◉◉◉◉◉
When Kai finished knocking out the intruders, Mr. Stone and Kuroda hurried over and positioned themselves behind him.
"These guys… they must be with Team Aqua," Stone muttered, still shaken. "I can't believe they managed to slip inside the building without anyone noticing. Kai, thank you for stepping in. If it weren't for you, Devon Corp. would've suffered a major loss today!"
In a short time, Kai had helped Devon fend off two crises—first from Team Magma, now from Team Aqua. Stone couldn't help but feel genuinely moved.
After all, it wasn't just about defeating a few grunts. By stepping in twice, Kai had openly placed himself opposite two dangerous criminal groups. Doing so painted a giant target on his back and made him their enemy something most trainers wouldn't dare risk.
"You don't have to thank me," Kai replied with a small shake of his head. "If something like this happens in front of me, I can't just ignore it."
Even so, he exhaled quietly.
It wasn't that he feared Team Magma or Team Aqua. With the International Police supporting him from the shadows and his own team of exceptionally strong Pokémon—even facing both organizations at once wasn't enough to intimidate him.
What frustrated him was the security here.
Whether it was Silph Co. in Kanto or Devon Corp. here in Hoenn, these multinational giants all had security forces… but clearly lacked experience with real criminal infiltration.
They focused too heavily on securing the main entrance, leaving their interior defenses far too lax.
Just then, the elevator at the end of the hallway chimed. As the doors slid open, more than a dozen security staff rushed out and hurried to Kuroda's side.
"You're all too slow!" Kuroda snapped. "If Mr. Kai hadn't been here, the intruders would've escaped already!"
The guards winced. It wasn't as if they'd slacked off once the alarm went off, they'd mobilized immediately. But Devon Tower was huge; assembling, navigating the building, and reaching this floor took time. Arriving in just four or five minutes was already proof of solid training.
Kai stepped in to defuse the tension. "Mr. Kuroda, please don't blame them. No one expected Team Aqua to infiltrate the building itself. I was just lucky to be nearby. If I'd been somewhere else, they might have slipped past me too."
Hearing Kai defend them, the security officers looked at him with deep gratitude.
They didn't even know who this young man was, only that he had single-handedly captured the intruders. Seeing him refuse credit and even speak up for them made them admire him instantly.
Even Kuroda's anger eased, though he still shot the guards a stern look. "Regardless, letting Team Aqua sneak inside the tower is a serious failure. After this incident, each of you will submit a full report."
Annoying as reports were, they were far better than losing their jobs. The guards nodded in relief and quickly bound the Aqua grunts together, while Kuroda retrieved the stolen culture fluid from their packs.
Just then, the elevator behind them dinged again. A young man stepped out, brisk and purposeful.
"Father! Mr. Kuroda! What happened here!?"
Kai turned at the sound.
A well-dressed young man about his age approached with blue-gray hair, sharp features, pale complexion, and the polished presence of someone raised in wealth and refinement.
Kuroda blinked in surprise, then immediately straightened. "Master Steven, you're here?"
Steven?
Kai, of course, knew who Steven Stone was—though only from the anime and games. Hearing that this real person was standing in front of him, he couldn't help but study him closely.
And right Steven was Mr. Stone's son.
Stone confirmed it with a smile. "Mr. Kai, let me introduce my sonbSteven Stone. He's also a trainer. You two are about the same age, so you'll have plenty to talk about."
He beckoned Steven over, then added, "This is Mr. KaibChampion of both the Indigo and Johto League Conferences."
"Kai?" Steven paused, then stepped forward with a warm smile and extended his hand. "Even out here in Hoenn, your reputation reaches us. I've always wanted to meet you."
For someone who was the very definition of a billionaire heir, Steven carried himself with impeccable manners. None of the usual stereotypes applied to him not even slightly.
No wonder he was so beloved in the anime and games.
Kai returned the handshake. Even with his own height well over 180 cm, Steven, though slightly shorter, stood with elegant posture that made him seem effortlessly composed.
"Steven, you flatter me. I've actually admired your name for a long time."
And he wasn't exaggerating. Steven Stone was one of the most iconic characters in the entire franchise; any longtime fan would recognize him instantly.
Steven, unaware of the deeper meaning, simply took the comment as polite courtesy.
After the introductions, Stone said with a chuckle, "Though this is my first day meeting Mr. Kai, he's already helped us twice."
"Oh?" Steven looked genuinely confused. "What happened?"
Kuroda quickly explained how Team Magma had tried to steal his briefcase earlier, and how Team Aqua had just attempted to escape with the culture fluid.
As Steven listened, his expression grew more serious. When Kuroda finished, Steven looked at Kai with heartfelt appreciation.
"I had no idea things had gotten this bad… Kai, since you helped my father and Mr. Kuroda, you're a friend of mine as well. If you ever need anything, you're welcome to come to me."
◉◉◉◉◉
~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
◉◉◉◉◉
For early access to advanced chapters on P-atreon:
P-atreon/iamxeno
(Just remove the - hyphen to access Patreon normally)
Thank you so much for your support and for reading!