Silas searched the man's body quickly. Aside from a handful of scattered Alliance Pokedollars, there were only a few empty Poké Balls left.
"Grimer clean it."
Grimer oozed forward with a gurgle
"Griiimeeer…"devouring the last traces of bone until nothing remained.
Silas's eyes shifted to the two slain Pokémon.
One Grimer.
One Marill.
"This Marill is a bit larger than normal, and the fat around her waist is thicker. It seems to be have a Thick Fat trait."
He raised his shovel, cutting away the valuable materials from both Pokémon with practiced precision. Wrapped neatly in treated cloth, the remains slid into his space backpack.
At last, his gaze fell on the uncle's own backpack.
Murkrow gave a sharp "Kraa!", wings beating as he swooped down. Hooking the leather straps with his claws, the crow carried the bag toward his trainer, tail feathers trailing like a shadow in the lamplight.
Silas chuckled faintly, stroking Murkrow's head before taking the bag.
Inside were only the expected odds and ends: supplies, Pokémon rations, a few Pokéblock cubes. But then his hand brushed against three stoppered glass bottles, each filled with a strange khaki-colored fluid.
He lifted one toward the lantern light. The liquid shimmered faintly, glowing with a clean earthen luster.
His pupils contracted.
"...Earthvein Nectar!"
The words escaped him before he could stop them.
He had only ever read of it in the Petalburg Gym's library-mentioned in dusty tomes and obscure journals. A natural treasure said to condense from the very veins of the earth, born drop by drop like nectar seeping from stone.
The earth's essence… soil's hidden perfume.
Among Rock- and Ground-type Pokémon, this was considered a supreme tonic. Even a single drop could refine their potential, sharpening talent, elevating growth beyond natural limits.
And on the black market? A single drop was worth a fortune. They were literally sold by the drop.
Yet here, in his hands-three whole bottles. Hundreds of drops. Tens of millions in value.
Now the pieces clicked into place.
"So that's why he killed his companions…" Silas murmured, his eyes darkened and cold. "No wonder he lost control."
For an ordinary civilian trainer, such wealth was more than money-it was destiny itself. Enough to buy a rare starter from one of the great houses, fund its training, and still have resources left over. Enough to rewrite one's life.
And who would ever willingly split ten million?
He cleaned the site thoroughly, left nothing behind, and slipped deeper into Rusturf Tunnel.
'This world isn't some anime utopia,' Silas thought grimly. 'Wherever there are people, there's blood and shadow. Love, hate, revenge, schemes-that's just the reality.'
His lips curved into a humorless smile.
In this world, you eat… or you're eaten.
...
Silas scouted a side tunnel marked vacant, placed a crude sign at the mouth to warn others away, and stationed Crawdaunt to guard the entrance. Only then did he set up camp within.
A small fire crackled. He cooked, fed his team, and tended wounds.
"Eevee, hold still."
"Vee! Veevee!"The little fox whimpered, flattened ears twitching.
"Easy, little one."Silas laid her gently across his lap, parted the fur on her hind leg, and sprayed medicine across the raw wound.
Pssshhh!
"Eevee!" she cried, body jerking at the sting. Tears welled in her large eyes as she gazed at him pitifully.
This was her first serious injury. Until now, wild battles had been games, their teamwork enough to control the fight. But against Pokémon directed by human will, she had tasted true danger.
Her nose twitched, her eyes shimmered, but she fought to hold back tears. They trembled at her lashes anyway, leaving her looking heartbreakingly adorable.
Silas's expression softened. He fed her a small Pokéblock and massaged her muscles with careful hands until the pain dulled and exhaustion won. Soon she was asleep, bundled into a warm blanket on her mat.
"Rest well…" he murmured, brushing her ear lightly.
Murkrow hopped closer, tilting his head expectantly.
"Yeah, it's your turn."
He rubbed the crow's wings and shoulders until his wrists ached, then pulled back, flexing sore hands.
"Massaging Pokémon… not as easy as the books make it sound," he muttered.
...
But while Silas tended his small camp in the tunnel depths, chaos was erupting in Rustboro City.
Devon Corporation had been struck. Their latest research data was stolen.
Sirens howled. Squads of Officer Jennys stormed the streets, lights flashing, their commanding officer demanding answers in person.
"President Stone, is this true?" one Jenny barked, face pale with fury. "The stolen files… they were the latest research on the Pokémon Navigator?!"
Mr. Stone's jaw was tight, his broad chest heaving. "Yes. I never imagined two of my own staff would betray me. Perhaps they were undercover agents all along… Homura and Izumi."
The Officer Jenny nearly fainted from rage. The PokéNav project had been heavily backed by the Jenny family itself, their money and influence invested deeply.
A device that could connect directly to Devon's global network, bypassing the old signal towers. Usable in volcanoes, deep seas, wild forests-even forbidden zones untouched by man.
For the League's investigators and police, it was nothing short of revolutionary.
And now the research was gone.
What Mr. Stone didn't admit aloud was worse: the thieves had also stolen the full topographic maps of Rusturf Tunnel. Maps that concealed… secrets his family had buried there long ago.
For the first time in decades, the patriarch of the Stone family felt unease.
His phone buzzed.
"Dad? I heard something happened at the company. Do you need me to come back and help?" A young, confident voice came through the line.
Mr. Stone exhaled, smiling faintly despite the chaos. "Steven, you rascal… Always with your rocks. You wouldn't be of use here."
A chuckle answered him. "Can't help it, Dad. I got it from you. Didn't you love stones when you were my age?"
For a moment, father and son bantered lightly, and the tension in Mr. Stone's heart eased.
Before hanging up, his tone softened. "Steven… the family finally secured that Shiny Beldum we talked about. Come home soon. Fuse it with your partner. Evolve them into Metagross."
Fusion Evolution.
A secret technique of the Stone family-reserved only for their line, and only for Metagross. Two identical Beldum combined in evolution, forging a stronger whole, raising talent far beyond natural limits.
No other family could afford the price of such a secret. Others with Beldum would simply evolve them normally.
But the Stone family? They had the means… and the will.
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(End of chapter)