After hearing Lucario's feedback, Steven clapped his hands, a look of realization dawning on his face.
"I see!"
He turned toward the two powerful pokémon that were still on guard, his voice clear and sincere.
"The people from Team Magma first injured an Aron and then intentionally threw it into your territory,"
Steven's gaze first fell upon the massive Camerupt.
"And you," he looked back at Aggron, "believed that Camerupt had harmed one of your kin, which is why you launched such a furious attack!"
"This was all a plot by those Team Magma members! They wanted you to fight until both were weakened so they could reap the benefits! You were both being used."
They understood Steven's meaning.
The fury in the eyes of the two behemoths gradually faded.
The volcano-like humps on Camerupt's back stopped spitting sparks, and the boiling lava slowly subsided.
It let out a low cry, sounding like a sigh or perhaps an expression of its own frustration.
As its massive body turned, the ground trembled slightly.
Finally, it gave Aggron a deep look, stepped off with its heavy four legs, and turned to return to the depths of its own territory, the scorching heat in the cave receding with it.
The temperature inside the cave seemed to drop by a few degrees.
Seeing the two pokémon reconcile, Steven appeared quite excited. He turned and gave Jiang Han a thumbs-up, a hint of youthful pride in his expression, as if to say: How's that? Problem solved.
Jiang Han twitched the corner of his mouth and nodded in agreement.
Solved?
He was skeptical in his heart.
If it hadn't been for that Level 66 Lucario using two devastating attacks to completely daze them, these two hot-headed wild pokémon would never have stopped to listen to your grand reasoning.
Ultimately, the logic of this world is maintained by fists.
However, this Steven was an interesting fellow—just and idealistic, yet possessing the most practical of powers.
Jiang Han looked at him being so happy about his successful mediation and found it somewhat amusing.
His gaze quietly shifted to the side.
The Stone wall, scorched red by Camerupt's lava and even melted in some places, was still radiating residual heat.
Jiang Han pretended to observe the surroundings and paced over inconspicuously.
He reached out and stopped a few centimeters from the Stone wall, clearly feeling the sweltering air.
He tilted his ear to listen; behind the Stone wall, there was dead silence.
Good, Jiro and the others have already withdrawn.
A weight was lifted from Jiang Han's heart.
This cave was already deep and complex, and the two Level 44 pokémon had just engaged in a life-and-death struggle.
That powerful energy surge and pressure were enough to make most low-level wild pokémon tremble and hide in their dens, afraid to come out.
Plus, with the meddlesome Team Magma members lying scattered on the ground, the withdrawal path for his Survey Team would basically be free of danger.
Mission accomplished, personnel safe—perfect.
While Jiang Han's thoughts were racing, Steven had already walked up to the massive Aggron.
Compared to when he faced Camerupt, Steven's eyes now held a bit more eagerness and concern; after all, this was his favorite Steel-type pokémon.
"Aggron," Steven's voice was very soft, carrying a soothing tone, "you said your kin, Aron, is injured. Can you let me see? I might be able to help."
Aggron's steel-like body stiffened slightly, a muffled low Growl coming from its throat. Beneath its silver faceplate, its blue eyes were full of caution.
It did not trust humans.
In its understanding, humans were always linked with greed and danger.
But it recalled the Lucario from just moments ago.
Those red eyes were calm and waveless, yet they seemed to contain a terrifying power that could explode at any moment, making its recently battered body start to ache again.
Weighing pros and cons is an instinct of all living things.
Aggron hesitated for a moment before finally, reluctantly, shifting its heavy body to reveal a pile of rubble it had been shielding.
It extended its massive Metal Claw and carefully pushed aside a rock.
A small pokémon, entirely covered in a metallic shell, was curled up in a corner of the rock pile, trembling.
It was an Aron.
There were several dents and scratches on its iron armor, with one wound being particularly deep—damaged tissue was even visible inside, and it was letting out weak, faint whimpers.
Seeing Aron in such a pitiful state, Steven's expression instantly darkened.
He snapped his head back, his cold gaze sweeping over the unconscious Team Magma members.
"Just you wait. I will absolutely report everything you've done to Officer Jenny!"
This muttered sentence carried an uncontrollable rage.
Jiang Han watched from the side, thinking that this young master's sense of justice was truly overflowing.
However, he was happy to see it; Team Magma suffering was always a good thing for him.
Steven took a deep breath and pulled a silver-blue metallic spray bottle from his backpack.
The bottle was designed with a high-tech feel, and the emblem of the Stone family enterprise was printed on it.
Just by looking at the exquisite packaging, one could tell that the Potion inside was definitely of immense value.
Jiang Han's eye twitched.
This thing... he seemed to have seen it on Team Rockets' internal supply list. It was a top-tier Potion, and the price of one small bottle was enough to cover an ordinary Trainer's expenses for a year.
Steven knelt on one knee and carefully approached the startled Aron, gently spraying the Potion onto its wounds.
"Ssssh—"
A burst of cool mist sprayed out, carrying a faint medicinal scent.
A miraculous scene occurred.
Under the cover of the medicinal mist, the ghastly wounds on Aron's body began to heal at a rate visible to the naked eye.
The dented iron armor also seemed to be smoothed out by an invisible force, regaining its metallic luster.
In just over ten seconds, the dying Aron's injuries were mostly healed.
It tentatively moved its body and, finding the pain gone, couldn't help but let out a surprised cry.
"Aron!"
The little fellow stood up and excitedly circled Steven, then used its newly hardened iron head...
...to gently nuzzle Steven's pant leg, expressing its affection and gratitude.
A smile finally appeared on Steven's face, and he reached out to pat Aron's smooth, cool head.
Jiang Han's eyelids twitched as he watched.
What a spendthrift!
This is practically throwing gold coins into the water without even hearing a splash.
Such a bottle of top-tier Potion used on a single wild Aron?
If this were sold on the Black Market, the resources obtained would be enough to buy a brand-new Aron!
This young master Stone's concept of money and resources was likely on a completely different dimension from his own.
Just then, the Aggron, which had remained silent, suddenly let out a low Roar.
It walked up to Steven and lowered its massive, fortress-like head, using its faceplate to gently nudge Steven's shoulder.
This was an expression of gratitude for what Steven had done.
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