Pokemon: I Transmigrated Twice-Chapter 217: Pokemon: I Transmigrated Twice []

After leaving the dressing room, Stephen immediately contacted Giovanni, asking him to have Hoopa open a portal.

He didn't plan to stay in Kalos for long.

Although Team Flare got their hands on Xerneas, Stephen wasn't particularly worried.

Because as long as the Cocoon of Destruction was in his hands, Team Flare couldn't do anything.

To be honest, Stephen never took Team Flare seriously from the beginning.

They could only act like local bullies in a weak region like Kalos.

Besides, it wasn't good for little Hoopa to stay alone at Team Rocket's base for too long.

Very soon, a golden ring appeared out of thin air next to Stephen, who was standing in the TV station corridor.

Just as he stepped in, Kalos League Champion Diantha rushed over from around the corner.

"Dr. Stephen..."

Diantha tried to call out to him.

But Stephen's figure had already disappeared into the portal, vanishing along with the golden ring.

Helpless, Diantha could only open her phone and contact him.

...

"Stephen-kun, what's the deal with that woman?"

In Celadon Game Corner, Giovanni asked Stephen.

Giovanni wasn't interested in meddling in Stephen's romantic affairs. He thought having more women around was a good thing—it could even help Rocket's future generations.

However, knowing Stephen's schedule, Giovanni was sure that Stephen had no connection with Malva.

Yet that woman had just thrown herself into Stephen's arms on live news, in front of countless people.

Something was wrong.

Stephen hugged little Hoopa, who was sulking after losing to Mew in Street Fighter and explained the whole story to Giovanni.

Stephen's relationship with the League was still pretty good. Just like he'd told Cynthia before, he never deliberately sided with the League or Team Rocket—he just did what he wanted.

The only reason he told Giovanni and not the League was that he didn't have any proof.

If he told Diantha or Sycamore that Lysandre and Malva were traitors, even if he had a good relationship with them, they'd ask, "How do you know?"

And Stephen couldn't exactly answer, "Because I'm a transmigrator, so I know," right?

But with Giovanni, there was no such concern.

As expected, Giovanni, after learning the truth, was shocked but didn't question Stephen's source.

"Team Flare... I've never even heard of that organization."

Stephen smiled. "Well, their boss Lysandre is the Kalos League Chairman, and Malva, the second-in-command, is also a TV news anchor in charge of Kalos's media. Normally, we've never heard of them."

Giovanni's shock soon turned into amusement. "I thought Kanto was already bad enough, but Kalos is even worse."

During Team Rocket's heyday, they controlled five of the eight major gyms.

But even Giovanni couldn't have made himself the Indigo League Chairman—that would've been outrageous.

By comparison, Kalos was even more pathetic.

"So what's next, Stephen? That Malva got Xerneas, right? I remember you got along well with that deer."

Giovanni asked, thinking of something.

"No need to worry. Xerneas is one of the keys to activating the ultimate weapon. Team Flare wouldn't dare harm her. As long as I have the Cocoon of Destruction, they can't do anything."

Stephen said indifferently, "Once you finish dealing with Team Rocket's internal problems and wipe out Team Flare, we'll rescue Xerneas and let her heal you."

"Hmm... But traitors aren't the main problem. The key is finding Silver."

Stephen didn't take Team Flare seriously, and Giovanni didn't care about Carr, Faba, or the others either.

Suddenly, Stephen felt his phone vibrating non-stop.

Giovanni grinned, "Karen? Or Lusamine? Or..."

Stephen rolled his eyes.

Damn, I shouldn't have let Malva off so easily.

Now I've got so much trouble to deal with.

...

Originally, the launch of the Pokémon Transfer Device—a revolutionary product—should have dominated the headlines.

But because of Malva's stunt, the transfer device dropped to second place in the trending topics.

The internet was flooded with gossip about Stephen and Malva. Actually, to 99.9% of people, it wasn't even a rumor anymore—it was confirmed.

Related trending comments—

[Want to Squash Champion Cynthia]:

["How should I put it? Dr. Stephen doing this doesn't surprise me. No need to trend—after all, his womanizing is public knowledge."[

[Wish Lorelei Would Stomp Me]:

["That's Malva we're talking about! Other than my goddess Lorelei, I've never seen anyone with a hotter body in the League. Dr. Stephen's gotta be having the time of his life tonight."]

[Have Steven's Torchic Use Thunder Fang—It's Super Effective]:

["No one can match Dr. Stephen's contributions to humans and Pokémon. No one can match his shamelessness either."]

[Want to Use Megahorn While Cosplaying Leon]:

["Malva's just a green tea b*tch. I'm from Lumiose City. Last month I saw her out shopping with another guy—already moved on?"]

[Wish Joker Would Use Hell Thrust on Me]:

["Guys are so pathetic now. Why stop a girl from finding someone better?"]

[Regifakeoil the Grass Pillar]:

["Didn't expect to see feminists here."]

[Treetop's Original Magnemite]:

["If Malva seduced Dr. Stephen while dating someone else, I'll hate her forever!"]

[Don't Take Such an Overpowered ID]:

["Actually, I think that famous lady professor from Alola has an amazing figure too—not worse than Malva."]

...

...

At Kanto's Indigo Plateau, Lorelei had just finished her bath and picked up her phone to see the group chat [League Family] already had 99+ messages.

Everyone was shouting ["Congratulations."]

Then the trending topic about Malva's suspected cheating popped up.

Lorelei clicked in and saw the photo of Stephen and Malva embracing; her brow twitched.

Seeing the reports that Malva had hooked up with Stephen while already having a boyfriend, her face darkened even more.

"Bitch!"

...

The Prism Tower, a landmark in Lumiose City, is seen by locals mainly as the gym and the TV station.

But no one knew the top floor was Team Flare's lab!

After Stephen left, Malva immediately met with Lysandre and the rest of Team Flare to report the results of her negotiation with Stephen.

"Although I'd considered this possibility, I didn't expect it to happen so suddenly," Lysandre frowned.

Keeping Xerneas with Malva at least prevented the worst-case scenario.

But Stephen knowing was still a ticking time bomb.

"This is troublesome. How do we fix this..." said Aliana, scratching her red hair.

"Either get the Cocoon of Destruction or get our hands on Hoopa... those are the only options, right?" Bryony shrugged.

"Isn't it all the same?" Celosia scoffed. "No matter what, it means fighting Dr. Stephen, right? Who's going? You? Or Malva or Lysandre?"

The room fell silent.

If they had Hoopa, maybe they could've stolen the Cocoon while Stephen was sleeping or in the bathroom.

But with Hoopa in Stephen's hands, what could they do?

A confrontation seemed the only option.

But that was suicide!

"There's only one person in this world who can match Stephen..." Xerosic interjected.

"You mean the King of Team Rocket?" asked Lysandre.

Malva parted her lips to speak, but her phone rang.

Aliana glanced over, raised her eyebrows, and joked, "The simp's here."

Malva scowled and walked to the corner to take the call.

The other female admins wanted to watch the drama but, seeing Malva's expression wisely stayed put.

"Hello, Baraz, what's up? I told you I have to work overtime and can't hang out."

"What's your relationship with Dr. Stephen!?"

It was the first time Baraz had spoken to Malva so aggressively.

Malva's already high blood pressure spiked even higher.

With Team Flare's plans stalled and the internet full of people calling her a two-timer, she was already stressed—now this idiot was bothering her too?

She glanced at Lysandre, who was giving her a look.

Having worked together so long, Malva instantly understood: calm him down.

According to Team Flare's secret investigation, although Meray had moved to Alola, Stephen hadn't officially caught Hoopa—he just borrowed her sometimes.

So Hoopa technically still belonged to Meray.

That meant Team Flare had an opportunity.

Lysandre planned to get Baraz to invite Meray back to Kalos with Hoopa, then ambush them and steal Hoopa.

That's why Malva hadn't cut ties with Baraz.

Malva suppressed her anger.

She thought for a second and made up an excuse.

"That was just a publicity stunt. I want to enter showbiz like Diantha, so I needed some hype."

Honestly, this excuse was as flimsy as "I just want a peaceful life."

With her fame and looks, Malva didn't need this kind of drama to get into movies. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

But it didn't matter—a simp only needed a single word to defend his goddess.

Pathetic.

"But you're my girlfriend!"

But for once, the simp pushed back.

"Do you know how I felt seeing people online say you and Stephen are perfect together?!"

Baraz lost control, yelling into the phone.

Even the other Team Flare admins overheard.

Damn, the simp's got a temper?

Baraz's feelings for Malva weren't as extreme as Tobi's for Rin, but as people say, a guy's first love is always the deepest—especially when he gets cuckolded.

It's a devastating blow, as you can see from how many novelkisss have protagonists getting dumped or cheated on at the start to earn sympathy for their future womanizing.

When were you ever my boyfriend?

Malva cursed inwardly.

For half a year, Malva had strung Baraz along. They'd done a lot of couple-like things, but never made it official.

How did she become his girlfriend?

But with no way to get the Cocoon or Hoopa from Stephen yet, Baraz was Team Flare's only breakthrough.

Malva had no choice but to soothe him.

"Sorry."

She nearly gritted her teeth as she said it.

Baraz was overjoyed and pressed, "So when will we go public?"

He wanted to strike back at all the people shipping Stephen and Malva online.

Damn!

Malva almost popped a vein.

Enough already!?

She replied, "We'll see," and hung up, not caring if he answered.

"Lysandre! How much longer must I put up with this idiot?"

Malva turned and said coldly.

For once, she didn't call him "Boss Lysandre," showing how angry she was.

"...I have an idea. Just wait a bit longer," Lysandre replied, deciding not to provoke her further.

...

...

The next morning around nine, Stephen woke up in the Team Rocket base's executive room.

Last night, he explained the Malva situation in the family group chat with Karen, Mary, Nessa, and the others.

Like Giovanni, none of them asked where Stephen got his information—they were just shocked at how lame the Kalos League was.

They'd thought it was bad enough when former Indigo Elite Four member Aldous turned out to be a traitor.

But Kalos? Even the chairman was a traitor.

After freshening up, Stephen got ready to have Hoopa open a portal back to Alola.

Previously, because little Hoopa couldn't pass through portals she made herself, Stephen usually took planes even when traveling with her.

But now that Celio had finished the transfer device, there was no such worry.

He could have Hoopa open a portal to the destination, and then use the transfer device to bring Hoopa over.

Perfect.

While brushing his teeth, Stephen idly checked his phone for anything amusing.

Ignoring all the drama with Malva, he saw a message from Diantha.

Diantha: [Doctor, congratulations on your relationship with Malva. A Junior Cup is happening soon in Lumiose City. Would you and Malva like to do a couple's exhibition match?]

Stephen was stunned for a moment, then remembered that in the anime, Cynthia had done something similar with her fangirl Caitlin.

Diantha probably wanted to use the gossip to hype up the event.

After all, Kalos League tournaments never had many participants, let alone the Junior Cup. (In the anime, the Lumiose Conference had only 64 participants; the Indigo League had over 200.)

Stephen planned to refuse Diantha; he had no interest in exhibition matches.

Plus, continuing to be entangled with Malva, even if it didn't hurt him directly, would only bring more trouble later.

As he was about to reply, he heard the voice of Archer, the Rocket Four Generals' leader, outside the room.

"King, Boss Giovanni wants to see you."

Stephen raised an eyebrow, put his phone away, put on his jacket, and left.

...

"Uncle, what's up?"

In Giovanni's office, Stephen sat down and asked.

They'd finished talking yesterday, so if Giovanni was calling him again, something unexpected must have happened.

Did they find Silver?

"You'll know soon."

Giovanni signaled to Archer, then put on his signature fedora, pulling it low over his face.

Archer took out a remote and turned on the projector.

A shadowy figure appeared on screen, his face obscured, voice disguised.

"Hello, Boss and King of Team Rocket."

The shadow introduced himself:

"I am the leader of Team Flare, hoping to cooperate with you."

Hearing "Team Flare," Stephen's expression was priceless.

He'd just had a scandal with Team Flare's second-in-command yesterday, and today their leader was reaching out.

Oh wait, the one with Malva was Stephen, but the one Lysandre was contacting was Joker.

"Team Flare... never heard of it. But if you're looking for Team Rocket, you must have some skills."

Giovanni, hat on, played dumb.

"We're Team Flare, operating in Kalos. Unlike your organization, which works in the open, we mostly act in the shadows."

It was Lysandre, probably using a Pokémon ability to cloak himself.

"Alright, but I'm not that interested in you. Just say it—what do you want?"

Giovanni asked, clearly uninterested.

After hearing about Team Flare's structure from Stephen, he knew they weren't worth mentioning—just making noise in a small region like Kalos.

"We hope your organization will help us defeat Dr. Stephen."

Lysandre dropped a bomb.

Archer's expression changed—this was big news.

Giovanni almost choked on his saliva, and he and Stephen both struggled to keep a straight face.

Luckily, Lysandre didn't seem to notice their brief reactions and continued,

"If we succeed, Hoopa will go to Team Rocket. I'm sure your organization is interested in the power of that legendary Pokémon."

Lysandre wanted Hoopa to steal the Cocoon. Once he had the Cocoon, Hoopa would be useless—he could give it to Team Rocket.

"Well..."

Giovanni glanced at Joker.

"Deal," Joker said without hesitation.