Taking Stock of the Gains

Mina fixed her gaze on the Talent Liquid in the box, took it out, and examined it carefully.

Thump, thump!

Eichi could feel Mina's heartbeat accelerating. It seemed she was not as calm as she appeared.

Mina was indeed quite excited. To help her Metagross attain Champion-level aptitude, she had spent who knew how many resources, yet although it was already far stronger than ordinary third-stage Outstanding aptitude, it had never broken through to Champion-level aptitude.

Now, with the Talent Liquid, there was finally hope of breaking through to Champion-level aptitude.

After looking at it for two minutes, Mina placed it back in the box.

Then she said, "All right, I'll take it. By the way, have you decided? Do you want Joltik or Wurmple?"

Eichi did not answer immediately. Instead, he frowned and thought it over.

Mina did not rush him and quietly waited beside him.

In his current team, Beedrill was an assassin; Scizor and Golisopod were warriors; Heracross and Armaldo could barely count as tanks. What he lacked was a mage—a Pokémon skilled in long-range attacks.

Volcarona was a mage, but its evolution level was too high. He would need to be at least a Gym Leader, so Joltik was currently the best choice.

Having reached that conclusion, he stopped hesitating and said, "I choose Joltik."

Mina nodded upon hearing that and did not ask why. "All right. You're heading back to Silver Academy next, right? Leave me a phone number, and I'll have someone deliver it to you."

Eichi said, "Sure."

"Oh, right. The password for this metal box is six ones. Change it later."

Mina glanced at the metal box. "I will. Is there anything else?"

Eichi thought for a moment. "No."

"Then I'll be leaving."

Eichi turned and walked toward the door. Just as