"You remind me of Joseph when he was younger, though Joseph was a bit tougher back then."
"Let's not talk about that right now." Steven waved his hand dismissively, cutting the conversation short.
"Isn't that just a roundabout way of saying I'm soft?"
"I wouldn't have helped if I'd known you'd say that!"
Steven changed the subject. "By the way, why did Team Rocket want to 'discuss business' with you? Given their reputation, shouldn't they have just attacked and taken what they wanted?"
"Their idea of 'discussing business' was nothing more than theft," the President of Silph Co. explained. "They don't understand how to manufacture the Master Ball and wanted to force us to produce it for them."
"I see. They probably don't realize that even Silph Co. hasn't perfected the Master Ball's development," Steven said with understanding.
"..."
This time, it was the President of Silph Co. who fell silent. He didn't know that Steven had deliberately led the conversation this way.
"Oh, by the way, my name is Daigo Tsukiji[This is his japanese name]—just call me Steven. And you are?" Steven turned toward Red, pretending he hadn't already introduced himself.
"My name is Red!"
"Would you mind if I got your contact information?" Steven asked with a slight smile, revealing his true purpose.
"Huh?"
Red looked surprised. Why would someone ask for contact details right after meeting?
"You have a pure connection with your Pokémon. I'd like to be friends with you," Steven explained.
"Sure!" Red pulled out his first-generation Pokédex and exchanged contact information with Steven.
The Pokédex functioned similarly to a PokéNav when it came to communication—even public payphones could connect to them.
Building a good relationship with a future Battle Legend was never a bad idea.
"Now then, President, may I take the Master Ball and the related materials back to Devon Corporation?"
"Of course. Thank you for coming all this way," the President said with a slight nod, gesturing for Steven to follow him.
Before leaving, Steven turned back to Red.
"Well then, Red, until we meet again!"
"Yeah!"
After securing the Master Ball and its blueprints, Steven boarded the helicopter and returned to the Hoenn Region.
The incident could be considered a minor detour, but meeting Red, even briefly, was worthwhile.
Steven examined the half-purple, half-white Poké Ball in his hand. The letter 'M' emblazoned on it stood for 'Master'—hence its name, the Master Ball.
Unfortunately, it remained incomplete. Even Silph Co., one of the leading Pokémon technology companies, couldn't fully manufacture it.
It seemed the Master Ball truly represented the pinnacle of Poké Ball technology...
Upon returning to Rustboro City, Steven landed on the helipad atop Devon Corporation's headquarters.
He knocked on the door of the President's office. "Come in," a voice called from inside.
Steven entered, closed the door behind him, and placed the Master Ball and documents on Joseph's desk.
"You must be exhausted. Stay in Rustboro City for the night before you head out again."
Joseph's first words caught Steven off guard—he'd expected something like "Well done" instead.
"I will," Steven agreed with a nod. This return trip had been unexpected.
Still, he intended to complete the two tasks he'd set for himself before leaving again.
The Rustboro Gym specialized in Rock-types. Aron would probably enjoy the challenge, wouldn't it?
"I heard you mention catching an Aron," Joseph said quietly, his attention still on the documents before him.
"I arranged for someone to get some iron ore and gems. You can pick them up at the front desk on the first floor."
Steven paused. He'd mentioned this during his phone call with Joseph right after defeating the Dewford Gym.
"Thank you," Steven said softly, his lips curving into a small smile as he lowered his gaze.
"'Thank you' is too formal."
Joseph's voice carried a hint of irritation.
"You're my son. I'm your father. What's there to thank me for?"
Ring, ring, ring...
The phone on Joseph's desk began to ring.
"Yes, this is he..."
Seeing Joseph occupied once more, Steven quietly excused himself and took the elevator down to the first floor.
This time, however, he felt considerably lighter.
After collecting a backpack full of iron ore from the front desk, Steven left Devon Corporation.
He checked into the Pokémon Center first, planning to challenge the Rustboro Gym the following morning, then meet with that Scyther again in the afternoon.
"But... how should I approach taming that Scyther?" Steven wondered aloud as he flopped onto the bed.
At the foot of the bed, Aron was enthusiastically devouring the particularly appetizing iron ore.
"Don't eat too much—you won't be able to digest it all," Steven said helplessly, nudging Aron with his foot.
"Aron..."
"Of course I know that!"
Aron mumbled through a mouthful of ore.
"Oh, you..."
He'd have to take things slowly. A Scyther that had clearly suffered emotional trauma wouldn't recover overnight.
If only Scyther were like Aron—having a clear starting point would make everything much easier.
Steven decided to study Roxanne's battle style instead.
Roxanne was known as the "Rock-Loving Honor Student."
After graduating from the Rustboro Pokémon Trainer's School, she became a Gym Leader while simultaneously teaching at the school.
Despite being a newly appointed Gym Leader, she'd solidified her position as Rustboro City's Gym Leader in just six months—all while maintaining her teaching duties.
This alone confirmed Roxanne's status as an exceptional talent.
Her battle style balanced offense and defense perfectly, utilizing Rock-type energy for powerful attacks while maintaining the defensive prowess expected of Rock-type Pokémon.
Roxanne's application of the move Rock Tomb particularly impressed Steven.
She could use it for both offensive and defensive purposes.
Perhaps he could learn new applications for the move during their battle.
"Aron, tomorrow's Gym battle is all up to you," Steven sat up and addressed Aron, who was still gnawing on the iron ore.
"Aron?"
"Why is it all up to me?"
"Tomorrow's Gym Leader specializes in Rock-types. I'll do my best to showcase your strength and defense, and you should give it your all to..."
Aron's gaze gradually became unfocused, and Steven's voice slowly faded into the background.
Aron only registered five words.
"Rock-type specialist."
"Does that mean their rocks taste good?"
"A rock buffet!"
"Aron..."
Aron let out a sound of pure contentment.
Steven paused, looking down at Aron, who appeared completely entranced, and felt a headache coming on.
"Most people get mesmerized by attractive people, so why does this one get mesmerized just by hearing 'rocks'?"
"Wait a minute..."
"I suppose I'm not really in a position to judge."
Indeed, Steven himself would become equally "mesmerized" when encountering exceptionally high-quality stones.
"Can't you raise your standards a bit!"
Hearing this, Aron suddenly snapped out of its daze and began gnawing even more frantically at the iron ore.
"Fill my belly now, so I can eat even more tomorrow!"
"Rock buffet, here I come!"
"Hey, hey, hey! I don't think you heard a single word I said!"
Steven rubbed his forehead helplessly.
"Is this one a bit too obsessed with eating?"