After an extremely awkward lunch, Aoki and Steven discussed the details of their diamond cooperation.
For Aoki, diamonds would be a renewable resource in the future, so he could proceed as agreed with Elder Mikan. Aoki trusted Steven enough.
However, besides Aoki and Steven, there was also a tag-along: Miki!
Upon learning that Aoki and Steven were starting a company together, Miki suddenly expressed her desire to get involved. For women, diamonds, with their sparkling, translucent beauty, hold a very strong allure.
As for whether Miki joined, it didn't concern Aoki much; he was only investing with the source of goods. The specific personnel allocation could be left to the Stone family. Aoki wanted to be a hands-off boss, taking a portion of the profits, essentially hiring a group of people to sell things for him, which was a very reassuring arrangement.
After a brief exchange, Aoki prepared to leave. There was a major battle coming up in about half a month.
"Then let's set the first delivery date after the competition. In the meantime, we'll build the company's framework," Steven said.
"Okay! We'll talk after the battle," Aoki nodded.
Steven smiled, "Then you really need to train hard. I want to see your true strength then. We can't hold back; we need to show everyone how brilliant we, the Twin Stars of Hoenn, truly are!"
Aoki also smiled, patting Steven's shoulder and saying, "Don't worry, I definitely won't disappoint you."
After that, he looked at Miki next to him and said, "Senior Miki, I might not have much time to handle the detective affairs during this period. I'll have to trouble you all."
Miki waved her hand indifferently, "Don't worry, don't worry."
Aoki nodded, glanced at the Kirlia floating beside him, who immediately understood and activated Teleport. As Kirlia activated Teleport, Aoki suddenly thought of something, took out a pink diamond about half the size of a fist from his pocket, and threw it to Miki.
"Since Senior Miki likes diamonds so much, consider this a gift." With that, he vanished with Kirlia's Teleport.
Miki subconsciously caught the item Aoki threw. When she looked at it in her hand, her eyes immediately turned into heart shapes. "A pink diamond!"
They knew how much a pink diamond was worth on the market now. Money wasn't the issue; the problem was that the pink diamond market was currently a seller's market, and even with money, you might not be able to buy one. She never expected Aoki to get such a large pink diamond.
Miki loved it and immediately put it away.
Steven, standing by, smiled and said, "Aoki is really generous. It seems this is a token of love for you, cousin."
Thump—
No sooner had Steven finished speaking than Miki jumped up and delivered a hard flick to Steven's forehead. She looked angry, her face flushed, and she waved her small fists in front of Steven, "Don't think I don't know that the rumors at home came from your mouth. I advise you to go clarify them for me now, otherwise... Hmph, you know what I mean!"
With that, she walked away happily with the pink diamond, leaving a stunned Steven behind. That flick to the head today... didn't seem to hurt.
Women, huh—
...
Aoki returned to the backyard of Fuye Town with Kirlia's Teleport. Although Kirlia could use Teleport many more times than Slowking, her speed was still quite fast.
Back in the backyard, looking at the resting Pokémon, a thought stirred in Aoki's mind.
"Kirlia, it's almost time," he suddenly said out of nowhere. Kirlia was stunned by the words, her round eyes looking at Aoki.
Slowly, Kirlia understood Aoki's meaning, and her eyes sparkled with surprise. Aoki smiled and nodded, "That's right, the time for accumulation has been long enough. I've been making you suppress yourself, and just now, during Teleport, I realized you've accumulated to the limit of your current body. If you evolve now, you won't waste your extremely high talent."
Among all of Aoki's current Pokémon, whose initial talent combined with growth potential was the highest? It was Kirlia! To avoid wasting her hard-earned talent, Aoki had always made her restrain her evolution and suppress her growth rate. After such a long time, energy blocks made from various top-tier materials had never stopped, and Kirlia had now reached the limit of her current body.
So... evolve.
Kirlia nodded firmly. She had been looking forward to her final evolution for a long time, but she never expected it to come so suddenly. As her thoughts relaxed, a white light burst forth from her body. After giving up her restraint, Kirlia immediately began to evolve, which showed just how much she had been suppressed during this period.
Aoki took out the aptitude potion he had prepared long ago and fed it to Kirlia.
This was Aoki's territory, and the backyard was full of Pokémon; no one could approach at this time. Slowking, knowing his beloved disciple was about to evolve, immediately wove the psychic net he had mastered during this period, enveloping the entire backyard. If anyone tried to approach, Slowking would sense it immediately.
Kirlia's evolution began without any surprises. Such a long period of suppression had allowed Kirlia to accumulate a large amount of energy within her body, and all parts of her body had been developed to their limits.
Just as Aoki stood by and waited, a Poké Ball on his body suddenly opened, and a Pokémon darted out. Noticing the appearance of this Pokémon, all the other Pokémon stopped what they were doing.
Slowking and Gengar appeared by Aoki's side first, followed by Tyranitar and the others, who came over cautiously, watching her.
This Pokémon, who had emerged from the Poké Ball on her own, was the only one Aoki had kept—the Gardevoir with no pain sensation and little emotion! Because this Gardevoir was very obedient, doing whatever her trainer told her to do, and because Aoki pitied her background, he did not sell her but kept her by his side, not for battle, but just to see if there would be an opportunity to reward her to a subordinate he valued in the future.
Because she was very obedient, Aoki had not locked her Poké Ball. He never expected that the emotionless Gardevoir would appear at this moment! Slowking and the others, who had battled her, knew her strength very well. Worried that it might affect Kirlia's evolution, they rushed over immediately.
Aoki stretched out his hand, signaling the Pokémon not to worry; he did not sense any malicious emotions from this Gardevoir. In her eyes, which were as calm as a placid lake with no emotional fluctuations, Aoki saw emotional fluctuations for the first time. Her target was Kirlia, who was currently evolving!