Yong stopped dwelling on the other matters. He had more or less found his answer.
"Then I'll be taking my leave, Mr. Steven!"
Steven stood up with a smile.
"Wait a moment. I have a present for you!"
A present?
Yong looked at him in confusion as Steven took a box from a drawer and handed it over.
"Open it and take a look."
"This is..."
Yong opened the box and looked at the items inside: several translucent stones, with red, mistlike gas faintly swirling within them.
"Fire Stones?"
Steven nodded. "When I went to your house to sign the latest steel supply contract, Mr. Ishida mentioned that you had a Larvesta?"
"Yes. I caught it by chance inside Mt. Chimney."
Yong had nothing to hide from Steven.
"It seems you don't just have potential. You have luck, too!"
There was a curious note of approval in his words as Steven gave Yong a meaningful look.
"Luck is part of strength, too. Now I'm even more eager to see how you perform at the Elite Tournament!"
Putting away the Fire Stones, Yong nodded.
"Just wait and see!"
With a confident smile, he turned and left under Steven's gaze.
Walking along the street, Yong was in a very good mood.
This trip had yielded plenty. First, he had gained a rough understanding of the Elite Tournament's purpose and learned who his opponent would be in advance. Although that opponent was strong, he still felt a spark of anticipation.
He had also received Fire Stones from Steven. These were no ordinary Fire Stones, but top-grade ones, just like the stone Larvesta had absorbed before hatching!
There were six in the box!
They were worth a fortune!
Was this an advance investment from Steven-or rather, the Stone family?
Most importantly, he had caught