Theo's gaze locked tightly onto the Dratini, not blinking even once.
In his eyes was unmistakable wonder, an unconcealed mix of curiosity and astonishment that shimmered vividly.
Seeing Theo react this way, Steven's expression instantly bloomed with a smile he could no longer hide.
Even the corners of his eyes were filled with bright, unrestrained delight, like joy that kept spilling over.
He raised his hand and lightly pointed at the little creature wagging its tail in curiosity.
His tone carried an unmistakable air of pride—one that he made no effort to conceal—as he introduced it to Theo in a loud, cheerful voice:
"You recognize it, don't you? This is a Dratini,
the base evolutionary form of the pseudo-legendary Dragonite from Indigo.
Speaking of which, you probably wouldn't believe it. Lance, the so-called Dragon Master, pestered me endlessly for that fossil you saw last time, the one with the feather imprint.
I really couldn't stand his nagging anymore, so I finally relented and agreed.
I traded that feather fossil for one of his Dratini eggs.
And just two days ago, it finally hatched!"
As soon as Steven said this, Theo's pupils contracted sharply.
He could hardly believe his ears.
His mind instantly exploded with a series of wild and absurd possibilities:
Trading a Dratini for the Feather Fossil?
But reviving that fossil produces an Archen!
Isn't that essentially exchanging Dratini for Archen?
Would Lance really agree to such a deal?
Even if he didn't know what the fossil would revive at first, once Archen was brought back to life, would he still willingly trade away a Dratini egg for it?
That's absurd!
Could it be that Lance actually embraces the nickname "Flying Master" so deeply that he wants to collect Pokémon that fit the title
These bizarre guesses spun through Theo's mind like a carousel, each more absurd than the last.
But just as he was thinking deeper, his gaze accidentally swept over Steven's face—
and that smile at the corner of Steven's lips… that barely suppressed delight…
and the fleeting hint of mischief in his eyes…
Theo's heart tightened.
He instantly sensed that things were definitely not as simple as they appeared.
Seeing Theo's curiosity deepen, Steven's smile grew even brighter.
He cleared his throat, speaking with a tone full of irrepressible smugness and a hint of eager playfulness—clearly enjoying the chance to tell the whole story at his own pace.
Theo listened carefully from beginning to end.
When Steven finished, Theo finally understood everything, and realization washed over him like a sudden wave.
He never expected that this entire situation would somehow be connected to him and his Tyrunt.
Lance went through so much trouble just to obtain a Dragon-type Pokémon, only to end up with an Archen.
What a twist of fate—truly the work of destiny's cruel humor.
But Theo could understand Lance's desperation.
If anyone else had experienced what Lance had, they likely would've become obsessed with searching for real Dragon-type Pokémon too.
After all…
He was known as the Dragon Master, a respected Dragon-type Elite.
Every one of his Pokémon had an impressive name that included the word "Dragon," exuding overwhelming power just from hearing them.
But in reality?
Aside from Dragonite, Dragonair, and Dratini, his only actual Dragon-type evolutionary line,
none of his other Pokémon even had the Dragon typing.
Charizard was Fire/Flying.
Gyarados was Water/Flying.
Even Aerodactyl was Rock/Flying.
All of them looked like Dragon Pokémon—
but not a single one truly was.
Ordinarily, with Lance's overwhelming strength and towering reputation, even if people knew, no one dared say it aloud.
But unfortunately for him…
he ran into Drake, a true Dragon-type Master, whose entire team was made up of real Dragon-type Pokémon.
And Drake seized onto Lance's embarrassment like a hawk.
Noticing that Lance's Pokémon had "Dragon" in their names but not in their typings, he mercilessly gave Lance a new nickname:
"Flying Master."
And once he started teasing, he didn't stop.
He mentioned it to everyone he met.
It didn't take long before the nickname spread like wildfire, becoming a private joke shared across the region.
With Lance's stubborn pride and his fierce competitiveness, how could he possibly endure this humiliation?
If he didn't hurry and collect real Dragon-type Pokémon to restore his honor, the title of "Dragon-type Elite" would soon be completely replaced with "Flying-type Elite."
And the nickname "Flying Master" would follow him permanently—
not just embarrassing, but utterly catastrophic for his dignity.
Thinking of all this, Theo couldn't help but feel a surge of sympathy:
A fake Dragon-type Master meeting a true Dragon-type Master…
and then being exposed and mocked face-to-face,
anyone would panic in that situation.
"So? What do you think? Are you interested in this Dratini?"
Steven suddenly shifted the topic, his eyes shining brightly as he asked.
Theo's heart skipped a beat—
his breath even halted for half a second.
Dratini.
A Pokémon that would eventually evolve into Dragonite.
A top-tier Dragon/Flying type.
A dream Pokémon for countless trainers across the entire League.
No trainer in their right mind would reject such a temptation.
Dragonite stood as the universally acknowledged symbol of Dragon-type power.
With its flawless combination of tremendous strength and unrivaled mobility, it dominated both land and sky.
Even though its wings were small, its flying speed was never hindered.
And more importantly, Dragonite possessed a powerful hidden ability:
Multiscale.
[Multiscale: When HP is full, the Pokémon's scales shift and interlock like layered armor, greatly enhancing its defensive capability.]
On top of that, Dragonite could also learn Dragon Dance, a move that boosted its Attack and Speed. With Multiscale's protection, it could endure enemy strikes, then use Dragon Dance to set the stage for victory.
Even better, Dragonite also mastered Roost,
a recovery move that allowed it to retreat briefly and restore its HP to full, reactivating Multiscale once again.
It was essentially rebuilding an impenetrable shield on command.
Its endurance and field presence were nothing short of terrifying.
And, as if that wasn't enough, Dragonite also possessed the move—
Extreme Speed.
A move that let it unleash its full potential in an instant, becoming a blur faster than the naked eye could track, blindsiding opponents before they even realized what happened.
Truly worthy of its status as the flagship of all Dragon Pokémon.
But despite all this, Theo quietly clenched his palm.
He forced down the excitement surging in his chest, steadied his expression, and looked at Steven with calm curiosity:
"Then… what's the other option?"
Steven's eyebrows rose in surprise.
His voice was filled with disbelief:
"Oh? Even Dratini isn't enough to make you immediately say yes?"
He raised a brow even higher, deliberately stretching his tone, eyes sparkling with mischief as he spoke teasingly:
"If you don't choose it now, I might just trade it to Drake later.
Lance and Drake may insult each other every day, but deep down they're each quietly eyeing the other's Pokémon.
If I act as a helpful middleman and let them swap Dratini for Bagon…
Well, who knows? Maybe they'll both be thrilled.
So?
Are you sure you don't want to take Dratini while you still can?
Otherwise, the chance might disappear."
Theo quickly raised his hands to explain, sincerity filling his gaze.
"Dratini is incredibly precious, of course I'm tempted.
But I still want to know what the other choice is before I make a decision I won't regret."
Steven let out an exaggerated sigh, but there was unmistakable approval hidden in his eyes.
He originally wanted to tease Theo, to see him overwhelmed with excitement and unable to contain himself.
But Theo was far calmer than he expected—remarkably so.
If it were any other trainer, the moment they were offered a Dratini, they would've already jumped with joy, agreed instantly, and worried he might change his mind.
(End of Chapter)