Theo looked at the absurd yet amusing scene before him and couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.
Sableye's expression, its ears drooping in embarrassment after its "secret transaction" had been caught, was just like a kid secretly saving up pocket money only to be discovered by an adult. It was impossible not to laugh.
"I didn't expect you to be this good at doing business,"
Theo said to Sableye with a light chuckle.
Hearing this, Sableye's gemlike eyes flashed with panic. It hurriedly used its claws to push the little pile of gemstones beside it backward, as if trying to hide its "loot." All the while it kept muttering soft "eye eye" sounds—unclear whether it was making excuses or acting cute.
Theo's attention, however, was stuck on the line of Aron waiting to make exchanges. His feet naturally drifted closer toward the group, wanting to take a better look at the chubby little creatures.
In his mind, his thoughts had already jumped ahead to their evolved form, Aggron. And for this Pokémon, Theo had quite a lot of expectations.
A dual Rock and Steel type; its entire body was protected by a heavy metallic armor capable of tanking the vast majority of physical attacks. One of the widely acknowledged as one of the pinnacles of physical defense among Pokémon.
Add to that its majestic and imposing silhouette and the fact that it could Mega Evolve—beauty and power combined in one. It was hard not to be tempted by a Pokémon like that.
Just then, a deep, thunderous roar suddenly echoed from somewhere deep within the cave. The sound was low and powerful, carrying an undeniable authority, and it made the entire cavern tremble ever so slightly.
The Arons in line froze at once. Some of the more timid ones immediately darted into nearby cracks in the rocks, poking their tiny heads out to glance around with nervous eyes.
Sableye instantly dropped its embarrassed act as well. Its jewel-like eyes went wide as it stared warily toward the source of the sound, its body tensing up as if ready to fight or flee at any moment.
Theo's expression grew serious. He reached up and adjusted the lighting on his headlamp, turning it to its brightest setting as he looked toward the direction the sound came from.
That roar didn't sound like the usual intimidation call of a wild Pokémon.
It felt more like a deliberate proclamation, perhaps even a warning to everything around it.
"This sound…" Theo frowned slightly. "It doesn't resemble any Pokémon we've encountered so far."
Inside the water tank strapped to his chest, Feebas also grew nervous, its small body restlessly circling in the water. It would occasionally bump its head gently against Theo's chest, as if reminding him to be careful.
"Don't be afraid,"
Theo whispered as he lightly tapped the water tank to soothe it.
He hesitated, considering whether he should retreat from the cave. A roar with that level of intimidation coming from this kind of depth… the Pokémon behind it was definitely not ordinary. Neither he nor the Feebas currently had the power to oppose something truly dangerous. Preserving their own safety was the wisest course of action.
But just as Theo was about to head back, he faintly heard a distant "ding ding dang dang" sound—something hard striking rock. It was accompanied by scraping and digging noises, intermittent yet clearly audible.
"That's the sound of mining…?"
A thought flashed through Theo's mind. This cave was well-known for its rich mineral deposits. Hearing someone mining here wasn't strange at all.
But when combined with that authoritative roar from moments ago…
The situation felt much less simple.
He glanced at the still-alert Sableye and the Arons hiding in the cracks, then made a decision: he would follow the sound and take a look.
"Let's go check it out. Stay careful,"
Theo murmured to Feebas.
He stepped lightly and slowly moved toward the source of the noise.
The branching passages deeper inside the cave grew increasingly complex. The lighting became dimmer and dimmer, with only Theo's headlamp casting a beam of light that pierced the surrounding darkness.
Unidentified minerals embedded in the walls reflected faint glimmers under his lamp, looking like countless eyes watching from the shadows.
The digging noises grew louder, accompanied by deep breathing and soft, nearly inaudible verbal commands. The orders were spoken too quietly to make out.
Theo slowed his pace to a crawl, practically hugging the wall as he edged forward. He dimmed his headlamp until it produced only a faint glow—just enough to guide his steps.
He did not want to alert whoever or whatever was ahead.
Remaining hidden was the smartest choice until he understood the situation.
He turned a corner, and suddenly the view opened up.
This was a natural chamber-shaped cavern, far more spacious than the tunnels he had passed earlier. Fragments of freshly mined stones littered the ground. The "ding ding dang dang" sound echoed clearly here, coming from the center of the chamber.
Holding his breath, Theo peeked out.
In the middle of the cavern stood a tall, straight figure, back facing him, focused entirely on the ground.
The person wore dark gray expedition clothing designed for easy movement. The cuffs and pant legs were tightly fastened, revealing forearms with streamlined, powerful muscles. His hair was silver-white, glowing faintly even in the dim lighting, hanging loosely to his shoulders.
And beside him stood a large Pokémon.
Its body was encased in thick blue-gray armor, the gaps between the plates flashing with metallic sheen. A pair of sharp, massive horns protruded from its head, and its four limbs were thick and strong.
In one arm, it held a huge rock. The other arm gleamed with a metallic shine as it repeatedly hammered at the rock wall in front of it, producing crisp clang sounds—clearly the source of the digging.
"Aggron!"
Theo instantly recognized the Pokémon.
Someone who owned an Aggron and one obedient enough to cooperate so well, was definitely not an ordinary person.
In his mind, a name surfaced immediately.
At that moment, Aggron suddenly sensed something. It stopped mining abruptly, its huge head swiveling sharply toward Theo's hiding spot, letting out a deep growl. Its eyes flashed with a razor-sharp glint.
"Hm?"
Hearing Aggron's warning, the silver-haired man slowly turned around.
Theo's heart lurched, his fists unconsciously tightening.
A sharply defined face came into view—features chiseled like carved stone. His high nose bridge and thin, tightly pressed lips formed an unyielding line, radiating a cold aura that warned strangers away.
But the most striking feature was his eyes—deep, like a frozen lake. In them glinted scrutiny and a faint, almost imperceptible sharpness as they swept toward Theo's hiding place.
Theo felt the hairs on his body stand upright.
It was as if a powerful, oppressive presence had locked onto him completely.
Even his breathing stalled for half a second.
(End of Chapter)
TN: Sorry for the delay guys. I got sick and since it's December a lot of work, holiday and family events are happening so I got too busy and sick to read anything or update here really.