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As one of the most powerful Psychic-type Pokémon participating in the contest, the defeat of the Level 64 Alakazam was a wake-up call to all the arrogant Psychic-types on the battlefield. At the same time, it further cemented Sato's status as a top contender in this competition.
Psychic-type Pokémon are highly rational beings. When they realize they're up against a foe they cannot defeat—especially one both fierce and relentless—they wisely choose to retreat.
As for teaming up against a common enemy, it wasn't that the Psychic-types hadn't considered it. In fact, after Alakazam was defeated, some of them used telepathy to rally the others to unite and confront Sato together.
However, most Psychic-type Pokémon are far too individualistic—or far too proud. Without a powerful leader with sufficient prestige to command respect, coordinating them into a cooperative force was virtually impossible.
In the end, Sato, backed by his team of powerful Pokémon, defeated the disunited Psychic-types one by one during the battle for the Wisdom Seeds and walked away with the greatest spoils of the clash.
Twenty-one Wisdom Seeds—along with a Level 64 Alakazam—this was the full bounty Sato reaped from this short but intense conflict after fully demonstrating his overwhelming presence.
After the battle ended, Sato took Thomas and his Pokémon away from Misty Fog Forest. They retreated to a temporary camp located over ten kilometers to the east.
Now, Sato was inside a secret space created by Bellossom using Secret Power, built within a sturdy little hill.
Illuminated by a solar-powered incandescent lamp, the small underground room—about a dozen square meters in size—was clearly visible. Apart from Sato, the only other ones present were Swampert and Crobat standing guard at the entrance.
Thomas, being tactful, waited outside without questioning anything. He had already sent Seismitoad and the others to gather food and firewood nearby in preparation for lunch.
"Come out, Natu. You too, Alakazam."
After a short meditation to restore himself to peak condition, Sato released the newly captured Natu and Alakazam.
"You bad guy! When are you letting me go?"
"Human, what do you want? I'll tell you clearly—just because you defeated me and trapped me inside that strange ball doesn't mean I'll obey your commands."
The next moment, Natu and Alakazam's voices echoed simultaneously in Sato's mind. Both Psychic-types looked displeased, especially Alakazam, whose eyes were full of disdain.
But when Alakazam noticed the pile of pink-glowing Wisdom Seeds on the wooden table in front of Sato, he couldn't look away.
"Relax. Unless something unexpected happens, I'll let you both go the day after tomorrow. But for now, you'll have to stay with me—and help me with a few things tomorrow. I keep my word."
"That said, before that, I'd like to ask—what's the most effective way to use Wisdom Seeds? How can I maximize their effects?"
Sato ignored their disgruntled attitudes and once again explained how he intended to handle them, then directly asked about the optimal method of using the seeds.
Sato already knew that consuming the Wisdom Seeds directly could boost one's mental power—but he also understood that this method was crude and wasteful.
It was like using a Revival Herb—sure, chewing one directly could fully restore a fallen Pokémon, but if refined into a medicine—such as the Team Rocket's Revival Serum—the effect could be multiplied, potentially restoring more than one Pokémon to full health.
In fact, based on the ingredients used in those formulas, the Trileaf Revival Herb in Sato's possession could be turned into one high-grade revival medicine, three mid-grade ones, or even ten low-grade ones.
Additionally, the usage instructions for the Wisdom Seeds were clear: each time you consume one, the effect diminishes slightly. Sato didn't want to waste such valuable items on inefficient use.
Though he had little hope that a Pokémon would know the most effective way to use the seeds—since Pokémon typically lacked the alchemical skills humans had—he still wanted to try. Alakazam, being both long-lived and immensely knowledgeable, might just know something.
When it came to raw intelligence, there were few humans in the world who could match an Alakazam.
The Abra line, however, tended to be loners and had very low reproductive rates—otherwise, they might have ruled the Pokémon world already.
For that reason, Sato pinned high hopes on this high-level Alakazam before him—hoping it knew how to unlock the full potential of the Wisdom Seeds.
This was also why Sato had ordered his Shiny Gyarados to rescue Alakazam from the lake after the battle.
"I don't know. I've never obtained one before."
Hearing Sato's promise again, Natu—innocent, young and more easily swayed—quickly dropped her grudge. She flew onto the table, pecked one of the seeds lightly with her beak, scratched her head with a wing, and responded through telepathy.
As for Alakazam, he said nothing—but his eyes flickered as he looked at the seeds.
He lifted himself off the ground using psychic power, crossed his legs in midair, and rested one hand under his chin, clearly deep in thought.
"If you know anything, I ask you to please share it with me. I'll pay you—how about five Wisdom Seeds?"
Seeing Alakazam's thoughtful gesture, Sato's eyes lit up. It seemed the Alakazam really might know something. He immediately softened his tone and made the offer.
Due to the limited number of Wisdom Seeds he received each year—and his own desperate need to recover from lingering psychic injuries—Alakazam had, in recent years, conducted detailed research on the seeds.
Thanks to his extraordinary intellect, he had indeed made some breakthroughs, which allowed him to speed up the healing of his psychic wounds to a certain degree.
According to his estimate, if he could get ten more Wisdom Seeds, he could fully mend the spiritual scar in his mindscape.
"Ten!"
Alakazam had long grown resentful of the psychic wound that flared up inside him daily. Upon hearing Sato's offer to pay with Wisdom Seeds, he was immediately tempted and responded through telepathy, trying to negotiate.
Though Alakazam disliked Sato, he remained rational. As a powerful Psychic-type Pokémon, he could detect lies and knew that Sato's promise was genuine.
Thus, he didn't mind exchanging his research for compensation.
"No way. Ten is too much. Six at most."
Sato wasn't upset by the negotiation—on the contrary, he was inwardly thrilled. But on the surface, he put on a face as if he were being terribly wronged and began bargaining.
After a heated back-and-forth, the two finally came to an agreement: Sato would exchange eight Wisdom Seeds for Alakazam's help and research findings.