After distributing all the Pokémon food and Energy Cubes he had, Ethan left Granite Cave with a backpack full of various materials, waved off by a large group of Pokémon.
"Looks like the kid did pretty well for himself," remarked a familiar voice. Turning around, Ethan saw it was the same man who had given him advice earlier.
Ethan had spent most of the day in the cave and was surprised to see the man still there. "Oh, you're still here?"
The man chuckled, glancing at the Luxury Ball on Ethan's belt, an interested gleam in his eyes. "I see you've caught your first Pokémon. Many young folks struggle with that."
Noticing Ethan's reluctance to continue the conversation, the man turned his attention to the backpack on Ethan's back. "Interested in making a deal? I specialize in recycling special ores and can offer you a good price."
Ethan paused, then shook his head. "I didn't find much this time. Probably not enough to interest you."
The man smiled knowingly. "Smart thinking, but caution is wise. Keeps you alive longer." He handed Ethan a business card. "If you ever want to deal, come find me. I'll give you a fair price."
Ethan thanked him and moved on.
"Boss, that kid seemed to score big. Why didn't we just—" started one of the man's subordinates with a throat-slitting gesture, only to get a hard smack on the back of his head.
The subordinate stumbled, confused by his boss's reaction.
"Think, you fool! Who can afford a Luxury Ball? It's not just about money. Probably some rich kid out experiencing life," the boss lectured. "If something happens to him, do you think you can handle the family's wrath?"
The subordinate, still unconvinced, argued, "If we do it clean, who'd know it was us?"
The boss, exasperated, retorted, "When the heir of a big family is harmed, they don't need evidence. They lock down the town, sweep the underground, and use Psychic Pokémon to get answers. You wouldn't escape."
Recalling a recent incident, the boss added, "Last year, the Zifuqi family's heir was attacked. Rustboro City's underground was wiped out. Hundreds died, and Devon Corporation put up a hundred million reward. Enough to sell your own father."
The boss looked at his now-terrified subordinate with disappointment, then addressed the group. "Remember who you can and can't mess with. Don't get yourself or others killed."
His subordinates quickly nodded, acknowledging the wisdom of keeping a low profile to survive.
At the Alliance store, Ethan sold his findings from Granite Cave, including the valuable Everstone. While these were just odds and ends to Ethan, the store's buying price wasn't high, totaling less than five hundred thousand Alliance currency, with the Everstone fetching two hundred thousand.
Sighing, Ethan knew he was being lowballed, but the Alliance offered stability. Their prices were consistent and fair unless the goods were stolen. Transactions were confidential, ensuring no trouble for sellers.
The black market, though offering higher prices, was risky. Mawile was still at a basic level, and Ethan wasn't sure he could navigate such a dangerous place alone. Sensing some of the men at the entrance eyed him suspiciously, Ethan decided to play it safe.
He moved from his rented room to a house with a yard, further from the town center, for added security.
Releasing Mawile, Ethan knelt to pat her head. "Mawile, it's training time. It might be tough, but we'll do it together."
Feeling Ethan's sincerity, Mawile nodded. She was ready to grow with her Trainer, sharing both challenges and triumphs.
For the next month, Ethan devoted himself to training Mawile in their yard. He used a Fairy Feather to try activating her Fairy typing and exchanged for a Mawilite and Key Stone to enable her Mega Evolution.
Mega Evolution would significantly bolster Mawile's strength, a crucial boost for their safety. Mega Mawile's power was leagues ahead of her normal form.
Ethan also fed Mawile Rare Candy every few days, supplemented with high-grade Energy Cubes and Steel and Fairy Gems to bolster her growth.
In reality, Rare Candy didn't instantly level up Pokémon but unlocked their potential for true growth through training.
Training Mawile daily, Ethan helped her master inherited moves and used TM discs to expand her move set, adding Fire Blaze to complete her 'Farmer's Three Blazes.'
Of various generational abilities, Ethan valued Mega Evolution and Alola's Z-Moves the most—unlike regional restrictions on Dynamaxing or costly Terastallization, Mega Evolution and Z-Moves offered sustainable power boosts.
After a month of diligent training, Ethan was ready to see the fruits of his efforts.