In the Devon Corporation building, inside Steven's office on the top floor:
Steven, busy and seated behind piles of papers and documents, was reviewing everything as his secretary handed him more to sign. Meanwhile, Cain was comfortably seated on the sofa in front of him, legs crossed.
Although Steven had not yet fully taken control of Devon Corporation, many of the internal affairs were already being transferred to him. Several company veterans were also eager to develop their skills under his leadership.
After being away for a while, Steven now faced an endless amount of documents.
Cain, after leaving the black market, received a message that Steven had returned to Devon Corporation, so he went to his office. From the moment he entered, Steven hadn't stopped going through paperwork.
Cain couldn't help but think about how busy Steven would be once he officially assumed the role of company president. It was no wonder he resigned from the position of Hoenn Champion; if not for the need to manage Devon Corporation, no one could have taken the Champion title from him.
Though the next in line, Wallace, was no match for Steven.
Cain had a steaming cup of tea in front of him, specially prepared for him. After all, Cain held the position of an advisor at Devon Corporation—a role that, while lacking real power, was above many mid-level positions in the company.
Steven was working tirelessly while Cain relaxed, which seemed somewhat unfair, but Cain had no way to help.
Out of boredom, Cain picked up three stones that Steven had collected on his recent trip. To Cain, they looked like ordinary stones with strange patterns, and even after scanning them with the system, they didn't show anything special. But to Steven, these stones were the greatest achievement of his journey.
Cain couldn't understand the mindset of the wealthy. After placing the stones back on the table, Cain, still bored, brought out his Torchic.
The small Pokémon didn't cause any disturbance in Steven's large office. Torchic remained still on Cain's lap, observing its surroundings, while Cain stroked its soft feathers, eliciting a look of pleasure from the little Pokémon.
The information about Torchic was already quite stable; its potential had reached a 90% chance of retaining the dark blue color. Cain's efforts were paying off, and the little Pokémon now trusted him deeply.
After two hours, Steven finally pulled away from his mountain of documents. He exhaled deeply and collapsed onto the sofa next to Cain.
"Well, well, Cain," said Steven, eyeing the Torchic. "Is this the Pokémon you recently caught?"
Cain nodded silently.
"Good Pokémon. It's in excellent condition," Steven continued.
Suddenly, Steven seemed to recall something and stared intently at Cain.
"What's with that look?" Cain asked, feeling uneasy.
"I can't believe it! You're amazing, Cain!" Steven exclaimed.
"You didn't tell me you participated in the breeder exam. The youngest in history to become an intermediate breeder! The future star of the Breeders' Guild and now the almost-Gym Leader of Leafy Town... You've kept all this under wraps!"
Cain frowned but then relaxed, shrugging as he replied:
"Those titles are nothing compared to being the heir to Devon Corporation, the firstborn of the Stone family."
Steven was left speechless.
"That's true," Steven murmured. "That's true supremacy of titles."
The truth was, while Cain had many impressive titles, none were as powerful as being the heir to Devon Corporation, which wielded real authority. Unlike Cain, who could barely access the resources of the Breeders' Guild, Steven controlled a significant portion of Devon Corporation's resources.
Cain's titles were still largely honorary, and only when he reached the rank of advanced breeder would he gain access to real power and resources.
But these achievements confirmed that Steven had made a good choice in trusting Cain. From a chance meeting on the magnetic train, their friendship had proven to be a great success.
"Are you done with your work?" Cain asked.
"Yes, most of it was already resolved; I just needed to give my approval. I'm still getting familiar with the business," Steven replied, stretching.
Cain shifted the topic to his gym in Leafy Town: "The gym is already built, and the Pokémon Center is underway. Leafy Town's potential is starting to show. Do you think Devon Corporation would be interested in expanding there?"
Steven pondered for a moment before nodding.
"It's a good spot. With the gym and the Pokémon Center, and no major forces involved, it could be an excellent opportunity for the company's economic expansion."
Cain understood that Steven, though his friend, was also the heir to Devon Corporation and had to consider the interests of both sides. Still, it seemed promising.
"Alright," Steven continued. "I'll have the company send a team to evaluate Leafy Town's situation. Then we'll discuss how we can collaborate."
With that settled, Cain brought up his next request:
"I wanted to buy some minerals, the highest quality possible."
Not only did Aron need them, but Larvitar as well, as these minerals were essential for their growth.