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Kai never expected to encounter Team Magma here of all places.
Just as Team Rocket holds deep influence throughout Kanto and Johto, Team Magma commands enormous power in Hoenn.
Their long-standing rivalry with Team Aqua has shaped the region's underground scene for years, and the only organization capable of countering both groups is the internationally backed International Police.
Team Magma might not rival Team Rocket in raw global reach, but within Hoenn, Magma and Aqua are absolute powerhouses.
The moment the first Magma Grunt's Houndoom was subdued, the remaining two grunts tensed, immediately throwing out their own Poké Balls.
As expected, they sent out more Houndoom all uniform in appearance, even fitted with specialized crimson Magma armor plating on their heads and bodies. The reinforced armor made them look even more ferocious, offering both intimidation and protection.
The two armored Houndoom lunged at Kai from opposite sides.
At Kai's side stood only Gengar and his newly caught Torchic.
Torchic, understandably outmatched, puffed up its feathers and spat a tiny Ember at one of the Houndoom in a brave but futile attempt.
The armored Houndoom sidestepped with ease and continued its charge.
But Kai was never relying on Torchic to handle this alone.
Before the Houndoom could reach him, Gengar floated forward, glancing left then right. A pulse of pure darkness erupted from its core Dark Pulse, unleashed like a sweeping black wave.
The attack struck all three Houndoom, including the one Gengar still held down.
The impact sent the trio crashing backward, tumbling across the ground until they collapsed at the feet of their stunned handlers.
One hit.
Three armored Houndoom down.
A thousand-year-old Gengar was terrifying indeed.
"Th-That's incredible…!" The Devon Corporation employee could barely form words.
The Magma grunts paled.
Even Team Magma's Elite Trio would struggle to bring down armored Houndoom in one blow and this man had done it effortlessly.
Is he as strong as our boss…?
Before they could reach for a second Poké Ball, Gengar struck again. At Kai's command, Hypnosis rippled outward, dropping all three grunts unconscious where they stood.
Only then did the Devon employee finally dare to approach.
"Thank you—thank you so much!" he said, overwhelmed with relief.
"It was nothing," Kai replied with a smile. "Check your briefcase. Make sure nothing's missing."
Snapped back to reality, the man hurriedly recovered his briefcase and examined its contents. Kai politely turned away, uninterested in whatever confidential materials had drawn Magma's attention.
Unless it was a Master Ball, corporate secrets didn't concern him.
After a long inspection, the man exhaled heavily in relief.
"Everything's intact… Thank goodness! They didn't have time to steal anything."
He closed the case and bowed deeply. "I'm Kuroda, secretary to President Mr. Stone of the Devon Corporation."
Kai raised an eyebrow.
He had expected a regular office worker not the personal secretary to the company president.
Devon was no small business. Years ago it had been a modest iron-mining and steel-processing firm, but now it stood as Hoenn's equivalent of Silph Co., producing high-end Trainer gear, Poké Balls, and even pioneering fossil-restoration technology.
They'd even developed an experimental magma-powered energy generator, earning them massive acclaim.
"You're too polite," Kai said. "Anyone capable would've stepped in."
After tying up the unconscious grunts and calling the police, Officer Jenny arrived with a full squad, escorting the criminals away. Kai expected the matter to end there.
But after Kuroda finished giving his statement, he quickly returned to Kai.
"I've already reported everything to President Stone," he said, bowing again. "The president would like to personally invite you to the company as a guest."
Kai originally wanted to continue his Gym challenge, but Kuroda's sincerity, combined with the president's personal request, left little room for refusal. Exchanging a glance with Erika, Kai accepted.
After all, the Rustboro Gym wasn't going anywhere.
As they entered Rustboro City, Kuroda explained more about Devon's rapid rise. Even Erika, who had seen Devon products in Celadon City, hadn't realized the corporation's headquarters was located here.
Soon, the towering Devon Corporation Headquarters came into view — a gleaming skyscraper more than sixty stories high, sunlight glinting off its glass panels, a massive fountain spraying mist at the front entrance.
It was unmistakably the tallest building in Rustboro.
Kai couldn't help feeling impressed.
A small mining company, transformed into a technological giant in only a few years — the scale was astonishing.
Inside the opulent yet futuristic lobby, Kuroda guided them straight to the top floor: President Stone's office.
Despite his silver hair, President Stone (Mr. Stone) looked surprisingly energetic and sharp for a man in his fifties. He welcomed Kai and Erika warmly.
"Thank you for saving Kuroda and retrieving our documents," he said genuinely.
Before Kai could answer, Kuroda shot him a glare.
"This happened because you kept wandering off to play with kids in the city! If I didn't chase you down with the documents, none of this would have happened!"
Most CEOs would never tolerate such a tone, but Mr. Stone only laughed, completely unfazed.
Kai exchanged a look with Erika the dynamic between these two was… unique, to say the least.
Mr. Stone waved the scolding away. "Everything turned out fine. That's what matters."
Kai introduced himself, and the name stopped both Stone and Kuroda in their tracks.
"Kai…? As in the young Trainer who reclaimed Silph Co. from Team Rocket in both Kanto and Johto, and won two league championships?"
Kai nodded.
With that confirmation, any lingering formality evaporated. Both men grew even warmer and more enthusiastic.
Mr. Stone personally led Kai and Erika through the facility, proudly showcasing Devon's greatest innovation: the Fossil Restoration Project.
In a massive laboratory stood their current triumph — the Fossil Resurrection Machine, capable of reviving ancient, extinct Pokémon. The technology remained expensive and unstable, unable to support large-scale operation, but it worked, with successful test revivals already recorded.
Kai admired the machine's significance a breakthrough that would change the world.
Then—
The alarm blared.
Before anyone could react, several figures in blue-and-white stripes burst out of a nearby lab, sprinting straight toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.
"Team Aqua!?"
Both Mr. Stone and Kuroda froze in shock, unable to process the sudden intrusion.
But Kai was already moving.
After the Magma attack earlier, he had expected trouble. One glance was all he needed to recognize Team Aqua uniforms.
Devon was having an unbelievably unlucky day Magma assault outside, Aqua infiltration inside. If not for their mutual hatred, Kai might've assumed they coordinated this together.
The Aqua operatives carried compact jet-like escape devices on their backs, built for diving or emergency extraction, and were clearly prepared to jump out the window.
If Kai weren't here, they might have succeeded.
Kai threw a Poké Ball, releasing Gardevoir.
Without needing verbal instruction, Gardevoir erected a telekinetic barrier across the window.
The Aqua thieves crashed headfirst into the invisible wall and reeled from the impact. As they staggered up, they turned to see Kai and Gardevoir blocking their escape.
"Tch—!"
They checked their escape path again. No good — guards were coming. If they delayed, they would be surrounded.
Fight or fail.
Kai's eyes flicked to their waist pouches. Inside were several vials of amber-colored fluid unmistakably research-grade Devon fossil restoration medium, critical to the revival process.
Kuroda arrived behind Kai, went pale, and whispered urgently:
"Kai, those vials are irreplaceable! Please we must get them back!"
This was the second time today Devon relied on him.
And truthfully, if Kai hadn't been here, Devon Corporation would have suffered catastrophic losses.
But with him here?
Not a chance.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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