"Lady Ariana,"
He weighed his words, striving to be concise yet shocking enough,
"I have preliminarily mastered the key information regarding Mega Evolution. Near the Southern Isolated Island, I discovered several strange ores. Through experimentation, I found that these ores seem to have a connection with the stone I possess, existing as an unprecedented energy link."
"And after that, among those strange ores, one of them established a connection with the Gyarados in my possession."
"Subsequently, I felt these three elements become linked in a marvelous way, actually completing the Mega Evolution of Gyarados!"
"I call those strange ores mega stones, and for the stone on my person, I have given it an appropriate name: key stone."
He cleverly linked his "discovery" to the Southern Isolated Island, after all, taking full credit for himself.
He made no mention of the League's classified case, nor did he mention the news broadcasts.
He simply emphasized that he "discovered strange stones on the Southern Isolated Island" and "happened to establish a link with a stone on his person," ultimately "completing the preliminary exploration into the field of Mega Evolution."
These words could both explain why he obtained the intelligence so quickly and maximize the display of his personal ability and contribution.
In an organization like Team Rockets where the strong prey on the weak, only those who are the first to grasp key information and transform it into practical value can obtain true respect and power.
Ariel understood this clearly and carried it out to the end.
He knew that this intelligence would be the sharpest weapon in his hand.
Ariana's message arrived quickly, with a sense of undisguised shock permeating between the lines.
Ariel looked at the text flashing on the screen, as if he could hear that Team Rockets Special-Grade Executive's uncontrollable exclamation.
The message explicitly stated that a designated person would come to collect the materials and verify the authenticity of the intelligence.
If everything proved true, Ariana would report directly to Boss Giovanni and solemnly promised that Team Rockets would never forget Ariel's contribution.
These words allowed Ariel's tense nerves to relax slightly.
He knew he had made the right move.
Ariel quickly replied with his location:
The Mossdeep City Pokémon Center, and provided the room number.
In just a few minutes, there was a knock on the door.
The visitor was an ordinary-looking man wearing an unremarkable jacket, yet his gaze was as sharp as an unsheathed blade.
He offered no redundant pleasantries, merely glancing at Ariel before extending his hand.
Ariel was also straightforward, taking the key stone and the two mega stones other than the one for Gyarados from the classified case and handing them over steadily.
The man took the items, inspected them carefully, and after confirming they were correct, turned and left with a clean efficiency that lacked any trace of social warmth.
The entire process took less than two minutes, startlingly efficient.
The door closed again, and silence returned to the room.
Ariel's body went limp as he completely lowered his guard, collapsing heavily back onto the bed.
Now that everything had settled, he only needed to wait for Team Rockets' subsequent rewards—a substantial return sufficient to elevate his prestige within the organization.
By the bedside, a bowl of soup was steaming, emitting an inviting aroma.
Ariel picked up the soup bowl and drank it in one gulp, the warm liquid sliding down his throat and moisturizing his somewhat dry heart.
The taste was indeed good, with a hint of sweet aftertaste.
This bowl of soup was like a signal, announcing that his body had basically recovered.
After resting for a moment, Ariel got up, deciding to go out for a walk and also to scout out the current situation in Mossdeep City.
Just as he walked out of the Pokémon Center, he unexpectedly encountered Steven again.
This future Champion of the Hoenn region was standing not far away, seemingly admiring the street view, sunlight dancing on his silver hair, making him look exceptionally dazzling.
Ariel stepped forward and sincerely expressed his gratitude to Steven.
After all, it was Steven who had rescued him from that perilous situation and brought him back to the Pokémon Center.
Hearing this, Steven merely waved his hand casually, indicating there was no need to take it to heart.
He turned around and inquired with concern about Ariel's recovery.
Ariel replied,
That his body was no longer in trouble, only his spirit was somewhat fatigued.
After listening, a hint of curiosity surfaced between Steven's brows.
He asked Ariel,
"Just what did you experience to make you sleep for so long?"
That tone didn't sound like he was probing for secrets, but more like a friend's concern.
Warning bells rang slightly in Ariel's mind as he quickly organized a story.
He casually fabricated a reason, saying he had encountered a group of ill-tempered wild Pokémon while exploring, and having exhausted his physical strength and suffered some minor injuries, he had fallen into a deep sleep.
He observed Steven's expression, and seeing that the other was listening seriously and didn't seem suspicious, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
After hearing Ariel's explanation, Steven nodded thoughtfully, then the corners of his mouth curled into an arc, carrying a hint of mystery as he said to Ariel:
"Since you've mostly recovered, come with me. Someone will be coming over later, don't be too surprised."
A trace of doubt rose in Ariel's heart, but Steven's tone also piqued his curiosity.
Half-believing, he followed Steven through several blocks, finally arriving before a building that looked low-key on the outside but was luxurious inside.
This clearly wasn't an ordinary Pokémon battle venue. Steven presented a membership card at the front desk and soon opened an advanced battle suite.
Pushing the door open, the view before Ariel's eyes suddenly broadened.
The interior of the suite was spacious and bright, with all facilities provided, including not only a professional battle field but also a comfortable lounge area and advanced training equipment; the soundproofing was also excellent, clearly designed to ensure absolute privacy.
Ariel looked around, and with a thought, he blurted out:
"Steven, are you going to battle me?"
Hearing this, Steven gave a light chuckle and shook his head, a hint of playfulness in his smile:
"No, no. The protagonist today isn't me."
He winked mysteriously, gesturing for Ariel to look toward the center of the battle field, his tone carrying obvious anticipation:
"Just keep your eyes peeled and watch."
Just then, another door in the suite was pushed open.
A figure stepped inside.
The newcomer was a blonde beauty dressed in a well-tailored, capable black outfit. Her steps were steady and powerful, her eyes bright and confident, and her whole body emitted a unique aura, as if even the air had become a bit heavier due to her appearance.
Seeing this, Steven's spirits immediately lifted. He turned to Ariel and introduced with a hint of pride:
"This is the genius Trainer from the Sinnoh region, Cynthia! How about it, quite an aura, right?"
"You must have heard of Cynthia's reputation! Well, are you shocked!"
However, as soon as Steven finished speaking, Ariel and Cynthia both froze on the spot.
Their gazes met in the air, both seeing unbelievable surprise in each other's eyes.
That surprise carried a complex emotion like a long-awaited reunion, as if time had frozen at this moment.
Seeing their reaction, the smile on Steven's face froze, and his eyes filled with doubt.
He looked at Ariel, then at Cynthia, and scratched his head in total bewilderment, breaking the silence:
"What's up? You two know each other?"
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