"Mr. Edward, where's the film and short clip you mentioned?" Yapin asked, rubbing his hands together eagerly.
He could barely contain his excitement, especially after the finance department confirmed the deposit of five billion PokeDollars. Yapin was already itching to fly straight to Meteor Falls and screen movies for the wild Pokémon there.
To his surprise, Edward turned out to be someone from Devon Corporation. As the leading enterprise in the Hoenn region, their efficiency was impressive—the funds arrived almost instantly.
"For now, I didn't bring many original copies, just this one. I'll have my company staff deliver the rest later," Edward replied, pulling the original copy of Lights Out from his bag and handing it to Yapin.
Curious, Yapin took the disc—a plain CD with no labels.
"May I take a look?" Yapin asked. Edward neither agreed nor objected.
Yapin then led Edward to a lounge within the Environmental Maintenance and Improvement Department and played the short film Lights Out.
The entire clip lasted just over two minutes, so it finished quickly. However, Yapin's expression as he looked at Edward grew more peculiar.
Who is this guy?
Yapin had not expected Edward to screen a horror film. The jump scare had caught him off guard.
Had it not been for his field experience encountering wild Pokémon and the pranks of Ghost-types, Yapin might have screamed aloud.
Initially, he thought Edward would showcase an advertisement, but a horror film? Screening this in the wild seemed... questionable. Given the temperament of wild Pokémon, Yapin reckoned the screen might be smashed just minutes after the film started.
In extreme cases, the wild Pokémon's "enthusiastic" response could lead to even bigger problems.
Yapin hesitated but, considering the five-billion donation—paid in full—he decided not to comment. After all, keeping the benefactor happy was the priority.
"Ahem… Mr. Edward, this short film is quite… intriguing. I'll take it to Chimney Mountain for a screening soon," Yapin said, determined to ensure Edward felt his donation was well spent.
"Thank you," Edward replied with satisfaction.
Edward was familiar with Chimney Mountain. While part of it was open to tourists, the rest remained restricted, accessible only to elite trainers for Pokémon training. The area had a dense population of wild Pokémon.
After seeing Edward off, Yapin made a copy of the disc and delegated the task to his secretary. Taking another copy for himself, he mounted his Skarmory and flew toward Chimney Mountain.
Yapin was a man of action.
As Edward watched Yapin soaring in the sky, he clicked his tongue in admiration.
"Mr. Yapin is truly efficient. I'm curious to see how wild Pokémon will react to this movie." Edward felt a surge of excitement. Were it not for his other commitments, he'd have gone to the wilderness himself to screen the film.
"My father still hasn't returned." Edward sighed. Recently, he'd been managing many affairs of Devon Corporation, leaving him quite busy.
While none of the tasks were particularly critical, Edward noticed they were gradually becoming more significant. It felt as though responsibilities were deliberately being added to his plate.
This left Edward puzzled. What was his father up to? Could it have something to do with the Hoenn Legendary Trio?
His father's sudden comment about Edward mastering MEGA evolution seemed odd—it had never come up before.
"Master Edward, here are some documents requiring your attention," the old butler said, handing him a stack of files. The sheer volume made Edward's head spin. Did his father handle this much daily?
That seemed unlikely. With Kennedy around, he'd surely assist. Unlike Edward, who had to handle everything alone—it was clear his father intended this as a learning experience, so Edward couldn't rely on others.
Documents:
Application for Increased Research Funding from the Research Department
Edward glanced at the amount: a whopping 64.7 billion PokeDollars.
Without hesitation, he approved it. Devon Corporation's dominance in Hoenn relied heavily on the technological advancements of its research department. Funding requests from the research team were rarely rejected.
Personnel Decisions for the Marketing DepartmentDevon Corporation Holiday Benefits PlanElectric Vehicle Improvement Plan for the Upcoming Paldea Auto Show
Despite feeling overwhelmed, Edward carefully reviewed each file, added his approvals, and passed them to the butler for processing.
Meanwhile, Yapin had been flying for half a day. His speed was moderate, as he kept an eye on the surroundings for any abnormalities.
Forest fires and illegal logging fell under the department's jurisdiction. Spending most of their time in the wilderness, they handled these issues as part of their duties.
"Thankfully, poaching has decreased. The League's anti-poaching campaign has had some success," Yapin muttered, scanning the ground below with binoculars.
Upon reaching Meteor Falls, Yapin continued flying until he reached a more secluded area near Chimney Mountain. Only then did he land.
"Hopefully, that guy isn't around. Otherwise, it'd be troublesome," Yapin muttered, recalling the notorious wild Pokémon inhabiting the area. Retrieving his Skarmory, he wiped the sweat from his forehead—the intense heat felt like a sauna.
Descending the mountain, Yapin eventually reached a cooler, forested area where he breathed a sigh of relief. He set up the screening equipment in a clearing near the forest's edge.
The rustling of leaves caught his attention as Bug-type Pokémon began emerging from the woods. A few Zigzagoon also appeared, cautiously observing Yapin. Recognizing him as a familiar face, they shifted their focus to the screen, curiosity piqued.
(End of Chapter)