I stare up at Marnie's office window, knowing she's watching me even though I can't see her face. The rain slicks my jacket as I stand in the shadow of Spikemuth's industrial district, the distant sounds of machinery mixing with the occasional crackle of a Pokémon's attack from somewhere deeper in the complex.

A sudden commotion behind me makes me spin around. Three Team Rocket grunts have surrounded me, their Pokémon already released and growling threateningly. I reach for my Poké Balls just as the crowd parts and falls silent.

Marnie strides toward me, her dark outfit now emblazoned with the Team Rocket emblem that marks her new status. Her hair is shorter than I remember from her Gym Challenge days, accentuating the sharp lines of her face and the cold determination in her eyes. The faint smile that once played on her lips has been replaced by a hard set of resolve.

"I've been hearing a lot about your little disruptions," she drawls, her Cockney accent thick with annoyance. "And frankly, it's pissing me off."

She tosses a Poké Ball into the air, catching it again with a sharp movement. "Here's the deal," she snaps. "We battle. If you win, I'll let you walk away. But if I win, you pack up and get the hell out of Galar. No more messing with my business."

Her gaze locks onto mine, unwavering and challenging, as she waits for my response.