Soon, Arbok led the two of them to a large tree.
Captain Okamoto stepped forward and began feeling around the trunk. Icarus wasn't surprised. A secret base like this had to have hidden mechanisms; otherwise, it would have been discovered long ago.
Click!
With a crisp sound, the ground around the tree began to shift, revealing an entrance leading downward.
Beep~
After the passage opened, Icarus saw Captain Okamoto stand at the entrance and press his finger against a panel. The door unlocked.
Only then did he turn around to look at Icarus.
Icarus immediately put on a shocked expression—anything else would have seemed suspicious.
"Haha! Pretty impressive, right? Team Rocket has plenty of high-tech equipment.
Let's go in. Once your information is recorded, you'll also need fingerprint identification to enter in the future."
Captain Okamoto laughed at Icarus's reaction, explained briefly, and walked inside with him.
Step… step…
After descending a long flight of stairs, they arrived at a locked gate.
Two Team Rocket soldiers in black uniforms marked with the letter R were standing guard. When they saw the pair approaching, they immediately stopped them.
"Stop! Password!"
"The League is rotten—Team Rocket will rise!"
Captain Okamoto quickly gave the code phrase and then pointed at Icarus.
"He's here to join Team Rocket."
"Then please cooperate with inspection."
One of the guards took out a device resembling a scanning gun and quickly scanned Captain Okamoto first.
"Identification in progress… Identity confirmed: Okamoto Ishida."
After confirming the result, he swept the scanner toward Icarus.
Beep~
"Identity unknown. Strength level: mid-level Normal."
"Mid-level Normal trainer confirmed. Captain Okamoto, you may take him inside."
After finishing the scan, the guard opened the gate and allowed them into the underground base.
"Captain Okamoto… was that scanner checking for spies?" Icarus asked quietly once they entered.
"Yeah. It identifies people using the blood sample and fingerprints collected when you join.
Your strength is lower than mine, so there's no need to confiscate your Pokémon. As long as you're with me, it's fine."
Captain Okamoto explained casually and then stopped talking.
Icarus noticed the Team Rocket members moving around the base. Most of them looked cold and indifferent.
He wisely asked no more questions and simply followed Captain Okamoto closely.
Soon, they arrived at a small room. Captain Okamoto knocked on the door.
Knock knock.
"Hello. I'm bringing a new recruit."
"Come in."
A pleasant female voice answered from inside.
"Icarus, go in alone. I'll wait outside."
What surprised Icarus was that Captain Okamoto told him to enter by himself—as if the woman inside were someone dangerous.
He had no choice but to step inside alone.
"Close the door."
Before he even saw the person inside, the woman gave another order.
Click.
Icarus immediately closed the door obediently.
Only then did he look up and see the woman sitting behind the desk—a female trainer.
After a quick glance, Icarus noticed several Poké Balls attached to her waist.
What surprised him even more was that, aside from a face no less beautiful than Luna's, her figure was even more striking.
However, knowing his own position very clearly, Icarus only glanced briefly before lowering his head and waiting for her instructions.
In a terrorist organization like Team Rocket, a woman in charge of recruiting newcomers either had powerful strength or powerful connections.
Either way, it wasn't someone he could afford to offend.
Even Captain Okamoto had been unwilling to enter the room.
"Fill out this form first. Then draw your blood and take fingerprints."
Seeing Icarus standing quietly with his head lowered, the woman smiled slightly and pushed a form and a syringe toward him.
"Yes, ma'am!"
Icarus immediately picked up the form and began filling it out.
It contained basic information—name, origin, strength level, and so on.
Pfft.
After finishing the form, he realized the woman had no intention of helping, so he picked up the syringe himself, inserted it into his arm, and drew a small tube of blood.
"Here. Use this alcohol swab. Press on the wound."
After he handed the form and blood sample over, the woman tossed him a piece of alcohol cotton while typing information into the computer.
"Yes."
Holding the swab against the wound, Icarus quietly waited for the next instruction.
"Ugh… entering information is such a hassle."
About five minutes later, the woman stretched lazily and placed a small fingerprint panel with grooves in front of him.
"Press any finger here."
"Yes."
Icarus obediently pressed his ring finger against the panel.
Beep.
"Fingerprint recorded."
"Entry successful."
"Alright, now for the recording. Face the camera and read the statement on this paper. Replace the name with your own."
The woman handed him a small note.
"Begin."
"I, Icarus, officially join Team Rocket today. Together we will overthrow the Pokémon League and destroy the rule of the noble families…"
The more he read, the more extreme the words sounded.
But Icarus had no choice except to grit his teeth and continue.
He knew very well—
Once this recording was finished, there would be no turning back.
If this video were ever released together with the information he had just submitted, his path within the Pokémon League would be completely cut off.
"Alright."
After he finished reading, the woman took out a black card and a badge marked with the letter R, handing them to him.
"This is your identity card and Team Rocket badge.
For your new recruit reward—do you want a Pokémon or contribution points?"
"My choice is contribution points, ma'am," Icarus answered immediately.
Tap tap tap.
The woman's slender fingers quickly typed on the keyboard. Then she waved her hand dismissively.
"Done. 100 contribution points have been added to your card.
Since you're not a wanted criminal, you can still move outside in League territory, so you won't be assigned a room here.
If you want to exchange items, go to the public computers in the mission area at the center of the base.
You may leave. And close the door."
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you!"
Icarus put away the card and badge, quietly exited the room, and closed the door behind him.
"Captain! I'm done. But I have a question—if I may ask?"
As soon as he stepped out, Icarus reported to Captain Okamoto.
"Heh. You want to ask about the woman inside, right?
Come on, I'll take you to the mission area first. We can talk while walking."
Captain Okamoto began leading him toward the center of the base.
On the way, he lowered his voice.
"That woman… is the young lady of the Mitsui family. She's just here with us to gain experience.
People like us with no background had better not provoke her. Understand?"
---
The first character created by a reader has appeared!
She's also the first female trainer introduced in the story. This character was provided by reader Shicheng. If you want to make a guest appearance in the novel, you can leave a comment on the character thread!
Also, think about this: why would the daughter of a powerful family appear inside Team Rocket?
Finally, rest assured—this story won't focus on messy romance.
This is mainly a Pokémon adventure story!
(End of Chapter 116)
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