"Team Aqua is here too?"
The stocky man wasn't in a hurry. Archie's appearance had bought him some time.
He exchanged glances with the young woman, then pulled out a Poké Ball and shouted:
"Then this Tabitha will be taking his leave first!"
Bang!
Tabitha slammed the Poké Ball onto the ground. Instantly, black smoke engulfed the entire area, obscuring everyone's vision.
Steven covered his nose and mouth, coughing violently. He wanted Metagross to use its Psychic power to restrain the two Team Magma members, but he couldn't speak through the smoke.
Metagross understood what was needed, but hearing Steven's coughing, it chose to prioritize helping Steven first.
A Psychic barrier spread outward, isolating Steven and Wallace from the surrounding smoke, which improved Steven's condition considerably.
"Metagross, where are they?"
"Metagross." Metagross shook its head.
"Oh right, Metagross! There's also someone in a white lab coat in the smoke!"
At Steven's signal, Metagross located Dr. Cozmo lying on the ground and dispelled the surrounding smoke for him.
"You have an honest face."
Archie, wearing a gas mask, was hidden in the smoke as he spoke words of praise.
Damn it! You came prepared, didn't you?
"My name is Archie, leader of Team Aqua—an organization dedicated to returning the world to a Pokémon paradise!"
"Team Magma, who seeks to expand the land, are our sworn enemies. We who love the ocean oppose them."
"You should pay close attention to Team Magma. They should be heading to Mt. Chimney next. We'll meet again."
"Metagross..." Steven didn't want to simply let Archie go. He didn't believe Archie's so-called paradise was real.
It was just the utopia Archie envisioned for himself.
Team Magma wanted to expand the land, and Team Aqua's goal was to expand the ocean!
"Steven, wait!" However, Wallace held Steven's shoulder.
Steven turned back to see Wallace shaking his head at him.
"The main priority right now is ensuring the doctor's safety. Team Aqua hasn't committed any major crimes yet. Even if we subdued them, it's uncertain what would happen," Wallace explained.
Most importantly, Wallace didn't want to take unnecessary risks.
His purpose in coming to Fallarbor Town was simply to participate in the Pokémon Contest. His Pokémon were stored at the Pokémon Center, and in order to rescue the doctor, he hadn't retrieved them.
Archie's strength was unknown, and taking action now would only be a thankless effort.
Steven, left with no choice, could only give up the pursuit.
As the two carried Dr. Cozmo back to the meteorite research institute established in the wilderness, Steven also understood why Wallace was present.
"Steven, are you also here to participate in the Contest?"
"No..." Steven looked down at his mining work clothes and thought it should be obvious he was there to mine, right?
"I'm just here at Meteor Falls to see if I can excavate any good stones."
"I see. Your performance was excellent. Aren't you considering continuing to participate in the Contest being held in Fallarbor Town?" Wallace's expression showed genuine regret. He truly appreciated Steven's previous performance.
"Moreover, your Metagross is exceptionally well-trained. With a little effort, you could achieve a high ranking."
A silver-white and gold Metagross was indeed very striking.
Steven's current Metagross had already reached Elite Four level, and with Mega Evolution, unless the opponent was an Elite-level Trainer, it could truly dominate.
There was no need to hide the Shiny Metagross anymore.
"Last time, I just wanted to experience what Contests were like. My goal is still the Hoenn League Championship," Steven explained with a smile.
"That's truly a shame. I think you could absolutely pursue the Championship while also participating in Contests," Wallace offered as a suggestion.
"Besides, with your strength, winning the Contest should not be very difficult."
"The Championship I'm referring to is the League Champion position, not just the League Tournament Championship," Steven said with a light chuckle.
Wallace paused, then smiled. "I see. In that case, you truly need to prepare with complete dedication."
Dr. Cozmo, being carried with one arm by each of them: Can you two exchange pleasantries after you've sent me back to the institute? What's the meaning of talking over me like this?
After taking Dr. Cozmo back to the meteorite research institute, a middle-aged woman came out to greet them.
Steven looked at the woman, then at Dr. Cozmo...
His hair was white with a bald spot in the middle...
He looked about seventy years old, so Dr. Cozmo couldn't possibly be just middle-aged, could he?
Perhaps he was like a programmer in his early twenties who'd already gone gray...
Well, it wasn't impossible.
Dr. Cozmo had inhaled some smoke and felt unwell, needing rest, so Steven and Wallace left the institute to talk outside.
"It seems I won't be able to participate in this Contest either," Wallace sighed.
Steven immediately understood Wallace's meaning.
"Are you going to Mt. Chimney?"
"Yes. These people might do something catastrophic. It's my duty to go and investigate."
"Then I'll go too. As a Trainer from the Hoenn Region, I can't just stand by idly," Steven said with determination.
"Alright. I'll also be waiting for your challenge at the Sootopolis Gym," Wallace nodded and smiled.
He had declined the Champion position, choosing instead to train under his mentor Juan, and had accepted the position of Sootopolis Gym Leader on Sootopolis Island.
Steven and Wallace first returned to Fallarbor Town to retrieve their Pokémon stored at the Pokémon Center.
Wallace's current team consisted of newly trained Pokémon—meaning they were the ones he used as the Sootopolis Gym Leader.
He only carried one main Pokémon with him: Milotic.
This was why Wallace hadn't let Steven take risks earlier. Without knowing the opponent's full strength, a rash move could backfire.
Moreover, the opponent was an organization leader.
"By the way, Wallace, has your Milotic been with you since it was a Feebas?" Steven asked curiously.
"Yes. Milotic was caught by me when it was a Feebas, and it has been with me ever since," Wallace nodded in response.
Therefore, when he participated in Contests now, he performed with Milotic as well.
Feebas were quite rare, and the evolved Milotic's beauty was unparalleled. Few people revealed Feebas habitats.
Steven really wanted to ask Wallace where the Feebas fishing spot was, but he thought that this was only their second meeting, and Wallace might not tell him.
He decided to ask once they were better acquainted.
"Is that Mr. Wallace?!"
"Is that Steven, who got second place in the Verdanturf Town Contest, next to him?!"
"Mom! My two crushes are actually together!"
"Their height difference looks perfect together!"
Gradually, more people around them began to stare at Steven and Wallace, and their discussions naturally reached Steven's ears.
But...
You can think these things, but why are you shouting them out so loudly?!