After Aoki inspected the development of the entire Carbink group, he exited the underground chambers. The Carbink had fully settled in, excavating various rooms within the earth. However, since their arrival was recent, even with the assistance of Pokeblocks, their ore and diamond production remained limited in such a short time.
Aoki hadn't come for diamonds—he still had plenty in his possession. His visit was solely to check on the Carbink's condition. As for the mutated Carbink, it was summoned after Aoki's departure. At this point, it hadn't changed much, though the pink hue of the diamond on its head had darkened slightly. According to the data detected by the system, the mutation's progress had only increased marginally.
Before discovering the Carbink's mutation, Aoki had tasked the system with analyzing the cause and the possibility of controlling it. So far, no conclusive results had been found. Even if Aoki wanted to accelerate the mutation process, he lacked the means. For now, he could only wait for the Carbink to mutate naturally or until the system gathered enough data to expand its database.
Thus, the mutated Carbink required no complex training—maintaining its physical condition was sufficient.
Over the following days, Aoki settled into a routine. He trained daily with his Pokémon, even joining in himself to improve his own physical fitness. When the gym was open, he would take Poliwag and Marshtomp to face challengers. As their training intensified, the two Pokémon's battles became smoother, and their coordination with Aoki grew stronger.
However, during this period, no one seemed to notice the small computer Aoki carried at all times—even during battles and training, it never left his hand.
Half a month passed in relative stability. Everything in Aoki's life appeared to be progressing smoothly, entering a phase of steady development. Verdanturf Town and Team Sky were also experiencing rapid growth.
The artificial lake in Verdanturf had fully formed. Aoki had exchanged all the resources initially obtained from the town for Water-type Pokémon, releasing them into the lake. With the help of specially prepared supplements, the Pokémon within the artificial lake had finally produced their first offspring.
Now, Aoki could finally allocate Verdanturf's resources toward his own development.
But his comfort was short-lived. The arrival of a League commissioner disrupted his peaceful progress.
The commissioner brought a phone with the contact number of Adams, president of the Hoenn League. Under the commissioner's watchful gaze, Aoki made the call.
Adams praised Aoki for his previous assistance in calming Regice alongside Nolan and expressed reassurance regarding Aoki's latent psychic abilities. He emphasized the League's strong support for Aoki and granted him the position of Senior Investigator.
The title of League Investigator is reserved for direct League affiliates. Ranks include Chief Investigator, Senior Investigator, and Intermediate and Junior Investigators. Senior Investigator was already a prestigious position—even Lance held only that rank.
The Investigator track was essentially a fast-track path within the League. Upon reaching Chief Investigator, one effectively became part of the League's upper management. Chief Investigators were comparable to the Elite Four—this was the path Lance was taking. Currently a Senior Investigator, he would soon advance to Chief Investigator, then to the Dragon King of Kanto, and eventually the Dragon Champion of Johto.
The Hoenn League's decision to appoint Aoki as a Senior Investigator was an exceptional promotion. His strength hadn't yet met the standard for the rank, and he had skipped the usual progression from Junior to Intermediate Investigator. This move clearly demonstrated the League's intent to nurture Aoki's potential.
From this moment onward, even if Aoki revealed the pseudo-legendary Pokémon he had tamed, the repercussions would be minimal—unless he encountered particularly reckless criminals. While pseudo-legendaries were highly coveted, most would think twice before provoking the League's wrath.
Additionally, Adams informed Aoki that he would now report to Chief Investigator Jenny.
In the final power struggle among the three major families, the Jenny family had emerged victorious. Adams didn't elaborate on the details, but now, if Aoki encountered trouble, he could seek Jenny's assistance.
The position of Chief Investigator wasn't singular—multiple held the title. The Investigators held significant authority within the League, and it was impossible for only one Champion-level trainer to oversee them. Every Chief Investigator was a Champion-level trainer, while Senior Investigators required at least Elite-level strength. Aoki's promotion was thus a clear exception, aimed at strengthening his ties to the Hoenn League—especially since he was originally from Kanto but developing in Hoenn.
Steven, currently in Sootopolis City, had also received a promotion, becoming a Senior Investigator under the Stone family. The Joy family, however, had gained nothing.
The League also provided resources to aid Verdanturf's development—primarily a large number of common Water-type Pokémon, released into the town's artificial lake.
After sending off the overly eager League commissioner (and leaving him contact information to placate him), Aoki retrieved the Investigator's exclusive black coat and badge. Slipping it on, he found it far more refined than standard Trainer attire—giving off an air of prestige.
Handsome.
The title of Senior Investigator, while prestigious, offered little immediate practical benefit. It was more a symbol of the League's acknowledgment.
But before Aoki could fully enjoy the moment, another call interrupted him—one that made his expression darken.
It was the encrypted line of Team Rocket's Shadow operative.
The ringing of this phone signaled that Team Rocket's infiltration of Neverland was complete.
With a cautious breath, Aoki answered.