Deep within the cave, Aoki held a strangely shaped stone in his hand, his expression darkening.
This was the so-called "reward" he had obtained after opening a treasure chest—an unpolished, raw stone.
Seriously? An unrefined rock? Not even a useful evolutionary stone or a valuable mineral?
Aoki was tempted to toss the stone aside in frustration. However, as he raised his arm, he hesitated. No matter what, it was still a treasure chest reward. Even if it was useless, it might have some worth later.
Upon closer inspection, he noticed the stone had a rough resemblance to Metagross, its natural shape forming an eerie likeness to the Pokémon's metallic frame.
At the very least, it could serve as an interesting decoration.
Suddenly—tap, tap, tap…
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the cave.
Aoki immediately turned his head, eyes sharpening with caution.
Was it a human or a Pokémon? Either way, he needed to be alert. The underground was no stranger to ruthless trainers or aggressive wild Pokémon.
Both of his Boss Lairons stepped forward simultaneously, their steel-plated bodies blocking the passage as they prepared for any possible confrontation.
Then, from the dimly lit tunnel, a figure emerged.
A man with light blue hair and deep sapphire-colored eyes, dressed in a refined yet practical outfit. His movements were calm, deliberate, and filled with the quiet confidence of someone accustomed to the unknown.
Aoki immediately recognized him.
Stone Steven.
The former Hoenn Champion, heir to the Devon Corporation, and one of the most famous trainers specializing in Steel-type Pokémon.
Steven paused when he saw Aoki, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.
"I thought I heard something earlier, but I assumed it was just an echo. Didn't expect to run into someone down here," Steven remarked casually.
Aoki smirked. "Yeah, I wasn't expecting to meet the former Hoenn Champion in a cave either."
His gaze flickered to his system map. The diamond treasure chest he had been tracking was still a short distance away.
"I'm no longer Champion," Steven said with a small smile. "Just a traveler looking for rare stones."
It was a well-known fact that Steven stepped down from his Champion title willingly, prioritizing his passion for rare minerals over his position of power. His love for collecting exotic stones often took him to remote, dangerous locations, much like this one.
At that moment, Steven's sharp eyes landed on the stone in Aoki's hand.
His expression changed instantly.
"Excuse me, but… could I see that stone for a moment?"
Aoki raised an eyebrow, then quickly understood.
This rock—useless to him—was likely something special to Steven. The system had probably given it to him for this exact reason.
It was a favorable impression prop—a way to gain Steven's interest and possibly a future connection.
"Sure," Aoki said, handing the stone over. "I found it just now. It looks like a naturally-formed Metagross statue."
Steven took the stone with reverence, his fingers tracing its rough surface with a level of care most people reserved for priceless artifacts.
He looked like a man admiring a rare jewel.
"This is incredible… A naturally occurring Metagross-shaped mineral? Such formations are exceedingly rare. I've never seen one like this before," Steven murmured in genuine awe.
After a moment, he looked up, hesitation in his voice.
"…Would you be willing to sell this to me? I'd be more than happy to purchase it."
Aoki chuckled inwardly. He had already anticipated this.
Steven's ace Pokémon was Metagross. Of course, he'd be drawn to a stone that resembled it.
"You can have it," Aoki said with a shrug. "I don't really have any use for it. I'm not particularly interested in stones."
Steven looked genuinely surprised, then nodded appreciatively.
"In that case, I owe you one. If you ever need anything, just ask."
Aoki smiled but quickly followed up.
"No need for that. Besides, I actually know your father, President Stone. He gave me this."
He casually pulled out a Devon Corporation Black Card—a VIP pass given only to select individuals whom the corporation trusted.
Steven's eyes widened slightly.
His father was extremely selective about who he gave that card to.
"…I see," Steven said, nodding with newfound respect. "So, my father acknowledged you."
"Yeah," Aoki replied smoothly. "He mentioned that you love stones but also that he wants you to take over Devon someday."
The reaction was immediate.
Steven visibly stiffened, his fingers tightening around the stone.
Aoki held back a smirk. If there was one thing Steven dreaded more than anything, it was the idea of being trapped in a corporate office, forced to handle business affairs rather than exploring caves and searching for rare minerals.
"…Did he now?" Steven muttered, rubbing his temple.
He cleared his throat, clearly eager to change the subject.
"Ahem… Well, how about we take a look around? Maybe we'll find something rare nearby."
Aoki chuckled. "Sure. I could use a good Pokémon encounter."
The two of them spent the rest of the day exploring the vast underground.
They found several wild Pokémon, including a quasi-Elite Onix that Aoki immediately captured.
Steven, on the other hand, ignored all the Pokémon and instead dug up various rare stones. His passion for minerals completely overshadowed any interest in capturing Pokémon.
By the time they emerged from the cave, night had already fallen, and the moonlight illuminated the dense Hoenn forest.
Steven stretched, exhaling deeply.
"Finally out," he sighed. "Spending too much time underground can get exhausting, even for me."
Aoki smirked but internally thought, Yeah, says the guy who's been mining for hours like it's his life's mission.
Steven suddenly turned to Aoki.
"Wait. You gave me that Metagross stone, and I haven't given you anything in return."
Aoki waved it off. "It's fine. It was just a rock."
Steven shook his head. "No, I insist."
He reached into his backpack, pulling out a collection of rare minerals and fossils he had recently excavated.
"I don't have much, but these are my latest finds. Take one."
Aoki hesitated, but Steven's expression was serious.
With a sigh, Aoki finally reached out and accepted one of the stones.
Guess I'm taking a rock home after all.
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