The next day, the morning sun shone through the streets of Rustboro City, plating the plane tree leaves along the road with a golden edge.
Lionel, carrying his packed backpack, stood at the hotel entrance and took a deep breath. The air, mixed with the fresh scent of wheat from the bakery and the fragrance of flowers drifting from a distant florist, was refreshing.
He lowered his head and patted the Poké Balls on his waist. The Tyrunt and Feebas inside seemed to sense the departure, gently shaking and making faint sounds.
He walked slowly down the street, passing through the bustling central plaza. Early rising residents were already there, playing and frolicking with their Pokémon.
Lionel didn't stop. Turning the corner, a magnificent building suddenly came into view. In an instant, he arrived downstairs at the Devon Corporation building.
The glass curtain wall of Devon Corporation reflected a dazzling light in the morning sun. Employees in formal attire constantly moved in and out of the revolving door, and the air was filled with an atmosphere of efficiency and meticulousness.
Just as Lionel reached the entrance of the building, an elderly man with white hair and gold-rimmed glasses came forward to greet him in the lobby.
"You must be Mr. Lionel? I am Chairman Stone's Secretary. The Chairman is already waiting for you upstairs. Please follow me!"
The elder's voice was gentle and steady, and he wore a polite smile.
Lionel nodded in acknowledgment and followed the Secretary into the building.
The polished marble floor in the lobby reflected the crystal chandeliers on the ceiling, and the reception staff were handling their duties in an orderly manner.
Occasionally, employees passing by would subconsciously slow their steps, clearly showing great respect for the Secretary's status.
They took the elevator straight to the third floor. Stepping out, they were met by a corridor covered with a dark brown carpet. Maps of the Hoenn region and photos detailing the development history of Devon Corporation hung on the walls on both sides.
The Secretary stopped in front of a heavy mahogany door and knocked lightly: "Chairman, Mr. Lionel has arrived."
A low response came from inside the room: "Please let him in."
The Secretary pushed the door open and made a "please enter" gesture.
As Lionel entered the office, the first thing that caught his eye was still the massive floor-to-ceiling window that took up the entire wall.
Outside the window, the streetscape of Rustboro City unfolded—scattered buildings, winding streets, and the faint greenery in the distance merged into one, creating a vast and refreshing view.
Illuminated by the morning light, the office was filled with warmth.
Chairman Stone was standing by the window. His silver hair was meticulously combed, without a single strand out of place, and a well-tailored dark gray suit made his figure appear even more composed.
Seeing Lionel enter, he slowly turned around, his deep gaze resting on Lionel, a gentle yet dignified smile playing on his lips:
"Speaking of which, this is our second meeting, isn't it?"
Stone's voice carried a hint of emotion, and his gaze lingered on Lionel, as if scrutinizing, yet also appreciating:
"It feels like not much time has passed, yet you've already made quite a name for yourself. I watched yesterday's Pokémon Contest and your previous battle challenging Roxanne's Gym. They were truly outstanding."
Stone walked over to his desk, sat down, and pointed to the chair opposite:
"Have a seat. To have such unique ideas in Pokémon battles and move combinations at such a young age, your future is limitless!"
Lionel sat down in the chair and smiled a little sheepishly:
"You flatter me, Chairman Stone. I still have a lot to learn, and compared to you, my achievements are truly nothing."
"Oh?" Stone raised an eyebrow, looking at him with interest. "I wouldn't call myself an excellent Trainer. Your words certainly pique my curiosity."
"Your achievements in business are far more admirable than a Trainer's Champion title," Lionel said seriously.
"Under your leadership, Devon Corporation managed to rival Silph Co. in the Poké Ball manufacturing sector in just over ten years, forcefully carving out a niche in this monopolized Poké Ball market.
If Mr. Steven is the Champion among battle Trainers, then you are the Champion of the business world."
"Hahahaha! You, my boy, certainly know how to talk!"
Chairman Stone laughed heartily, the wrinkles around his eyes radiating warmth.
He looked at Lionel, a soft, reminiscent light unconsciously appearing in his eyes, as if recalling the hardships and glory of Devon Corporation's early days.
When he looked back at Lionel, the appreciation in his eyes intensified:
"Good boy. Talking to you is much more enjoyable than talking to Steven. Every field has its own 'battlefield.' The Trainer's battlefield is the arena; the merchant's battlefield is the market."
He paused, then changed the subject, his tone becoming a little more serious:
"The reason I invited you today is to ask if you'd be interested in holding a position under the Devon Corporation banner?"
Lionel was stunned for a moment and looked at him doubtfully: "Under the company banner? Do you mean..."
"Don't worry, you won't have to do anything complicated."
Chairman Stone waved his hand, his tone becoming lighter. "We mainly want to use your image and videos to help promote our newly launched Poké Ball series.
Besides research into minerals, Fossil Revival Technology, and Pokémon interaction device development, Poké Ball manufacturing is also one of Devon Corporation's core businesses.
The perspective of a young Trainer is often more effective in appealing to consumers of the same age group."
Stone paused, then stated frankly:
"Of course, this is also an investment. Devon Corporation has always held the philosophy of supporting promising Trainers.
When you establish yourselves in the League and gain greater influence in the future, you might be able to interact positively with us regarding policy and resources, which would also be beneficial for the overall Trainer ecosystem in the Hoenn region."
Lionel suddenly realized that this was the reason he had been asked to visit Devon Corporation before leaving.
Stone changed the subject again and continued: "As for the compensation, you don't need to worry at all. Besides a fixed monthly financial subsidy and discounted purchasing privileges for various Pokémon items, over the years, to conduct in-depth research and development of Poké Balls, Devon Corporation has established stable and deep cooperative relationships with Pokémon Research Professors in many regions."
Chairman Stone took a sip of tea, his tone laced with pride:
"It is by utilizing the massive amounts of Pokémon ecological data and habit research reports accumulated by the Pokémon Professors that we can accurately develop high-quality Poké Balls that are both efficient at capture and provide a comfortable resting environment for Pokémon.
And precisely because of this deep cooperation, if you can meet the company's expectations in the future, in addition to your existing benefits,
if you desire rare Pokémon unique to other regions, Devon Corporation can also help coordinate their acquisition through the channels provided by these Professors.
After all, enabling capable Trainers to grow without worries is something Devon has always been willing and determined to do.
Most importantly, we have long-term sponsorship and deep cooperation with many Gym Leaders in the Hoenn region."
Speaking of this, Chairman Stone suddenly brought up a prominent name, his tone carrying a hint of familiar approval:
"Mr. Norman of the Petalburg Gym, you must have heard of him? He is a renowned Normal-type Gym Leader in the Hoenn region, so powerful that many consider him a strong contender for the next Elite Four.
Not to mention his ace Pokémon, Slaking, which has overcome its Truant Ability, even an unevolved Slakoth can unleash astonishing power beyond imagination in his hands."
Stone paused briefly, then naturally connected this to their past cooperation:
"Mr. Norman has focused on researching the habits of Slakoth for many years. To facilitate his research and training, Devon Corporation proactively offered assistance several years ago.
We sponsored him to establish an exclusive Slakoth Forest behind the Petalburg Gym, allowing him to conduct various detailed studies and in-depth explorations on Slakoth without interruption."
Chairman Stone looked at Lionel again, the profound meaning in his eyes deepening, his tone sincere and firm:
"Therefore, a young man with insight and ideas like you is precisely the kind of person we are willing to wholeheartedly support!"
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