"Nosepass is unable to battle! The challenger, Aoki from Littleroot Town, is the victor!"
Roxanne stood still for a moment, slightly stunned. She hadn't expected Aoki's Combusken to be this powerful. Even though her Nosepass had sustained damage earlier, it shouldn't have been defeated so quickly. Yet, with a single Sky Uppercut, it had been knocked out cold.
"Combusken, that was incredible," Aoki praised, stepping forward.
"Gaaah!" Combusken puffed out his chest and crossed his arms in satisfaction. Despite evolving, his proud and competitive personality remained unchanged.
"You and your Combusken share a strong bond," Roxanne observed with a smile. "You've earned this victory. As the Rustboro Gym Leader, I officially present you with the Stone Badge."
Retrieving her fainted Nosepass, Roxanne picked up a small, gray, hexagonal badge and handed it to Aoki.
"Thank you."
Aoki took the badge and carefully placed it in his badge case before storing it in his system backpack. He wouldn't risk losing such an important item in a regular bag. If he did, he'd have to challenge the Gym all over again, which would be a hassle.
"I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be taking my leave now," Roxanne said with a polite nod.
Aoki watched her leave, his eyes unintentionally drifting down to her figure. The way her long black stockings contrasted against her fair skin—
Wait. What am I thinking?
He shook his head. Focus, Aoki. You already have two girlfriends, and here you are thinking about a third.
Chiding himself, he turned and left the Gym, heading straight for the Pokémon Center to get his team checked.
Even though he possessed the Viridian Forest healing ability, the Pokémon Center's recovery machines were still more efficient for proper treatment. It was a necessary precaution after such an intense battle.
The Streets of Rustboro City
After retrieving his fully restored Pokémon, Aoki took to the bustling streets, making several stops to stock up on supplies.
First, he purchased various Pokéblock ingredients, particularly those that could enhance Boss Lairon's potential. Since he couldn't always rely on treasure chests dropping rare items, it was best to prepare in advance.
By the time he finished shopping, most of his recent earnings had been spent.
Finally, Aoki made his way to Devon Corporation, the leading manufacturer in the Hoenn region.
As expected, Devon's marketplace offered a wide range of high-quality items, including rare berries and top-tier evolutionary stones. Aoki's primary goal, however, was to acquire premium ores for Boss Lairon. Pokéblocks were great for nutrition, but Lairon thrived on a mineral-rich diet.
"Sir, your total comes to 2 million Pokédollars," the cashier informed him.
Without hesitation, Aoki handed over his bank card. The transaction was completed, and he meticulously checked his bag to ensure all the high-grade ores were accounted for.
Even though Devon Corporation was a reputable company, he wasn't naive—some employees might try to shortchange him.
2 million Pokédollars… Painful, but necessary.
An Unexpected Encounter
Just as he was about to leave, an older gentleman approached him.
"Young man, is this your first time in Rustboro City?"
Aoki turned to the source of the voice and froze for a brief moment.
Standing before him was Joseph Stone, President of Devon Corporation and father of the current Hoenn Champion, Steven Stone.
He hadn't expected to run into such an influential figure randomly on the street. This kind of encounter was usually reserved for the protagonist in the main story… Does this mean I'm the protagonist now?
Maintaining his composure, Aoki responded, "President Stone, I assume you already know who I am?"
There was no way the CEO of Devon Corporation was randomly striking up conversations with strangers. A beautiful young trainer, maybe, but a guy like him? Unless… President Stone had other interests?
Joseph Stone chuckled at Aoki's straightforwardness.
"I didn't expect you to be so perceptive," he admitted. "Yes, I do know you. As a researcher at Professor Birch's lab, your name has come up before. Professor Birch speaks very highly of you, so I took an interest."
Aoki was slightly surprised. Professor Birch? He never mentioned that he was putting in a good word for me.
"Since you're an aspiring researcher, consider this a token of encouragement," President Stone continued. "Everything you just purchased—Devon Corporation will cover the cost."
Aoki blinked. "Wait… You're serious?"
That was 2 million Pokédollars worth of premium ores and supplies. It wasn't a small amount, even for a major company.
"Of course," President Stone said with a smile. "Think of it as a small investment in a promising young talent."
Aoki wasn't about to refuse. Saving 2 million Pokédollars? That's a massive win.
"Thank you, President Stone," Aoki said sincerely.
"No need for formalities," the older man waved a hand. "By the way, would you be interested in visiting Devon Corporation's research facility? I'd like to show you some of our latest developments."
Aoki immediately realized this was more than just a simple invitation. President Stone wasn't just being generous—he wanted to evaluate him.
But that was fine. If this visit led to valuable connections or even access to rare Pokémon, it would be worth it.
"I'd be happy to," Aoki replied. "I was starting to get bored anyway. A tour sounds like a good way to pass the time."
And if I can somehow walk out of here with a Beldum, like in the original game, that'd be even better.
Although he knew that was wishful thinking, it didn't hurt to dream.
Inside Devon Corporation
Under President Stone's guidance, Aoki was led past the ground floor shopping areas and into the restricted upper levels of Devon Corporation.
Unlike the commercial areas below, the upper floors housed the company's research and development divisions, filled with scientists and security personnel.
Given how many confidential projects were conducted here, the tight security was expected. If something as sensitive as the Devon Scope or Infinity Energy research were leaked, it could have serious consequences.
As they walked through the facility, President Stone glanced at Aoki.
"You're a researcher yourself. I'd love to hear your thoughts on our latest projects."
Aoki followed quietly, listening intently.
The ongoing research covered a wide range of topics, from Pokéball technology enhancements to alternative energy sources using evolutionary stones.
It all sounded impressive, but to Aoki, none of it was particularly useful at the moment. His focus was on understanding Pokémon, not engineering advanced technology.
Still, he maintained a professional demeanor, nodding at the appropriate times.
If nothing else, this was an excellent networking opportunity.
After all, having Devon Corporation as an ally could prove invaluable in the future.
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