Chapter 18: Team Rocket Gains Another Heavy Hitter!
Gladion — son of Aether Foundation President Lusamine. Though before the events of the games even began, Gladion had already fled Aether Paradise with Type: Null, while Lillie had escaped with Nebby.
You could say the relationship between Lusamine and her children was a masterclass in totally normal, completely healthy family dynamics.
But Mammon genuinely hadn't expected Gladion to come knocking on Team Rocket's door.
Sure, in the games Gladion had initially appeared as a member of Team Skull — but this was a very different situation.
Mammon was definitely interested. He decided to handle Gladion's "interview" personally.
About half an hour later, Mammon met him face to face.
Gladion had inherited Lusamine's golden hair. His features were sharp, his expression guarded and cold.
Brooding pretty-boy type. Had to hand it to them — Lusamine and both her kids had exceptional genes.
"Sir."
Plumeria rose and bowed as Mammon entered.
Gladion's gaze shifted to Mammon, his brow furrowing slightly as he studied him.
"Sir"? Team Rocket's young boss?
"So — you want to join Team Rocket?"
Mammon dropped into Plumeria's chair and regarded Gladion with open curiosity.
Plumeria stood at his side. Honestly, when Gladion had first approached her about joining, she hadn't thought much of it.
But one of her subordinates had flagged it, and when Plumeria cross-referenced Domino's priority watchlist — she'd nearly choked.
The Aether Foundation's eldest son. Gladion.
"…Yes."
Gladion was quiet for a beat. Terse. His voice was cool and clipped.
"Why?"
"Do I need a reason to join Team Rocket?"
"Of course you do. Even regular recruits have reasons. Some want money. Some want thrills. Some are fed up with their lives. Some have nowhere else to go."
Mammon chuckled, leaning back and tapping his fingers rhythmically on the desk.
"But you — Gladion, son of Aether Foundation President Lusamine, and the legitimate heir to the entire organization — why would you want to join Team Rocket?"
Gladion's face darkened at the words, but he quickly let it go.
This was Team Rocket, after all. Of course they'd done their homework on him.
"I have nothing to do with the Aether Foundation anymore." His voice was hard.
He refused to carry that label. He was Gladion. Just Gladion.
He wanted nothing to do with that terrifying woman.
"That's not the answer I'm looking for. Whatever your personal feelings might be, you're still the Aether Foundation's heir. That doesn't just go away."
"Would Team Rocket really be afraid of the Aether Foundation?"
Gladion met Mammon's eyes.
"Ha? Afraid? What a joke." Mammon's laugh was laced with pure derision.
The Aether Foundation? With what army?
"The Aether Foundation doesn't even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Team Rocket. Gladion, you're seriously underestimating us."
Mammon made zero effort to hide his contempt for the Aether Foundation.
They might be a major player in Alola, but at the end of the day, an organization without a single Champion-level Trainer was playing in a different league entirely.
If Mammon wanted, he could sink Aether Paradise into the ocean today.
The destructive power of a Champion-tier Trainer was no joke.
"…"
Gladion said nothing.
"Let me rephrase. What's your goal in joining Team Rocket?"
"This isn't some revolving door you can walk in and out of whenever you feel like it, Gladion. If you have the resolve, we'll welcome you with open arms."
"But if you ever betray the organization, the consequences…"
Mammon left the sentence unfinished, smiling pleasantly at Gladion.
Gladion was a young man with enormous potential — Mammon had no doubt about that. In both the games and the anime, Gladion had become formidable by the end.
Of all the Alola-born Trainers, only Hala's grandson Hau rivaled Gladion in raw potential. As for Mitsuki? She was originally from Kanto — she didn't count.
And then there was Type: Null — the Legendary Pokémon created by the Aether Foundation specifically to combat Ultra Beasts. Once it evolved into Silvally, it would be a serious powerhouse.
Gladion understood the implicit threat perfectly. His hands, resting on his knees, slowly curled into fists. His mind was at war with itself.
But then he thought of his mother — that nightmarish woman — and his sweet little sister. Gladion clenched his jaw.
"I… want to get stronger!"
Every word was deliberate.
"I want to get stronger! If you can make that happen, I'm in. No regrets!"
Gladion raised his head and looked Mammon dead in the eye.
This was who Gladion was. He'd fled Aether Paradise for one reason: to grow strong enough to break free of Lusamine's control and protect his sister.
"Of course. That's absolutely something we can do. Welcome aboard, Gladion."
Mammon broke into a brilliant smile, stood, and extended his hand. Welcome to the team, new colleague.
Excellent — Team Rocket gains another heavy hitter!
Gladion rose and silently shook Mammon's hand.
He'd made his choice. Whether it was the right one, he didn't know yet.
"Trust me, Gladion. Team Rocket will give you the best platform imaginable — resources, Pokémon, whatever you need. Of course, you'll have to earn it."
Mammon smiled.
"I have high expectations for you. But since you haven't proven yourself yet, you'll start from the bottom. You need the experience anyway, right?"
"Fine. But…"
Gladion hesitated.
"If something's on your mind, say it."
"I won't steal Pokémon from random people. That's where I draw the line."
He'd made peace with stepping into the darkness, but he had his own code.
"Relax. We're not Team Skull. We ditched that amateur-hour nonsense a long time ago." Mammon said casually.
Gladion exhaled in quiet relief.
"For now, you'll work under Plumeria. The Hunter syndicates on Melemele Island have already been cleared out, but the other three islands haven't been touched yet."
"Put in the work, and you'll move up fast."
Mammon walked over and clapped Gladion on the shoulder.
"Power, wealth, status, Pokémon — deliver results, and all of it is yours."
"I just want to get stronger." Gladion's voice was flat.
"Sure, but getting stronger requires strong Pokémon. Earn enough merit, and you can requisition high-potential Pokémon from the organization."
"We run professional breeding facilities and farms — staffed by expert breeders raising large numbers of young Pokémon. That includes rare species from every region, as well as pseudo-legendary hatchlings."
"If you want to climb to the top, Gladion, you need Pokémon with outstanding potential. They'll save you years of wasted effort."
Gladion considered this carefully, then nodded.
"Here — let me show you the top-tier rewards available through the organization."
Mammon pulled out a tablet, opened Team Rocket's proprietary app, and navigated to the exchange page.
Gladion stared.
Hold on — Team Rocket has their own app?