At noon, Nurse Joy pushed a dining cart down the hallway, a backpack stuffed with freshly harvested Revival Herbs slung over her shoulder.
She was just about to knock—
When Cynthia's startled voice burst from inside.
"What? You're saying Mega Evolution?!"
Nurse Joy hesitated, then knocked lightly.
"Champion Cynthia, Mr. Peter… lunch is ready."
The door opened almost instantly.
Peter stepped out, smiling calmly, and accepted the spatial backpack.
"Just leave the dishes here. Thank you, Nurse Joy."
Once she left, he casually tossed the Revival Herbs into his system storage to preserve their freshness, then returned to his seat.
Cynthia's sharp eyes locked onto him.
"You said you understand how Mega Evolution works. Are you serious?"
Peter shook his head slightly.
"It's still a hypothesis. But there's solid evidence behind it."
With that, he placed a stone on the table.
A dark-blue gem etched with vivid red and yellow streaks—beautiful and mysterious.
Cynthia frowned.
"What is this? It feels… familiar."
"From my research," Peter explained smoothly, "some Pokémon possess the potential to evolve further—but only through specific catalysts. I call these Mega Stones. This one… belongs to Garchomp."
"Is that so…"
Cynthia released her partner.
"Garchomp."
The powerful Dragon-type appeared—and immediately locked onto the stone.
In its fierce gaze was unmistakable longing.
Peter then released Lopunny, who held her own Mega Stone in her paws.
"After extensive observation, I found that these stones contain dormant bloodline energy tied to specific Pokémon. But they require something else to awaken."
He leaned back slightly.
"During battle, when Lopunny and I entered a synchronized resonance state… the stone responded. It glowed."
Cynthia's eyes widened faintly.
"You're suggesting… emotional synchronization?"
Peter nodded.
"I believe there must be another device—one that channels that bond and activates the energy."
Seven parts truth.
Three parts improvisation.
Cynthia stared at him in disbelief.
"At your age… to reach this level of theoretical depth… it's extraordinary."
Competitive insight and academic reasoning?
Incredibly rare.
Only figures like Professor Oak or Professor Kukui came to mind.
Peter smiled lightly.
"I can give you this Garchomp Mega Stone."
Cynthia blinked.
"And the condition?"
She wasn't naive.
Such a treasure would never be free.
"I've researched this," Peter said calmly. "Mega Evolution theory was first proposed by Professor Sycamore in Kalos. And someone like Steven Stone—'Devon Corporation Heir'—must have similar stones in his collection."
He met her gaze directly.
"I want your help connecting us. Let's complete the Mega Evolution research together."
Cynthia fell silent.
This wasn't a small ambition.
He wasn't dabbling.
He wanted to finish it.
"And this," Peter added, placing another stone down, "is Aggron's Mega Stone. Please give it to Steven as well."
He paused.
"In exchange, I'd like to pick two items from his collection."
After a long moment—
Cynthia nodded.
"Wait here."
-----
Moments later—
A holographic projection flickered to life.
On-screen appeared a silver-haired man in mountaineering gear, a pickaxe slung over his shoulder.
Dusty.
Disheveled.
But undeniably elegant.
Steven Stone.
"Cynthia? What's this about? Don't tell me you want another battle."
"Not this time," she said calmly. "Take a look."
She displayed the three Mega Stones.
Steven froze.
His pupils dilated.
"…The luster. The cut. The chromatic refraction…"
He inhaled sharply.
"Name your price. Three hundred million Poké Dollars or less—I won't blink."
Cynthia: …
Peter: Of course it's you, rich second-generation monster.
…
After explanations—
Steven finally grasped the gravity.
"These stones can trigger Mega Evolution?"
He stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"…I think I have a few similar ones in storage. I never identified their corresponding Pokémon."
Then he turned to Peter, eyes shining.
"You came to the right person, my friend! When it comes to stones, I'm the authority. Leave it to me!"
And he hung up.
Peter blinked.
"…That was… too smooth."
Cynthia chuckled.
"He's constantly pressured by his father to inherit Devon Corporation. Now he has an official research project as an excuse to keep mining."
She smiled knowingly.
"And since you're giving him an Aggron Mega Stone? Even without it, he'd have rushed to help."
Peter's expression twitched.
So I profit…
But Steven profits more?
Handsome. Rich. Champion.
Unfair.
-----
That very afternoon—
Under the support of two regional Champions—
With Devon Corporation's research team as foundation—
And Professor Sycamore leading the academic front—
The Mega Evolution Research Project was officially formed.
Steven immediately packed his mining gear and set off to excavate stones.
Meanwhile, through Devon's advanced transfer technology—
Two rare items arrived in Peter's hands.
One—a spherical gem with swirling rainbow streaks.
The other—a gray, diamond-shaped crystal of pure stone hue.
[Key Stone]
A mysterious gem that resonates with the Trainer–Pokémon bond. When emotional synchronization is achieved in battle, it can unlock the power within a Mega Stone and trigger Mega Evolution.
[Rockium Z]
A Rock-type Z-Crystal. When equipped to a Z-Ring, it allows a Pokémon to unleash the devastating Z-Move: Continental Crush.
(Z-Power originates from the Radiant One, Necrozma, and the Sun and Moon deities, Solgaleo and Lunala.)
Peter stared at the two stones in his palms.
His grin nearly split his face.
Originally, he only wanted something modest—maybe an Eviolite or an Icy Rock.
Instead—
He walked away with a full Mega Evolution set and a Z-Crystal.
Fortunately, Steven hadn't realized their full value yet.
To him, they were simply beautiful rocks.
Otherwise—
That negotiation would've been far more complicated.
…
"You look very pleased."
Cynthia stepped out of the medical room, holding Hisuian Zorua.
She had completed the preliminary scans and sent the data to her grandmother, Professor Carolina.
Peter's explanation?
Zorua's transformation was caused by exposure to concentrated Ghost-type energy from Coate.
Cynthia considered it a rare anomaly.
Force-feeding foreign energy to a Pokémon typically resulted in backlash.
With no further breakthroughs—
It would be classified as an exceptional case.
Peter slipped the stones into storage.
His smile remained.
Things were moving. Faster than anyone expected.
--------------
T/N:
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