Masaki and Tome stood to the side. Hearing the young master's praise, the two of them stood even straighter, their expressions showing a few hints of being overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.
Ariel nodded, his gaze lingering on the two interns for a couple of seconds.
Devon's HR department certainly had some skill.
Although these two came from a standard academic background, they didn't have that rigid, bookish air.
Being able to clearly grasp the unspoken rules and black market intelligence of the gray areas on the edge of Lilycove City showed they had put in hard work before coming, and weren't the kind of fools who could only talk about strategy on paper.
However, Ariel also had his own considerations.
Theoretical knowledge was one thing; life-and-death combat was another.
Memorizing the response protocols for encountering a wild Gyarados a thousand times in a classroom couldn't compare to the instinctive reaction when actually being targeted by the Lock-On of those bloody, gaping maws.
No matter how much these two interns knew, they ultimately hadn't seen real blood yet.
Once they reached a gloomy, peril-filled place like Mt. Pyre and encountered frenzied Ghost-type Pokémon or those desperate outlaws who would do anything for profit, it remained to be seen how much of their theoretical knowledge would actually remain in their heads.
Of course, Ariel wouldn't say these words out loud to their faces.
The four of them packed their gear and, facing the sea breeze, began walking toward the distant Mt. Pyre.
The sandbar beneath their feet was soft and damp, making a slight rustling sound as they stepped on it.
The breeze, mixed with salty water vapor, blew against their faces, making their clothes flap loudly.
On the distant water, the silhouette of Mt. Pyre was hidden in a pale gray mist, like a giant beast lurking in the water, exuding a coldness that warned strangers to stay away.
As they left the edge of the sandbar, Ariel's gaze swept over several nearby camps.
The Black Fire Exploration Team's side was already finished.
In other words, the Black Fire Exploration Team had already recruited their logistics person.
The captain named Alex threw a worn-out backpack to a thin, weak boy.
The boy wasn't very old and wore an ill-fitting, oversized coat. He lowered his head and reached out to catch the backpack, his body trembling slightly from nervousness.
He looked like someone doing this kind of grueling work for the first time.
"What an unlucky fellow."
Ariel withdrew his gaze and didn't bother further. As for what happened to that boy later, it had nothing to do with him.
This was the law of survival for ordinary people at the bottom: trading their lives for money.
He wasn't a savior and couldn't manage all the injustice in this world.
As they continued forward, the surrounding atmosphere began to turn a bit strange.
When passing the camps of other exploration teams, those Trainers who were polishing Poké Balls or organizing supplies would always cast their gazes toward the group of four, whether intentionally or not.
Those looks were mixed with scrutiny, wariness, and a few hints of indefinable greed.
Steven was very averse to the experience of being watched like a monkey in a zoo.
He stopped in his tracks, followed their gazes down to inspect himself, and quickly discovered where the problem lay.
The exploration outfits worn by Masaki and Tome both featured the badge of the Devon Corporation.
In a lawless place like the edge of Lilycove City where all sorts of people gathered, this badge was as conspicuous as a searchlight in the dark.
It was essentially announcing to everyone: I am an employee of the Devon Corporation.
"Take off your coats, or remove the badges."
Steven turned and instructed the two interns.
Masaki was stunned for a moment, somewhat puzzled, but he still obediently complied, taking off the coat with the badge and stuffing it into his backpack.
Tome followed suit.
"We at Devon have always relied on strength to get things done; we never use our position to oppress others."
Steven watched them put their clothes away and explained with a serious tone,
"We are here to explore Mt. Pyre. There's no need to parade around under the company's banner. If our identity were to affect the normal exploration of other Trainers, that would go against Devon's original intentions."
Hearing this self-righteous speech, Ariel really felt like rolling his eyes from the side.
This young master's train of thought really wasn't something an ordinary person could understand.
If it were anyone else coming to a place like this where fish and dragons were mixed and someone could stab you in the back at any moment, they would wish they could show every trump card that proved they weren't to be trifled with.
How useful was the Devon Corporation's brand?
As long as that badge was pinned to one's chest, ninety-nine percent of trouble would automatically take a detour.
No matter how arrogant those outlaws who lived on the edge were, they wouldn't easily dare to touch people from Hoenn's number one conglomerate unless they were tired of living and wanted to face the dual pursuit of the Jenny family and the Devon Security Department.
Steven, on the other hand, was ignoring a perfectly good protective talisman just to play at traveling incognito.
Once the Devon symbols were removed, these four people became, in the eyes of others, four naive young fat sheep who didn't know the heights of the heavens.
Wasn't this plainly telling others, 'We're easy to bully, come and rob us'?
However, Ariel didn't bother to speak up and advise him.
Steven was a man of principle, and he definitely carried the kind of 'truth' that could flip the table.
If some blind exploration team really did try to pull something on them, the one who would end up being unlucky certainly wouldn't be Steven.
Since this young master wanted to experience the fun of low-profile exploration, then let him have his way. Anyway, with a free bodyguard by his side, Ariel was happy to enjoy the leisure.
To reach the main part of Mt. Pyre, one needed to cross a wide waterway.
The undercurrents beneath the surface surged, making it difficult for ordinary boats to navigate smoothly here.
Because of this, there were some boatmen on the shore whose boats were specially modified to be much sturdier than usual; of course, the fees were also much more expensive.
Steven walked to the water's edge and took a Poké Ball from the belt at his waist.
The red and white sphere reflected a metallic luster under the sunlight. He pressed the button in the middle and tossed it forward.
Accompanied by a flash of white light, a large blue Pokémon landed steadily on the water's surface.
A gray shell covered its back, and its slender neck was held high as its gentle eyes gazed at the four people on the shore.
It let out an ethereal, long cry that pierced through the sea breeze and rippled across the water.
Lapras.
This Lapras was extremely well-developed, with a wide, flat shell on its back that was more than enough to accommodate four people.
Ariel looked at the other exploration teams nearby who were arguing until they were red in the face over boat prices.
Then he looked at this rare and expensive aquatic mount and raised an eyebrow.
The wealthy young master of Devon even prepared his means of transportation in such a simple and crude manner.
In the world of the rich, there was indeed no need to consider the troubles of renting or hitching a ride on a boat.
"Let's go, time to head out."
Steven took the lead, stepping onto the Lapras's shell.
Ariel followed behind, feeling the rough yet solid texture of the shell's surface the moment he stepped onto the Lapras's back.
Masaki and Tome also climbed up carefully, sitting on the edges to the left and right, responsible for observing the surrounding water conditions.
The Lapras paddled its wide fins, breaking through the water's surface as it swam steadily toward Mt. Pyre deep within the mist.
The sea breeze grew stronger, carrying a bone-chilling coldness that completely left the sandbar and those noisy camps behind them.
The real exploration was only just beginning.
***************************
Enjoying the story? Don't forget to drop a review, leave a comment, and smash that like button! Every Power Stone helps push the story further—thanks for reading and supporting! 🚀