Chapter 115: Devon

Having recruited a top talent as a partner, Steven's mood became more and more pleasant, but he found that Xiang Guangtai was looking at him with a strange expression:

"Regarding the contract, I will draft it personally after I go back. Can you... eh? Is there something on my face?"

"No." Xiang Guangtai laughed: "It's just that I heard that the young master of Devon Corporation, as a rock fanatic, rarely cares about the company's internal affairs. Not to mention that you are also the Champion of the Hoenn region. Do you have any plans to inherit Devon Corporation in the future?"

Steven smiled: "My father is getting old. In order to let me collect stones outside with peace of mind, he has taken care of all the company's affairs. If possible, I do have plans to go back and inherit the company. As for the position of Champion, I already have a suitable successor in mind."

"However, I won't retire for the time being."

Xiang Guangtai nodded.

Joseph Stone, the president of Devon Corporation, is one of the most gentle and hardworking presidents among all companies. From a small sailor to founding a mining company and expanding it to its current scale, it can be said that Joseph Stone's life is a legendary inspirational book.

What is even more commendable is that even after he made the company so big, he could still maintain his original intention when he started the business. He could pull back from the brink in time on certain key research projects. This requires great courage and rationality.

Of course, in the process of fighting with the Hoenn enterprise giant, the Devon Corporation might have also used unseen means, but that belongs to enterprise competition, which is actually quite normal.

And compared to the Silph Co. that also appeared in the game, the presence of Devon Corporation is obviously much higher. And the only two wrong things Devon Corporation has done are catching Rayquaza and researching infinite energy, but compared to the Aether Foundation and Macro Cosmos that appeared later, Devon Corporation is already quite good.

And Xiang Guangtai thought that even if Devon Corporation imitates his items, the final product will only be a weakened version of the imitation. In fact, that will probably be the normal effect of the items in the game. After all, his items are "enhanced versions" processed by special crafts.

Just as he said to Steven.

Some things cannot be replicated by technology!

Modern technology's research on the Pokémon world, attribute energy, natural energy, and various idealistic powers is still too shallow!

Xiang Guangtai: "Then what do you plan to imitate first? Many items are actually not easy to replicate and research, or do you plan to buy them all and take them all back?"

Steven showed a matter-of-fact smile: "Since I have come to the workshop, of course I plan to take all the items away, but I have to see if you have stock here."

Xiang Guangtai naturally wouldn't let go of Steven, this god of wealth. Since he had decided to cooperate with Devon Corporation, he had to show some of his means!

"I said it just now, a batch of materials has just arrived, and I am planning to make a batch of brand-new items. If you are willing to wait for a while, you can also buy these items."

Steven: "That's for sure! This time I have already explained the affairs of Hoenn. Before coming to Celestic, I participated in the Fossil Research Conference in Pewter City in the Kanto region. After this meeting, there are no urgent affairs in the near future. No, it should be said that coming to Celestic during this time is the most important thing."

"Is that so... eh?" Xiang Guangtai was planning to ask about important things when he suddenly heard the beep of the computer. After opening the corresponding software and logging in with the Pokémon device, he found that it was a message sent by another client!

【"... If you allow it, I hope to visit your workshop in the near future. Let me introduce myself; I am a myth researcher from the Sinnoh region, Cynthia. Through some channels, I learned that there are occasionally ruin investigation teams heading to the Celestic region..."】

Xiang Guangtai: "..."

Cynthia!

Although there had been guesses before, after all, the attributes of the other party's team were really familiar, but I didn't expect to confirm the identity of this myth researcher so quickly!

Champion of the Sinnoh region... Indeed! In the game, because the protagonist of the Johto region investigates the Ruins of Alph and carries Arceus received from the cinema distribution, the special plot of the Sinjoh Ruins will be triggered, and Cynthia will appear in the mountain cabin to investigate.

According to the time of the event in the Hoenn region mentioned by Steven, it can basically be inferred that the current point in time is the end of "HeartGold/SoulSilver," and the plot of the Sinnoh region has entered the middle stage!

Counting the days, Cynthia is indeed coming to the Sinjoh Ruins during this time! It's just that in reality, the outrageous thing of "cinema distribution Arceus" will not happen, so the protagonist of the Johto region, the prototype of Gold, "Ethan," probably won't come to the Sinjoh Ruins!

"Speaking of which, if we follow the plot, the person receiving Cynthia at the Sinjoh Ruins has become me, Volo, and Grandpa and Abra?"

And before coming to Celestic, Cynthia had already learned about the three-illusion stage through some secret ancient documents, but she did not confirm the existence of Arceus until "Ethan" brought Arceus to the three-illusion stage, and Cynthia said the secret quote from the ancient documents—the Pokémon worshipped on the stage of light is only Arceus!

This time Cynthia came to Celestic, it seems it's my turn to solve her doubts!

But this cannot be known by Volo. After all, I denied the knowledge about the three-illusion stage when I was at the three-illusion stage before.

Steven: "It seems you have received a new order?"

"No." Xiang Guangtai laughed: "It's a client like you who plans to visit me for the reason of researching myths. She calls herself myth researcher Cynthia... I remember this name seems to be..."

Steven also laughed: "No way! It's actually the Champion of the Sinnoh region! Your workshop is really sought after by everyone! In Johto, Kanto, and Sinnoh, professors are also paying attention to your sculptures. I passed through New Bark Town before coming to Celestic, and Professor Elm there seems to be very grateful for your sculpture! Your sculpture helped him carry out very meaningful Pokémon egg incubation research!"

Professor Elm's incubation research?

Xiang Guangtai's mind stirred, thinking of the Arceus sculpture that was snapped up before. It turned out that one of them was Professor Elm, and from Steven's words, the other Arceus sculptures were also bought by professors in other regions?

That's right! After all, the Arceus sculpture has the effect of shining birth! Professor Elm is an expert in egg group research, and he won't let go of such useful items!

Xiang Guangtai: "Then, has the incubation succeeded?"

Steven: "Succeeded, and one of them is a shiny Pokémon! It's Chikorita, right? The size is also much larger than common Chikorita."

Shiny Alpha!

What good luck!

Xiang Guangtai also touched his chin with a surprised expression: "I didn't expect him to hatch a shiny Alpha Pokémon on the first try. He is worthy of being the professor who researched Pokémon egg groups and incubation technology!"

The new trainer should be very cool, right!

Most of the initial starter Pokémon are shiny-locked, and wanting an Alpha start is even more impossible! Although the shiny one is Chikorita, the new trainer who chose her will probably have a hellish start facing the gyms in the Johto region, but how to say... if you have a shiny Pokémon as a partner, even if you lose repeatedly, your mood will still be very good. This is pain and happiness!

"Alpha?" Steven suddenly noticed the strange thing in Xiang Guangtai's words, and Xiang Guangtai explained after an "ah": "By the way, Alpha Pokémon are rarely seen in the modern world. Simply put, they are individuals of the same species that are larger, stronger, and more powerful than normal Pokémon. Sometimes their eyes will glow with cruel red light. Affected by powerful forces, their personalities will also be more ferocious than other individuals."

"Celestic Forest." Xiang Guangtai pointed to the window outside: "Celestic Forest has a very ancient and primitive environment. It is probably one of the most primitive forest mystic realms in this world. There are Alpha Pokémon inside, but I haven't confirmed it yet."

"If you meet an Alpha Pokémon, it is very dangerous, so I often bring the Celebi sculpture into the forest. I met the Celebi of Celestic Forest not long ago and received its favor, so I can travel freely in the forest."

Hearing that Xiang Guangtai had met Celebi, Steven was even more surprised, his expression a bit serious, and Xiang Guangtai noticed something: "Could it be that you have also seen Celebi?"

"Not just that, perhaps." Steven was a bit uncertain, and Xiang Guangtai became even more surprised!

Wait, although it is a fusion world, does the Steven in front of me have the experience of the special chapter?

"Sorry, can I ask an unrelated question?" Xiang Guangtai confirmed: "Does the Petalburg Gym Leader have a son named Ruby?"

"Ruby? No, his son is named Brendan." Steven answered, and at the same time took a deep breath, quite puzzled: "Is it possible that Norman Gym Leader has a relationship with Celebi?"

"No, nothing, I was just asking." Xiang Guangtai confirmed that the fusion world here is still dominated by the game world, supplemented by animation, and some experiences in the special chapter seem to appear on specific characters.

However, judging from Steven's love and unfamiliarity with ancient rock, he probably hasn't seen Regirock, which means that even if he has had experiences similar to the special chapter, there are still differences in some events.

It may also be because of Celebi's adjustment, which led to some changes in the future.

Later, Xiang Guangtai changed the topic: "Speaking of which, just before you arrived, I received a somewhat difficult order. Mr. Steven, you are the Champion of the Hoenn region and also a well-known gem collector. I wonder if you have heard of the 'Bai Shi of Gratitude'?"

Xiang Guangtai thought that in Emerald, there really exists such a white stone, which was once rumored by players as a clue to enter the space map, and could also get the Mythical Pokémon Jirachi, but the facts proved that the stone had no use at all.

"Bai Shi of Gratitude?"

Steven frowned, putting the matter of Celebi behind him, but he really hadn't heard of anything similar, so he could only shake his head:

"I haven't heard of such a stone having the meaning of gratitude, but there is indeed a white stone used to pray for peace in Mossdeep City. That is a wishing stone placed to pray for the rocket to go to heaven safely. It has a special meaning for the people of Mossdeep City."

(End of chapter)