"Selling it to you isn't a problem," Silas said, setting the ornate blue-violet capsule on the table, "but I've got two questions first."
Reggie's eyes locked instantly onto the capsule, the gleam of greed almost comical.
Silas smirked beneath his calm tone. "First question - who's it for?"
Reggie straightened, serious now. "My Rhyhorn. Ground and Rock type… but its Ability is Lightning Rod."
Silas blinked. Then blinked again.
"…Wait. Lightning Rod. On a Ground-type?"
He leaned back slightly, trying not to laugh.
That Ability drew Electric-type attacks toward the user, nullified them, and even boosted Special Attack in the process.
Immunity. Countermeasure. Buff , all rolled into one.
For most Pokémon, Lightning Rod was a blessing.
But on a Rhyhorn?
A Rock–Ground Pokémon that was already immune to Electric moves?
Silas rubbed his forehead. "So basically… you've got an Ability that makes you immune to something you're already immune to."
Reggie frowned. "...Is that bad?"
"It's like giving a Magikarp a raincoat," Silas said dryly. "Technically helps, but what's the point?"
Still, he couldn't deny the obvious , if Reggie was willing to spend an Ability Capsule on this Rhyhorn, it must be something special.
Either the Rhyhorn had incredible potential, or Reggie was more attached to it than he let on.
Curiosity flickered in Silas's eyes but he knew better than to pry.
Among trainers, probing into someone else's Pokémon secrets without permission was one of the greatest taboos and he wasn't someone who would pry into other's business.
He nodded. "Alright. Second question , your Staraptor. Was its Ability Reckless or Intimidate?"
He'd been wondering that since their match. That first fierce glare could've been Intimidate, but the sheer power of its Brave Bird attack later… that screamed Reckless.
Reggie smirked faintly, a rare flash of pride without arrogance.
"My battle style focuses on reading opponents, gathering data, and adapting. So to throw them off , I make my Pokémon's Abilities a mystery."
He paused, then added, "At the start of the fight, I had Staraptor fake Intimidate. But in truth… its Ability is Reckless."
Silas blinked, then exhaled a quiet laugh. "...You faked your Ability. That's… actually pretty damn clever."
He couldn't help but admire it a little.
That kind of tactical mind, meticulous planning , it reminded him that there were always smarter trainers out there.
Never underestimate anyone, he thought. That's how pride eats you alive.
After clearing his doubts, Silas completed the sale -though he may have "accidentally" added a small markup.
Reggie didn't even notice.
The Ability Capsule sold for 1.5 million Pokédollars, raising Silas's total balance to nearly 2.8 million.
His lips curled in quiet satisfaction.
"Guess I can afford a few more item's for Pokéblocks now…"
.....
Two Weeks Later – Verdanturf
Silas stayed in Verdanturf Town for a while, training daily.
Sometimes he sparred at the Battle Club for practice; other times, he headed into the outskirts for wilderness survival drills with Eevee and Crawdaunt.
During that time, Reggie challenged him again.
Surprisingly, the rematch was… friendly.
Their rivalry softened into a grudging respect.
Silas realized that behind Reggie's pride, arrogance, and fiery temper - there was something genuine.
Annoying, yes.
Sharp-tongued, absolutely.
But also brilliant when it came to Pokémon training.
His ideas about battle psychology and intimidation feints were truly inventive.
Even Silas had to admit that the "Fake Intimidate" conditioning technique Reggie had developed was flawless.
"Guess genius really does come in all flavors," Silas muttered after watching one of Reggie's sessions.
When Reggie finally announced he'd be leaving Verdanturf to continue his journey, Silas met him at the town's north gate.
"Hey," Silas said, handing him a folded piece of paper. "The Rustboro Tunnel can be rough. Here- a map I drew. It should help."
Reggie blinked, then smiled genuinely for the first time. "Thanks, Silas. Let's meet again at the League Conference."
"And when we do," Reggie added, "I want a real battle - no excuses."
Silas chuckled. "Sure. I'll even let you win one round… maybe."
Reggie didn't rise to the tease this time.
He just nodded - a mutual understanding passing between them before they went their separate ways.
As Reggie's figure disappeared down the road, the sunset washed Verdanturf in gold.
"For all his arrogance, Reggie wasn't half bad. Maybe one day, he'd stop trying to prove himself and start just… enjoying the journey."
Silas whispered to himself, "A month already… time to move on."
.....
The Next Journey Begins
After resting a few more days, Silas packed his gear, said goodbye to the local move tutor, and got his contact details - just in case he needed more training help in the future.
At dawn, he left Verdanturf Town.
His next destination: Lavaridge Town, northeast across a short forest stretch.
"Technically, the official travel route says to take Route 117 east to Mauville," he mused aloud while checking his map. "But with my team? An Electric-type Gym sounds like suicide."
He smirked.
"Yeah, the Fire-type Gym at Lavaridge suits me way better. And hey, the hot springs there are supposed to cure fatigue… maybe even heal scars."
He paused, thinking. 'I've seen the ocean and rivers… but not a hot spring. Might be worth the detour.'
...
Night – Edge of the Forest
The campfire crackled softly.
Murkrow circled above, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness for wild Pokémon.
Nearby, Eevee tugged at a picnic cloth, spreading it neatly before plopping down onto it with a satisfied "Vee~!"
Sharpedo rested quietly in a portable pool Silas had set up from his travel kit.
"Shaaarp," it rumbled contently, sending ripples across the water.
The night air buzzed with crickets and flickering embers.
Silas sat beside the fire, arms resting on his knees, face lit by the warm glow.
His expression was tired, but calm ,peaceful in a way battles never were.
In his arms, Eevee stirred slightly, snuggling closer. Her soft fur brushed against his jacket, light and warm.
Silas looked down, a faint smile touching his lips.
"…You really like camping, huh?" he whispered.
Eevee didn't respond - fast asleep, breathing softly, ears twitching.
Silas reached into his pocket and pulled out a small device shaped like a thermometer - a Friendship Detector, the latest model from Verdanturf's PokéMart.
He waved it gently over Eevee. A faint red beam scanned over them both.
The screen blinked to life - seven glowing hearts.
Full score.
Silas blinked, staring for a moment before chuckling softly.
"Seven out of seven, huh? Guess we're doing alright, partner."
He glanced again at the little one's sleeping face.
So small, yet already such a presence in his team.
"…Your level and experience should be enough for evolution," he murmured, brushing Eevee's fur gently. "But I guess you'll tell me when you're ready."
The fire popped softly, sparks floating upward into the starry night.
Silas leaned back, watching them fade.
He'd battled, won, lost, argued, and grown.
But this , the quiet bond under the night sky - felt like the real reward.
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