Chapter 164: I’m an Orphan
"Yes, General Lance."
"Rio—rub my shoulders."
"Yes, General Lance."
Half an hour later, in Lance’s camp tent, Rio was running around like a personal attendant, obeying Lance’s every command. Lance had even stopped calling him Kojiro—he was now using Rio’s real name. This was something Rio never could have imagined.
He had infiltrated Team Rocket with the Art of Hiding, intending to keep a low profile. Normally, he wouldn’t have exposed his real name, let alone gotten close to the operation’s core leadership. Yet here he was—using his own name and casually standing beside Lance, learning every detail of their Articuno capture plan. The irony of the situation was off the charts.
"Rio—why don’t you shave off that mustache?"
While Rio was massaging his shoulders, Lance suddenly spoke up, still not fully satisfied.
"Uh... cough, cough." Rio broke out in a cold sweat. The mustache was a key part of his disguise—without it, the whole effect would fall apart. "General Lance—I don’t look good without a mustache."
"No, no—I’m not after looks. I think you’d look much better clean-shaven." Lance grabbed his hand, his expression dead serious. "If you don’t have a razor, I’ll get a Scizor to trim it for you."
Rio was speechless—utterly speechless. How deeply insecure was this guy? How much did he need to humiliate Rio to satisfy his twisted ego? He was already one of Team Rocket’s Four Generals—and still not satisfied. It reminded him of an old psychology saying: Most people carry wounds through life. Lance’s wound was clearly a history of being looked down on and humiliated, which had driven him to this desperate need to prove his power. Since he couldn’t do it through strength alone, he relied on spiritual victory to fill the void.
Pathetic.
A minute later, Rio summoned his courage and shaved off his fake mustache.
When Lance saw him without it, he froze. "So similar! So incredibly similar! If your skin were a shade lighter, you’d be an exact copy!"
Rio nearly panicked again, terrified Lance would ask him to powder his face next. That would push his disguise to the breaking point.
But instead—
"Are you an only child?" Lance suddenly asked.
"Uh..." Rio’s mind raced. Two seconds later, he replied, "I don’t have a family."
"You don’t have a family?"
"Yes—I grew up in an orphanage."
Lance’s eyes lit up with sudden understanding. "I see—it all makes sense now. No wonder you look so much like him."
Rio raised an eyebrow at Lance’s knowing expression. What makes sense? That the man who stole your place in Giovanni’s heart might have a long-lost brother?
A moment later, Lance placed a hand firmly on Rio’s shoulder. "From now on, you’re with me. Don’t go back to the Ecruteak branch. After this operation, I’ll transfer you to my personal command."
"Really, General Lance?" Rio feigned a flattered expression.
Lance, basking in Rio’s reaction, smiled and nodded. "Really. From now on, I’m your backing within Team Rocket."
His reasoning: if he was right, Kojiro and Rio were likely long-lost brothers. How else could they look so identical? The only difference was that Kojiro had clearly had a rougher life—sun-baked and weathered—which explained his darker skin.
That made Kojiro incredibly valuable. Lance could train him up and use their brotherly bond to manipulate Rio at a critical moment. Take the Mt. Ember operation—if not for Rio’s interference, they might have captured Moltres. Next time, if Rio tried to disrupt their plans, Lance could send Kojiro out to pressure him. If Rio interfered, he’d risk his brother’s life. He could even force Rio to cooperate. And when Giovanni saw how cleverly Lance had handled it, he’d be deeply impressed. Lance’s rise to second-in-command would be within reach.
"General Lance—Boss Giovanni is on the line, asking about the operation’s progress," a pretty female executive said as she entered the tent, shooting a jealous glance at Rio before speaking.
"Understood—I’ll be there shortly." Lance nodded, then patted Rio’s shoulder. "You’ve been working hard. Go rest for now. I’ll call you when needed."
"General Lance, you’re too kind—it’s an honor to serve you," Rio said, laying on the flattery.
Lance’s face lit up with pleasure. He was already looking forward to the day he could bring Kojiro and Rio face to face—to watch Rio’s expression when he saw his own brother bowing and scraping before him.
Leaving Lance’s tent, Rio headed to his own resting area. The blonde-haired Azang was already inside. The moment he saw Rio enter, he shot to his feet in fright.
"Foot bath. Shoulder rub. Leg massage." Rio stretched his neck and flopped onto the bed.
Damn—after all that time serving Lance, it’s finally time for Rio to enjoy the perks.
"I wonder what Lance’s reaction would be if he found out I’m actually the real Rio?" Rio smirked, lying on the bed.
He couldn’t wait for Articuno to show up—for Team Rocket to wear it down to its last breath, and then for him, as Lance’s trusted aide, to turn on them in front of everyone and snatch Articuno away. The looks on their faces would be priceless.
Two hours later, Rio was called back to Lance’s side, once again playing the obedient attendant. He gritted his teeth and endured it, while subtly extracting information from Lance.
The key detail: according to weather predictions, Articuno would likely arrive earlier than expected—possibly late tonight.
So soon, Rio followed Lance to the lowest level of the Twin Islands—the Ice Cave where Articuno roosted. Many Rocket members were already lying in wait, using Fire-type Pokémon to keep warm.
Time passed slowly.
"General Lance—the temperature above the Twin Islands is dropping sharply!" the communicator in Lance’s hand crackled just before midnight.
Lance immediately signaled everyone to stay hidden. A few minutes later, the communicator buzzed again: "General Lance—Articuno has appeared! It’s descending from the clouds toward the entrance!"
Soon, a bird’s cry echoed through the cave. A blast of frigid air swept in, dropping the temperature even further. About seven or eight seconds later, a majestic blue Pokémon with a mountain-shaped crest on its head and long blue tail streamers appeared in the cavern, descending onto the massive ice bed with an air of regal grace.
Articuno had arrived.