"I already have a lead on how to find the mage organizations hidden in the Kalos region."
"Yesterday, during the knight's lecture and trial activities, I had the opportunity to interact with Wikstrom, one of the Kalos Elite Four. He's also the head of the ancient Gervant Knight family."
"Knights and mages are both ancient traditional professions of the Western world. The various organizations associated with these professions are closely connected. On top of that, Mr. Wikstrom is a member of the Kalos Elite Four."
"If we ask Mr. Wikstrom for help, we'll definitely have a much faster and more efficient time finding these organizations than if we wander around aimlessly like headless flies."
"Furthermore, if Elite Four Wikstrom personally introduces us, obtaining a set of magical cultivation techniques afterward should be much easier. At the very least, I think our chances of success would increase by ten percentage points."
As Pikachu had pointed out, cultivation techniques were the core inheritance of any ancient profession. Asking an organization to hand over such a precious legacy was an exceptionally difficult undertaking in the first place.
That was precisely why Ash believed his chances of success would remain low even if he sought Wikstrom's assistance and the Elite Four member agreed to help. In Ash's estimation, Wikstrom's involvement would increase his odds by only ten percentage points.
"Of course, there's another possibility. If Mr. Wikstrom doesn't know that mage organizations exist behind the scenes in Kalos, or if he has some reason that prevents him from helping us, then..."
Ash paused briefly before continuing.
"I'll have no choice but to investigate the matter myself, starting with that unusual Noctowl I encountered earlier. I'll follow the clues it left behind and seek out the mages directly."
"Pika..."
Pikachu folded its arms across its chest, its expression full of curiosity.
"(Whether Elite Four Wikstrom is willing to help or you have to track down the mage organization yourself using the clues from that Noctowl you encountered during your meditation, Ash, what will you do once you find them?)"
"(What if they're completely unwilling to help, refuse to negotiate, and won't provide the cultivation techniques under any circumstances? What will you do then?)"
Pikachu's question was a serious one.
Ash didn't answer it directly. Instead, he simply said, "I absolutely must obtain the magical cultivation techniques that Fennekin needs. No matter what."
"Pika... (Mm. I understand.)"
Although Ash hadn't explicitly answered the question, how could Pikachu, his longest-serving companion, fail to understand what he meant?
There were some things that didn't need to be said outright. As long as everyone understood one another, that was enough.
Pikachu knew Ash's determination. If the mage organization refused to cooperate, he wouldn't simply abandon Fennekin's future. He would find another way.
"All right, we can take our time planning how to locate the mage organizations and obtain their cultivation techniques. After all, we'll be staying in the Kalos region for a while longer. We're not returning to Kanto anytime soon."
Ash shifted his attention to another matter.
"Discovering that mysterious Noctowl today was an unexpected bonus. In fact, my biggest gain today was something else entirely."
As he spoke, Ash moved his thoughts, and a small briefcase materialized from his system inventory.
"Greninja? (What is that?)"
Greninja looked at the case curiously.
Pidgeot, Fearow, Shiny Gyarados (Valor), Shiny Milotic (Lumina), Venusaur, and the rest of the Pokémon were equally intrigued.
They already knew about the day's major developments.
Earlier, Ash had visited Professor Sycamore's laboratory and caught the newly hatched Shiny Fennekin. Later, during his meditation, he had unexpectedly discovered a Noctowl radiating mysterious power.
They also knew that Fennekin possessed the unique Mage Ability, which gave it the talent to cultivate magic. Ash had explained his intention to locate the hidden mage organizations in Kalos and obtain magical cultivation techniques for their newest companion.
After hearing all of that, they understood the situation.
But now Ash had suddenly taken out a briefcase, and none of them could figure out what it contained.
Pikachu, however, had accompanied Ash to Lysandre Labs that afternoon. Its adorable face immediately brightened with recognition.
Turning its head, Pikachu looked toward Valor, the Shiny Gyarados curled up nearby, its entire body gleaming like molten gold.
There was unmistakable envy in Pikachu's eyes.
"Just open it and see for yourselves," Ash said with a small smile, deliberately keeping the contents a mystery for a little longer.
"Gyaah! (What is it already? Why are you being so mysterious?)"
Fearow, whose impatient temperament made waiting particularly difficult, couldn't stand the suspense any longer. It stretched out its long beak and pecked at the briefcase's latch.
Click!
The briefcase sprang open.
Inside lay two spherical objects, one large and one small, resembling glass marbles.
The moment the Pokémon saw them, their eyes widened in astonishment.
"That's...!!!"
As Pokémon Ash had carefully raised and trained, they weren't ignorant of the world's rare treasures. They knew quite a bit about valuable items, especially those associated with powerful battle techniques.
Moreover, Ash already possessed another set of similar items.
The two spheres inside the case were unmistakably the special tools that allowed Pokémon to undergo Mega Evolution.
"Gasp!! Those are Key Stones and Mega Stones!"
Apart from Pikachu, which had already known about them, every Pokémon present was stunned.
Mega Evolution was a temporary transformation that dramatically increased a Pokémon's power. Among Ash's strongest Pokémon, Pidgeot had already mastered this extraordinary ability.
The others had witnessed Pidgeot's impressive Mega-Evolved form countless times. Its appearance became even more magnificent, and its already formidable strength increased tremendously.
It was impossible for them not to feel envious.
Unfortunately, the items required for Mega Evolution were exceptionally rare. None of them had expected Ash to obtain another set so soon.
Seeing the Mega Evolution stones inside the briefcase, the Pokémon couldn't help staring at them with burning desire.
However, saying that every Pokémon was equally excited wouldn't be entirely accurate.
The two Pokémon whose eyes shone most intensely were Shiny Gyarados, and Venusaur.
After all, not every Pokémon had the potential to undergo Mega Evolution.
Ash had already explained this to them.
Among his Pokémon, only four currently possessed the potential and possibility of Mega Evolving: Pidgeot, Gyarados, Venusaur, and the Beedrill that had yet to hatch.
Pidgeot already possessed a Mega Stone and had mastered Mega Evolution. Moreover, the Mega Stone attached to its leg ring was different from the stones inside the briefcase.
That meant Pidgeot was already taken care of.
Although the rest of Ash's Pokémon longed to experience Mega Evolution, the opportunity to use this particular set of stones belonged to only two of them: Gyarados and Venusaur.
"The afternoon I visited Lysandre Labs, Team Flare gave me this set of Mega Evolution stones as an apology."
Ash smiled as he watched Gyarados and Venusaur gazing eagerly into the briefcase.
"Valor, you've got quite a bit of luck on your side. This Mega Stone is specifically for Gyarados!"
The moment Ash revealed the answer, Valor's eyes gleamed even brighter.
Venusaur, meanwhile, looked at the stones with a mixture of anticipation and disappointment. It had hoped this might be its own opportunity.
But Ash hadn't forgotten about it. The fact that he had obtained one set today didn't mean Venusaur would never have its chance.
For now, though, the immediate question was settled.
Valor was about to gain the power of Mega Evolution!
And with the mysterious Mage Ability belonging to their newest companion, Fennekin, Ash's team was about to embark on an entirely new stage of growth.
The Kalos journey was becoming more extraordinary by the day.