Soon, in less than a minute, under the full force of Regice, Furukai was killed without any ability to resist.
After dealing with Furukai, Regice acted as if it had merely swatted a few flies, showing no emotional fluctuation as it walked toward Aoki. After a brief nod, it soared into the sky and returned to its cave, leaving behind a scene of devastation—several Pokémon corpses and the lifeless body of a human.
Regice's attacks had been ruthless, with no restraint in its strikes. Every blow had been delivered at full force, ensuring neither Furukai nor his Pokémon retained any vitality.
Aoki slowly approached the spot where Furukai and his Pidgeot lay. The man's expression remained frozen in wide-eyed disbelief.
"It would have been troublesome to let you stay with Team Rocket," Aoki murmured. "There's always someone waiting to stab me in the back. I didn't expect you to act so hastily, though. Had you waited, you might have lived a little longer."
Furukai's fate had been sealed—only the timing had been uncertain.
Aoki retrieved the only storage pouch from Furukai's body, then unfastened several Poké Balls from his belt. The Pokémon inside were weaker, likely either secondary members of Furukai's team or wild captures meant for sale to the Hunter Guild or other Pokémon trade organizations. Like Aoki, Furukai had clawed his way to his current strength through life-and-death struggles.
A brief inspection revealed a few Pokémon with decent potential, but Aoki lacked the resources to train them. These would either be handed over to Skye and the others or sold off.
Stowing the Pokéballs away, Aoki ordered his Flygon to clean up the area before moving to a clearer spot with Furukai's storage pouch.
The Flygon obeyed dutifully, digging a large pit in the ground before unceremoniously shoving the corpses inside. With a pulse of Ground-type energy, it filled the hole—an efficient burial courtesy of a Ground-type specialist.
As Aoki walked past the still-dazed Altaria, the bird Pokémon lifted its head haughtily, only to lower it again as Aoki ignored it. The Flygon, however, lay down obediently nearby, awaiting further orders.
Ignoring it for now, Aoki emptied the contents of Furukai's storage pouch. The items inside were sparse but neatly organized—mostly contained within a few sturdy boxes.
Given that Furukai had been a quasi-executive of Team Rocket, these boxes held considerable value. Like Aoki, he preferred carrying his most important possessions rather than leaving them vulnerable elsewhere.
One by one, Aoki opened the boxes, each unveiling a small thrill of anticipation.
The first few contained rare materials—essential components for crafting high-value held items. Their worth far exceeded what Aoki could obtain by raiding a minor Team Rocket outpost.
Only two boxes remained, their craftsmanship suggesting far greater value than the rest.
The first held a silvery-white stone emitting a soft, faint glow.
Aoki's pulse quickened.
An evolutionary stone.
And not just any—this was a top-grade Moon Stone. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NovєlFіre.net
Why hadn't Furukai's Nidoking been more formidable, then? Had he acquired this after its evolution? Or had he been saving it for a Nidorino with better potential?
Aoki exhaled slowly. A top-tier Moon Stone was worth more than everything in the previous boxes combined.
He remembered how his Honchkrow had evolved—only thanks to a top-quality Dusk Stone provided by a wealthy acquaintance. Without it, Honchkrow wouldn't have reached its current strength.
This Moon Stone was priceless.
Its weight and design matched the last, so its contents should be equally valuable.
Aoki's fingers hovered over the lid before flipping it open.
A flash of light burst forth before settling into a steady, warm glow.
Another evolutionary stone.
This one was yellowish, its core a deep amber that faded toward the edges.
Aoki's breath caught.
He lifted the stone, feeling its faint warmth.
"A Shiny Stone?" he muttered, disbelieving.
Item: Shiny Stone (Top-Grade)
Description: A radiant stone capable of evolving certain Pokémon, shining as brilliantly as sunlight.
Effect: Triggers evolution in specific Pokémon species while significantly enhancing their potential.
The system's scan confirmed it—this was exactly what Aoki needed.
The stone that could evolve his Floette into Florges.
Had fortune truly smiled upon him?
Aoki almost laughed. Furukai had been more generous than expected—first sending underlings as training fodder, then delivering himself as a loot piñata.
Perhaps he'd erect a memorial.
"Here lies Furukai—the Philanthropist. From afar, he came bearing gifts. Light in weight, rich in meaning."