The light filtering through the tall office windows gleamed off Joseph Stone's polished desk. Papers were pushed aside, replaced by a single shared focus: the boy before him.
"Albert," Joseph began, his tone calm but measured, "you must understand something. Sponsorship is not charity. Devon Corporation does not offer its name or its resources without expecting something in return. This world thrives on balance—and business most of all."
Albert met his eyes without flinching. "I understand. Nothing in this world is truly free."
Joseph leaned back slightly, studying him. The boy's amethyst eyes did not falter, and for a moment, he saw not a child, but a mind forged from wisdom beyond its years. "Then let us speak plainly. What can you give Devon in exchange for what you will receive?"
Albert thought for a moment before answering. His voice was quiet, but deliberate. "My mind, my discoveries, my research. You said it yourself: I have potential. Potential is meaningless unless it becomes results. I will document everything I learn, and I am willing to share my findings with Devon. In exchange, I ask only for access — to facilities, to materials, to mentors who can help me refine what I cannot yet master alone."
Joseph's lips curved faintly. "You speak like a businessman, Albert. But you must also consider how to guarantee your own interests. A contract binds both parties. What is it you demand in return, to protect yourself?"
Albert's gaze sharpened. "Recognition. Ownership of my work. If I make a discovery, it must not be claimed in another's name, even if Devon facilitates the research. I will acknowledge Devon's support, but my contributions must remain mine. That is my condition."
The room fell silent, tension crackling in the air.
Steven looked between the two, blue eyes wide. He had seen businessmen bargain with his father before, but never someone his age—and never with such calm authority.
Joseph arched an eyebrow. "Ownership and recognition. Bold. But tell me, Albert… do you believe your discoveries will have enough value to warrant that demand? To bring not just prestige, but profit?"
Albert's answer came without hesitation. His voice carried absolute certainty. "Yes. Pokémon biology, breeding, medicine, and technological applications—breakthroughs are waiting to be found in every field. I will find them. And when I do, they will not only change how people and Pokémon live together, but they will also bring profit beyond what even Devon has yet imagined. Of that, I have no doubt of it."
The conviction in his tone made even Joseph pause. This was no boast—it was a declaration.
Slowly, Joseph smiled. "Then let us put numbers to this faith. For discoveries made under Devon's banner, I will grant you a share of the profits. Not a token share, but something worthy of the risk and brilliance you promise. Forty percent to you, sixty to Devon."
Albert's lips curved ever so slightly, the faintest hint of a smirk. "Forty percent is generous, Mr. Stone. But it does not reflect the truth. My mind, my discoveries, will be the heart of this endeavor. Devon provides resources, yes, but without me, there is nothing to invest in. If this is a partnership, then it must be equal. Fifty-fifty."
Joseph's eyes narrowed slightly, testing him. Few men in the world dared push back on him in negotiation—and yet here stood a five-year-old boy, unwavering. For a long moment, silence reigned, broken only by the ticking of the office clock.
Then, slowly, Joseph laughed. It was not mocking, but rich with approval. "Fifty-fifty. Bold, daring… and perhaps deserved. Very well, Albert Hugo Deford, I'll try to invest in you. Meaning, you will have your equal share." His smile faded into a sharp edge. "But understand—equal profit means equal responsibility. Which is why there will be a condition."
Albert tilted his head slightly. "A condition?"
Joseph's eyes gleamed. "You will produce meaningful results. Discoveries, research, advancements—something of use to Devon and to the world. Not every week, of course, but enough to prove this partnership is worth sustaining. I expect at least one impactful contribution every year. Fail to deliver, and our agreement dissolves, including your compensation to the Devon Corporation, quadruple of what it had invested in you. Meet or exceed this, and Devon will continue to stand behind you."
Albert considered it only briefly before nodding. "Fair enough. If I cannot make at least one meaningful discovery in a year, then I do not deserve the partnership to begin with."
Steven's mouth parted slightly. To hear a child his age accept such a heavy expectation without hesitation was almost unbelievable.
Joseph extended his hand across the desk. "Then we have an agreement."
Albert stepped forward, small but unhesitating, and placed his hand into Joseph's. His grip was firm, unwavering, almost ceremonial in its weight.
"Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Stone," Albert said.
In that moment, the deal was sealed—not just an arrangement between Devon Corporation and a child prodigy, but a true contract of equals, bound by ambition, accountability, and the promise of a shared future.