Cynthia, for her part, had no doubts about what Chen Shi said.
After all, both her Milotic and Glaceon had been chosen with his help.
The results spoke for themselves—their potential was top-tier, without question.
Standing off to the side, however, Phoebe looked a little out of place.
After all, she'd stopped at the Top 32. Choosing a Pokémon Egg had nothing to do with her.
Noticing her expression, Steven Stone comforted her.
"All Top 64 competitors in the World Tournament get rewards," he said.
"You made it to the Top 32—there's definitely something for you too."
"Really?"
Phoebe's eyes instantly lit up.
She didn't actually care what the reward was.
As long as there was one, that was enough.
After traveling all this way, it would be far too tragic to walk away without a high placement and without rewards.
"Really," Steven replied. "Do you think I'd lie to you?"
"That's great!"
Phoebe cheered like an overexcited kid, waving her arms happily.
Chen Shi shot her a look and said irritably,
"Honestly, this is all the ambition you've got—getting excited over a tiny reward."
"At this rate, you're totally the type who'll get ordered around for the rest of your life."
Phoebe froze, then muttered unhappily,
"Aren't you the one ordering me around right now?"
"Every day it's 'catch this Pokémon,' 'catch that Pokémon.'"
Hearing that, Chen Shi opened his mouth to argue—
but after thinking about it carefully, he realized she… wasn't wrong.
Ever since she left Mt. Pyre, she really had been running errands for him nonstop.
Catching Pokémon here and there—and in the end, even the rewards had been "borrowed" by him and Steven.
Yeah… pretty tragic, honestly.
Steven sighed softly. With these two, he truly had no solution.
So he changed the subject.
"Old Chen, you're fine now, right? How about we go get something to eat?"
"My father wants to meet you."
"Mr. Stone is already here?"
Chen Shi nodded, throwing off the blanket and swinging his legs out of bed.
It really was time to meet him.
He had a few things he wanted to discuss, and today was the perfect opportunity.
"He arrived yesterday," Steven explained, raising an eyebrow.
"But he said he'd wait until after the match to meet you—didn't want to distract you."
"So I didn't mention it earlier."
Chen Shi slipped on his shoes, clearly surprised.
Who was Mr. Stone?
Head of the Stone family.
President of the Devon Corporation.
Vice Chairman of the Hoenn League.
One of the people standing at the very peak of the world.
And yet, after arriving, the first thing he considered was whether he'd disturb Chen Shi's competition.
Just that attitude alone made Chen Shi feel extremely comfortable.
Unlike certain families—sending a mere secretary, dripping with arrogance from start to finish.
"Then let's go," Chen Shi said with a grin.
"I've been starving for a while now."
As he spoke, he collected the Poké Balls from the table, walked straight over to Cynthia, and grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the exit.
Cynthia glanced at him—but didn't pull away.
Behind them, Steven and Phoebe exchanged a strange look.
Phoebe whispered, "Brother Steven… are they together now?"
This time, Steven didn't hesitate at all. He nodded.
"I'm pretty sure they are."
Both of their gazes drifted to the hands tightly clasped together.
"Hey, what are you two doing back there?"
"Aren't we leaving?"
Seeing that they hadn't followed, Chen Shi turned and called out.
"Coming, coming."
Steven and Phoebe shrugged and quietly followed along.
…
Inside the largest private dining room at the biggest hotel in Silver Town, Chen Shi finally met Steven's father—
Mr. Stone.
He wore an expensive blue pinstriped suit, a white bowler hat perched atop his head.
A few strands of gray had crept into his hair, and his smile was gentle and warm.
When he saw Chen Shi, Mr. Stone walked over and shook his hand.
"You must be Old Chen's grandson," he said with a smile.
"I've heard Steven talk about you often. It's good to finally meet you in person."
"Truly—heroes grow younger with every generation. Seeing outstanding young people like you really makes me feel my age."
Chen Shi smiled politely.
"Mr. Stone, you're too kind. You look very energetic to me—not old at all."
"Hahaha! Enough formalities—let's sit and talk."
Mr. Stone laughed heartily, guiding Chen Shi to a seat before signaling for the dishes to be served.
Steven, Cynthia, and Phoebe didn't hold back either, finding seats of their own.
"Xiaoshi," Mr. Stone said, "I hope you don't mind me calling you that?"
Chen Shi shook his head.
"Not at all. Call me whatever you like."
Mr. Stone was an elder—being called "Xiaoshi" felt natural, even friendly.
"Good."
Mr. Stone nodded. "Steven told me that our fossil revival technology succeeded thanks to your insight."
"I should thank you properly."
He inclined his head slightly, his expression sincere.
When his son had rushed home insisting that fossil revival required dream energy, Mr. Stone had honestly thought Steven had lost his mind.
But Steven insisted again and again.
Eventually, Mr. Stone agreed—half-believing, half-doubting—and ordered experimental trials.
And against all expectations… it worked.
When he asked where that idea had come from, Steven answered with one name—Chen Shi.
That revelation had truly shocked him.
A problem that had stumped the world for decades—
solved by a young man with just a few words.
Without Chen Shi's guidance, Devon Corporation might have wasted countless years, resources, and manpower pursuing the wrong path.
So this gratitude—
was heartfelt.
Chen Shi, however, waved his hands repeatedly.
"Mr. Stone, please don't say it like that. It really wasn't much."
"I only provided an idea. You were the ones who carried out the experiments."
That was honestly how he felt—and it was the same answer he'd given both Steven and Mr. Stone.
Mr. Stone fell silent for a moment, a question mark slowly forming in his mind.
'Only an idea'?
But our entire direction was wrong to begin with…
If not for that 'idea,' we might still be stuck going in circles.
…Are young people these days all this humble?
After a moment of thought, Mr. Stone spoke again.
"I hear you're also a researcher. In that case—how about this?"
"The Devon Corporation will fund the construction of a research institute for you."
"Top-tier equipment, all state-of-the-art. You choose the location."
"What do you think?"
Chen Shi froze.
Then he stared at Mr. Stone in disbelief.
"Y-you're saying… you'll build a research institute for me?"
Mr. Stone smiled and nodded calmly.
"That's right."
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> patreon.com/lucarioTL