"The goods!"
A raspy voice echoed through the pitch-black night, blending seamlessly with the surrounding withered trees, creating an eerie ghostly atmosphere.
"These are the two Attribute Plates you requested."
Staring at the hooded figure before him, Kove spoke calmly, seemingly unbothered by the ominous environment—or by the fact that the person standing opposite him was the infamous Dark King.
"Speak. What business does your Hunter's Guild have with me?"
After closely examining the two Normal-type Attribute Plates and confirming their authenticity, Ron shifted his gaze toward Kove and asked.
Two days prior, Ron had successfully eliminated his target—a notorious poaching syndicate. With ample resources at his disposal, he ensured that he could redeem the Attribute Plates without worrying about shortages for the time being.
However, when Ron attempted to exchange the plates at the Hunter's Guild, he unexpectedly received a message from them, requesting a face-to-face meeting.
The Hunter's Guild was a deeply concealed organization that maintained influence over multiple regions. Ron instinctively preferred to avoid unnecessary interactions with them.
Yet, after some thought, he decided to meet them anyway.
After all, his current identity was that of a Pokémon Hunter. If the Hunter's Guild made a move against him, it would violate their own code.
Besides, with the dual safeguard of his Gardevoir and Lucario, Ron was confident that he wouldn't fall into an ambush so easily.
Before arriving, he meticulously surveyed the surroundings and remained on high alert, ensuring that Kove wouldn't have the opportunity to strike unexpectedly.
Fortunately, his mastery of Fighting Aura did not detect any immediate danger from Kove, which proved that the latter was weaker than himself.
"The reason for our meeting is simple. The Hunter's Guild recognizes your immense potential and would like to recruit you as an internal member."
"Rest assured, should you accept our offer, not only will we impose no restrictions on your actions, but we will also provide you with a satisfactory monthly salary."
"Furthermore, if you ever find yourself in danger, you may seek assistance from the Hunter's Guild, and we will do everything in our power to support you."
With a smile, Kove explained his reason for meeting Ron.
"Why me? And to be frank, I don't see the Hunter's Guild as an easy organization to get involved with."
Ron's raspy voice carried a genuine curiosity. Why would the Hunter's Guild recruit a Pokémon Hunter as one of their internal members? Was there an ulterior motive, or had something happened within the guild itself?
"As I said, you are a rare talent. Since your debut, you have only revealed a single High Elite-tier Gengar, yet you've managed to eliminate numerous Pokémon Hunters and Rangers alike."
"Based on the Attribute Plates you are redeeming, we estimate that you already possess at least one Elite Four-level Pokémon, and soon, that number will increase to two."
"Not to mention, with your uniquely gifted Gengar, you are bound to acquire a third Elite Four-level Pokémon in the future."
"Additionally, our analysis of your voice indicates that despite the raspiness, your age does not exceed twenty. This alone proves your exceptional talent. Coupled with your identity as a Psychic, you stand at the pinnacle even among prodigies."
"Of course, as you pointed out, the Hunter's Guild has thrived for so long by exercising caution."
"Certain necessary assessments and identity verification procedures are inevitable. But given how many Rangers you have already killed, such matters should pose little difficulty for you."
"Rest assured, regardless of your decision, the Hunter's Guild will not make things difficult for you. You don't need to provide an immediate answer. Take your time to consider, and when you've made your decision, let us know."
After answering Ron's question, Kove maintained his ever-present smile, as if the expression had been permanently etched onto his face since birth.
As the saying goes, one does not strike a smiling face. Moreover, this particular smiling face came with an exceedingly tempting offer.
First was the generous reward—how much would it take to satisfy a Trainer at the Elite Four level, recognized by the Hunter's Guild as a top-tier prodigy? Probably far more than what the League would offer.
Then, there was the protection of the Hunter's Guild. As a behemoth spanning multiple regions, having its backing meant that even if Ron found himself in danger, as long as he could hold out, rescue from the guild would eventually arrive, giving him a chance to escape with his life.
For most Pokémon hunters, just these two conditions would be enough to set them in motion. Some might even accept on impulse, without a second thought.
Unfortunately, Ron wasn't an ordinary Pokémon hunter. No—Ron was never a Pokémon hunter to begin with, so agreeing was never an option.
If he accepted and underwent their tests, it wouldn't take long before his cover was blown. And when that happened, the entire Hunter's Guild would be hunting him down.
"I need some time to think this over. I'll contact you when I have an answer."
Even though Ron had only one choice from the start—refusal—there was no need to turn them down outright. A polite rejection would do. Once he left the Hoenn region, this matter would naturally fade away. Why not take the easy way out?
"That's understandable. A decision that affects your future should be given proper consideration."
"How about this? Whenever you make up your mind, just redeem any random item and include the word 'Yes' in the final message. That way, we'll know your choice immediately. How does that sound?"
"All right, I understand."
"In that case, I won't disturb you further. I look forward to the day we can stand side by side as guild members."
With that, Kove didn't linger and turned to leave.
Only after Kove's figure disappeared from sight did Ron finally release his Gardevoir, allowing himself to make a swift exit from the scene.
Setting this issue aside for now, Ron found a secluded spot to prepare for his breakthrough.
If there was one thing Hoenn had no shortage of, it was hidden locations perfect for laying low.
"Are you ready, Persian?"
Persian nodded firmly, its fiery gaze fixed on the two Attribute Plates in Ron's hands.
The Attribute Plates were only about the size of a palm, with no particularly dazzling glow on their surface. Yet within them lay the power to push a Pokémon beyond its limits—to the rank of the Elite Four.
"Good. Then let's begin. I'll be right here with you."
Ron gently stroked Persian's head before placing the two Attribute Plates before it.
Almost instinctively, Persian began to greedily absorb the energy within them.
Sitting cross-legged in front of Persian, Ron closed his eyes and waited in silence.
The breakthrough process could generally be divided into three steps. The first step involved Persian absorbing the power of the Attribute Plates, gathering enough energy to trigger the next stage.
The second step required the Trainer and Pokémon to achieve perfect synchronization of their hearts and minds.
From this step onward, a strong bond between the Trainer and Pokémon was essential. Without it, the accumulated energy would have no proper outlet, resulting in severe backlash.
At best, Persian would suffer serious injuries. At worst—it could die.
The final step required both Trainer and Pokémon to work in perfect harmony, using the power of their bond to complete the breakthrough.
It all sounded simple on the surface.
But having gone through it once before, Ron knew just how difficult it truly was.
And now, he was about to experience it for the second time.
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