Since Mega Evolution was one of Team Flare's primary research projects and an important tool for achieving Lysandre's ambitions, Ash had no doubt that Team Flare was the organization with the deepest understanding of Mega Evolution and the largest stockpile of Mega Stones in existence.
Therefore, aside from the Mega Stone currently in front of him, Ash was certain that Team Flare could easily produce other Mega Stones as gifts.
The reason they had given him this particular Mega Stone was probably because it had not yet been identified—or, more precisely, because Team Flare did not know that Gyarados, a native Kanto Pokémon, was also capable of Mega Evolution.
Otherwise, with Gyarados being Lysandre's ace Pokémon, there was absolutely no way he would have given this Mega Stone away.
After all, Lysandre had clearly investigated Ash beforehand. There was no way he would not know that Ash also possessed a Gyarados.
Giving Ash a Mega Stone whose corresponding Pokémon had not yet been identified was clearly Team Flare's way of offering an apology without making the gift too generous.
If Lysandre already knew that this was a Gyaradosite, and also knew beforehand that Ash possessed a Gyarados, how could he possibly have thoughtfully handed over a Mega Stone that perfectly matched one of Ash's Pokémon?
As an apology gift, combined with the compensation for Ash agreeing to let them collect data on Mega Pidgeot, a single Mega Stone was already an extraordinarily generous offer.
To deliberately give Ash another Mega Stone that happened to match one of his own Pokémon—and one he could immediately put to use—would simply be going too far.
Their relationship had not yet reached that level.
"Thank you, Mr. Lysandre. I really like this gift."
Thinking that he might have just intercepted a Mega Stone that originally belonged to Lysandre's own Gyarados, Ash could barely contain the delight surging through his heart.
He casually waved a hand over the coffee table.
The briefcase containing the [Key Stone + Gyaradosite] instantly disappeared into his system storage.
The moment they witnessed this, both Lysandre and the Team Flare chief scientist standing nearby, Dr. Xerosic, narrowed their eyes.
They were clearly caught off guard.
Although the Pokémon world possessed various forms of technology involving spatial manipulation—the most typical examples being Poké Balls and expandable spatial travel backpacks—these were all applications of scientific technology.
The use of spatial power through scientific means came with strict prerequisites, and ordinary human Trainers could not directly control or manipulate such power.
Psychic users with the ability to perform Teleport could instantly move from one place to another.
But opening up a private sub-dimensional space and using it to store objects, just as Ash had done, was an entirely different matter.
That left both Lysandre and Xerosic deeply astonished.
Ash already possessed Psychic abilities capable of helping Pokémon comprehend moves and even treating their injuries.
Now he had demonstrated that his Psychic abilities could also create a spatial storage function.
The more Lysandre and Xerosic learned about Ash, the more mysterious he became.
It was becoming increasingly difficult to see through him.
And consequently, the sense of wariness they felt toward him grew stronger.
"Ash, your Psychic abilities really are extraordinary. You even possess the ability to store objects in a separate space."
Lysandre praised him, though only Lysandre himself knew what was truly going through his mind.
"You flatter me, Mr. Lysandre. It's nothing more than a little trick."
Ash shook his head.
"Although it's somewhat clever and rare, it ultimately has no real offensive power."
He spoke casually, but the confidence on his face made it impossible for Lysandre to believe him.
In Lysandre's eyes, Ash's claim that his Psychic abilities had no offensive capability was practically the opposite of the truth.
In fact, Lysandre suspected that Ash was deliberately speaking in reverse.
He was subtly telling Lysandre that his Psychic abilities possessed tremendous offensive potential.
In other words, Ash was quietly warning—and threatening—him.
No matter how high someone's status was, how great their authority was, or how powerful the Pokémon under their command might be, the Trainer themselves was still physically vulnerable.
If Lysandre ever tried to harm Ash, Ash could potentially retaliate against him directly with his Psychic abilities.
Therefore, if Lysandre ever wanted to act against Ash—whether now or in the future—he would have to think twice before making a move.
Lysandre's interpretation was not wrong.
Ash had done it deliberately.
He was intentionally warning Lysandre and making him more wary, thereby giving himself greater leverage in their future dealings.
This was not Ash's first encounter with an evil organization.
He understood that when dealing with such groups, revealing just enough strength to make the other side cautious was often the most effective approach.
And this time, his little display had landed perfectly.
The conversations and potential cooperation between the two sides afterward proceeded exceptionally smoothly.
…
Lysandre's invitation to Ash this time had two primary purposes.
One was to apologize for the incident involving Celosia.
The other was to collect data related to Mega Pidgeot, particularly the Mega Evolution Wave energy released by Pidgeot during Mega Evolution.
Ash was extremely cooperative.
Not only did he allow them to collect the data, but he also deliberately shared with Lysandre some of the important knowledge regarding Mega Evolution that he had explained to Professor Sycamore that morning.
Since Ash had already given this information to Sycamore, it was only a matter of time before many researchers in the academic field of Mega Evolution learned about it.
Rather than letting the information lose its value before doing anything with it, Ash might as well use it to earn another favor from Lysandre.
After all, the Gyaradosite was far too valuable.
Ash did not want to owe Lysandre and Team Flare a favor without giving anything in return.
Furthermore, before his own strength had fully matured, Ash was still willing to maintain a relatively ambiguous relationship with Team Flare.
He would neither become close to them nor distance himself excessively.
As long as possible, he wanted to prevent both sides from completely ending up on opposite sides.
…
After finishing his shopping on Pokémon Breeding Street in Lumiose City at around two in the afternoon, Ash had been invited by Celosia to visit the laboratory.
By the time everything at the laboratory had finally been taken care of and Ash took a taxi back to the hotel where they were staying, it was already past five in the afternoon.
"Ash, are you all right? Did they do anything to you?"
The moment Ash returned to the hotel, Tierno, Trevor, and the Clemont siblings—who had remained behind—immediately surrounded him.
Their faces were filled with concern and worry.
"I'm a key talent being cultivated by the Kanto Pokémon League. Right now, the Kanto and Kalos Leagues are actively carrying out cross-regional cooperation in the economic, cultural, and other fields."
Ash looked at his worried friends and calmly reassured them.
"This time, since I came to Kalos, the Kanto League has naturally made arrangements to ensure my personal safety."
"And the Kalos League won't let anything happen to me either. With so much attention focused on me, those underground criminal organizations that usually prefer to keep a low profile won't easily make a move against me."
"If they did, they would risk exposing themselves and bringing unnecessary trouble down on their own heads."
"So, everyone, relax."
Ash looked at all his concerned friends and companions, giving them a reassuring smile.
"There's nothing to worry about."
"That's good. As long as you're all right, we can finally relax."
Hearing Ash's words, everyone finally let out a collective sigh of relief.