Chapter 84 - Green Crystal

In the Hoenn region, within LaRousse City, Chloe was dressed inconspicuously in a pristine white lab coat, her heart racing as she attempted to infiltrate a highly secured scientific facility.

Chloe murmured under her breath, her concern evident in her voice, "What is this thing that the boss wants me to steal? I just hope it won't bring any harm to the innocents."

With utmost caution, she weaved her way through the labyrinthine facility, avoiding guards and security cameras. After a tense journey, Chloe found herself in an empty corridor, the ominous presence of a massive steel door looming before her.

Chloe whispered to herself, her determination unwavering, "Looks like that thing is inside here."

Chloe proceeded forward with a mix of trepidation and determination, using a stolen key card to unlock the formidable door. As it creaked open, she stepped inside and was met with a vast, high-tech chamber. Massive computers and banks of monitors lined the room, actively monitoring radio waves and various enigmatic data streams.

Continuing her covert exploration, Chloe eventually laid her eyes on her target. It was an emerald-hued, oval-shaped crystal adhered to a fragment of the meteorite that had crashed into the region four years prior. She couldn't help but wonder aloud:

Chloe pondered, her voice tinged with curiosity, "So, this is that mysterious object discovered in the meteorite crash four years ago. But what could it be?"

Staring at the enigmatic crystal with both curiosity and a sense of urgency, Chloe contemplated her next move.

Chloe mused, "Whatever it is, I should swiftly return this thing to headquarters."

Determined, she drew closer to the glass tube containing the crystal, retrieving a pen-like device from her pocket. With skillful precision, she used it to create an opening in the glass tube. But as her hand made contact with the crystal, it suddenly emitted an intense, blinding green light that engulfed the room, obscuring everything in its vibrant glow. The world around her vanished, replaced by an overwhelming green radiance.

And then, in the blink of an eye, when the brilliant light subsided, Chloe had disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only the untouched green crystal, as if she had never been there at all.

In Kanto, Julian continued with his routine, spending his days training, eating, and resting, completely unaware of the unfolding events involving his partner, Chloe.

Deep in thought, he mused aloud, "What do I do once I've defeated everyone and become the champion? Should I consider heading to Johto? Nah, Johto doesn't seem too appealing. The Elite Four there won't offer the excitement I seek. After all, I've already bested Bruno, one of Johto's Elite Four. Koga recently assumed his role there, and I've already defeated him as well. That leaves Will and Karen. They're skilled, no doubt, but I can't help but feel that Agatha and Lance are on another level entirely, so it might not be worth it."

After careful contemplation, Julian reached a decision.

Julian determined, "I believe I should stay put for now and lay a solid foundation for my company. That way, it can thrive even in my absence when the events of Hoenn unfold."

With his future plans set, he left his thoughts behind and ventured outside to satisfy his hunger.

Julian mused aloud, "All this thinking has certainly worked up an appetite. I'm in the mood for a hearty meal tonight."

Julian hesitated when he saw Bruno devouring his meal, thinking he might escape unnoticed, but his luck ran out when Bruno spotted him and called him over.

Bruno called out, "Hey, Julian, come here and join me for a drink."

Julian felt it would be disrespectful to decline, so he reluctantly joined Bruno for a drink. The upscale restaurant was reserved for VIPs, and it was sparsely populated, with a few wealthy individuals engaged in their business dealings, adding an air of exclusivity to the atmosphere.

Julian settled into his seat, pouring himself a glass of wine. However, he was caught off guard when Bruno questioned his choice of drink.

Bruno asked, "What are you doing?"

Julian, taken aback, responded, "What?"

Bruno chuckled and remarked, "You're drinking wine? Wine is for sissies. Real men drink beer. You defeated me, so you're a real man now. Beer it is."

Julian couldn't help but look at Bruno as if he were speaking nonsense.

Julian couldn't help but notice the inconsistency between Bruno's words and his own actions, as he spotted the wine bottle on Bruno's table. However, he chose not to confront Bruno about it, opting to enjoy his wine in peace.

Julian replied, "Don't worry about it. I felt like having wine today."

Bruno persisted in his opinion, stating, "Suit yourself, but you should remember, beer is the only drink a real man should have. Wine is for ladies and sissies."

Julian, somewhat exasperated, thought to himself, "What did I get myself into? I just hope no one heard him." He decided to pay Bruno no further mind, focusing instead on his wine and the food he had ordered.

Bruno, eager to learn from Julian's success, asked, "Hey, Julian, how do you train your Pokémon?"

Julian, with a sly smile, responded, "It's a secret."

Bruno, persistent in his quest for knowledge, implored, "Come on, man, I really need to teach my Pokémon to move like that, so they can fight like your Infernape."

Julian, feeling more generous, shared some advice, "All you really need to do is focus on improving their agility."

Bruno took the advice seriously, his face reflecting deep contemplation as he pondered different ways to enhance his Pokémon's agility for future battles.

Bruno, genuinely seeking guidance, inquired, "By the way, what can I do to increase their agility?"

Julian was taken aback by the question, almost choking on his food as he tried to comprehend how someone in the Elite Four could lack such knowledge.

Julian thought to himself, "How did this guy become a member of the Elite Four?"

Julian responded, "Simply focus on exercises that aren't solely strength-based."

Bruno seemed to take the advice to heart, exclaiming, "Hohoho, I understand."

Julian, not wanting to linger any longer, swiftly finished his meal and made his way out of the restaurant, leaving Bruno to contemplate his newfound insight.

Julian made his intention to leave known, saying, "I'm heading out."

Bruno nodded and replied, "Sure, have a nice day."

Once back in his room, Julian turned to his computer to gather information on Agatha. After some research, he gained a general understanding of her team.

Julian thought, "Her team is predominantly composed of Ghost and Poison-type Pokémon, including Gengar, Banette, Misdreavus, Crobat, and Arbok. It's not much of a surprise that she has a Pokémon from Hoenn, considering she must have traveled there when she was younger."

After pondering his strategy, Julian decided to call it a day.