Hearing this, Xinhai immediately understood what Flannery meant. Although this approach was somewhat extravagant, it was indeed a way to speed up a Pokémon's growth in strength.
"I understand what you mean." Xinhai nodded and poured himself some more tea.
"Have Pokémon carry Evolution Stones of the same Type with them and slowly Absorb the energy within during their daily lives. It would be like having an extra source of improvement outside of training."
Seeing that he understood right away, Flannery's smile deepened. "Exactly. The results may not be as obvious as direct absorption, but it's steady and consistent."
"If a Pokémon carries one during special training, the energy it accumulates over a month wouldn't be much worse than spending an entire week on high-intensity training."
Xinhai thoughtfully lifted his teacup and took a sip, his gaze falling on the darkening sky beyond the window as he began calculating in his mind.
Although simply carrying them and absorbing energy would not consume much, even low- to mid-quality Evolution Stones were not cheap in the Hoenn Region. With several Pokémon, it would add up to no small expense.
But on second thought, it was money well spent. With the Ever Grande Conference approaching, he should not easily overlook any means of increasing their strength.
Furthermore, having Pokémon carry Evolution Stones could help them recover more quickly from training fatigue, allowing his partners to handle their upcoming special training better.
"I'll have Roxanne send some over later," Xinhai said decisively. "She should have connections to get decent-quality ones at a good price."
Flannery nodded without saying anything more.
The dishes arrived quickly: a steaming pot of tofu beef, a plate of charcoal-grilled mushrooms native to Mt. Chimney, a dish of glossy, tender stir-fried vegetables, ...and a bowl piled high with stewed meat.