"I have a feeling you're hiding something," murmured Steven.
"Let me know when you're back; there are a few things I want to discuss with you," Cain replied.
"Alright! I'm almost back. If I don't find that stone soon, I'll have to return; the company has a pile of issues that need my attention. Just thinking about it gives me a headache," Steven said with resignation.
Cain smiled but said nothing more.
To achieve something, certain sacrifices are necessary. Inheriting the Devon Corporation has been Steven's responsibility since birth. Although he loves stones and Pokémon, he also has to learn to manage the company.
Stones and Pokémon can only serve as his solace while he hasn't fully taken on the company's legacy. However, as he grows older, there are responsibilities Steven can no longer avoid.
After chatting a bit more, Cain ended the call. Both he and Steven had things they needed to do.
After finishing his calls with old Matsuda and Steven, Cain immersed himself in training his Pokémon, exercising his body and psychic abilities alongside them.
When the trainer participates in the training, the loyalty of the Pokémon toward him increases. The five little ones watched Cain and the others train with envious expressions.
Larvitar didn't quite understand, but seeing his companions with that expression, he ended up catching on as well.
Although Larvitar had just hatched, his robust body allowed him to play alongside Torchic and the others. However, Larvitar hadn't yet learned to control his strength, so after a while, the ground was riddled with holes and craters.
Aron, unable to ignore it, began teaching Larvitar how to control his strength. Both being heavyweights, Aron had some experience in this regard.
Cain kept a close eye on the five little ones, especially the newborn Larvitar, who, as a neonate, was usually more fragile. However, perhaps because he had spent so much time in his egg, Larvitar didn't exhibit the typical sleepiness of newborns.
In fact, after eating, he stayed quite active. Cain could only attribute this to the effects of the Evolution Elixir.
Larvitar had hatched thanks to the elixir. Although most of the side effects had been counteracted by the geocentric cleansing milk, Cain wasn't sure if there might be other lingering effects.
Training is demanding, but if the focus is solely on leveling up without training, the growth of Pokémon is incomplete. Leveling up is like building the skeleton of a structure, while training is like adding bricks and cement.
Only by combining both can a solid and tall building be constructed. The difference may not be apparent in the short term, but in the long term, the absence of either will undo all progress made.
As Cain and his Pokémon trained, the five little ones also tried to mimic their movements, albeit clumsily. This, however, showed that their bodies were growing stronger and that they would soon be ready for training and battles.
In reality, with Aron's sturdy build, he could begin training and battling without any issues. Torchic and Larvitar, on the other hand, needed a bit more time.
Cain wasn't pushing them to engage in battles but hoped they would enjoy their childhood. After all, like Honchkrow and the others, once they began training, they wouldn't be able to stop.
However, it seemed the little ones no longer wanted to enjoy a carefree childhood.
It was unclear when this started, but in Cain's team, more and more Pokémon developed a passion for combat. Ever since Honchkrow evolved, his Moxie ability had been turning him into a true battle enthusiast.
Skorupi had shown an unrestrained passion for combat since birth. Slowking and Sneasel were a bit more moderate but still enjoyed battles greatly.
The only neutral one was Haunter, who neither loved nor hated combat. He preferred to spend his time playing pranks, likely due to his childhood personality. However, he strictly followed the tasks and battles Cain assigned him, so Cain didn't push him further.
In Cain's second team, under Aron's influence, all the Pokémon—except for Poliwag, who had a naturally good-natured disposition—exhibited a strong desire to fight. Even Larvitar, just a day old, showed great enthusiasm for battle after Aron explained what it entailed.
Faced with this, Cain felt a bit helpless but also satisfied. There isn't a trainer who wouldn't feel proud of having a team full of Pokémon passionate about combat.
After an intense morning of training, all the Pokémon showed great appetites at noon, especially Aron and the newborn Larvitar.
Cain was considering whether he should prepare minerals for Aron and Larvitar. While Pokéblocks provided enough energy, relying solely on them might be financially draining.
Given their large appetites, the best option would be to combine minerals with Pokéblocks to meet their energy needs and ensure they had sufficient energy for training.
Pokéblocks enriched with geocentric cleansing milk and energy crystals were excellent for these two Pokémon.
After lunch, Cain decided not to continue with training. He recalled his Pokémon into their Pokéballs and headed toward the mountains.
He left the newborn Larvitar in Miltank's care. Larvitar, who had played all morning, fell asleep after eating. Despite his sturdy body, he was still a newborn who needed plenty of rest.
Miltank, who had volunteered to take care of him, was more than happy to do so. She loved looking after others and feeling useful.
Cain wouldn't stray far, and Slowking could use the Teleport move to return at any time. Additionally, there were plenty of other Pokémon in the backyard watching over and protecting the area, so there was no need to worry about potential intruders.