After bidding farewell to Laic, he was notified that he was to meet Lady Ariana.
Ariel followed an expressionless team member through several gates that required dual verification of iris scans and passwords.
Eventually, they stopped before a door crafted entirely from polished obsidian.
There were no markings on the door, only an inconspicuous sensor area.
The guiding member placed his palm against it, and the door slid silently to one side, revealing the interior.
The entire space was exceptionally vast with a high ceiling, creating an illusion of insignificance in anyone who entered.
The walls and the door were polished from solid blocks of obsidian, smooth as mirrors; they reflected no shadows, only swallowing all light projected upon them.
In the center of the room sat a massive black desk made of the same material as the door, its surface mirror-smooth, reflecting the cold white strip lights on the ceiling.
A woman stood with her back to the door in front of a massive floor-to-ceiling window.
She wore a well-tailored dark red uniform that outlined her mature and dangerous curves.
Outside the window was not a landscape, but a giant electronic screen where dense data and real-time intelligence from around the world refreshed in a waterfall stream.
"Lady Ariana, Ariel has arrived."
"You may leave."
Ariana did not turn around; her voice was cold and clear, carrying the indifference of one long accustomed to a high position.
The guiding member bowed and withdrew, and the heavy obsidian door closed again, isolating the inside and outside into two different worlds.
Only the faint electronic hum of flowing data and the steady sound of Ariel's own heartbeat remained in the room.
Ariana turned around and gazed calmly at Ariel.
Her gaze was not sharp, yet it was like bottomless lake water, capable of drawing one's soul into it.
"I have read the report on the Weather Institute mission."
She walked behind the desk and sat down, her fingers interlaced and resting lightly on the tabletop.
"The process was clean, and the result was perfect. Your grasp of timing and your exploitation of human nature exceeded my expectations."
This was not mere praise; it was more of an assessment, a final confirmation of a tool's performance.
"That fellow Laic, though he has a delicate side beneath his rough exterior, is too frivolous and irritable; he simply cannot handle the big stage. You worked with him and even managed to keep him perfectly in line—that level of skill is quite good."
Ariel did not speak, simply listening quietly. In front of Ariana, any redundant words could become a weakness.
Ariana seemed satisfied with his silence. She swiped her hand across the desk, and a holographic projection screen unfolded between them. It clearly listed the detailed permissions for an Intermediate Cadre of Team Rockets.
"From today onward, you are an Intermediate Cadre."
Her voice showed no trace of emotion.
"This means you can directly mobilize combat personnel from any small or medium-sized base in the Hoenn region, up to fifty people."
"You can apply for resources from headquarters, including specialized Poké Balls, Potions, and equipment not found on the market."
...The regulations on the screen scrolled by one by one, each representing tangible power.
This was a qualitative leap.
From a pawn assigned by others to a player with his own small chessboard.
It would be a lie to say Ariel's heart felt no ripples, but he knew even better that behind these permissions lay an equal weight of responsibility and shackles.
Being able to mobilize personnel also meant he was responsible for their lives and the success or failure of the mission.
Being able to apply for resources also meant he had to use those resources to create several times their value.
"Laic should have told you everything regarding the core members."
Ariana closed the projection, and those eyes Locked-On to Ariel once more.
It was not a question, but a statement.
"Yes."
Ariel finally spoke, his voice steady.
"Very well."
The corner of Ariana's mouth curled into an almost invisible arc.
"You should know that under my name, there was once more than one candidate besides you. But some died during missions, and others were proven to be mere mediocrities. You, however, have used all your mission performances to thoroughly trample down all other competitors."
Her words were flat, yet they carried a scent of blood.
"So, now, you are my, Ariana's, sole successor."
Here it comes.
Ariel's heart steadied. Even though Laic had revealed it in advance, hearing it personally from Ariana's mouth still felt different.
This was not just a title, but a heavy opportunity, or rather... a declaration of war.
"However, do not be happy too soon."
Ariana's tone suddenly turned cold.
"Team Rockets has more than just me as a Special-Grade Executive. Archer, Proton, and Lambda each hold a trump card in their hands as well. Those people, like you, are monsters who crawled out from among countless bones and failures."
"The one Archer chose is a total battle maniac who believes in the supremacy of strength. The one Proton favors is a poisonous strategist who toys with people's hearts, best at dealing death invisibly. As for that fellow Lambda, the successor he picked is like a ghost; no one knows his background."
Ariana's description caused three vague but dangerous opponent figures to instantly form in Ariel's mind.
He never underestimated anyone, especially those who could be favored by those three Special-Grade Executives.
"Soon, you will all head to the Kanto region together."
Ariana leaned forward slightly, and an invisible pressure enveloped the room.
"The Boss will meet you in person and assign you new tasks. That will be your first direct confrontation, and it will be your stage."
Her voice lowered a few notches, carrying an unquestionable command.
"Ariel, I don't care what means you use—whether it's overwhelming power, outsmarting them, or making all of them your stepping stones. I only want one result: you must be the one with the most outstanding performance. I want The Boss, I want Archer and the others to see clearly that the person I, Ariana, chose is the true answer to Team Rockets' future."
These words were no longer mere pressure.
This was placing the honor and disgrace of the entire faction onto Ariel's shoulders alone.
Win, and soar to the heavens; lose, and the consequences would be unimaginable.
Instead, under this pressure, Ariel's blood began to boil slightly.
Challenges? Opponents? This was exactly what he craved!
"I understand."
He answered crisply and cleanly, without a single redundant word.
Ariana gave him a deep look, as if scrutinizing how much substance was in that reply.
Eventually, she leaned back into her chair, and her entire aura softened accordingly.
"The pressure has been given; now, I should give you something worthy of that pressure."