Chapter 328: Magma Gear

"I simply don't have the habit of acting as a broker. Thank you for your kind offer."

All Baimu didn't even glance at the contract, and said politely, "Please allow me to contact my companion first."

He walked to a corner and began to make a phone call.

"Broker?"

Chief Chiyansong was briefly taken aback, then realized it was his own phrasing that had caused the misunderstanding, and for a moment his face showed an expression caught between laughter and tears.

Who could have expected that just the word "introduction" would lead the other party to such an unpleasant association?

This young fellow's temper is quite fiery.

He nodded inwardly. In his view, it was perfectly normal for a capable person to have a temper. Was Captain Huoyan normal? And yet she was still one of his top lieutenants.

Likewise, the temperament of Fire Village was not exactly mild either.

All of that was understandable.

What mattered was closing this deal—on one hand ensuring that Team Magma received publicity just like Team Aqua, and on the other hand completing a new collaboration with the Orei region.

A stretch of wild land where technology had developed somewhat but had not yet been opened up too much.

Wonderful!

Truly wonderful!

Chief Chiyansong felt his long-absent passion kindle and burn within him.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

All Baimu got on a call with Shanren.

It seemed to be deep into the night over in the Orei region at the moment; the latter had been about to go to sleep when the call came in.

"Ah~ Big Bro, what heroic feat have you done this time that you want to share with me?"

Shanren on the other end of the line let out a huge yawn.

All Baimu, in turn, briefly and swiftly told him about Chief Chiyansong—everything from Team Magma's ideals to why he had gotten mixed up with them.

After hearing it all, Shanren was silent for a long while.

Just as he was feeling inwardly uneasy, the other party said, "All Baimu, you really are a deeply sinful man."

"Huh?"

"The Hoenn region only had those two former criminal organizations, and yet you've run into both of them, and both of them want to invest in you. If you're not deeply sinful, then who is?"

"Uh… it's not like I wanted this…"

"Wanted it or not, didn't they come to you of their own accord? What does that tell us? It tells us you have the criminal potential to destroy the world! Luckily, as a member of a rescue organization, I stepped in just in time to pull you back from the abyss—"

"Are you sick in the head?"

"Hahahaha, you call me in the middle of the night and I can't have a little fun with you? But I'm quite curious about this Team Magma myself. Their ideal is developing technology to benefit humanity, expanding the landmass of the continent, and reducing conflict, right? Leave it to me."

Shanren's confident voice let All Baimu settle down a little.

If one were to ask him which people in the world were worthy of his absolute trust, this brother of his was one of them.

Shortly after.

He gave Shanren's phone number to Chief Chiyansong.

Chief Chiyansong also very straightforwardly requested a video call with him, and once the other party agreed, the two sides began their exchange.

Captain Huoyan, meanwhile, had quietly sidled up next to All Baimu, shifting from inviting him to join earlier to now egging him on to sign the contract and cooperate together, launching a nonstop verbal offensive.

All Baimu now understood why, within the Treasure Master circle, Captain Huoyan would say that Fire Village would turn fierce toward her.

This girl had absolutely no idea what personal distance or boundaries meant!

"A Pokémon battle… if I win against you… will you… agree?"

"Aren't all your Pokémon being treated right now?"

"After that… we can still battle…"

"Then we'll talk about it after that, then."

"I can teach you… how to make Pokémon… Mega Evolve…"

"I don't even have a Key Stone—how would you teach me?"

"I'll lend you one…"

To tell the truth, All Baimu was genuinely a little tempted, but with his sharp mind he also understood that getting entangled with Captain Huoyan would be very troublesome, so he refused very decisively.

At the same time.

Chief Chiyansong and Shanren, who served as the mayor of Iron Town, completed a brief meeting.

Both sides seemed quite satisfied.

After ending the communication, Chief Chiyansong's gaze turned to All Baimu. He stood up and approached, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "I didn't expect you to actually be the leader of Team Rainbow as well. It seems that in some of our earlier conversation, I was indeed rude. Allow me to apologize to you here and now."

"There's no need…"

"All Baimu, perhaps you should consider this contract once more."

He once again picked up the contract on the table and said softly, "Forgive me—my earlier words were a bit vague. The contract absolutely does not include any so-called broker's fee; it contains only straightforward sponsorship terms. Think about it—I didn't even know of the Orei region's existence at the start, so how could I have drafted such a contract in advance?"

"…"

"Having had dealings with Team Aqua, you must surely understand that we were once a hostile organization. Although we have now made peace, and most of our businesses don't overlap, there's no shortage of open rivalry and covert scheming between us."

Chief Chiyansong smiled and said, "Think about it—rather than letting us keep searching for other Trainers and possibly backfiring to create a vicious cycle of unhealthy competition, wouldn't it be better for you to serve as the bridge for healthy competition?

"And when it comes time to build in the Orei region in the future, it will also help cooperation between us. What do you think?"

The words had been spoken very politely.

He had even taken the other party's personal feelings into account, steering clear of certain sore spots.

All Baimu also understood that bringing Team Magma's infrastructure projects into the Orei region was an unstoppable tide, and for the people of the Orei region, this could be considered a good thing.

What Orei lacked right now was talent—talent in every field.

Have you not seen how splendid the construction projects in parts of the Hoenn region that Magma Team took part in have become?

Even if only one percent of the credit belongs to Magma Team, that would still count as remarkable.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Baimu understood clearly that this was a three-win deal where everyone made a killing.

Seeing him accept, a faint smile appeared on Chief Chiyansong's face, and Captain Huoyan covered her mouth with both hands, though the corners of her eyes curved into lovely crescents.

——

Magma Team rest room.

Baimu stared at an unfamiliar ceiling, a crowd of Pokémon gathered around him.

"You tell me — we clearly just made a fortune, so why does it feel so empty and lonely?"

He turned his head to the side.

Team Aqua's original offer was five million per period, later raised to eight million per period, while Magma Team doubled it under the new contract — though he had no idea where they got their intel, they handed over sixteen million just like that…

Is land development really that profitable?

"Munchlax~"

A Mawile whose huge jaws were wrapped in bandages nudged his arm, indicating that going shopping would cure the emptiness and loneliness.

Mega Camerupt's Explosion really was something — it even injured the skin of Mawile's huge jaws. Fortunately, those huge jaws were transformed from Mawile's horn layer, so there weren't many pain nerves up top.

Chansey had originally suffered some minor burns, but thanks to its Natural Cure ability, it was mostly healed before long.

Aggron, meanwhile, had never taken any serious damage from start to finish…

Mightyena's Dark Pulse and Assurance were barely stronger than a scratch.

"Let's wait until we get to New Zi Jin City." Baimu reached out to touch Mawile's face, but the latter retreated two steps in displeasure — even a Trainer couldn't make such a frivolous gesture!

I'll let you hold my hand, though.

It placed its hand inside Baimu's.

"……"

Baimu smiled soundlessly.

Suddenly.

The rest room's main door opened and Captain Huoyan walked in. "Baimu… the Magma Suit… the production is ready…"

【Magma Suit】.

It's the kind of outfit Captain Huoyan wears — the one that supposedly lets you stand in lava without blinking. This was a special perk Chief Chiyansong gave him, a symbol of friendship.

In the games, the player wears the Magma Suit and heads into space together with Mega Rayquaza.