"Whoa!"
Seeing these two things, Naoki couldn't help but burst out in a curse.
No wonder Steven couldn't find the two Treasure Pearls; turns out they were picked up by the Heroic Expedition Team!
At this moment, Naoki also received a call from Mew and Teddiursa.
He pressed the button to connect.
The little faces of Teddiursa and Mew appeared on the screen.
Through the Rotom Phone screen, Teddiursa saw the Treasure Pearls in Naoki's hand.
It happily asked, "These are the treasures I found on the grass, Naoki, do you like them?"
Naoki: "..."
As he thought!
No wonder Steven didn't find them; it was because Teddiursa triggered its Pickup ability!
Seeing Naoki not speaking, Teddiursa's little face was full of confusion.
It seemed a bit sad: "Naoki doesn't like them?"
Naoki snapped back to reality, shaking his head: "That's not the reason."
It's actually quite a coincidence; while he was contacting Steven, the Heroic Expedition Team showed up to help him.
But the problem is, you can't just pick up someone else's stuff!
Naoki said with a headache: "Did you guys rescue an elderly couple on a mountaintop yesterday?"
Hearing this, Teddiursa and Mew were filled with shock.
"How do you know that?" their words were automatically translated by the Rotom Phone.
Naoki: "...because I heard it from someone else. The person you guys met informed me, and although he didn't recognize Mew and Zapdos, I could tell it was you from his description."
Upon hearing this, Teddiursa and Mew suddenly realized.
So that's how it was!
"Then why doesn't Naoki like them?" Teddiursa asked in confusion.
Naoki explained: "Because they are very important to the people there; they are not unowned."
Teddiursa was shocked.
It thought they were unclaimed!
Naoki had taught it not to take other people's things, and Teddiursa always remembered it.
But now, it made a mistake again...
By this time, Steven was probably already anxiously searching for the two Treasure Pearls, right?
Holding the two Treasure Pearls, Naoki thought for a moment.
There's no need to hide his identity anymore.
He took out his phone and sent the message about having the Treasure Pearls to Steven.
Steven quickly replied.
[Steven: What?]
[Stranger No.1: Uh, this is a misunderstanding, let's add each other as treasure friends!]
With that, Naoki sent his treasure friend account over.
He soon received a friend request from Steven.
Accepting it, Naoki concisely explained the situation.
[Wing King: That Teddiursa from yesterday is my Pokemon, its ability is Pickup, and it thought the Treasure Pearls it found on the ground were unclaimed, so it picked them up.]
On the other side of the screen, Steven looked at the message sent by the other side and couldn't help falling into silence.
Indeed, such behavior matches the Pickup ability of a Pokemon.
However, Steven still seemed puzzled.
Were all three of those Pokemon yesterday owned by someone named [Wing King]?
How did they happen to pass by and offer help?
Could it be that the helper was near Mt. Pyre at the time?
Was all of this part of his plan?
But since Stranger No. 1 took the initiative to tell him this, it means the other side harbors no ill intent.
At that moment, Steven saw more messages from the other side.
[Wing King: Hello, let's have a formal introduction! I'm Naoki, currently living in the Paldea Region, and I've traveled through the Hoenn Region before, really interested in its history and legends.]
Steven was astonished.
[Steven: You're saying you're in the Paldea Region now?]
The other side seemed to anticipate his curiosity and provided an explanation on their own.
[Wing King: Yes, Zapdos brought the two Treasure Pearls to the Paldea Region; long story short, it's a misunderstanding, send me your location, and I'll have my Pokemon deliver the Treasure Pearls to you.]
Steven still had many questions, but the most crucial thing now was the two Treasure Pearls.
He sent his location over.
Naoki glanced at it and forwarded it to Mew and Teddiursa, then entrusted Zapdos to deliver the Treasure Pearls back.
Zapdos had no objections; it nodded and left.
[Wing King: Alright, my Pokemon have set off; they should reach you by the afternoon.]
Seeing this message, Steven hesitated to speak.
After a while, he expressed the question on his mind to the other side.
[Steven: Who are you?]
That Legendary Pokemon Zapdos isn't something an average Trainer can capture.
Moreover, based on their words, the three Pokemon seem to be traveling in the Hoenn Region without a Trainer with them...
Coupled with the mysterious aura vaguely revealed by the other side in recent days, Steven's curiosity and desire for knowledge peaked at that moment.
And finally, the reply came from that side.
Steven focused intently.
[Wing King: Me? I'm a Rancher.]
Steven: ?