"Right, that reminds me—"
Theo gently brushed his fingertips across the cool, metallic shell of the Shiny Beldum resting in his arms. As though recalling something suddenly, he added:
"There are rumors that, on rare occasions, a mirage in that desert will manifest into reality, the mysterious Mirage Tower. I wonder if I'll have the luck to witness it with my own eyes this time."
At the mention of the words "Mirage Tower," Steven's expression shifted ever so slightly.
He raised a hand and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. After a moment of contemplation, he finally spoke:
"The Mirage Tower, huh… that's something you can't seek out, it appears only when it wishes to be found. Devon's exploration teams have searched for it at least ten times over the years, but that tower behaves almost as if it has a will of its own, materializing and vanishing whenever it pleases. Even the most advanced instruments can't lock onto its presence. Encountering it is purely a matter of luck."
He looked at Theo, and his tone naturally grew more serious:
"The environment in that desert is far more complex than what you read in documents. You might run into sudden, violent sandstorms, quicksand pits hidden beneath the dunes, and even powerful Pokémon dwelling deep in the desert. I suggest you stick to the outer perimeter when training your Tyrunt. There's no need to take unnecessary risks by going deeper.
If you truly can't hold back your curiosity, make sure you have all your supplies—potions, medicine, your PokéNav, locator—every single thing. You absolutely cannot afford even the slightest carelessness."
"Don't worry, Mr. Steven. I never planned to go deep into the desert anyway," Theo responded quickly with a nod.
"This trip is mainly so I can train my Pokémon in the relatively safer outer region. Once I become stronger in the future, only then will I consider exploring deeper. I know my limits. I won't do anything too reckless."
Steven nodded, satisfaction flickering clearly in his eyes.
"That's good. But knowing your luck, even if you stay only on the desert outskirts, there's still a pretty good chance you might run into the Mirage Tower. If that really happens, contact me immediately. I'll be staying in the Hoenn region for the time being."
He then pointed at the Shiny Beldum resting in Theo's arms.
"Just contact me first, and then release this little fellow. My Pokémon can use its energy fluctuations as coordinates and teleport to you right away. But the positioning does take a bit of time, which is exactly why I told you not to venture deep into the desert. Safety first."
Theo blinked in surprise, then couldn't help letting out a small laugh.
"So that's possible? Then rest assured, if I do run into the Mirage Tower, I'll definitely contact you immediately."
He lowered his head and looked at the Beldum in his arms. The little guy seemed to understand the word "coordinates"—its red crystalline eye blinked adorably, and it rubbed its head lightly against Theo's wrist, behaving extra well.
"It's a promise, then," Steven said, snapping his fingers crisply. "Are you planning to depart today?"
"Mm. I've already packed everything." Theo nodded, listing out his schedule.
"I originally planned to leave right after visiting the company today—head through Rusturf Tunnel to Petalburg Woods, and then gradually make my way to Mauville City."
"That works out perfectly. No need to go through all that trouble."
Steven clapped his hands lightly and chuckled.
"I'm heading out as well. I'll give you a ride. I was planning to go straight to Mossdeep, but dropping you off in Mauville first won't delay me by much."
Theo was a bit surprised.
"Mr. Steven is going out too?"
"Of course." Steven stretched lazily and stroked the head of the Metagross beside him, his tone casual.
"If it weren't for waiting… cough—if it weren't for preparing the Beldum, I would've left last week."
Realizing he almost slipped up, he quickly changed the topic:
"The tidal patterns near Mossdeep City have been acting strange lately. The caves along the shallows are surfacing far more frequently than usual this season. I figured I might as well take the chance to do some exploration. If I miss this window, who knows how long until the next."
"That's really troubling you on my account. I didn't want to impose more than necessary."
Steven laughed lightly.
"Why so polite? You're part of Devon now too."
"Oh, and on the way to Mauville City, I have some experience regarding Beldum's training that I'd like to share with you… Come on, let's head to the top floor and take Skarmory. You really should catch a Flying-type Pokémon soon. Makes traveling and scouting much easier."
Theo nodded.
"Alright. I'll keep an eye out for a suitable partner during this journey."
Steven recalled both Pokémon and handed Theo the Shiny Beldum's Poké Ball.
"Take good care of it. I'm looking forward to its performance at the Contest."
"Rest assured, Mr. Steven. Beldum and I definitely won't disappoint you!"
The two continued talking as they walked out of the collection room.
Upon reaching the top floor, Theo suddenly paused and looked at Steven.
"Shouldn't we at least say goodbye to Chairman Joseph upstairs before leaving?"
"No need, no need." Steven waved his hand without slowing his pace.
"The old man is busy. He already knew I was leaving—told him yesterday. Besides, I'm not going far this time. If anything urgent comes up, he can just reach me through my PokéNav."
While he was speaking, the two arrived at Devon Corporation's rooftop.
Steven tossed out a Poké Ball, and the Skarmory they had seen previously appeared instantly.
Its entire body was clad in silver-gray feathers that shimmered with a cold metallic sheen, and the edges of its wings were sharp like blades.
When it first appeared, Skarmory's sharp gaze swept the surroundings vigilantly.
Only after Steven approached did it retract its fierce aura and lower its head obediently.
"Hop on." Steven swung himself onto Skarmory's broad back and signaled for Theo to follow.
Skarmory clearly remembered Theo as well. It lowered its strong, wide back slightly and folded its wings inward to make climbing easier.
Theo placed a hand gently on Skarmory's metal-gleaming neck and said softly:
"Sorry to trouble you, Skarmory. I'll be relying on you for another ride."
Skarmory seemed to understand his gratitude.
It let out a low, gentle cry and rubbed its head lightly against Theo's palm, displaying surprising intelligence and affection.
Taking advantage of the lowered posture, Theo climbed onto Skarmory's back and secured his position by holding onto its body.
"Hold on tight," Steven reminded him.
He patted Skarmory's neck lightly.
"Destination: Mauville City. Let's go."
Skarmory released a sharp, ringing cry, unfurled its vast metallic wings, and beat them powerfully, launching the two into the sky.
As they ascended, Devon Corporation's towering building shrank rapidly beneath them.
To the north, the coastline of Rustboro City stretched outward like a grand painting—the vivid blue of the sea mingling seamlessly with the golden sand, forming a magnificent sight like a flowing oil painting.
"How is it?" Steven's voice rang out through the rushing wind, tinged with amusement.
"The scenery from above is amazing, isn't it? No matter how many times I see it, I never get tired of it!"
Theo drew in a deep breath and nodded against the wind.
"It truly is spectacular. Every time I experience this, it feels completely different."
Skarmory flew extremely fast.
Before long, the northern shoreline faded away, and Rustboro City's silhouette gradually shrank until it became a series of distant rolling hills.
From time to time, Steven pointed downward, explaining various landmarks:
"That's Rusturf Tunnel, connecting the Rustboro mountain range and Petalburg Woods…
And that colorful flower field over there—that's Petalburg Woods' signature area…"
While the two soared away on Skarmory's back, Chairman Joseph stood inside his office, gazing out through the tall floor-to-ceiling window.
The secretary approached quietly and reported:
"Chairman, Young Master Steven has departed, and Mr. Glenwood has gone with him."
"I see."
Chairman Joseph nodded lightly, his gaze still fixed on the distant sky where Skarmory's silhouette gradually shrank.
His voice carried a faint mix of helplessness and indulgence:
"Prepare all the metallic materials required for Beldum's future evolution and growth.
Once everything is ready, confirm which city Theo is currently in and arrange for someone to deliver it to him personally. Make absolutely sure nothing goes wrong."
"Yes, Chairman. I'll see to it at once."
After the secretary left, Joseph remained standing by the window.
He watched the silver figure vanish into the horizon and murmured under his breath:
"Steven, you rascal… when will you finally settle down?
How long must I wait before I, Joseph, can finally hold a grandchild…"
(End of Chapter)