"Oh? I'd like to see what you can do," Aoki said, a hint of teasing in his tone. This Gengar was not Jarvis's own Pokemon but a legacy left to him by his father. Jarvis was just about to command his Gengar to attack when he found Aoki's Gengar was faster, appearing directly behind his own. Having absorbed the energy of a certain powerful Ghost-type, the concentration of Ghost energy within Aoki's Gengar was now incomparable to that of Jarvis's. As Ghost-type Pokemon can restrain each other, especially when one holds a complete advantage, Jarvis's Gengar was subdued with little trouble.
Jarvis watched his father's greatest legacy be so easily handled, his expression turning very ugly. He had little resistance against this man's Gengar. "Do you know when a person, especially a man, is most embarrassed?" Aoki did not mock him further. Aoki valued Jarvis's ability; otherwise, he wouldn't have sought him out.
Hearing Aoki's words, Jarvis was momentarily stunned, not reacting to the sudden shift in topic. Aoki was not hurried. He pulled out a chair and sat down. Jarvis then noticed that the intricately engineered chair he had crafted seemed to have completely lost its function in Aoki's presence. "When?" Jarvis asked, finally understanding. Whether in terms of Pokemon strength or his mastery of mystics, he posed no threat to the man before him. Since the other party could come here directly, it meant he was well-informed. If Aoki hadn't taken direct action against him, it meant he wasn't here to eliminate him, though his purpose remained unclear for now.
Having figured this out, Jarvis placed the golden scepter in his hand aside. He then retrieved two cups from a pile of materials housing numerous tools and produced a bottle of wine from somewhere. He gestured to Aoki, ensuring he had no objection, then poured two glasses. As if to prove the wine was safe, Jarvis drank the entire contents of his glass in one go. There was no other way; alcohol could provide courage. Jarvis's current state of mind was poor, and facing Aoki with unknown intentions, he needed a drink to steady his nerves. This way, even if he were to die, he might be less afraid.
This time, it was Aoki's turn to be slightly surprised. He understood Jarvis's meaning perfectly: drinking to muster courage. This person seemed... not bad. He took the offered glass with a smile but simply held it, not drinking. Jarvis poured himself another drink. Judging by his manner, he probably hadn't stopped drinking since his father's passing. After two glasses, he felt a bit braver, able to look Aoki in the face without trembling—whether from a psychological effect or not.
"Of course, it's when a man is fighting for his career but has not yet succeeded, and is being ridiculed and disapproved of by countless people," Aoki said lightly, taking a small sip from his glass. The wine was strong, but there was no problem with it. Hearing Aoki's words, Jarvis felt an immediate resonance in his heart. The sentence perfectly described his current situation. "However, initial success doesn't count. Only lasting success can truly break the mold. Things change with time. One should not look down on the young and poor," Aoki exhaled, uttering this piece of wisdom. He hadn't touched alcohol for a long time, since his rebirth, and had almost forgotten its taste. Today, he broke that precedent.
"Initial success... lasting success?" Jarvis was clearly puzzled by Aoki's words, unable to grasp their meaning. Aoki felt a touch of helplessness. Had he had a bit too much to drink already, affecting his clarity? "In short, you just need to remember the last part: do not look down on the young and poor!" Aoki stated. "Do not bully the young and poor..." Jarvis repeated slowly. "Um... I don't seem to be that poor, and I'm not exactly a teenager anymore," Jarvis remarked, finding no correlation to himself in Aoki's saying. A faint sense of exasperation crossed Aoki's features. This almost ruined the mysterious image he had worked hard to cultivate. "Ahem, it's merely a metaphor, a figurative expression!"
"Never mind, let's get straight to the point. Mr. Jarvis, I wonder if you are satisfied with your current life? Is it only when you surround yourself with so many mechanisms that you can sleep soundly? Is it only with this Gengar by your side that you feel secure?" Aoki asked, crossing his legs. Three pointed questions. Upon hearing them, the room, which had held a somewhat lighter atmosphere, fell into silence again. The only sound was the turning of the hands on the mechanical clock on the wall. Jarvis's expression returned to its previous unpleasant state, as if a heavy weight pressed on his mind. He poured himself another glass of wine and drank it in one gulp, seeking courage.
"Just say what you want to say, sir. You found me directly, bypassed my mechanisms so effortlessly, and possess such a powerful Pokemon. There is no one like you in the Kingdom of Azoth. Tell me your identity and your purpose," Jarvis said, staring intently at Aoki as if trying to see through him.
Papapapapa——
Aoki applauded softly. One had to be suitably theatrical and maintain an air of mystery. "It's simple. I am here to help you," Aoki stated frankly. He continued, "As for my identity... I am indeed not from the Kingdom of Azoth, but I may know this country better than you do—including your customs, the mystic arts you take such pride in, and... your scientific genius, Nikola."
"Help me? How? What could you possibly help me with?" Jarvis replied with a smile, a trace of disdain within it. "You are merely an outsider. Don't you know that my father was the chief minister of the Kingdom of Azoth, and I have inherited his title? Now, in terms of status and wealth, I am second to none in Azoth. What else could I possibly need help with?" As he spoke, the smile on his face widened.
"Really?" Aoki said, his own smile laced with a sarcasm that was unmistakable. "Stop deceiving yourself, Jarvis! Everything you have now exists solely because of your father. Don't claim you don't know it; you are a laughingstock in the Kingdom of Azoth. I cannot count how many people secretly mock you, nor how many covet your so-called position as the premier minister." Aoki showed no mercy, directly tearing open Jarvis's deepest wound and exposing it to the harsh light.
"..."
Jarvis's face flushed a deep red. Perhaps he wished to refute but found no words; perhaps he was simply furious; or perhaps the alcohol was finally showing on his face. Who could say? Silence descended between the two once more. It lasted for a long time.
"How... how can you help me?" Jarvis finally asked, the words seeming difficult to utter.
"Power! Status! Recognition! And... respect!" Aoki enunciated each word clearly. Each one struck Jarvis's heart like a well-aimed projectile. Jarvis's expression became complex, a turmoil of emotions. What Aoki described was precisely what he lacked and desperately needed now: the authority that matched his status, and the genuine respect of all the citizens of the Kingdom of Azoth.
"Then... what must I pay?" Jarvis asked. There was no such thing as unconditional help; that was the first lesson he had learned after his father's death.
"Loyalty!" Aoki's reply was simple, direct, and heavy with implication.