Unlike Team Rockets, the Team Magma and Team Aqua do not have such clear divisions for executive ranks like primary, intermediate, advanced, and special.
In other words, within the Team Magma, there is a world of difference between one executive and another.
An ordinary executive might just be a Superior member in charge of a certain area.
But someone at Tabitha's level can decide the fate of countless people with just a single word.
A "Minor Leader" like himself didn't even count as dust in front of him.
To be personally called and questioned by him was a great honor in itself... or rather, a severe test.
"Lord Tabitha, I understand! I absolutely understand!"
Fire Ghost puffed out his chest and stood at attention before the communicator, as if being inspected.
"The collection boxes just arrived today. I was just about to personally lead the team and oversee the mining! I guarantee every single piece of ore will be delivered to your hands intact!"
"Very good."
On the other end of the communicator, Tabitha's voice seemed to soften slightly.
This subtle change made Fire Ghost almost want to cry with excitement.
"Once this is done, I will personally recommend you to Lord Maxie for promotion to a Formal Executive."
Boom!
It was as if a hundred thousand tons of explosives triggered an Aftermath in Fire Ghost's head simultaneously; he was completely stunned.
Promotion... to a Formal Executive?
Recommendation right now?!
Lord Maxie... those words echoed in his mind like the most beautiful celestial music.
The status he had yearned for, the one he had dreamed of!
Once he became a Formal Executive, he would completely shed the awkward title of "Minor Leader," take charge of a real territory, and even... have the right to challenge other executives!
This wasn't just a promotion in status; it was a leap across social strata!
"Th-thank you, Lord Tabitha! Thank you for your support, Lord Tabitha!"
Fire Ghost's voice trembled violently from extreme excitement, almost losing its tone.
"Fire Ghost... no, I... I am willing to go through fire and water for you, Lord, and would not hesitate even if I had to die ten thousand deaths!"
"I don't need you to go through fire and water."
Tabitha's voice returned to its icy tone.
"I only want the ore. Remember, it must be delivered safely into my hands. If anything goes wrong..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but the invisible pressure transmitted through the electric current made Fire Ghost's spine chill.
"Never! Absolutely nothing will go wrong!"
Fire Ghost guaranteed with all his might.
The communication was cut off cleanly.
Fire Ghost held the communicator and stood there, motionless, for a full half-minute.
Then, the muscles on his face began to twitch uncontrollably, and that humble, fawning smile gradually widened, finally turning into a wild, almost delirious laugh.
"Haha... Hahahaha! Formal Executive! I'm going to be a Formal Executive!"
He trembled with excitement, his thick arms waving as if trying to stir up the air in the entire cave.
The surrounding team members looked at each other, not knowing what had stimulated their boss, each of them as quiet as a cicada in winter.
The immense joy clouded Fire Ghost's mind; he even felt that the hostage who had just died was no longer that important.
If he's dead, he's dead. How could an insignificant fellow compare to his own bright future?
His gaze fell on the Rat-faced Member who was still clutching his face with a dazed expression.
When the Rat-faced Member saw Fire Ghost looking over, he shivered and his legs buckled, nearly kneeling as he stammered a plea: "Boss... I... I really didn't know..."
Fire Ghost strode over with big steps.
The Rat-faced Member closed his eyes in despair, thinking he was a dead man.
However, the expected thunderous blow did not fall.
A hand as large as a cattail leaf fan landed heavily on his shoulder, not with killing intent, but with a somewhat friendly force, giving it a pat.
"That's enough."
Fire Ghost's voice was resonant, filled with unprecedented magnanimity.
"I'm happy today, so I won't hold it against you."
The Rat-faced Member snapped his eyes open, looking at Fire Ghost in disbelief.
He saw Fire Ghost grinning widely, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. Although the smile was still ugly, it was indeed... a smile.
"Hurry up and thank the Boss!"
A clever team member nearby quickly nudged him.
"Ah? Oh! Thank you, Boss! Thank you for sparing my life!"
The Rat-faced Member felt as if he had been granted a general amnesty, stammering incoherently and nearly kowtowing.
"Don't just stand there, you're wasting time!"
Fire Ghost was in a great mood and kicked him in the butt, though not very hard.
"Hurry up and lead the way! Go get the ore!"
"Yes, yes, yes! This way, Boss! This way, please!"
Flattered, the Rat-faced Member scrambled up from the ground, ignoring the burning pain in his cheek and the gap in his teeth. He trotted ahead to lead the way, his fawning manner even more extreme than Fire Ghost's had been earlier.
Fire Ghost followed behind with his hands behind his back, walking tall, already imagining the majestic scenes after becoming a Formal Executive.
He would change into a sharper uniform, apply for a powerful Fire-type pokémon, and trample those who once looked down on him under his feet!
Especially that other Minor Leader who always clashed with him. Once he became an executive, the first thing he'd do is reassign that guy to guard the latrines!
The group arrived behind a deep stone wall.
The Rat-faced Member stopped in front of a massive, ordinary-looking stone wall.
"Boss, this is it."
He pointed at the stone wall, looking like he was seeking credit.
Fire Ghost looked up and sized up the wall.
It was bare, with nothing but a few natural cracks.
"Good job!"
Fire Ghost walked in with a powerful stride, the first to enter, eager to see for himself the magical ores that would bring him supreme glory.
The Rat-faced Member and several other team members followed closely behind.
Fire Ghost's steps stopped in front of a Stone Trough.
The wild joy and anticipation on his face slowly froze.
The Rat-faced Member behind him also poked his head in, and when he saw the scene in the Stone Trough, the smug smile on his face instantly froze.
Behind the stone wall, it was empty.
Let alone purple-red ore, there wasn't even a piece of slag or a speck of dust.
It was so clean it looked as if someone had licked it with their tongue.
The air in the cave seemed to be sucked out at that moment.
Fire Ghost slowly, inch by inch, turned his head.
His gaze was Lock-On to the pale-faced, sweat-drenched Rat-faced Member beside him.
The smile on his face had vanished, replaced by a deathly calm that was ten thousand times more terrifying than his previous rage.
"Where is... my ore?"
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