Lugia: "?"
"Call Ho-Oh over? Me?"
Lugia pointed at itself with its pure white wing.
Then, looking at Grey's certain gaze, it could not help scratching its head. "But I'm not that familiar with Ho-Oh."
Grey: "?"
You're not familiar with Ho-Oh?
Wasn't that just a complete joke?
Grey could not help feeling confused.
"I'm really not. If you asked my wife, there's a good chance she might be more familiar with it."
Seeing Grey's confused and scrutinizing gaze come his way, Lugia hurriedly explained.
It was the Lugia from the Orange Islands. If one had to talk about registered residence, then it was basically from Kanto.
Ho-Oh, on the other hand, belonged to the Johto region. At most, it occasionally came to Kanto for a visit.
They had not seen each other in a very long time, and it had even almost forgotten how to contact Ho-Oh.
If they asked its wife, however, there would be no problem at all.
In a certain sense, the two of them were even close friends.
Grey: "…"
"Then where is your wife right now?"
Grey could only settle for the next best thing and ask where Lugia's wife was.
"The Johto region. I think she's somewhere in some sea or another. As for which sea… uh, which one was it again? Do you know?"
Lugia scratched its head.
It only remembered that its wife seemed to be in some sea area in the Johto region.
If asked for the specific place name…
Damn.
Grey was even more stunned.
"You mean you don't even know where your own wife is?"
Grey had never imagined that the Lugia in front of him would be this unreliable.
It was so unreliable that it had even forgotten where its wife and child were!
What the hell? This thing was something else.
"Hehe."
Lugia chuckled.
"Hehe, my ass!"
Grey felt that among the group of Legendary Pokémon following him, there really were not many reliable ones.
"What about you, Mew?"
Grey could only look at Riolu and see whether this little guy had a way.
"Mew…" Mew quietly muttered. "Well… Ho-Oh only appears before those with a pure heart."
Riolu glanced at Grey.
"You mean I don't have a pure heart? I'm such a good person. How could I not have a pure heart?"
Grey felt that he was actually quite pure-hearted.
At least…
"Mew." Mew smacked its lips. "Hard to say."
"Mew." Mew chuckled. "How about this? If you really do have a pure heart, then treat me to all-you-can-eat barbecue every day from now on. Then I'll tell Ho-Oh that you have a pure heart."
Grey rolled his eyes and said irritably, "So even with things like this, you're still thinking about all-you-can-eat barbecue?"
"Mew." Mew chuckled. "This guy's condition isn't actually as bad as you said. It probably won't die for another year or so."
Mew only haggled with Grey because it was certain the situation was not that urgent.
Grey's furrowed brows eased slightly, and he continued, "Before we go looking for Ho-Oh, try using Heal Pulse first. See if you can treat it."
"Mew." Mew nodded. "I'll try."
Mew also knew this was important.
If Deoxys really died, the Hoenn region would definitely suffer an unnecessary and deadly blow.
If reviving this Deoxys could make the Deoxys in outer space reduce its attack a little and focus its attention on Rayquaza instead, then the situation would absolutely become much easier to resolve.
At the very least.
There was a high chance the number of meteorites could be reduced.
If they worked together, they would not be thrown into chaos.
Mew exhaled.
Immediately afterward, a beam of light filled with vast life force shot out from its hands, radiating a special pink glow.
Sizzle!
Heal Pulse sank directly into Deoxys's body.
In an instant, the light became dazzling.
Grey could not help raising a hand to cover his eyes while using Aura to sense Deoxys's condition.
Its life essence was recovering continuously.
But soon…
The moment Mew stopped releasing Heal Pulse, Deoxys became like a leaking balloon, and its life force poured out in an instant.
Well, that settled it.
Even if Ho-Oh or Xerneas came, there would be no way.
Grey immediately saw what was wrong with Deoxys.
No wonder this guy's brother wanted to attack the Hoenn region.
So there really was no way to heal it?
Rayquaza had been seriously ruthless.
It really had gone for the kill.
Before Deoxys could even recover halfway, its injuries were already too severe, causing the life force brought by Heal Pulse to leak straight out.
It really proved what the system had said.
"I was in a hurry back then. There was nothing I could do…"
Seeing Deoxys reduced to this state, Rayquaza naturally felt a little embarrassed.
It looked at Grey, and the other Pokémon also turned their gazes toward him.
With the power of Pokémon alone, it was almost impossible to restore Deoxys to its original state.
They just did not know whether humanity's current level of technology could maintain Deoxys's vital signs.
They were not asking for much.
Keeping it alive would be enough.
When the time came, the Deoxys in outer space should have a way to restore it.
After all, they were both aliens. Maybe injuries like this were not considered much to them.
Of course, this was only the guess of the Pokémon present.
Whether Deoxys would become even angrier and lash out more violently was still completely unknown.
"I'll go back and check first. Steven's Devon Corporation should have something like a nutrition pod that can maintain a Pokémon's vital signs. If we soak Deoxys's core in it, then even if it leaks, it probably won't leak too badly."
Grey had noticed the condition of Deoxys's core when Mew used Heal Pulse just now.
There was no problem during the healing process.
It was just that after the healing ended, Deoxys directly "spat" the life force back out.
If it was soaked long-term, theoretically, maintaining its vital signs should not be a problem.
If they could restore a bit of consciousness to Deoxys's core and let it use a move like Recover, then they might be able to bring it back.
The prerequisite was that it had to wake up.
Grey did not hold out much hope.
As long as they could maintain its vital signs, that would count as a victory.
Thinking this, Grey sent Steven another private message and asked whether Devon Corporation could handle this matter.
Dojo Annihilape: Steven, does Devon have anything like a nutrition pod that can maintain a Pokémon's vital signs?
Steven Stone: Yes. What happened?
Dojo Annihilape: Here's the situation. I have a Pokémon here that's currently on the verge of death. This Pokémon is connected to the meteorite crisis. I'm thinking that if we can save it, it might be useful later during the meteorite crisis.
Deoxys was a Pokémon that valued bonds and loyalty.
Grey admitted that he was gambling here.
But judging from how his well-meaning Aura allowed him to communicate with the other party, there was a high chance he could make Deoxys hold back somewhat, instead of forcing things into a life-or-death battle.
Steven Stone: All right, then go straight to Devon Corporation. I'm in Mossdeep City right now, still searching for the last meteorite's whereabouts, so I won't head over for now.
Dojo Annihilape: Okay. Steven, you handle your work first.
Everything needed multiple layers of preparation.
If Rayquaza's strength could return to its peak, then naturally, there would be nothing to fear.
Having combat power and not using it was completely different from not having combat power at all.
Steven also hoped Rayquaza's strength could recover to its peak.
The more, the better.
After Grey finished talking to Steven, he picked up Deoxys's core and jumped onto Rayquaza.
Rayquaza said nothing more. It shot straight into the sky, soaring above the clouds and using Dragon Dance as it flew toward Rustboro City.
…
…
Hoenn region, Rustboro City.
After arriving in Rustboro City, Grey walked into Devon Corporation with ease.
He had come here with Steven before, so the staff here also recognized Grey. On top of that, Steven had sent a message saying they should welcome Grey and give him full support no matter what he needed to do.
Because of that, the idle staff followed behind Grey, wanting to see what he intended to do.
Grey was not polite and directly told the staff his idea.
"A nutrition pod filled with nutrient fluid? No problem. Please follow me to the third floor."
A female employee in office attire led Grey into a private room inside Devon Corporation.
As soon as he entered, Grey saw many devices.
Some of them he recognized. They were fossil restoration devices like the ones he had seen in Cinnabar Island.
As for the other devices, Grey could not name them.
He only knew they looked expensive.
"Mr. Grey, this is the nutrition pod Steven asked us to prepare for you."
The female employee pointed at the device in the center.
Grey looked over and saw that the semi-transparent chamber was filled with emerald-green nutrient fluid, with bubbles slowly rising along the pod walls.
"The nutrient fluid inside is a special blend made from Max Potion concentrate, Energy Powder, Revival Herb, Energy Root, and Big Root. You can use it with complete confidence."
The female employee operated the control panel and opened the door of the nutrition pod.
Grey gently nodded and placed Deoxys's core inside.
Bubble… bubble…
The moment Deoxys's core fell in, all the nutrient fluid inside the chamber actually began to boil.
Steaming green mist appeared, but because the nutrition pod's sealing effect was excellent, none of it leaked out.
Grey watched the system panel, and his suspended heart finally settled.
Pokémon: Deoxys.
Omitted.
Description: The injured area is recovering. Estimated time required for full repair: 359:59:59.
Close to 360 hours. In other words, 15 days.
As long as nothing went wrong halfway through, they should be able to see a brand-new Deoxys in 15 days.
The thing was…
Grey looked at Deoxys, which had only a single core left, and sank into thought.
Not even one leg was left, yet it could actually finish recovering in 15 days…
That was seriously absurd.
All he could say was that Pokémon really did deserve to be called miraculous creatures.
They really were miraculous.
After a while.
Steven Stone: Grey, how is the Devon nutrition pod working? Did it reach the effect you expected?
Dojo Annihilape: It did. It should restore Deoxys completely within 15 days. As expected of Steven. You saved me more than half the trouble in one go.
Grey was not exaggerating.
If the nutrition pod had not worked, he really would have had Riolu take him to look for Ho-Oh and Xerneas.
At that point, no matter what, he would have made them stay for a month and see whether they could somehow rebirth Deoxys.
Now that the nutrition pod was working, there was no need to specifically seek out those two.
Grey also did not have to owe such a huge favor.
"I'll take my leave for now and come back later."
After saying that, Grey was ready to leave Devon Corporation.
Within these 30 days, he still had to look for the meteorites Rayquaza needed.
He was very busy.
However, the female employee stopped Grey and hurriedly said, "Mr. Grey, please wait. Our president would like to meet with you."
"The president?"
Grey raised an eyebrow.
Devon Corporation's current president was Steven's father, Joseph Stone.
When Grey had come to Devon Corporation last time, he had not had any contact with Joseph Stone.
So…
What did this big-shot figure want with him?
Grey was puzzled, but when he thought about how Joseph Stone was Steven's father, he simply followed along to see what the man wanted from him.
Very soon, Grey arrived at the president's office.
The interior decoration was rather elegant.
Grey briefly looked around, then could not help taking a few more glances when he saw the painting on the wall, Incineroar Descending the Mountain.
"Mr. Grey, if you like that painting, you can simply take it down and bring it with you. It's only a few hundred thousand. Nothing worth mentioning."
A rather hearty male voice came from the desk not far away.
Grey followed the voice and saw an older man with silver-blue hair, dressed in a crisp suit and looking rather calm.
The man before him was Devon Corporation's president, Joseph Stone.
"It's fine. I only found it interesting. There's no need to be so polite, Mr. Stone."
Grey cupped his fists.
At the same time, he secretly clicked his tongue.
A single painting actually cost hundreds of thousands…
Although he did have some money now, it still felt a bit expensive.
The most expensive wall scroll currently in his Gym seemed to be the one written by the first Gym Leader, Koichi: Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.
It had cost a whole thousand.
"Haha. Gym Leader Grey, you really are polite."
Joseph Stone did not insist too much and instead had the female secretary beside him lead Grey to the sofa nearby.
He himself stood up and walked over as well.
After they sat down on the sofa…
"Not bad. Full of spirit."
Joseph Stone looked Grey up and down, then gently nodded. "Mr. Grey, I called you here this time because there is something I'd like to discuss with you."
"What is it?"
Grey blinked.
This was his first meeting with Joseph Stone.
He had no idea what the man was going to talk about.
"Gym Leader Grey, I wonder if you know about the Aether Foundation?"
Joseph Stone poured Grey a cup of tea.
Grey nodded and answered, "I've heard a little. They're a local organization in the Alola region. What about them?"
"Nothing major. It's just that the Aether Foundation's recent movements have been a little… hmm, hard to describe."
Joseph Stone roughly explained the situation to Grey.
The Aether Foundation had recently shown interest in going to the Kanto region.
Going to the Kanto region seemed fine on the surface.
But the problem was…
The Aether Foundation actually wanted to bring Devon Corporation, the Galaxy Group, and the Flare Group along too.
"Hm?"
Grey immediately felt something strange.
How should he put it?
Were they trying to drag Devon Corporation into the water?
//Check out my P@tre0n for 30 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[email protected]/Razeil0810.