A month has passed in a flash.
Roy stood at the Academy gate, looking around.
The Snorunt in her arms has reached level 10 and has successfully passed the Newborn Stage. Now, Roy's training for her is to release cold air at all times in the sweltering summer.
It's definitely not that Roy wants to enjoy himself; he's simply training Snorunt's Guts... Yes! That's it.
A black luxury car pulled up in front of the Rustboro Academy.
"Uncle Lan! I'm here."
Upon seeing the familiar butler in the car, Roy greeted him, skillfully opened the third-row door, and shoved aside Steven, who was drinking coffee, to make room for himself.
Steven looked speechless. There were clearly seats in front of him, yet he insisted on squeezing in. Roy, on the other hand, asked without any hesitation:
"How's Aggron's Mega Evolution training going lately?"
"I can hold out for 10 minutes now."
"I told you a long time ago to train with me, but you insisted on going looking for rocks..."
Hearing Roy rambling on and on, basically saying that he was weak and couldn't hold on any longer.
Steven shoved the dim sum bread he was holding into Roy's mouth, hoping to shut Roy up from his incessant chatter.
"Don't think that just because I ate your bread I won't scold you. It's normal to feel weak; just keep going... drink water!!"
Roy, who was choking on his bread, snatched the coffee from Steven's hand and gulped it down to catch his breath.
"Phew~ You actually tried to murder me with a loaf of bread? I never thought you were this kind of person."
Steven's eyes were filled with contempt. How could a person be so despicable, eating his own bread and drinking his own coffee while saying he was going to murder him?
Do you want more?
Roy returned the remaining coffee to Steven, Steven disdainfully pushed it back.
Seeing that Steven had stopped drinking, Roy gave instructions to Snorunt:
"Snorunt, I want an iced one."
"Snow!"
Snorunt blew a breath of cold air, and the coffee that was just steaming in Roy's hand instantly turned into an iced Americano.
After finishing his iced Americano, Roy ate two large steamed buns he had brought from the Academy, wiped his hands, and then got down to business with Steven:
"To be honest, I still don't really recommend that you use Mega Evolution in this Edge Cup."
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Even though Steven Devon Corporation backing him, the fact that Mega Evolution grants Pokémon the ability to evolve again and provide a significant boost is still too much to handle. What if it attracts the attention of certain individuals with ulterior motives...?
It's not the thief you should fear, but the one who has his eye on you.
Roy's expression turned serious when the topic came up.
"Yes, I know."
Steven knew that Roy was worried about him. He had followed Mu Jin in the business for many years until Devon Corporation grew to its current state, and he had experienced a lot of hardships along the way. However, it was really frustrating to have the trump card of Mega Evolution but not be able to use it.
Moreover, he heard that the contestants in this year's Edge Cup are even stronger than he imagined. First of all, there's no need to say more about the two of them plus Wallace.
The two Gym leaders of the Mossdeep City Psychic Gym, Xiaofeng and Xiaonan; Cade, the son of the Meteor People Clan chief; Winona, the vice-gym leader of the Fortree City Gym...
It's fair to say they're all quite skilled, not to mention the cunning old foxes lurking in the shadows, waiting to ambush people.
Steven was pointing with his fingers as Analytic with Roy a group of opponents he knew who were relatively strong.
Roy looked at Steven's seemingly logical Analytic with great doubt in his heart:
How did you know those people ahead of you were going to participate in the competition?
"The hotel next to Ever Grande City is a subsidiary of Devon Corporation."
Steven gave Roy a knowing look.
Roy hadn't expected Steven to have such a ulterior motive; those competitors must have booked hotels in advance to participate in the competition.
"I didn't expect you to be so cunning, Steven."
Roy gave Steven a thumbs up.
Clearly, Roy's praise didn't make Steven happy, and he called out to the butler in the front seat:
"Uncle Lan, drive."
"Yes, young master."
The Edge Cup tournament is being held in Ever Grande City, Ever Grande City, as the headquarters of the Hoenn League, is surprisingly located in a city isolated outside the Hoenn Continent.
It seems the locations of all the regional Pokémon League are rather strange; the Indigo League in Kanto and the Johto League in the Johto Region are both situated on the Indigo Plateau...
After the two arrived at the transit point, Lilycove City, Devon Corporation's private helicopter was already waiting at the port. The butler Uncle Lan, who was originally a car driver, transformed into a helicopter pilot.
Indeed, helicopters are much more comfortable than any other vehicle; the seats are much more spacious, and it's very comfortable to sit in one.
Roy still hasn't figured out what the downsides of having money are.
The Steven's helicopter first entered the airspace of Sootopolis City. The guards in the sky did not ask any questions after seeing the markings on the helicopter, and let it pass directly.
The helicopter landed over the crater of the volcano in Sootopolis City; they were there to pick up Wallace.
"Steven!"
Upon seeing the helicopter in the sky, Wallace waved at it.
The two successfully connected with Wallace.
Lisia and Swablu waved to Wallace and Roy from below. Rukia was going to Rustboro City in a couple of days to participate in this year's Pokémon Contest Rookie Cup, so she wouldn't be able to watch Roy and Wallace's match.
Wallace and Roy flanked Steven, one on each side. Upon seeing Roy on one side, Wallace n't resist teasing him again:
"Steven, why did you bring him along? He's really lowering our standards."
"Even a defeated opponent has style?"
"I just wasn't paying attention and let your Drakloak escape. You better watch out for running into me again in the tournament, or I'll beat you Steven won't even recognize yourself."
"I won't listen, you're just spouting nonsense."
The two started nagging each other again, separated by Steven. Steven's title of "elder brother" was entirely self-proclaimed; Roy and Wallace didn't agree with it, so he had no real power whatsoever. He could only listen to the two belittling each other, and every now and then the two would stop arguing and ask for his opinion.
If Steven dares to say anything negative, the two of them will team up to criticize Steven.
Steven:...
The butler had never seen his young master so helpless before, but he knew that his young master was probably in a pretty good mood right now.
As the helicopter approached Ever Grande City, the group noticed through the windows numerous Pokémon Trainers on mounts waiting for inspection by a dozen or so guards.
Many ships also dock at the port of Ever Grande City. As the headquarters of the Hoenn League, Ever Grande City has very strict external inspections, but these are mainly for Pokémon Trainers from outside the city.
As for Devon Corporation's helicopters, there was no need for any inspection; Uncle Lan in the cockpit directly piloted the helicopter inside.
One of the Pokémon Trainers, watching the helicopter fly straight in, asked in confusion:
"Why were they allowed in without any screening? I'm going to file a complaint against you!"
The guard glanced at the markings on the helicopter; it was Devon Corporation, a major taxpayer in the Hoenn League. Investigating them?
Are you crazy?
The guard completely ignored what the Pokémon Trainer said and continued with his work.