Aoki knew many individuals from Yangdou.
Now, as an investigator appointed by Adams to handle these traitors, it was only a matter of time before Aoki tracked them all down.
This wasn't merely about aiding the League in eliminating these threats—it was also for self-preservation.
While it's often said that clear waters breed no fish, the current situation was far too murky. If left unchecked, the chaos would harm even the innocent.
Thus, Aoki needed to become the bigger fish—one that could purge the smaller disturbances and restore balance to the ecosystem.
With Gordon apprehended, all remaining members of the Hunter's Guild, Team Magma, and Team Aqua on the island were swiftly arrested.
Aoki, Drake, and the others boarded another ship, setting sail for Slateport City in the Hoenn region.
Their journey here had been rushed, and after spending so much time within Celebi's distorted space, exhaustion weighed heavily on them. A proper rest was long overdue.
Once Celebi fell into deep slumber, the island had begun sinking slowly into the sea. By the time Aoki and his group departed, it wouldn't be long before the land vanished entirely beneath the waves.
Now, Aoki lay on the cabin's bed, savoring the rare comfort.
There was something about sleeping on a proper mattress after extended periods of travel that made it feel impossibly soft, almost intoxicating.
Yet Aoki clenched his teeth and forced himself upright.
Pleasure could wait—there was still much to do.
Having been disconnected from his island's system for so long, he needed to check on Porygon's status. Had the island's development been affected?
"System, connect to Porygon's visual feed," Aoki commanded.
A screen materialized before him, displaying the scene from Porygon's perspective.
The Clamperl farm, Qwilfish farm, and Gogoat ranch were all operating smoothly.
The Pokémon Aoki had stationed there were thriving, having fully adapted to island life.
Satisfied, Aoki retrieved a portable teleportation device and sent over the Poké Balls in his possession one by one.
His own team could train freely on the island, but the real prize was the Bulbasaur colony captured in Celebi's space.
Merging them with the existing Bulbasaur population would ensure stability.
Two Champion-level Venusaur would serve as formidable guardians in Aoki's absence.
Though the island was modest in size, it was more than enough for this number of Pokémon.
Moreover, its connection to the Seafloor Ruins ensured a steady flow of energy, guaranteeing the Pokémon's survival.
Thanks to genetic traits, most of the newly introduced Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, and Venusaur possessed the move Grassy Terrain.
With proper training and the Gogoat herd's assistance, the island's ecosystem would soon flourish.
Under Aoki's management, future generations of Pokémon born here would only grow stronger.
The island was self-sufficient now.
As for the Bulbasaur with the glowing vines, Aoki didn't keep it with him.
Instead, he sent it to live with its parents on the island.
There would be time to train it later—for now, it deserved peace.
Once the transfers were complete, Aoki shifted focus.
"System, compile the data I requested earlier."
He then unloaded a pile of materials from his storage.
Each one radiated a faint, peculiar energy—wave power.
Aoki had gathered everything necessary to repair the Riolu Egg, but Celebi's space hadn't been safe for the procedure.
Now, he could finally begin.
All materials were prepped, their quality and sequence confirmed.
Next, Aoki withdrew his crafting equipment—tools he never traveled without.
Over time, these devices had been upgraded repeatedly, now rivaling those used by elite Breeders.
Only masters like Matsuda wielded superior gear, though even then, the best tools were those tailored to the user.
What worked for Matsuda might not suit Aoki.
He relinquished control to the system.
Working with such unstable materials carried a high risk of failure—even for experts.
Yet the system's precision made errors nearly impossible.
Aoki observed his own hands moving under the system's guidance, committing each motion to memory.
He couldn't rely on the system forever.
Since the Sinnoh Conference, he'd been honing his manual skills.
Thanks to the system's aid and his own diligence, he could now craft intermediate Pokéblocks unaided.
Progress.
Aoki needed to know what he'd retain if the system vanished.
At the very least, one thing was certain: no matter how much he depended on the system, battles were fought by his own will.
The voyage proceeded without incident.
Three hours later, the materials had finally fused.
Strangely, despite their original colors—greens, reds, yellows—the result was a deep blue.
Perhaps wave power influenced the reaction.
Aoki had Gengar retrieve the Riolu Egg from the shadows.
According to the system, it still couldn't hatch.
Carefully, he applied the blue solution to the egg's surface, concentrating on the damaged areas.
Once fully coated, the system updated—the egg's hatch timer had finally activated.
Success.