Hearing Aoki's words, Matsuda frowned.
He understood what Aoki meant. Verdanturf Town had just started developing, and for now, Aoki had the final say here.
But if the Breeder Association sent a high-ranking Breeder to oversee things and give orders to Aoki, would Aoki listen?
If he did, then who was really in charge of Verdanturf Town? After all Aoki had worked for, would he end up setting the stage for someone else to take over?
If he didn't listen, he might be seen as disrespecting the elders of the Breeder Association, which could damage his reputation within the League. If the rising star of the Breeder Association refused to acknowledge its senior members, he would certainly face pushback from some corners.
Verdanturf Town had only reached its current potential because of Aoki. Of course, Matsuda didn't want to see a situation where that progress was jeopardized.
After pondering for a moment, Matsuda said, "It might be a bit difficult. There's never been an intermediate-level Breeder serving as the president of a Breeder Association branch. And you have to understand, if an intermediate-level Breeder takes that position, it's unlikely that any senior Breeders will join."
Aoki already understood Matsuda's concerns, but he had only brought up the idea as a test.
Now that he had his answer, he knew that, between the Breeder Association and himself, his mentor would still choose to support him.
Aoki smiled and said, "In that case, I'll take a step back. Teacher, why don't you be the president of Verdanturf Town's Breeder Association branch?"
"Me?" Matsuda was momentarily stunned.
With his qualifications, he could easily serve as a senior official or even a vice president of the main Breeder Association. The only reason he hadn't taken on any formal position was that he had no interest in such responsibilities.
As a dedicated Breeder, his focus had always been on researching new Pokeblocks, training Pokémon, and battling. He had no interest in politics or power struggles—they actually annoyed him.
"I can't do that. I'm used to my freedom, and I don't want to be tied down as a branch president," Matsuda refused outright.
Even if Aoki was his most talented student, he wouldn't give up his independence for him.
Aoki wasn't surprised by his mentor's response. This was exactly the kind of person Matsuda was.
Smiling, Aoki explained, "Teacher, I don't actually expect you to manage everything. The issue is that I can't take on the role as an intermediate Breeder, but if someone like you is in charge, then no one will dare to interfere."
Hearing this, Matsuda finally understood. He looked at Aoki's smiling face and grumbled, "So you just want me to be a figurehead president while you handle everything from behind the scenes? You're making me work for free."
Aoki scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "How could you say that? You'll still receive all the benefits of being president, and I'll provide you with plenty of resources every month for your research. I know you don't want to waste time running around just to secure funding. This way, you can focus on your research in peace while also holding the title of president, which will keep the branch stable."
That was the real plan.
While Matsuda wasn't interested in power, he did need resources for his research. The Pokeblocks he developed were too valuable to sell, and with Aoki funding him, all he had to do was accept the support.
Thinking about it, it actually didn't sound too bad.
"The top floor of the Breeder Association branch building will be your private research lab, Teacher. If you ever feel like taking a break, you can travel to collect materials. You'd only need to return to Verdanturf Town occasionally. With your reputation, attracting senior Breeders won't be a problem." Aoki continued to persuade him.
If Matsuda became the official president, Aoki could take on a powerful vice president role. While this arrangement was a bit unusual, it wasn't unacceptable.
More importantly, Matsuda wasn't just a highly respected Breeder—he was also an Elite-level Trainer. Not a newly promoted one, but a veteran Elite Trainer.
He wasn't well-known among ordinary Trainers, but among the League's higher-ups and veteran Trainers, his name carried significant weight.
Right now, Aoki was the strongest Trainer in Verdanturf Town. But if Matsuda settled here, he would serve as a powerful deterrent to anyone looking to cause trouble.
Additionally, Matsuda was the kind of Elite Trainer who preferred to stay out of conflicts. For Aoki's long-term plans, having a figure like Matsuda around was invaluable.
This arrangement also meant that Verdanturf Town's security would be significantly reinforced, allowing Aoki to develop his operations more freely, including establishing certain underground connections.
With Matsuda in charge, even if Aoki wanted to establish a hidden market, potential troublemakers would have to think twice before making a move. The presence of such a powerful Trainer would help maintain order.
In short, as long as Matsuda agreed to be the president, it would be an enormous advantage for Aoki.
Beyond that, Aoki was also deeply interested in Matsuda's knowledge and research. Having Matsuda nearby to guide him would bring unexpected benefits.
In the end, Matsuda agreed to Aoki's request.
After all, there was no downside for him.
It was just a title.
Once the arrangements were settled, Matsuda left to inform the Breeder Association of his new role and to move his research materials to Verdanturf Town.
He also made sure the Breeder Association arranged for the rapid construction of the branch building so he could settle in and begin his research as soon as possible.
Shortly after Matsuda left, Aoki and Steven sat down to discuss Verdanturf Town's economic development.
Devon Corporation's research team had conducted a thorough analysis of Verdanturf Town's potential, and the findings were now in Steven's hands.
Overall, Devon Corporation believed that Verdanturf Town had enormous growth potential and could be developed in multiple directions.
As a representative of Devon Corporation, Steven began discussing possible cooperation plans with Aoki.
Since they were friends first and foremost, and their main interests were in training and caring for Pokémon, they didn't want to get too caught up in business negotiations.
Both of them had money, and since cooperation was a reliable way to make even more, they didn't see the need to haggle over minor details.
Soon, they reached a decision. With funding from Devon Corporation, they would develop a bustling commercial district centered around the Verdanturf Town Gym. The shops in this district would be owned by the Gym, while Devon Corporation would manage them. In exchange, the Gym would receive a percentage of the profits.
As long as Verdanturf Town continued to grow, this initial commercial district would become a highly profitable venture.