Aoki took out the communicator that Weavile had retrieved from Sox before freezing him.
In the latest communication record, the name noted was Furukai.
A cold glint flashed in Aoki's eyes as he dialed the number expressionlessly.
"Hey! Sox! How dare you hang up on me!" Furukai's furious voice erupted from the communicator. Though they hadn't met face-to-face, Aoki could easily picture Furukai's hardened expression, brimming with arrogance.
Having worked under Guga in his past life, Aoki was no stranger to him. Back then, Furukai had already risen to the rank of a full-fledged Team Rocket executive.
Now, however, he was merely a quasi-executive—holding the title but, in terms of actual authority, still just a captain, the same rank as Aoki.
"..." Aoki remained silent upon hearing his voice.
The other end of the line seemed to sense the same tension.
A heavy silence settled between them.
"Aoki?" Furukai finally spoke after a long pause.
"Hm." Aoki replied coolly.
Some things didn't need to be said aloud. The silence itself spoke volumes.
"Very well!" With those two sharp words, Furukai abruptly ended the call.
A faint smirk tugged at Aoki's otherwise indifferent expression.
Furukai's previous defeats hadn't shaken him much, but this time, Sox's failure had clearly struck a nerve.
Among Team Rocket's captains, Sox was fairly notorious—an elite Trainer with considerable strength, infamous for his underhanded tactics. That was precisely why Furukai had spent a fortune hiring him to eliminate Aoki.
With Team Rocket currently lying low, few were willing to take such risks.
Yet Aoki had defeated Sox, proving that he now posed a genuine threat to Furukai in terms of raw power.
"I hope you come for me yourself next time. Otherwise, by the time I come for you, there won't be much chance left to fight back." Aoki murmured, staring at the disconnected communicator.
With a surge of psychic energy, the device crumpled in his grip like paper.
He then retrieved a small computer from his pocket, holding it without even turning it on.
Recalling his Pokémon, Aoki teleported back to the gym's backyard with the aid of Slowking's psychic power.
A tiger doesn't reveal its fangs to a kitten.
He had been focusing on training his newer Pokémon, keeping his strongest team reserved. Now, with his opponents escalating, it was time to respond in kind.
Retrieving his main team from storage, Aoki prepared for the inevitable confrontation.
Upon returning to the gym, Aoki had initially planned to embark on an extended journey. The Hoenn region boasted a vast desert, one he hadn't yet explored for training. Once he familiarized himself with the terrain, he intended to travel to other regions in search of suitable training grounds.
But just as he finished packing, Steven called, informing him that he would arrive in Verdanturf Town by morning. He had urgent matters to discuss and asked if Aoki would be available.
Reluctantly, Aoki stowed his gear and waited.
The Next Morning
At the crack of dawn, Steven—usually one to arrive fashionably late—appeared punctually at Aoki's doorstep, still out of breath from rushing. His Skarmory hadn't even been returned to its Poké Ball yet.
"You're early for once." Aoki remarked, amused.
Steven waved a hand, steadying his breathing before replying, "Normally, corporate business keeps me delayed. But after our last conversation, I had a long talk with my father. I've been… liberated, so to speak."
Indeed, Steven's demeanor radiated a newfound ease, his confidence sharper than Aoki had ever seen.
With his natural talent as a Trainer, relentless drive, and now unlimited time to train, Steven's self-assurance was justified. More importantly, even without managing Devon Corporation's affairs, the Stone family's financial backing would never waver.
Money talks—louder than 99.9% of the world.
"So you're finally training at full capacity." Aoki said, genuinely pleased for him.
Freed from corporate shackles, Steven might reach Champion-level strength even sooner than in Aoki's past life.
"Yes, though my father gave me an ultimatum: five years. He can handle the company alone until then, but after that, I have to return, regardless of my progress." Steven sighed.
Five years?
More than enough for a prodigy like Steven.
Aoki nodded. It aligned with his expectations. By then, Steven's strength would peak. Even as Devon's chairman, his prowess would silence any dissent within the company.
"You didn't rush here just to tell me that, did you?" Aoki asked.
Steven snapped back to the present. "Right. Two things—one urgent. Pack your things; we leave now. I'll explain the rest en route." His tone was uncharacteristically rushed.
Aoki understood immediately. If even the unflappable Steven was this agitated, the situation must be serious.
Without another word, Aoki stepped past him toward the exit.
Steven blinked. "Aren't you packing?"
"I was ready before you arrived." Aoki gestured to the small backpack slung over his shoulder. "I only waited because you said it was urgent."
Satisfied, Steven hurried outside, leaping onto Skarmory's back.
As the Gym Leader of Verdanturf Town, Aoki had no flight restrictions. He released Flygon and mounted it smoothly.
Steven's eyes lit up at the sight. "A new Pokemon? Flygon?"
"Hm." Aoki acknowledged tersely, urging Flygon skyward. Steven followed closely on Skarmory.
"Now," Aoki called over the wind, "tell me what's going on."