Chapter 470: After That

Chapter 470: After That

With the capture of Groudon and Kyogre, the dark cloud hanging over the Hoenn region finally dissipated.

Ordinary members of Team Magma and Team Aqua, having witnessed the destructive power of the two Legendary Pokemon, decided to leave the teams and return to their regular lives.

As for the high-ranking executives of these organizations, they had all disappeared without a trace.

Interpol sent professional officers to track down Blaziken, Gramps, and Fountain, among others.

Thus, the crisis in the Hoenn region temporarily came to an end.

Fortree City, the Zuvue Inc. mansion.

Dai's arm was wrapped in pristine bandages as bright sunlight streamed through the window, accompanied by a gentle breeze that swayed the silver-gray curtains softly.

A vase of blooming flowers sat on the windowsill, and beyond the window was a clear blue sky, free of any clouds, a sight that brought peace to the mind.

Dai gazed at the scene absentmindedly, his thoughts wandering.

Just then, the door opened.

His father, Zuvue, the president of the Deven Company, entered the room with a personal doctor in tow.

"Father," Dai snapped out of his reverie and called out to the newcomers.

Zuvue's face was filled with concern, and even now, recalling the events of that day, he still felt a sense of lingering fear.

If that mysterious person hadn't shown up, he didn't dare to imagine what might have happened to his son.

"It's all over now. Don't worry anymore," Zuvue reassured his son.

Dai wore a helpless expression. "Father, I'm not a child anymore."

"In your father's eyes, you'll always be my child," Zuvue said.

Dai: "..."

The personal doctor pretended not to hear a word, quietly stepping forward to examine Dai's injuries.

After a moment, he put down his medical instruments and turned to Zuvue, "He's going to be just fine. Dai has an excellent physical condition, and his wounds have mostly healed. The bandages and splint on his arm can be removed in another three days, but he still needs to take it easy and avoid overexertion."

Hearing this, Zuvue heaved a sigh of relief. "Good, that puts my mind at ease."

With his work done, the doctor left the room, leaving the father and son alone.

Only then did Zuvue bring up the main matter at hand.

"Dai, we must find a way to properly thank that person."

"I know," Dai paused before continuing, "I've already made arrangements to visit him in a few days."

"That's good, that's good," Zuvue nodded, picking up two briefcases from the side, "Here, I've prepared a token of our gratitude. Remember to bring it with you when you go."

Dai was taken aback as he looked at the cases. "What's inside?"

Zuvue opened the cases, and in the next second, piles of cash were revealed before Dai's eyes.

"..."

Dai fell silent for a moment before asking, "Won't this be a bit too... ordinary?"

From what he knew, the Wing King didn't seem to be lacking in money, nor did he seem to care about wealth and fame.

Ever since the incident, there had been rampant speculation online about the Wing King's identity, but he had yet to make an appearance or respond to the rumors.

Instead, many netizens had turned their attention to Naoki, trying to glean some information about the mysterious Motor Mask. However, Naoki had not uttered a word about his identity.

Some curious individuals had noticed a clue in Naoki's follower list, but upon checking, they found that it was a blank account with no comments or interactions.

Was this the account of a Pokemon Trainer?!

People sent messages and private chats, but their efforts were in vain, as if the account owner had stopped using it.

This only added to the air of mystery surrounding the Wing King.

Trainer of the legendary Pokemon Latios, summoner of the Sky King Rayquaza, the lone force that stopped the Earth and Ocean Gods...

Such a mysterious and powerful Trainer was bound to attract attention and admiration.

In the Hoenn region, fans had even formed the 'Motor Mask Fan Club', donning Motorizard masks similar to his own.

Upon hearing Dai's comment, Zuvue also felt that his chosen gift might be a bit too mundane.

But then he thought, perhaps this mysterious individual needed money? After all, raising and nurturing Pokemon could be quite expensive.

Especially for a Pokemon the size of Latios—one meal could easily consume several tons of Pokeblocks and berries!

"Let's send this as a first gesture of gratitude, and when you visit him, you can observe and see if there's anything else he needs. We can prepare something more suitable then," Zuvue suggested.

After all, this person had saved his son's life, and Dai was his only child. For Dai's sake, Zuvue would be willing to give up even the Deven Company.

"Alright then," Dai reluctantly agreed.

"Get some rest now, I'll leave you to it," Zuvue said with a smile, bidding his son farewell.

Pastoria City, Naoki's Ranch.

After the rain, the temperature had dropped, leaving the air feeling refreshingly cool.

Having replied to Dai's message, Naoki returned to his routine as a ranch owner in the countryside.

He carried a basket to the apple orchard, plucking apples glistening with dew from the trees.

In the park across from the ranch, Flygon was enthusiastically recounting the exploits of the Sky King Rayquaza to an audience of curious Pokemon, including Butterfree, Motorizard, and Barboach.

"Raawwrr! Rayquaza is incredible! With its power, it defeated two Pokemon that wanted to destroy the world!" Flygon exclaimed.

"Gaaoo!" (Wow!)

The Pokemon listeners were filled with awe, lamenting the fact that they hadn't witnessed such an epic battle themselves.

After picking apples, Naoki returned to the kitchen to check on the ranch's supplies.

"Roar!"

"Ba-mo!"

"..."

The Pokemon happily agreed and continued to listen to Flygon recount the tale of the Sky King Rayquaza.

Naoki, meanwhile, drove his old pickup truck leisurely towards Verdanturf Town.

He parked his truck by the roadside and made his way towards the Verdanturf Market.

As he passed through a street, Naoki suddenly spotted several children wearing Motorizard masks, chasing and playing with each other.

While running, they shouted, "Groudon, stop right there! I, Motor Mask, am here to stop you today! Huff, don't run!"

One child, pretending to be Groudon, scrambled to escape in front.

But suddenly, they bumped into something and landed on their bottoms.

The other children chasing behind also stopped and stared blankly at the tall man standing before them.

Naoki looked at the Motorizard masks on their faces and fell silent.

After a moment, he reached out and helped the child pretending to be Groudon to his feet.

"Don't play on the road, there are cars, it's dangerous!"

"Yes, sir!"

The group of children chorused in response, then turned and ran off to play in an empty lot.

Watching this scene, Naoki shook his head helplessly.

It's too much...

It had only been a few days, yet news of the incident had spread like wildfire.

Was this the power of the internet? It was a little scary. Thankfully, he had worn a mask back then, or else those netizens might have dug up everything about him by now.

Naoki quickly finished his shopping on the street and drove back to the ranch.

After storing the ingredients in the refrigerator, he took out his Rotom Phone to browse the news online from the past few days.

It's worth mentioning that Naoki had stopped using the previous account, turning it into a blank account.

This was because those netizens had traced him through Dialga's follows and kept sending him harassing private messages.

The incident in the Hoenn region remained a hot topic, and the news about [Dialga] and [The Mysterious Trainer in the Motorizard Mask] continued to attract attention.

Naoki even saw that some netizens had formed the [Motor Mask Fan Club], exclusively for fans of Motor Mask.

Naoki: "..."

However, what concerned him more was that Dialga's fan base had grown even further, surpassing eight digits and reaching tens of millions.

In the Pokemon world, this was an astonishing number!

These netizens began to view Dialga as a kind of legendary Pokemon, one that specifically fought to protect humans.

But only he knew that Dialga had merely gone along out of curiosity...

As expected of the superstar Dialga.

As the saying goes, speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Just as Naoki was browsing Dialga's personal page, a message from Dialga popped up in the background.

[In the Legendary Pokemon Chat Group]

Dialga shared a screenshot of its fans and boasted to Mewtwo and Regigigas.

[Dialga: Hahaha, amazing, right? Rotom said my number of fans has broken records!]

[Mewtwo: ...]

[Regigigas: Thou art indeed a hero, having stopped the fight between those two Pokemon and saved the humans living in that land.]

Listen to Regigigas' words, so eloquently put! Dialga was delighted.

Although it had initially just gone along out of curiosity, now that others were praising it as a savior of the Hoenn region, it would embrace that role!

However, Dialga suddenly remembered something.

It started to @Naoki in the group.

[Dialga: @Naoki, what about that very powerful Pokemon? Bring it into the group, it deserves to be here!]

Naoki: "..."

It seemed that Dialga was quite concerned about Reshiram's strength!

But for now, he had no plans to give Reshiram a Rotom Phone...

[Naoki: I'll invite it to join later when there's an opportunity.]

After all, there would be other chances for them to meet in the future.

When the movie featuring the Super-Jinx Pokemon Hoopa started, all the legendary Pokemon would make an appearance.

At that time, other Pokemon would be controlled by the Super-Jinx Pokemon Hoopa, and it would be up to Reshiram to take them all on.

However, Dialga seemed to be one of the "7" as well?

"Oh well, I'll decide what to do based on the situation then!"

It wouldn't matter if Dialga was controlled, they still had Black Reshiram!

It wouldn't matter if Palkia or Giratina were controlled either, they still had Black Reshiram!

This was the confidence that Black Reshiram gave them!

With the crisis involving Groudon and Kyogre averted, Naoki had no other pressing matters to attend to.

Today was May 18, year 200 of the League Calendar, and in 13 days, the World Tree would be ready for relocation, allowing him to help the World Tree and its Pokemon move to a new location.

On May 22nd of the League Calendar, at 9 am, a fully recovered Dai boarded a private plane to the Pasio region with his Gigantamax Copperajah.

After a long five-hour flight, the plane landed in a beautiful, lush field outside of Verdanturf Town, known for its fresh air and picturesque rural scenery.

By the riverbank lay vast fields, where crops thrived and looked ready for harvest.

On the other side stood an orchard, with a barn and several other buildings beside it. In front of the buildings, a few milk cans and hens dotted the grass, enjoying the sunshine.

A stone bridge crossed the river, leading to another orchard on the opposite bank. Facing the orchard seemed to be a park, where a fluffy Snorlax lay beneath a large tree.

Not far away, on a small hill, a group of soft and round Wooloo Pokemon basked in the sun, enjoying a leisurely afternoon.

This must be Naoki's ranch.

"Naoki is actually a ranch owner!"

Dai was astounded by what he saw.

The idea of a ranch owner capturing a Cresselia was truly unbelievable.

Just then, as the pilot in front was about to land the plane, several Flygon dragons flew by, causing the pilot to let out a startled exclamation.

Dai looked in their direction and saw several Flygon dragons with satchels on their backs, staring at the private plane with curious eyes.

"Mr. Dai, what should we do?"

The pilot was tense, feeling the weight of the Flygon dragons' stares, especially the scarred one whose gaze sent a chill down his spine.

"Don't worry, they mean no harm." Dai remained calm. "Just land the plane as usual."

"Yes, sir!"

The pilot carefully landed the private plane in an open area, despite the presence of the inquisitive dragons.

As Dai stepped off the plane, carrying two briefcases, he spotted a tall man in blue overalls standing on the grass ahead.

Several Pokemon accompanied the man.

There was a Butterfree, a Flygon, a Motorizard, a Barboach, and an unfamiliar Pokemon.

Dai had never seen anything like it.

It had a crimson body, golden irises, and colorful ornamental feathers adorning its head. Its whole being exuded a wild aura.

"Nice to finally meet you, Mr. Dai," Naoki said with a gentle smile, greeting the silver-haired man in front of him.

Dai snapped out of his daze and replied, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Naoki."

Turning to the plane's pilot, Dai instructed, "You can go to the town to rest for now. I'll contact you when it's time to leave."

"Yes, sir!"

The pilot acknowledged the order and took off again, leaving Dai and Naoki alone.

Watching this exchange, Naoki thought to himself that Dai was indeed the young master of the Deven Company.

Zuvue Dai, the famous young master from a prestigious family in the Pokemon world!

However, Dai himself carried no air of arrogance. Naoki invited him in, saying, "Please come in."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Dai politely accepted the invitation and followed Naoki into the living room, carrying his briefcases.

He set the cases down beside the sofa and said to Naoki, "My father has prepared a token of our gratitude. Please accept this gift."

Naoki was taken aback for a moment before shaking his head with a smile. "There's no need for a gift. We were just lending a helping hand."

But Dai insisted, "However, the crisis in the Hoenn region was averted thanks to your intervention. The Hoenn League should express its gratitude in some way."

As the Hoenn League Champion, he had come here specifically to convey their appreciation.

However, Dai had not revealed Naoki's true identity or information to anyone else in the Hoenn League.

From the way Naoki wore a mask, it seemed he didn't want others to know who he was.

If it weren't for Dai's inside knowledge, he wouldn't have believed that the hero who saved Hoenn was actually a ranch owner living in the countryside.

Hearing this, Naoki smiled wryly and didn't pursue the topic further. Instead, he asked, "How is the Hoenn region doing now?"

Dai nodded. "Thanks to your help, the damage caused by Groudon and Kyogre was minimized. Aside from some towns near the ocean and volcanoes, the other cities have resumed their normal operations."

"That's good to hear," Naoki said.

He turned and took out two orbs from a cabinet, placing them in front of Dai.

They were the ruby-red and indigo orbs that Bear Baby had retrieved earlier.

"Now that the crisis is over, these two orbs should be returned to their rightful owners," Naoki said.

However, Dai shook his head. "We are not their owners."

Naoki was slightly taken aback.

Dai continued, "To be precise, these two orbs belong to Groudon and Kyogre themselves."

During his previous investigations, he had come across related information in some ancient books.

Both the ruby-red and indigo orbs were part of Groudon and Kyogre's original power.

Long ago, for unknown reasons, they had lost these two orbs, which were then found by humans.

With a concerned expression, Dai requested, "Mr. Naoki, could you please keep these two orbs in your care?"

Naoki looked surprised. "Hmm?"

Dai shared his worries. "I fear that one day, someone might use these orbs again to awaken Groudon and Kyogre. If they fall into the wrong hands, it could bring about another disaster. I believe that only you, as a Pokemon trainer, can ensure their safety."

He glanced at the two orbs and, after a moment, smiled and said, "Alright."

"However, there's something I'd like to ask of you as well," Naoki said.

"Go ahead."

Naoki turned to look at the Pokemon by his side and continued, "We don't want to be disturbed in our peaceful lives here, so I'd like to ask that you keep my identity confidential and not reveal any information about me."

Hearing this, Dai was taken aback for a moment before nodding solemnly. "I understand."

"Then we're all set," Naoki smiled.

"Also..." Dai hesitated.

Noticing his expression, Naoki asked, "What's wrong?"

Dai asked the question that was on his mind, "Are you a member of the Meteorite Tribe, Mr. Naoki?"

"Meteorite Tribe?" Naoki was a little surprised.

The Meteorite Tribe was an ancient tribe from the Hoenn region, and the Sky Pillar where Rayquaza dwelled was constructed by them.

Dai must have thought that he could summon Rayquaza because he was a member of that tribe.

Looking at the puzzled Dai, Naoki shook his head, "No, I have no relation to the Meteorite Tribe. The reason I'm able to call upon Rayquaza is due to some events that occurred in the past."

Latios had heard about the heroic legend of Rayquaza and specifically went out to search for it, listening to Rayquaza recount its heroic deeds from the past.

Perhaps Rayquaza found Latios rather likable, as it gifted it with one of its scales.

Later on, Rayquaza would accept Latios' invitations to visit the ranch...

"I see." Dai now understood the answer he sought.

It seemed that Rayquaza wasn't just active in the Hoenn region.

Beyond Hoenn, there existed a much broader world.

Now that the crisis in the Hoenn region had been averted, a desire to venture out and explore the outside world suddenly sprouted in Dai's heart.

There must be many captivating stones waiting for him in those places.

Speaking of stones, Dai took out a specially made box from his pocket.

The money in the two briefcases earlier was a gift prepared by his father, Zuvue Mujin.

However, the item in this box was a personal gift from Dai to Naoki.

Inside was one of his most precious collections, which he intended to present to Naoki.

He pushed the box towards Naoki, "Mr. Naoki, this is a personal gift from me to you. Thank you for your help to the Hoenn region during this time."

Naoki was taken aback for a moment, then looked at the two briefcases next to the sofa.

Dai looked helpless, and couldn't help but explain, "That was something my father asked me to bring to you as a token of gratitude."

Hearing this, Naoki immediately understood.

Mr. Zuvue was expressing his thanks for saving his son, and the items in the two briefcases were a gift from a grateful father.

As for the box, it contained a gift that Dai had personally chosen for him.

Naoki reached out and took the box. He had intended to look at it after Dai left, but accidentally triggered the latch on the box.

The next second, the lid of the wooden box loosened and automatically opened, revealing a stone that looked like a glass marble with intricate patterns inside.

As Naoki's gaze fell upon the stone, all the information about it appeared in his mind.

[Electivire Evolution Stone: An extraordinary stone that, when carried by Electivire and combined with an Evolution Key Stone, enables it to undergo Mega Evolution and transform into Mega Electivire.]

Naoki was slightly taken aback.

Dai observed Naoki's expression.

Seeing Naoki's surprised reaction, Dai couldn't help but feel a bit regretful.

He suddenly realized that not everyone shared his enthusiasm for stones.

He had subconsciously offered what he considered to be a precious treasure to Naoki without considering whether the other party would like it.

Seeing Naoki's puzzled expression, Dai thought that he must not have expected to find an ordinary stone in the box.

Dai hesitated for a moment, then said, "Sorry, I might have been in too much of a hurry and grabbed the wrong box by mistake."

"Huh?" Naoki was confused.

Dai also froze, studying Naoki's expression. He seemed to detect a hint of reluctance there.

Dai's heart stirred, and he tentatively asked, "Do you also like stones, Mr. Naoki?"

"This stone is beautiful," Naoki praised sincerely.

The shiny glass marble was a precious treasure to little boys; no boy could resist its allure.

Hearing this, Dai breathed a sigh of relief.

"In that case, please accept it as a gift. To be honest, I love stones, and I'm fascinated by all sorts of stones. I have many more like this at home."

Naoki: "..." This was quite a big collection.

Speaking of which, Dai didn't seem to be aware of the value of this stone.

The Electivire Evolution Stone, also known as the Mega Stone, when paired with a Key Stone carried by a Trainer, allowed Electivire to surpass its limits and undergo Mega Evolution.

However, at this point in time, the special evolution method of [Mega Evolution] had not yet been discovered. Professor Birch was likely researching Mega Evolution but had not yet achieved further results.

This was also the reason why Dai hadn't had his Gigantamax Copperajah undergo Mega Evolution during that recent battle.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end