor fools?"
"Ha, fair enough. At least we can smuggle some snacks from the kitchen." The first thug shoved a biscuit into his mouth.
"Hey — when did you get that? Share!" The second Rocket crook lunged.
They started tussling.
But in their scuffle, they didn't notice a black silhouette creeping along the floor toward them. The shadow merged with theirs, and from the darkness emerged a Gastly's face.
"Heh heh."
A chill wind blew through the corridor.
The two fighting Rocket grunts suddenly shivered. They froze as they realized, too late, a Gastly was looming ahead.
"There's —"
One grunt's word choked off in his throat. Gastly's eyes glowed with an eerie light. The next moment, both Rocket operatives collapsed, limp and unconscious.
At that instant, Nozomi and Lorelei slipped from around a corner and entered the corridor.
"Well done," Lorelei praised Nozomi, who had handled the two grunts with clean, efficient technique.
When it came to tactics and execution, even many of the high-level League prosecutors Lorelei knew could not match Nozomi.
"You flatter me," Nozomi said — though he meant none of it. He walked swiftly to the two downed Rocket members, dragged them into a nearby utility room, confiscated their Poké Balls, and bound them securely.
"The warehouse that Team Rocket guards is just ahead," Lorelei said quietly. She had been here once, and had memorized the route.
"Alright," Nozomi nodded. "To avoid raising alarm, let me go in first."
This had been previously agreed upon.
The Team Rocket forces aboard the S.S. Anne likely had connections with the Rocket contingent that had attacked them. Nozomi and Lorelei aimed to draw the attackers and overseers all into one net — but that meant Lorelei could not intervene openly.
If Lorelei appeared too early, the attackers would suspect exposure and cease their assault on the Anne.
Thus Nozomi would act as bait. His displayed strength would be enough to overpower the warehouse's guards, but not so overwhelming as to alarm the senior Rocket commanders arriving. Nozomi was, in fact, ideal bait.
"Okay." Lorelei's face was resolute. "I'll cover you from here. If anything happens, call me immediately."
"Got it!"
Nozomi flashed an "OK" gesture, smoothed his clothing, and advanced forward.
Before he reached the entrance, two Rocket guards stationed in the hallway spotted him.
"Who's there? Halt!"
They both subtly gripped the Poké Balls at their belts. Because they were still dressed as sailors and hadn't yet confirmed Nozomi's identity, they didn't attack outright.
Nozomi remained silent. He raised a hand and threw out a Poké Ball.
"Leafeon, Razor Leaf!"
Whish —Two razor-sharp leaf blades flew forth.