That boy was becoming more and more outrageous!
But Cain had no intention of refusing. As he himself had said, it did not matter with whom he exchanged, and evidently the resource base of the Stone family better satisfied his needs.
Clink—
He directly placed a magatama-shaped stone on the table, white and yellow at the center, surrounded by a transparent light blue crystal-like stone.
Upon seeing that stone, the other two people in the room knew that this Mega Stone could undoubtedly be used by a Pokémon of their family.
At that moment, Mr. Stone's mind was already thinking rapidly about what kind of item he could offer in exchange for such a valuable Mega Stone. He just did not yet know exactly which Pokémon it corresponded to.
But Cain did not keep the suspense. The next sentence shocked even Mr. Stone and Steven, two people with quite steady temperaments.
"This is Metagross's Mega Stone," Cain said indifferently, as if that stone was not very valuable in his eyes, just like an ordinary stone.
But Steven almost bit his tongue in shock.
"T-the Mega Stone of Metagross?!"
Cain smiled and nodded, without changing his expression.
However, Steven's next sentence almost made Cain stumble as well.
"You! If you had such a good Mega Stone, why didn't you give it to me in the Space-Time Continent?!"
Was that the point Steven was focusing on?
As he said this, Steven rushed toward Cain, put one arm around his neck, and with the other hand clenched into a fist began applying a "deadly massage."
Seeing Cain and Steven playing around like this, Mr. Stone also showed a faint smile.
He had had Steven late in life, but that did not mean he had raised him into a spoiled and useless son. On the contrary, he had drawn out all of his potential. The current Steven could not only greatly assist him in managing the company and family affairs, but he also had not neglected the growth of his own strength at all.
In Mr. Stone's own opinion, if it were not for the existence of a "monster" like Cain, and if Drake remained Champion for a few more years, then Steven would have been the one most likely to carry the banner of the new generation and become the Champion of Hoenn.
It was not that he thought Cain had anything lacking. After all, if such a powerful rival as Cain did not exist, Steven would not have improved so quickly. And what was reassuring was that the competition between Cain and Steven had been healthy, without any unpleasant incidents.
But precisely because of that, now he had a headache. The relationship between Cain and Steven was so good, and this time Cain had brought out Metagross's Mega Stone with such "sincerity," that as an elder he clearly could not shortchange Cain, or at least could not allow him to suffer a loss.
But with the current value of that Mega Stone, Mr. Stone honestly did not know what he could offer that would be equivalent.
Originally, he had only hoped for a Mega Stone at the level of Aggron, Steelix, or even Mawile. Who would have thought that Cain would suddenly drop such a bomb?
He was not even prepared to receive such a blow.
"Ahem, ahem, Steven, that's enough, that's enough. If I had had it at that time, do you think I wouldn't have given it to you? With the friendship we have, didn't I give Cynthia the Mega Stone of Garchomp? If I had had it, wouldn't I have given it to you as well?" Cain finally managed to free himself from Steven's "deadly embrace."
But Steven replied irritably, "Bah, who knows if you and Cynthia have some special relationship. Among everyone there, you were the one who got along best with Cynthia."
Seeing the expression of yeah right, as if I'd believe that on Steven's face, Cain was truly speechless.
But Mr. Stone, at the side, was once again stunned. He began to wonder if he had misheard.
A Mega Stone of Garchomp, something comparable to Metagross, given away?
Even he began to suspect whether there really was something special between Cain and that Cynthia.
Noticing the change in Mr. Stone's gaze, Cain was left speechless. That father and son... honestly...
After joking around for a bit, Steven clearly also sensed his father's mood and said directly, "Old man, I told you a long time ago. Just give Cain that thing. He definitely won't disclose it."
Hearing Steven's words, Mr. Stone could not help but fall silent. Steven had mentioned this many times before, but he had always been unable to make a decision.
Cain observed the exchange of glances between the two of them.
There was definitely something hidden here...
After they communicated silently for a while, Cain, who had been completely ignored, could not help clearing his throat.
"Ahem, ahem."
Only then did the two remember that there was a third person present.
Mr. Stone's expression showed slight awkwardness.
"The situation is this. Some time ago, Steven already told me that he wanted to teach you the special method of our Stone family for improving the aptitude of Steel-type Pokémon. He even assured me that you would never disclose it. But that method is truly far too valuable, and although I am the head of the family, it is not something that depends solely on me, so I had never agreed."
"But this time, the Mega Stone of Metagross that you have brought out truly has extraordinary value. For a moment, I also cannot think of anything that could be exchanged for it."
"It's just that this method, within our family, is also only passed down to direct members..."
"..."
Cain was speechless.
What do you mean it is only passed down to direct members? Old man, what exactly are you trying to say? Just say it clearly...
(End of Chapter)