For Serena, her goal had always been just one.
That was to stand at the very top.
She once left Vaniville Town with the goal of becoming the Champion of the Kalos region. She wanted to prove that all her achievements were earned through her own hard work. She wanted to escape the shadow of her parents' fame.
But since joining Team Rocket, Serena's goal had changed without her noticing. She had realized the world was much larger.
Even if she became the Champion of the Kalos region, so what? For this world, that would only be the starting point.
As her perspective grew, Serena also developed a bigger ambition.
The words "the strongest" were simple, yet they carried incomparable weight.
There were the League Champions, the Top Executives of Team Rocket, and Mr. Damian.
And it wasn't just these people from the present. There was even Akari, who had traveled through time from the future.
Serena never forgot these people.
For someone with a serious and competitive personality like Serena, she knew these people were a source of pressure. However, that only gave her more motivation, didn't it?
She knew that trying to surpass Mr. Damian was impossible, as he was a special person.
But what about the others?
In the short term, there was Platinum. Even though they were good friends, they were also rivals.
Serena... didn't want to be held down by Platinum for her whole life.
And now she had this chance. Miss Diantha had not "given up" on her just because she joined Team Rocket.
She had even spent a large amount of time and resources personally to find the location of a Mythical Pokémon for her.
The name of that Mythical Pokémon was Magearna!
According to Miss Diantha, it was a Steel and Fairy-type Mythical Pokémon. This was an excellent type combination.
Serena also believed that if she could catch Magearna, her strength would definitely improve a lot.
Then there was the Lumiose Conference. As long as she could win the Lumiose Conference, she would get the chance to challenge the Kalos League.
Defeat the Kalos Elite Four, then defeat Miss Diantha, and she could become the new Champion of the Kalos region!
And Serena had that kind of confidence!
She would be the first Team Rocket Executive to become a League Champion. That way, she could repay some of the trust and training Mr. Damian had given her, couldn't she?
"Is that so? That's very good."
Damian was not too surprised when he heard this. After all, it was near the end of the year, and the regional conferences in various regions were about to begin.
Furthermore, Damian had promised them back then that he would not stop them from participating in regional conferences.
For Damian, there were no downsides to this, so there was naturally no reason to stop them.
"Then... if I can become the Kalos Champion, Mr. Damian, you said there would be a generous reward, right?"
Serena blinked her large eyes. Her pleasant voice sounded a bit playful and mischievous.
"Ah, of course. If you can become the Kalos Champion, Serena, I will definitely give you a reward. I won't let you down."
Damian replied with a smile.
"Then I'll look forward to it!" Serena was full of energy. Although Miss Diantha was very kind to her, she was determined to win this Kalos Champion title.
Hearing Serena's words, Platinum thought deeply. Compared to the Kalos League, the Sinnoh League was clearly much harder to challenge.
Not even mentioning the Elite Four, Champion Cynthia was much stronger than Champion Diantha, right?
However, Platinum also planned to give it a try. No matter what, she also really wanted the reward Mr. Damian mentioned.
"Eh? Serena, is your goal the Kalos Champion? That's amazing!"
Hop was full of envy. He also wanted to become the Galar Champion. However, besides Leon, Gloria was also like a giant wall blocking the way ahead.
For Hop, it was truly very difficult.
The group returned to Hulbury. Damian took Caitlin and the others to the villa provided by Rose.
Watching Damian and the others walk away, Nessa could not help but fall into deep thought.
"Sonia, how did you get to know Mr. Damian and the others?"
"Ah? That was a very lucky coincidence, but it was also my good luck."
Sonia was stunned for a moment, then she smiled with a look of relief.
After all, that time in the Slumbering Weald was indeed very dangerous. If she hadn't happened to meet Damian, she didn't know what she would have done.
"Damian is truly a very good person. Speaking of which, he really has changed Team Rocket."
Sonia said with emotion as she thought of the exclusive interview video of Damian she had found later.
How should she put it?
Thinking of Leon's evaluation of Damian, Sonia really felt that a person like Damian had an incredibly strong personal charm.
It was no wonder that so many people could be attracted by Damian to join Team Rocket.
After all, looking at how easily Serena defeated Hop, Sonia didn't think Serena was bragging when she said she wanted to be the Kalos Champion.
Perhaps at the end of this year, the Kalos League really would change its Champion.
And besides Serena, Caitlin and Platinum were clearly even more impressive.
Just how many powerful trainers are there in Team Rocket?
And every one of them is so young. It's too much.
"Yes, Mr. Damian looks very extraordinary." Nessa nodded in agreement. Although they hadn't talked much, she had a strong impression of him.
"Of course! Mr. Damian is my second idol!" Hop was very proud.
"Hop, you joined Team Rocket, right?"
"Yes, and Sonia has joined as a Team Rocket researcher too."
"Don't talk nonsense, I'm still considering it."
Sonia knocked Hop on the head in annoyance. She also saw Hop as a younger brother.
"Team Rocket's benefits are so good, what is there to hesitate about? By the way, Miss Nessa, why don't you join too? You can exchange for many powerful Pokémon in the organization."
Hop held his head, feeling very stubborn. He then strongly recommended it to Nessa.
Then Hop opened the Team Rocket mobile app. He switched the exchange list to Water-types because Nessa was a trainer who specialized in Water-types.
Nessa looked at it for a moment. Her eyes kept flickering. Her gaze stopped on Milotic in the exchange list.
"As long as you have merit points, you can exchange for anything. There are even many Legendary Pokémon. Ahhhh! I really love this Moltres!"
Hop looked with great longing. He watched the Moltres on the screen and wanted it very much.
"I heard that the sacred flame of the Indigo Plateau Conference in Kanto is the flame of a Moltres. Does Team Rocket even have a Moltres?"
Sonia was very surprised, and her eyes were also shining.
But unlike Hop, she wanted to observe and study Moltres up close. This was the owner of the Indigo Plateau Conference's sacred flame!
The meaning was completely different.
"Team Rocket..."
Nessa fell into deep thought. From what she had learned so far, Team Rocket was unfathomable.
And Nessa was also a bit tempted. After all, for a trainer, nothing was more attractive than a rare Pokémon.
Team Rocket, which could even provide Legendary Pokémon, was undoubtedly very tempting.
But she was the Gym Leader of Hulbury. Was it appropriate to join Team Rocket?
"So Miss Nessa, you can totally join. With your strength, being an Executive would definitely be no problem."
"Oh, I just saw it. Gym Leader Piers of Spikemuth is now a High Executive in the organization."
Hop had no idea what Nessa was thinking. He continued to invite her from the bottom of his heart.
"What did you say?"
Hearing this, Nessa was stunned. She asked in a rare state of shock.
"Piers joined Team Rocket?"
"Yes, look, this is Gym Leader Piers' post. He's having a concert in the next few days and asked people in the organization to go support him."
"Also, I heard that after he joined the organization, Mr. Damian gave him a Tyranitar. It's so nice. But my Kartana isn't bad either!"
Hop showed Piers' post to Nessa. Nessa looked at it, and it was indeed Piers.
In the photo, Piers still had that punk-style outfit. He stood on the stage. To his left and right were Tyranitar and his signature Pokémon, Obstagoon. The two Dark-type Pokémon stood behind him like bodyguards.
This looked less like a photo and more like a concert poster. More importantly, the number of replies under this post was amazingly high.
Nessa even saw Gloria's reply...
It could be seen that Piers seemed to have very high popularity in this Galar branch of Team Rocket...
This was natural, because almost all members of Team Yell in Spikemuth had joined Team Rocket. Many other trainers from Spikemuth did as well.
After all, with Spikemuth's Gym Leader Piers and Spikemuth's future, Marnie, taking the lead to join, the people of Spikemuth naturally had a huge sense of belonging to Team Rocket.
Not to mention that the Spikemuth renovation plan was now being handled by Team Rocket.
"Piers actually joined Team Rocket already, but he is still the Gym Leader of Spikemuth..."
Nessa felt deeply shaken. Originally, what she was worried about was whether it was inappropriate for her, as a Galar League Gym Leader, to join Team Rocket.
After all, Team Rocket was not a normal organization, but a giant. In the past, Team Rocket and the League were even enemies.
But now Piers had already set a precedent. And damn it, he actually got a Tyranitar.
This was a Tyranitar!
If Piers could get a Tyranitar, then if she only wanted a Milotic, it should be no problem, right?
Nessa thought to herself. She didn't believe Rose didn't know about Piers' situation. Since Rose could allow Piers to join Team Rocket by default, then Rose's attitude toward Team Rocket was worth thinking about.
At least he didn't hate it, and he didn't stop them from joining Team Rocket.
Then wouldn't there be no problem? Even if she joined Team Rocket, she would still be the Gym Leader of Hulbury. She would still care about Galar.
Although Nessa knew her strength was not as good as Piers', her request wasn't high. Getting a Milotic should be okay, right?!
And at this moment, on Damian's side.
"Chairman Rose, are you still busy?"
In the luxurious villa, Damian sat on the sofa with his legs crossed. He made a phone call to Rose.
"Basically everything has been arranged. What is it, Damian?"
Rose had just sat down. Because there were indeed many things to do in Hammerlocke, he had only just finished his work.
"There is indeed one thing I want to talk to you about, Chairman Rose. I have a big project. I wanted to ask for your opinion."
"Oh?"
Rose raised an eyebrow. He could not help but think about what Damian meant. A big project?
"Yes. As you know, Chairman Rose, currently the biggest events in each region are the regional conferences. Up until now, there hasn't been a world-class event."
"Damian, do you mean you want to organize a world tournament?" Rose understood immediately.
"Exactly. A world tournament that includes all the powerful trainers in the entire world. Let the powerful trainers step onto the world stage and compete for the title of the true strongest in the world, as well as the top-ranked trainers."
"I have a preliminary idea. If someone can enter the top eight of the world tournament, they will be named the 'Masters Eight.' Then, from the Masters Eight, one true Monarch will be crowned."
"Chairman Rose, what do you think of this project?"
Damian asked Rose. In fact, in the anime, the World Coronation Series was an idea proposed by Rose.
To organize the World Coronation Series, it was unavoidable to use the influence of the Pokémon League.
Of course, Damian believed that the "Masters Eight" of this world would be completely different from the "Masters Eight" in the anime.
Furthermore, he could let the people of the world see the shock of Team Rocket dominating the rankings!