Shelly knew there was a certain gap between herself and the Trainer standing before her.
But she never expected the gap to be this enormous!
She couldn't even put up a proper fight.
As a Team Aqua Admin, Shelly's main Pokémon were also at the Overlord level.
However, she had encountered a Metagross that was halfway to Champion level and a Scizor at peak Overlord level.
This battle's outcome was determined from the very start.
To prevent his opponent from escaping, Steven had Metagross cover this entire floor with Psychic energy in advance.
After all, the escape skills of these criminal organization Admins were truly maxed out.
He had to be cautious.
In the end, Shelly was subdued by Steven, who then proceeded to untie the bound researchers.
"Thank you so much!" The middle-aged, somewhat balding researcher excitedly shook Steven's hand, expressing his profound gratitude.
"It's nothing. Just don't blame me for the damage to your institute," Steven chuckled awkwardly, glancing at the large hole in the floor.
"That's perfectly fine!"
Steven tied all the Team Aqua members together and threw their Poké Balls into a sack.
"The rest can be handed over to Officer Jenny after she arrives," Steven told the researchers.
"Of course, of course!"
At that moment, a young researcher rushed over to report:
"Director! The data equipment is all intact!"
"That's excellent!" The balding institute director turned to Steven and said, "Please go rest as well! We don't know how to properly repay you."
"There's no need for repayment. Do you have a phone and a Pokémon Storage System here?"
"Yes, we do—on the first floor!"
Steven was led to a room on the first floor, where a videophone and a Pokémon Storage System terminal were installed.
"Thank you."
"No, no—we should be the ones thanking you!"
While the researchers and director went to organize their data, Steven remained in the room alone.
Since the doorway wasn't particularly large, it wasn't convenient to have Metagross smash through walls in front of the researchers, so he recalled both Metagross and Scizor into their Poké Balls.
Steven looked down at Piplup by his feet, which still seemed eager for more action, and smiled helplessly.
"Piplup~♪(´▽｀)"
I didn't expect showing off to feel this good~
"You little rascal..."
Steven chuckled and took out his Pokégear, calling Cynthia again.
Ring ring——
The phone rang only twice before being answered.
"Hello? What is it this time?"
Steven listened to the howling wind and indistinct voices coming from the other end of the line, and the corners of his lips subtly curved upward.
"Just wanted to ask when you'll arrive in Sunyshore City."
Steven lightly tapped Piplup's rear with his foot and made a shushing gesture.
The connection was already unclear, and Piplup was making noise on the side.
Piplup's beak moved, but no sound came out. It just rubbed its rear with an indignant expression.
"Probably in a little over an hour?"
"Alright, I'll wait for you," Steven chuckled lightly. "Be careful not to fall off."
"If you fall, I'll come to Hoenn and give you a piece of my mind."
The Garchomp beneath Cynthia's feet perked up immediately.
It automatically filtered out the first half of the sentence, only hearing the latter part.
Come to Hoenn and give him a piece of her mind!
This time, it must be my turn!
One Dragon Claw for the steel crab, one Dragon Claw for the blue-haired kid![T/N: Steel creb means Metagross]
Perfect!
After hanging up the phone, Steven stood and walked out of the room.
There was still an hour to wait, so he didn't need to stay cooped up in that room.
Team Aqua's objective was clearly the Weather Institute's weather monitoring system, most likely to help locate Kyogre's sleeping place.
What if that massive legendary Pokémon rolled over or stirred in its sleep, causing sudden heavy rainfall in that area?
Steven walked around the Weather Institute and generally understood that it mainly researched various abnormal weather patterns.
And also provided weather forecasts for the Hoenn region.
Essentially, it was a meteorological station.
While Steven waited, Officer Jenny from Fortree City—the closest city to the Weather Institute—arrived.
She gave Steven a verbal commendation for his actions.
However, Steven hadn't acted for Officer Jenny's reward, so it didn't really matter whether he received recognition or not.
He could ask his family for anything he wanted; it just depended on whether Steven himself desired it.
The sun set, and a light rain slowly began to fall from the sky.
This was common on Route 119.
Rainy days were more frequent here than in other locations.
"Ring ring..."
The Pokégear in his pocket began to vibrate and chime.
Steven saw that the call was from Cynthia, so he answered while walking toward the room with the videophone.
"I'm already at the Pokémon Center in Sunyshore City."
"Mm, I figured as much."
"You 'figured' again?"
"You wouldn't call me just to say you fell off Garchomp halfway here, would you?" Steven joked with a laugh.
"Pfft—"
Cynthia couldn't help but laugh aloud.
"Alright, the phone number here is xxxx."
Every videophone had its own number, and they all came equipped with Pokémon Storage System access.
In fact, one could also look up specific phone numbers in a general directory.
The Devon Corporation's Pokégear could also dial phone numbers, but you couldn't see the other person's face during calls.
Future upgrades to the Pokégear would likely include a high-definition screen for direct video calls.
It might also be incorporated into the production of new Pokédexes after collaborating with Professor Oak.
Steven used the videophone to dial the Sunyshore City Pokémon Center's number, and after connecting, a beautiful figure appeared on the screen.
Steven and Cynthia both held phones to their ears, looking at each other and smiling.
With perfect synchronization, they hung up their respective phones.
"Now can you tell me what the gift is?" Cynthia showed a sweet smile.
"Why don't you see for yourself in a moment? I'll tell you in advance—it's a Water-type Pokémon," Steven held up the Poké Ball containing Feebas to the video screen, smiling slightly.
"Hey..." The Feebas inside the Poké Ball looked at the girl on the screen with eyes full of longing.
So... so beautiful!
I want to become as beautiful as her too...
Steven placed Feebas's Poké Ball on the Storage System terminal.
"Feebas, you're going to Cynthia now," Steven carefully muted the audio and said to the Feebas in the Poké Ball.
"Hey..." The Feebas in the Poké Ball looked bewildered.
Can someone like me truly stay by someone like her?
Feebas was dazed and had shown no rebellious thoughts after being captured by Steven.
A colorful beam of light shone on Feebas's Poké Ball, and then it materialized at the Sunyshore City Pokémon Center, far away in Sinnoh.
Cynthia looked at the Poké Ball that suddenly appeared on the Storage System and picked it up.
"Do you want to take a look first?" Steven turned the sound back on and asked with a smile.
"Mm." Cynthia nodded and pressed the button on the Poké Ball.
Steven watched as Cynthia on the video screen bent down, picked up Feebas, and reappeared in view.
"Why does this little one look so... plain?" Cynthia examined Feebas with a face full of curiosity.
Feebas were extremely rare Pokémon, and there wasn't much specific information available about them. Even fewer people knew that it could evolve into Milotic.
"Hey..." The Feebas held in Cynthia's arms shed tears of hurt.
"But since Steven gave it to me, he must have his reasons," Cynthia looked at the Feebas in her arms, a slight smile gracing her lips.
"Feebas will become as beautiful as you in the future, Cynthia," Steven said with a smile, looking at the Feebas on the video screen.
"Hey?" Feebas itself couldn't believe that the person who captured it would have such high expectations for it.
Feebas looked up at the girl holding it, feeling confused.
Can I... really become as beautiful as her?
"Then I'll train it well and help it become beautiful!" Cynthia said with a beaming smile.
Feebas's eyes welled up with tears, but this time, they weren't from hurt—they were tears of joy.
Steven's smiling expression suddenly twitched violently.
Garchomp: (╬▔皿▔)╯
Behind Cynthia, who was gently petting Feebas, Garchomp's expression seemed to say:
Blue-haired kid, don't let me catch you!