"Your Majesty, you have already done very well."
Seeing the faint worry on Lucien's face, Elif couldn't help but offer words of comfort.
In truth, countless ancient kingdoms had risen and fallen upon this land. Among their rulers, not a single one could claim to have done better than His Majesty.
Lucien shook his head gently.
"I'm only worried that my approach may have been, a little too rushed."
Perhaps he should have waited a few more years, until the people had gained a deeper understanding of Pokémon, before formally promoting Trainer culture to the outside world.
But then again...
What's done is done. There's no use dwelling on it now.
What mattered was moving forward without hesitation.
After finishing the day's official affairs, Lucien turned his attention to his Panel.
Following the recent wave of development, his subjects had once again contributed a massive amount of satisfaction points.
And these points could be exchanged for entirely new technologies.
With a single thought, the technology tree unfolded before his eyes.
A long list of unlockable options appeared.
Steamship: Unlocks the theories and production methods for large, sea-going vessels powered by steam engines, enabling long-distance ocean travel and maritime trade.
Cost: 150,000 Satisfaction Points
Pokémon Nutrition: Unlocks advanced Pokémon food technologies, including Pokéblocks, Poffins, and specialized dietary formulas designed to meet Pokémon nutritional needs.
Cost: 100,000 Satisfaction Points
Bicycle
Unlocks the production method for bicycles.
Cost: 50,000 Satisfaction Points
...
Lucien stared at the list, momentarily stunned.
The costs were rising rapidly.
But on reflection, it made sense.
With the kingdom unified, the population under his rule had grown dramatically. The satisfaction points generated by his people had increased accordingly.
If manpower and resources weren't so limited, Lucien felt confident he could push the world into a second industrial revolution within thirty years, bringing electric lights, telephones, and more.
'One step at a time,' he reminded himself.
With a shift of his will, Lucien unlocked the three technologies most vital to the kingdom's immediate future.
The Steamship, driven by steam engines, would allow for the construction of massive vessels capable of crossing the oceans.
This wouldn't merely expand trade, it would introduce new populations, connect Unova to distant lands, and allow its goods to be sold across the world.
The wealth generated could then be reinvested into Unova's continued development.
More importantly, these ships would finally allow Lucien to explore the outside world in earnest, and bring back Pokémon from other regions that could further improve human life.
Next was Pokémon Nutrition.
This technology would fill the current gaps in Pokémon food production.
Properly balanced, specialized diets would allow Pokémon to grow healthier, stronger, and more efficiently, benefiting both Trainers and society as a whole.
Finally, there was the Bicycle.
Lucien's expression turned faintly odd.
Bicycles were undeniably convenient for short-distance travel… but they were also notoriously fragile.
He couldn't help recalling how often Ash had wrecked Misty's bike in the story.
Still, flawed as they were, bicycles were better than nothing. Certain groups would undoubtedly find them useful.
Once the exchanges were completed, a flood of technical knowledge poured into Lucien's mind.
He spent several hours transcribing the information onto paper.
The operational theories and construction methods for steamships were sent to the Royal Workshop, along with instructions to establish a shipyard and coordinate development alongside the steam train project.
The Pokémon nutrition research, recipes, formulations, and preparation methods were delivered to the Pokémon Association, with orders to distribute and promote the knowledge freely among the populace.
Yet even after all this, Lucien found himself deep in thought.
Relying solely on his own efforts would never be enough.
Humanity possessed limitless creativity and inspiration. Rather than doing everything himself, he needed to encourage commoners to invent and innovate as well, to create tools and ideas suited to this new era.
A true golden age wasn't built by a single ruler.
It was like a masterpiece painting, one that allowed a hundred flowers to bloom.
—
Meanwhile, ten kilometers off the coast of Castelia City…
A modest wooden sailing ship cut slowly through the rolling waves.
The sky was a clear, brilliant blue. White clouds drifted lazily overhead, and from time to time, the silhouettes of Pelipper could be seen gliding across the sky.
Painted on the ship's sails was a complex emblem, the royal crest of Rota City.
There was no doubt about it.
This vessel had come from the distant Kanto region.
Sailors clad in simple linen robes scanned the horizon. At the far edge of the sea, the faint shadow of a continent had already emerged.
One of the sailors entered the cabin and spoke respectfully to the figure within.
"Lord Aaron… the Kingdom of Eindoak is just ahead."
Hearing the report, the man inside rose to his feet, stepped out of the cabin, and stood upon the deck, gazing toward the distant shoreline.
He wore a blue martial uniform, a black cloak draped across his back. A wide-brimmed hat obscured much of his face, lending him an air of mystery, and in his hand he held a scepter topped with a gleaming gemstone.
At his side stood a Pokémon that walked upright, wolf-like in appearance. Its posture was dignified, its fur a striking blend of black and blue, majestic and powerful.
"Lucario, we will reach our destination soon," the man said calmly.
The Lucario beside him nodded quietly.
This man was Sir Aaron the Hero.
A year earlier, news had reached Rota that a war sweeping across the land had erupted in the Kingdom of Eindoak.
Queen Rin of Rota City had long been a pen pal of Eindoak's former king. The two had exchanged letters frequently and shared a cordial relationship.
When word of the war arrived, Queen Rin had grown deeply concerned for the old king's safety. As a result, she dispatched Sir Aaron to Eindoak to investigate the situation personally.
But beyond that, what worried Aaron even more was Queen herself.
Conditions in Rota City had been growing unstable as well. The ruler of a neighboring nation had provoked them repeatedly. If matters continued this way, war might soon reach Rota's borders.
'Once I confirm the situation here in Eindoak', Aaron resolved silently as he stared at the approaching land, 'I will return to Oldalun City immediately.'
The weather that day was excellent. A gentle sea breeze swept across the deck, and before long, the ship entered the port of Castelia City.
Aaron had been here twice before.
Castelia served as a major transit hub. From here, travelers would transfer inland and continue toward Eindoak's royal city, the location of the Great Earth Sword Castle.
Aaron still remembered Castelia City clearly.
Back then, it had not seemed much different from other major cities. Rigid class divisions prevailed, with slaves, commoners, nobles, merchants, and lords forming a fixed hierarchy, all coexisting within the same massive urban sprawl.
Yet the moment Aaron stepped off the ship this time, he felt something was off.
Lucario sensed it as well.
Its posture tensed slightly as it scanned the surroundings, aura power subtly spreading outward in a silent sweep.
Aaron hesitated, then slowly lifted his gaze.
Soon, he understood.
The port was busy as ever. Fishermen hauled nets, dockworkers moved cargo, and sailors shouted orders.
At first glance, nothing seemed different.
But compared to the last time he had been here, there were far more Pokémon in the city.
On the wooden planks of the pier, several children stood together, tossing breadcrumbs to Wingull circling overhead.
Near the ship, several Machoke worked alongside porters, effortlessly carrying heavy crates of cargo.
In the shallow waters near the shore, a few strong-swimming boys laughed as they played with several Staryu.
"This is…?" Aaron froze, visibly stunned.
As someone who traveled with Pokémon, Aaron understood better than most the fear many commoners held toward them.
In fact, he himself had not originally been a Pokémon Trainer.
He had once been a knight and Aura Guardian. He eventually encountered Lucario.
Through years of shared training and companionship, the bond between them had deepened into something akin to friendship.
Together, Aaron and Lucario had traveled the land, using Aura and strength alike to help those in need.
Yet despite this, the vast majority of ordinary people still feared Pokémon.
But now, Aaron looked around at the scene unfolding before him, astonishment written plainly across his face.
There was something fundamentally different about this city.
Still, he quickly composed himself.
With Lucario at his side, Aaron left the pier and entered Castelia City proper.
Walking through the streets alongside a Pokémon did not draw gasps or screams. Passersby merely glanced at them and then went about their business.
Yet Aaron and Lucario both sensed something subtle in those looks.
Envy. Longing. And even respect.
What shocked them even more was that the pier had not been an exception.
Throughout Castelia City, Pokémon were everywhere.
A Simisear assisted in a bakery, using its flames to help bake bread.
Well-dressed noblewomen strolled the streets while leading Herdier.
A young boy sprinted past, laughing as a Growlithe chased after him.
Several Petilil lay lazily sunbathing in flower beds along the roadside.
Aaron even spotted shops dedicated entirely to grooming Pokémon, cutting fur, trimming claws, and bathing them.
Inside one such shop, employees gently washed a Skitty with warm water while its owner waited nearby.
Not far away, a Tepig used the flames on its back to help dry the damp fur of a freshly bathed Lillipup.
Aaron stood rooted in place.
Staring at the scene before him, utterly speechless.
Not only Aaron, but Lucario as well stood utterly stunned.
In some corner of the world they had never known about, what exactly had happened to this place?
However, as an Aura Guardian and an experienced Pokémon partner, Aaron quickly regained his composure. Spotting an elderly man resting on a bench by the roadside, he stepped forward and asked politely,
"Excuse me. May I ask what has happened in Castelia City? Why are there suddenly so many monsters here?"
"Monsters?" The old man blinked in surprise at the question, then laughed in realization. "Ah, you must be from out of town, aren't you?"
Aaron nodded lightly. "That's right. Lucario and I arrived by sailing ship from elsewhere."
"From the sea? That's quite a distance!" The old man looked impressed, then waved his hand with a smile. "But let me correct you. They're not called magical beasts or monsters anymore. His Majesty Lucien changed the term. These little fellows are now collectively called Pokémon."
"Pokémon…" Aaron repeated softly, stunned. "His Majesty Lucien?"
"That's right!" A look of reverence appeared in the old man's eyes. "His Majesty Lucien not only ended the war, but also abolished the slave system. More than that, he taught us how to live alongside Pokémon and use their power to survive on this land."
He chuckled as he spoke.
"Thinking back now, it really feels like a miracle. Pokémon aren't frightening at all. I don't even know why we feared them so much in the past."
Aaron fell silent.
Lucien. If his memory served him correctly, that name belonged to the Third Prince of Eindoak, the youngest of the royal heirs.
What puzzled Aaron was that the civil war had supposedly been between the First and Second Princes. How, then, had the Third Prince emerged victorious?
He voiced the doubts in his heart, calmly asking the old man for clarification.
The old man answered patiently, one point at a time.
The one chosen by the Divine Dragon Kyurem.
The one who single-handedly halted the decisive battle on the Castelia Plains.
The one who unified the kingdom and abolished slavery. The one who taught his people how to coexist with Pokémon.
The one who commanded the God of Abundance, Landorus, to enrich the soil so that no one would go hungry again.
The one who founded a nationwide newspaper network. The one who established Pokémon flying taxis, allowing people to travel swiftly between distant cities.
One incredible achievement after another flowed from the old man's mouth.
The more Aaron listened, the quieter he became.
"Haha, you're probably wondering how an old man like me knows all this, right?" the old man said with a grin. "It's all written in the newspapers!"
Aaron was speechless.
If all of this was true, then the Kingdom of Eindoak was undergoing a complete and unprecedented transformation.
As someone who had long traveled with Pokémon, Aaron knew he could not rely solely on hearsay.
He wanted to see it with his own eyes.
After thanking the old man, Aaron headed straight for the Pokémon flying taxi company in Castelia City.
After paying the fare, he and Lucario soon boarded a flying taxi bound for Eindoak City.
Seated inside the small cabin, man and Pokémon stared out through the transparent window, disbelief written plainly across their faces.
They were truly flying through the sky.
Eindoak had already learned to harness Pokémon power to this degree.
The speed of the Pokémon flying taxi far exceeded Aaron's expectations.
Before he could even fully process it, they had already arrived at their destination.
Following familiar routes from memory, Aaron and Lucario made their way to the Great Earth Sword Castle. After presenting credentials identifying them as official messengers, they were granted entry.
Under the guards' guidance, man and Pokémon were soon led into the presence of the former king.
"Your Majesty," Aaron said respectfully, performing a standard knight's salute.
But upon hearing this address, the old king smiled and shook his head.
"I am no longer the king," he said calmly. "My son Lucien has done far better than I ever could."
"You have already seen it for yourself, haven't you?" he continued warmly. "Under his rule, this kingdom has undergone changes that could shake the earth itself."
...
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