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At around 7 a.m. the next morning, Sato had already packed his belongings and left the Pokémon Center. Riding his off-road bicycle, he set off toward Mauville City.
"The Sasaki family really is impressive. All those tails disappeared early this morning. With their protection, traveling will be much more convenient."
On the high-speed cycling route, Sato used his psychic power to scan his surroundings. After confirming that no one was following him, he couldn't help but regard the Sasaki family even more highly.
Since last night, Sato had already accepted Alice's invitation and become an external elder of the Sasaki family.
Although this matter had not yet been publicly announced, the Sasaki family clearly valued him greatly. The troublesome stalkers who had been following him were swiftly dealt with through subtle means.
By revealing his identity as a Psychic, Sato had engaged in a relaxed and pleasant negotiation with Alice the previous night, ultimately securing an extremely generous investment package consisting of five key points:
First, the Sasaki family would allocate 200 million PokeDollars annually as funding.
Second, they would provide him with a detailed book on cultivating Psychic-type Pokémon.
Third, they would grant him an advanced meditation technique along with a book on psychic power application.
Fourth, they would supply a certain quantity of rare food materials specifically for nurturing Psychic-type Pokémon.
Fifth, they would provide him with a Ralts Pokémon Egg.
To be honest, even Sato himself felt that he had been asking for too much when he proposed these terms.
Leaving aside the annual 200 million PokeDollars, the remaining four conditions were all exceedingly demanding.
Books on Psychic Pokémon cultivation, advanced meditation techniques, psychic application manuals, rare food resources, and a Ralts Egg—every single one of these items was priceless and nearly impossible to obtain on the market.
Among them, the Psychic Pokémon cultivation book was a treasure among treasures. For Trainers specializing in Psychic-types, its value far exceeded even that of pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
Yet to Sato's surprise, Alice had agreed to almost everything without hesitation. Except for the Ralts Egg, the other four items would be delivered to him as soon as possible.
The 200 million PokeDollars had even been transferred to him on the spot, instantly swelling his previously empty wallet.
From this alone, one could see just how deep the Sasaki family's resources ran—their vault must be filled with countless treasures.
Of course, receiving such benefits meant Sato had to pay a corresponding price.
From now on, he would represent the Sasaki family. Under normal circumstances, he could act freely, but whenever the family required his assistance, he must respond—and stand unconditionally on their side.
At the same time, since Alice was the one who had brought him into the family, Sato would have to support her within the Sasaki family in the future.
Trading future potential for immediate investment—who gained and who lost in this deal was impossible to determine at present. But for now, Sato believed he had profited. After all, the future was uncertain.
"That Psychic cultivation book alone makes this deal worthwhile. Not many people would part with something so priceless. And on top of that, there's the advanced meditation technique and a Ralts Egg… I really sold myself for a high price this time. Alice is incredibly generous—I'll have to see her in a new light."
Even now, recalling last night's agreement, Sato still felt it was somewhat unreal. Once again, he was deeply impressed by the strength of a great family like the Sasakis.
.....
Meanwhile, as Sato rode toward Mauville City, at the private terminal of Slateport City's international airport, Alice—dressed in fashionable elegance—was boarding a small private aircraft with her maid, Sonoko.
"Miss, your decision to make such a private investment has displeased the master somewhat. Although this Trainer named Tyler is a Psychic, the conditions you offered are far too generous. It may not be favorable for the family's future control over him."
After Alice took her seat, an elderly man dressed like a butler approached with a bottle of fine, decanted red wine. As he poured it into her glass, he spoke with a slightly troubled expression.
"Don't worry, Grandpa Pino. I'll personally explain things to Father. I don't think this deal is a loss. Those items are just sitting in the treasury gathering dust anyway. It's better to use them to recruit a Trainer who has the potential to become a Psychic Elite."
"I've already investigated Tyler thoroughly. He's currently an orphan, and the League doesn't even know he has awakened psychic powers yet. Once they find out, we may not even get a chance—at that point, what we offer would only be icing on the cake."
"More importantly, he's completely alone. His only relative is an uncle who abandoned him when he was in a vegetative state. Even though he now has Pokémon companions, he must still feel lonely deep down."
"If the Sasaki family can give him the warmth of a home, then in the future, we'll gain a powerful guardian."
"Oh, right—has the family found a suitable candidate yet? And have the things I requested been prepared?"
Alice gently swirled the wine in her glass, took a small sip, and spoke calmly.
"Because everything happened so suddenly, a candidate hasn't been finalized yet. As for the items you requested, the master has approved them all. However, the Ralts Egg is extremely rare, so it hasn't been secured yet."
Hearing Alice's mature reasoning, the elderly butler smiled with clear relief.
"I see. Then send the other items to Mr. Tyler first. As for the Ralts Egg, acquire it as soon as possible. Spend more money if necessary—but its quality must be guaranteed. The Sasaki family cannot afford to lose face."
Alice nodded. After finishing her wine in one go, she turned her gaze toward the window, watching Slateport City grow smaller and smaller in the distance.