By the age of five, Albert had become a name whispered in every school he passed through.
Teachers praised him, classmates gawked at him, and reports of his accelerated rise circulated quietly among education circles. But Albert knew the truth: in the scale of the world, he was still insignificant.
His flawless memory, psychic ability, and mature mentality had given him knowledge far beyond his age. Yet, knowledge alone was not enough.
The Pokémon world was vast—far larger than the Earth he once knew.
Expanded fourfold, this planet brimmed with endless stretches of land and sea. Forty percent of the globe was land, sixty percent water. Cities sprawled across continents, but between them lay vast Pokémon habitats and forests, untouched wilderness where human presence thinned and nature reigned.
Travel was possible only through strength and protection. Trains and planes connected cities and provinces, but even these were safeguarded by elite trainers, for the wilds in between were too dangerous to cross unguarded.
Otherwise, one needed their own Pokémon strong enough to ward off threats. Civilization thrived, yes, but it was Pokémon that dictated the boundaries of human reach.
Albert absorbed all this with both awe and determination. Compared to the immensity of the world, he was small—a boy with potential but no influence yet. His studies had carried him as far as Smeltwick City could take him.
If he wanted to build the foundation for his research and for his dream of becoming a trainer who truly understood Pokémon, he needed to step beyond his birthplace.
His decision was clear: he would leave for Ironforge City, the capital of Rustboro Province.
There, opportunities existed for child prodigies to begin apprenticeships as elementary researchers, breeders, and doctors. It was the next logical step—a place where his knowledge could be tested against the real world.
Recognizing his brilliance and maturity, the local government took the unprecedented step of granting Albert legal emancipation when he applied for it.
Though only five years old, his wits, composure, and academic standing convinced authorities that he could act with the rights and responsibilities of someone far older.
It was not sentimentality that earned him this freedom, but respect: even the officials acknowledged that Alfred Hugo Deford was no ordinary child.
With emancipation papers in hand, Albert was now permitted to travel and make decisions on his own behalf.
The orphanage staff wept when he told them, especially Sister Maribel, who took care of him the most. However, Albert was resolute.
This is the start. This is how I make a difference.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The train hissed as it pulled into Ironforge City's central station.
Albert stepped onto the platform and was immediately struck by the energy around him: the clamor of voices, the whistle of engines, the smell of steel and smoke.
Compared to the quiet Smeltwick City, this place pulsed with life.
However, when he was just about to leave the train station, he was greeted not by a teacher or government official, but by a man in a suit bearing the crest of Devon Corporation.
Albert froze.
Devon Corporation was not only the wealthiest company in Evergreen Island, but it was also one of the most influential in the world. Known for its cutting-edge technology, medical advancements, and deep ties to trainers and the International Pokémon Alliance, its name alone carried weight.
The man bowed slightly, smiling politely.
"Mr. Alfred Hugo Deford," he said, extending a hand. "I am Percy, the personal secretary of Mr. Stone, the head of Devon Corp. Mr. Stone has taken an interest in you. If you are amenable, I've been sent to escort you to our headquarters."
Albert's heart skipped.
He had imagined entering Ironforge City quietly, building himself up step by step.
Instead, from the very first moment, he was being pulled into the orbit of one of the most powerful men alive—Joseph Stone himself, the head of Devon Corps.
For the first time, Albert wondered if his accelerated rise had already placed him onto a stage far larger than he'd anticipated.