Steven had lost count of how many tis he had been surprised.
This small workshop seed to hide an endless supply of miraculous tools. Every ti he discovered one, more would co flooding toward him like an unstoppable tide!
"This Pokéblock… was this handmade?"
Steven couldn't believe his eyes. The quality and precision of the Pokéblock before him were so refined that they looked like they had been produced by a high-end machine—one of those expensive, advanced models.
Yet, when Hikaru, looking sowhat embarrassed, admitted, "Of course, it's handmade," Steven was at a loss for words.
So, because he couldn't afford a machine, he had perfected his handcrafting skills to this level?
"Even Gym Leader Juan of Sootopolis rarely handcrafts Pokéblocks of this quality! These are Powerful Pokéblocks—there's no mistaking it!"
Steven was genuinely amazed at Hikaru's abilities.
Others relied on machines to make Pokéblocks, but you're making them by hand?!
This wasn't sothing an ordinary breeder could pull off!
Out of curiosity, Steven tasted one.
Without a doubt! The texture and flavor were both top-notch. Even in terms of sheer "deliciousness," it was on par with those made by renowned breeders.
Different colors of Pokéblocks had different dominant flavors, and while Pokémon would reject flavors they disliked, humans could appreciate all flavors and discern their subtle qualities—this was what was referred to as "deliciousness."
Of course, May's Pokéblocks were an exception…
anwhile, what Hikaru heard was:
"As expected, the Gym Leader of Sootopolis can handcraft Powerful Pokéblocks as well. No wonder he's a top-tier Coordinator! I still have a lot to learn. There must be even higher-quality Pokéblocks out there! When I visit Hoenn for certification, I should seek out these top Coordinators!"
That made sense. After all, Hoenn was known for its fertile land and warm climate, producing more Berries than any other region. Lilycove City even had a dedicated Berry Market, where you could find virtually any kind of Berry imaginable.
However, many of Hoenn's Berries didn't adapt well to other regions, which was why they weren't widely cultivated outside of Hoenn.
"This is a Rare Candy! Eating it will increase all of a Pokémon's abilities!"
Hikaru continued showcasing his exclusive products.
Maybe Steven would only give a nod of approval to his Pokéblocks—after all, there were other top Coordinators who could make high-quality ones by hand, even if most found it too ti-consuming and relied on machines.
But!
Rare Candies—now that was sothing no machine or person could replicate!
In the Pokémon ani, Rare Candies had never been shown, except for a failed attempt by a Team Rocket scientist who tried to develop a similar product. However, instead of enhancing a Pokémon's abilities, it caused them to grow enormous and lose control!
"And this one—Sinnoh Secret Potion! It provides a slight boost to all five of a Pokémon's base stats, and it works even better when taken with a Rare Candy!"
Listening to the descriptions of these miraculous items, Steven took a deep breath, falling into deep thought.
He wasn't doubting the effectiveness of these items.
There was nothing to doubt!
Instead, he was thinking about sothing else entirely. His gaze toward Hikaru grew more intense, and he finally ca to a firm decision.
Ever since witnessing the wonders of this workshop firsthand, an idea had slowly taken shape in Steven's mind.
"Hikaru… Have you ever considered leaving Sinnoh?"
Steven finally voiced his thoughts!
It wasn't just about mining—he and Hikaru shared a common passion for excavation—but Hikaru was also highly skilled in Pokémon breeding. Plus, his workshop could create miraculous tools. Steven was certain that these items would beco highly sought-after in battles and competitions in the future!
It was only a matter of ti!
"You an…?" Hikaru was puzzled.
Steven got straight to the point.
"I'll be frank—Hikaru, I believe your breeding techniques and crafting skills are truly unique. If you're interested, have you ever considered coming to Hoenn to work for Devon Corporation?"
"Of course, I'm not asking you to abandon your current identity and beco a researcher. What I'm proposing is for you to lead the developnt of so specialized products at Devon!"
Devon Corporation, headquartered in Rustboro City, Hoenn, had started as a small company focused on mining iron and refining steel. But over the years, it had grown into a world-renowned enterprise, rivaling even Silph Co. of Kanto!
As Devon expanded, its research shifted beyond steel and energy, extending into Pokémon and trainer-related technologies. Items such as the PokéNav, Devon Scope, Dive Gear, Luxury Ball, Cherish Ball, Net Ball, and Tir Ball were all Devon products.
They had even begun researching Pokémon's Dream World long ago, though their progress had been slow. In the end, Professor Fennel of Unova had beaten them to it by developing the C-Gear.
That was to be expected—after all, the Entralink, the main gateway to the Dream World, was located in Unova. Hoenn was simply too far away, and the signal reception was poor.
For Hoenn residents, Devon products were already deeply integrated into their daily lives.
Steven rarely recruited talent himself—that was usually his father, Mr. Stone's, responsibility. After all, Mr. Stone was the company president, while Steven was just the heir.
However, the potential of Hikaru's tools made Steven think—if Devon didn't recruit him, other major corporations from different regions would surely co knocking!
Since that was inevitable, why shouldn't he secure the opportunity first?
Although the thought felt a bit opportunistic, Steven believed that in the face of technological advancent, traditional craftsmanship would eventually be overshadowed by mass production.
He initially wanted to explain this to Hikaru, but then he hesitated—if Hikaru's dream was to beco a legendary craftsman, like the renowned Iron Master, relying on his reputation and exclusive craftsmanship, then saying such things would be disrespectful.
Even the Iron Master's son worked at Silph Co. in a key developnt role!
In fact, modern Poké Balls were developed using the traditional Apricorn Ball crafting thods that the Iron Master's son had helped refine. That sa research even led to the creation of the most powerful Poké Ball—the Master Ball!
Steven's gaze burned with sincerity as he looked at Hikaru.
Sinnoh's craftsmanship held many secrets, and he was certain Hikaru had even more hidden talents.
If these techniques could be integrated into modern technological developnt…!
Devon Corporation would beco the pride of Hoenn, surpassing all other major companies!
Faced with Steven's proposal, Hikaru fell into contemplation—but he didn't take long before shaking his head.
"Craftsmanship carries the wisdom of past generations. So things cannot simply be replicated through technology! While it might seem unconvincing coming from a craftsman like , you must know that every region has top-tier artisans who would never sell their techniques to corporations."
"The power of science is undeniable, but I believe so handcrafted items must be personally made by skilled artisans. If they were mass-produced by machines, their effects would be greatly diminished—or even lost entirely. That's just how this world works!"
Steven's enthusiasm slowly subsided, and he let out a soft sigh with a smile.
"I knew it… Top-tier craftsn always have this unshakable dedication. They're not easy to recruit."
"But… I still want to try."
"Even if Devon doesn't pursue this, other companies will eventually take notice of your products and attempt to replicate them. Whoever gets there first will have the advantage in the market!"
"So, my second proposal is—if you're willing, Devon Corporation would like to collaborate with you!"
"We could develop new Pokémon-related items together! Whether for battles or training, we can explore all possibilities! The key would be to establish product copyrights, and we could create lower-tier versions for mass production. You wouldn't need to move to Hoenn—just serve as a technical consultant!"
Hikaru understood everything Steven was saying.
He had known from the mont he arrived in this world.
So, selling his techniques outright? Not an option.
But collaboration?
That was sothing worth considering.
"I knew this day would co the mont I beca a craftsman. But… if it's Devon, I think I could consider it."
(End of Chapter)
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