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Oleander had just started to get dressed when she realized that Metagross was still facing her.
After a few seconds of eye contact, the Pokémon finally seemed to understand something. It slowly turned its body sideways, positioning itself protectively in front of the man, deliberately looking away from Oleander.
Once Oleander was fully dressed, she asked cautiously, “Who are you?”
The man carefully glanced sideways. When he confirmed that she was fully dressed, he let out a sigh of relief.
“Just call me Steven Stone. I’m just an ordinary Pokémon Trainer who likes collecting stones. I really just happened to pass by here by accident,” He explained awkwardly.
Oleander froze for a moment. The name sounded strangely familiar, but she couldn’t remember where she had heard it before, or perhaps she had just heard something similar?
“What are you doing here?” Oleander asked, carefully observing Steven’s outfit and the Shiny Metagross beside him.
Steven took out a strangely shaped stone and showed it to her. “No special reason. I’m just looking for some unique minerals, trying to discover stones with unusual properties. It’s just a personal hobby.”
Instead of reassuring her, however, Steven’s explanation made Oleander even more wary. In her view, his words had no credibility at all. With the wind raging and the rain pouring down, many parts of the mining areas around Oreburgh City had already suffered landslides and other disasters caused by excavation.
Even putting those dangers aside, how many people would venture into remote mountains and mining zones dressed like this during such extreme weather… storms, thunder, and violent winds, just to dig for stones?
How obsessed with minerals would someone have to be to do something like this?
Oleander thought that no normal person would ever do such a thing.
When asked if he was afraid of dying in such weather, Steven simply smiled.
“My Pokémon are quite strong. There’s no need to worry about that.”
Steven didn’t ask why Oleander was there. After confirming that she didn’t need assistance, he patted Metagross and prepared to move on.
“Sorry, you can’t leave yet.”
Oleander’s words made Steven stop in his tracks. His rain-soaked hair clung to his forehead, covering half of his face. The eye he could see revealed a hint of intrigue.
Steven’s expression shifted slightly. He toyed with the oddly shaped stone in his hand and tilted his head as he looked curiously at Oleander.
“Accidentally wandering into a girl’s bathing spot; that part is indeed my fault. But do you and your friends really need to surround me like this, looking ready to take me down at any moment?”
Steven glanced towards a large tree not far away. “Do you want me to invite you out?”
Having been exposed, Cyrus calmly stepped out from behind the tree. The nearby Zangoose, Machamp, and Rhydon also prepared themselves for battle.
Earlier, a Mantine monitoring the movements of the Hodgepodge Organization had noticed fallen trees and quickly informed Cyrus. When he rushed over, Cyrus found Oleander already confronting Steven.
But Cyrus couldn’t shake the feeling that this man looked familiar.
Just as he was about to step forward and ask about it, Steven spoke first.
“Now it’s my turn to ask, who are you people? Why are you wandering around here in such terrible weather?” He said this with a smile, extending the stone towards Oleander. “Don’t tell me… you’re also here to dig for stones?”
Taking a step forward, Steven accidentally stepped on a branch, producing a sharp cracking sound.
The Pokémon, already in a state of extreme tension, reacted instantly.
Beedrill, Haunter, Zangoose, Machamp, and Rhydon all launched their attacks and charged forward.
Cyrus and Oleander were just about to shout at them to stop when they suddenly realized that an invisible force had seized all the Pokémon charging towards Steven and suspended them in mid-air.
Five were attacking one, yet they were all instantly countered. Had Luther been present, he would have instinctively recalled a certain classic line.
Metagross had merely restrained the Pokémon with its psychic powers, without making any further offensive moves. It waited calmly for Steven’s next command.
“Steven Stone?”
Cyrus’s words made Steven turn his head.
Just as Cyrus found Steven familiar, Steven felt the same about Cyrus.
As Cyrus raised his hand and approached, the two finally confirmed each other’s identities.
“You’re… from the International Police’s Black Hole Squad… Cyrus?” Steven frowned, slightly puzzled.
Since becoming the Champion of Hoenn, Steven Stone had interacted with all kinds of people. Cyrus’s rather unpleasant record, along with his remarkable achievements, had left a deep impression on him, enough for him to recall it immediately.
Cyrus gave a helpless, bitter smile and corrected him. “Former International Police,” he said.
Steven waved his hand, signaling to Metagross to release the restrained Pokémon. Then he turned to look at Oleander.
When he heard the name ‘Steven Stone’ and saw that terrifyingly powerful Metagross, Oleander’s memory was finally triggered.
Wasn’t he the most “unprofessional” Champion of Hoenn? The one who was always impossible to find, even more eccentric than Cynthia, and who disappeared whenever he pleased; the stone-obsessed Champion of Hoenn?
You could encounter him anywhere there were mineral resources or really anywhere at all… just not on the stage of the Hoenn Pokémon League.
He had caused quite a headache for the Hoenn Pokémon League. Rumor had it that the process to select the next Champion had already begun and that the person he had personally nominated, Wallace, was set to take over the position.
“I am the former Deputy Minister of the Department of Safety under the International Police.”
Oleander’s introduction left Steven momentarily stunned, too. Even after they returned to the cave together, Steven still couldn’t quite understand why these two were there.
Oleander and Cyrus explained the entire situation to Steven briefly.
The more he listened, the more serious his expression became.
There had been no reports of the Hodgepodge Organization appearing in Hoenn. However, if they were already infiltrating regional Pokémon Leagues, this matter could become extremely serious.
‘Before I came here, I heard that Cyrus was wanted and that Deputy Minister Oleander had gone missing. Honestly, my first thought was that the International Police had fallen into chaos. To run into both of you here is really unexpected.”
Following Oleander’s lead, Steven went to inspect the observation point used to monitor the Hodgepodge Organization. After seeing traces of Oleander’s recent life in the cave, Steven gradually began to believe their story.
‘So you don’t dare ask the International Police or the Pokémon League for help because you’re afraid of insiders. You’ve made an agreement with Cynthia and the others to deal with the Hodgepodge Organization together, and now you’re just waiting for all the key figures to gather?”
Oleander nodded.
Steven thought for a moment before making a decision.
‘How about this? I can assist you. But first, I need to contact Cynthia to confirm the situation. As for supplies, give me a list of what you need. Next time I come back, I’ll bring them for you.”
Based on Oleander’s description, the Hodgepodge Organization was no longer just a problem for Sinnoh or Kalos. It was highly likely that they had already infiltrated other regions as well.
Now that he knew this, Steven couldn’t just stand by. He had zero tolerance for the Hodgepodge Organization.
Even if he was no longer the Hoenn Champion, he was still a Pokémon Trainer.
(End of Chapter)
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