"Dude, I was still trying to figure out what to say, and you just decided to follow me on your own?!"
Steven stared at Piplup's serious expression with a stunned look.
Piplup gazed intently at Lairon.
"Lairon?"
Lairon looked at Piplup with confusion and curiosity.
What's happening?
You don't eat metal, do you? Why are you staring at me like that?
Let's examine Piplup's abilities for a moment.
With its overpowered ability, the special attacks it could unleash would be incredibly powerful.
This perfectly compensated for Steven's team's current weakness—being heavily skewed toward physical attackers.
After eventually evolving into Empoleon, it would have a Steel/Water dual typing, boasting ten resistances and only three weaknesses!
Its exceptional resistances and defensive capabilities, combined with its ability to learn Swords Dance and its self-activated Defiant ability, would give it explosive mixed offensive power.
It could even utilize stalling strategies with Substitute, Protect, and Toxic, recovery with Roost, and hazard removal with Defog...
Offensive and defensive versatility, while also possessing support capabilities?
Under battle rules that didn't limit the number of moves, Steven found it hard to imagine just how powerful Empoleon could become.
It could attack, tank hits, heal itself, stall opponents, and remove hazards and screens.
Just thinking about it was incredible.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it an all-around powerhouse.
Originally, Steven had merely followed Grandma Kashiran's suggestion to come see this mischievous Pokemon. Along the way, he discovered that Piplup seemed very similar to his past self, and he developed a genuine desire to befriend it.
But now, seeing its talent reach such incredible heights, Steven definitely wanted it on his team.
He had just been struggling with how to convince it to join.
Who would have thought this Pokemon would decide to join on its own?!
"May I ask why?" Steven asked cautiously.
"Piplup!" Piplup pointed at Lairon.
"This guy is my one and only best friend!"
Looking at Metagross's translation, Steven turned to Lairon and asked in confusion:
"You know this Piplup?!"
You're an Aron that lived deep in Granite Cave in the Hoenn region, eating ore and occasionally stealing rocks from Steelix—how do you know a Piplup from the Sinnoh region?
"Lairon?"
"I don't know! This is my first time seeing it too!"
"Piplup! Piplup!"
"Only you, my best friend, didn't look at me strangely when you saw the real me!"
Only after learning the reason did Steven understand everything.
Lairon simply cared only about whether there was metal ore to eat!
Even if this Piplup was incredibly powerful, as long as it didn't compete for his ore, he wouldn't react at all!
"Ahem, let me explain first." Steven coughed lightly into his fist. "We were just surprised by your ability, not treating you like you're abnormal."
"Metagross!"
"Skar!"
Metagross and Skarmory nodded in agreement.
Clang—
Scyther, who hadn't emerged yet, suddenly appeared and nodded approvingly at Piplup.
Its talent made Scyther envious.
If he also possessed such incredible talent, would his former Trainer have abandoned him?
Scyther secretly glanced at Steven's back and slowly closed his eyes.
Now, I just want to know the truth about what happened back then.
Throughout the journey, through interactions with other Pokemon and observing Steven's every action, Scyther had been watching carefully.
In other words, Scyther had already mostly accepted Steven in his heart.
He just really wanted to understand that past incident.
"Scyther." Scyther reminded Steven, then returned to his Poke Ball.
Metagross translated for Steven.
It meant that Scyther's former Trainer was from the Sinnoh region.
"I understand." Steven touched Scyther's Poke Ball gently.
"Piplup!"
"Answer me first! Are you taking me with you or not?!"
"Anyway, I've made up my mind. No matter where my best friend goes, I'll follow him!"
"Of course I welcome you joining us." Steven smiled, extending his hand toward Piplup again.
"Piplup!"
Piplup unceremoniously slapped Steven's hand away. Just as Steven looked surprised, Piplup sprayed a small stream of water at the faces of Steven, Metagross, Lairon, and Skarmory in turn.
"Piplup!"
"This is my initiation ceremony!"
"You little troublemaker..." Steven chuckled helplessly, already somewhat accustomed to wiping water from his face with his handkerchief.
"Metagross!" Metagross didn't mind Piplup's actions. After all, this was his teammate now.
He showed a gentle smile to Piplup.
Skarmory shook her head, not bothered at all, treating it as an overdue face wash.
Lairon, however, licked the water on his face with curiosity.
"Hmm, it's no different from ordinary water. Not as good as Moomoo Milk, and definitely not as good as my metal ore!"
"Welcome to the team, Piplup." Steven placed a hand on Piplup's head and vigorously ruffled its feathers.
Piplup wasn't smooth—it had a layer of downy feathers that felt wonderful to touch!
"Piplup!"
"Best friend! Help me!"
"Lairon!"
"I wouldn't dare! If I help you, I won't get delicious metal to eat!"
"Please take good care of this Piplup from now on." Professor Rowan, seemingly prepared for this outcome, handed Piplup's Poke Ball to Steven.
"Yes, thank you." Steven accepted the Poke Ball and said with slight apology, "I've taken up too much of your research time, Professor."
"It's nothing. Seeing this little one finally find where it belongs makes me very happy," Professor Rowan said calmly.
You don't show any expression at all, though!
Of course, Steven wouldn't dare say that aloud. But he could sense that this Professor was genuinely happy for Piplup in his heart.
"Would you like to come back to the lab with me now?" Professor Rowan suggested.
"Thank you, Professor. I was just looking for a place to prepare breakfast for my Pokemon." Steven looked around at the Pokemon beside him with a smile.
"Piplup?"
"Breakfast? What kind of food is that?"
"Lairon!"
"You're in for a treat! The metal ore Master provides is incredibly delicious!"
"Piplup?!"
"How can you possibly eat something like that?!"
Just as Steven was returning the Pokemon one by one to their Poke Balls, Metagross suddenly stopped Steven as he was about to recall it.
"What's wrong, Metagross? Do you want to stay out a bit longer?" Steven asked in confusion.
"Metagross..." Metagross spoke in a deep voice.
"I sense killing intent."
Looking at Metagross's grave expression, Steven understood immediately.
"Don't tell me we're running into Pokemon Hunters again?!"
Sometimes, Steven marveled at his own luck.
For example, he could casually bend down and pick up a high-quality stone, making his day.
Or, for instance, he could casually walk somewhere and run into what seemed like an NPC Pokemon Hunter...
"Garch!"
Steven heard the dragon's roar and looked up sharply.
On a Garchomp flying with its body streamlined and wings spread—the shark-like fins on its arms serving as wings—stood a golden-haired, valiant young woman!
Steven looked at the striking figure on Garchomp, and a name instantly came to mind.
"Cynthia?!"