A Second Meeting with Chairman Stone

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the streets of Rustboro City, gilding the plane tree leaves by the roadside with a golden edge.

With his packed backpack on his back, Lin Mo stood at the hotel entrance and took a deep breath. The air carried the fresh wheat fragrance of bread from a nearby bakery, mixed with the floral scent drifting over from a distant flower shop. It was wonderfully refreshing.

He lowered his head and patted the Poké Balls at his waist. The Tyrantrum and Feebas inside seemed to sense that it was time to depart as well, gently rocking and making faint sounds.

He strolled down the street and passed through the bustling central square, where early-rising residents were already playing with their Pokémon.

Without slowing down, Lin Mo turned the corner, and a grand, imposing building suddenly came into view. In the blink of an eye, he had arrived beneath Devon Corporation.

Devon Corporation's glass curtain walls reflected a dazzling brilliance in the morning light. Smartly dressed employees constantly passed through the revolving doors, and the air itself seemed infused with efficiency and precision.

The moment Lin Mo reached the entrance, an elderly man with graying hair and gold-rimmed glasses approached him from the lobby.

"Mr. Lin Mo, correct? I am Chairman Stone's secretary. The chairman is already waiting for you upstairs. Please, follow me!"

The old man's voice was gentle and steady, with a courteous smile on his face.

Lin Mo nodded in greeting and followed the secretary into the building.

The polished marble floor of the lobby reflected the crystal chandeliers overhead, while the reception staff handled their tasks in an orderly manner.

Whenever employees passed by, they instinctively slowed their pace, clearly showing great respect for the secretary's position.

They took the elevator straight to the third floor. Beyond the elevator doors lay a corridor carpeted in dark brown, with maps of the Hoenn Region and photographs documenting Devon Corporation's development hanging on either wall.

The secretary stopped before a heavy mahogany door and knocked softly. "Chairman, Mr. Lin Mo has arrived."

A deep voice answered from inside. "Send him in."

The secretary opened the door and gestured for him to enter.

As Lin Mo stepped into the office, the first thing that caught his eye was still the enormous floor-to-ceiling window that occupied an entire wall.

Beyond it, Rustboro City spread out before him. Uneven buildings, winding streets, and the faint greenery in the distance blended into a single expansive vista that made one feel instantly refreshed.

The morning sunlight poured in, bringing waves of warmth to the office.

Chairman Stone stood by the window. His silver hair was impeccably combed without a single strand out of place, and his tailored dark-gray suit made his already steady presence seem even more composed.

Seeing Lin Mo enter, he slowly turned around. His deep gaze settled on Lin Mo, and a gentle yet authoritative smile touched his lips.

"Come to think of it, this is our second meeting, isn't it?"

Stone's voice carried a hint of sentimentality. His eyes rested on Lin Mo, as if examining him and appreciating him at the same time.

"It feels like it has not been long, yet you have already made quite a name for yourself. I watched yesterday's Pokémon Contest, as well as your earlier battle challenging Roxanne Gym. They were truly outstanding."

Stone walked over to his desk and sat down, pointing to the chair opposite him.

"Sit. At such a young age, you already have such unique ideas about Pokémon battles and move combinations. Your future is limitless."

Lin Mo sat down and smiled somewhat embarrassedly.

"You flatter me. I still have much to learn, and compared with you, Chairman Stone, these little accomplishments of mine are nothing."

"Oh?" Stone raised an eyebrow and looked at him with interest. "I would not call myself an exceptional Trainer. Now you have made me curious."

"Your achievements in business are far more admirable than a Trainer's championship title," Lin Mo said earnestly.

"Under your leadership, Devon Corporation has matched Silph Co. in Poké Ball manufacturing in just over a decade, carving out a place for itself in this monopolized Poké Ball market.

"If Mr. Steven is a champion among battle Trainers, then you are a champion in the business world."

"Hahaha! You really know how to talk, kid!"

Chairman Stone laughed heartily, and even the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes seemed warm.

As he looked at Lin Mo, a nostalgic softness unconsciously surfaced in his eyes, as though he had recalled the hardships and triumphs of Devon Corporation's founding days.

When he looked back at Lin Mo, the appreciation in his eyes had grown even stronger.

"Good kid. Talking with you is much more enjoyable than talking with Steven. Every field has its own battlefield. A Trainer's battlefield is the arena, while ours, as businessmen, is the market."

He paused, then shifted the subject, his tone becoming more serious.

"I invited you here today because I wanted to ask whether you would be interested in affiliating yourself with Devon Corporation."

Lin Mo froze for a moment and looked at him in confusion. "Affiliate myself with the company? You mean...?"

"Do not worry. You would not need to do anything complicated."

Chairman Stone waved his hand, his tone relaxing somewhat. "We mainly want to use your image and videos to help promote our newly launched Poké Ball series.

"Besides mineral research, fossil restoration technology, and Pokémon interaction device development, Poké Ball manufacturing is also one of Devon Corporation's core businesses.

"The perspective of a young Trainer is often more capable of moving consumers of the same age."

After a brief pause, Stone continued frankly.

"Of course, this is also an investment. Devon Corporation has always believed in supporting Trainers with potential.

"When you establish yourselves in the Pokémon League and gain greater influence in the future, perhaps we can develop a positive relationship regarding policy and resources. That would also benefit the entire Trainer ecosystem of the Hoenn Region."

Only then did Lin Mo understand. So this was why he had been asked to visit Devon Corporation before setting off.

Stone shifted the conversation again and continued, "As for compensation, you need not worry at all. In addition to a fixed monthly stipend and discounted access to various Pokémon items;

"Over the years, in order to conduct in-depth Poké Ball research, Devon Corporation has long established stable and close partnerships with Pokémon professors in many regions."

Chairman Stone took a sip of tea, his voice carrying a trace of pride.

"By drawing on the enormous amount of Pokémon ecological data and behavioral research reports accumulated by those professors, we have been able to precisely develop high-quality Poké Balls that can both capture Pokémon efficiently and provide them with a comfortable resting environment.

"And because of this close cooperation, if you later meet the company's expectations, then beyond your current benefits;

"If you want rare Pokémon unique to other regions, Devon Corporation can also coordinate with those professors to help you obtain them.

"After all, allowing capable Trainers to grow without worries has always been something Devon is willing to do—and something we have consistently done.

"Most importantly, we have long provided support and maintained deep partnerships with quite a few Gym Leaders in the Hoenn Region."

At this point, Chairman Stone suddenly brought up a renowned name, his tone carrying familiarity and praise.

"You have heard of Mr. Norman of Petalburg Gym, have you not? He is a famous Normal-type Gym Leader in the Hoenn Region, powerful enough that many consider him a strong contender for the next Elite Four.

"Not to mention his ace Slaking, which has overcome the Truant Ability—even the unevolved Slakoth in his hands can unleash astonishing strength beyond imagination."

Stone paused briefly before naturally continuing with the history of their cooperation.

"Mr. Norman has devoted many years to studying Slakoth habits. To make his research and training more convenient, Devon Corporation took the initiative to lend him a hand years ago.

"We funded the creation of a dedicated Slakoth forest behind Petalburg Gym, allowing him to conduct all manner of detailed research and in-depth exploration of Slakoth without interference."

Chairman Stone looked at Lin Mo again, the meaning in his eyes growing deeper as his tone became earnest and firm.

"That is why young people like you—knowledgeable and full of ideas—are precisely the people we are willing to support with all our strength!"