It was deep into the night.
Nemona and the others, who had made preparations to try bonding with the Steel- or Rock-type Pokémon on the mountain in hopes of finding one willing to leave with them, returned to Steven's mansion ahead of schedule. Guest rooms had already been prepared for them there. Resting for the night and heading out early the next morning would be far more appropriate.
After all, nighttime was when most non-nocturnal Pokémon slept. Forcing an encounter would only leave a poor impression.
Although Lance had originally planned to depart immediately on his Dragonite and return to the Kanto League to report, Steven's persuasion convinced him to stay the night so Dragonite could recover some energy.
As for Lucas and Brock, they were personally invited into Steven's private collection room.
Though called a "private collection room," its scale rivaled that of a small museum. The building itself was a standalone structure erected beside the ostentatious mansion.
Steven had personally amassed countless priceless treasures, and the security around his collection room was extremely tight.
—Not that many fools would dare target a Champion's collection.
A single one of his ace Pokémon standing guard could reduce any intruder to dust.
Even criminals armed with forbidden technology rarely bothered invading unless they desperately needed a specific item. Making an enemy of both a Champion and Devon Corporation was hardly worth the trouble.
After passing through rigorous verification, the massive doors to the collection room finally opened for the three of them.
Listening to Steven apologize profusely—"It's all because my father insisted on installing this security system. Otherwise I could have just used the key and brought you straight in. Sorry for the wait."—Lucas and Brock exchanged glances, the corners of their mouths twitching.
They honestly didn't know how to respond.
But the surprises didn't end with the security system. The moment they stepped inside and the lights gradually illuminated the vast space, both men drew in sharp breaths.
Exhibition stands were arranged with meticulous care throughout the interior. Beneath custom glass domes lay all manner of stones, each meticulously dusted and treated with the reverence reserved for the rarest treasures.
Some were plain gray rocks that looked utterly ordinary. Others were dazzling gems whose value was obvious at a glance.
Although the total number of pieces was smaller than Lucas had expected, the quality far exceeded his imagination.
Steven pressed a button in front of one stand. The glass dome descended silently, exposing the item inside to the open air.
It was a flawless, radiant pink diamond glowing under the lights.
He lifted it with utmost care, stroking it as though caressing a lover's hand. His expression was intoxicated, and beneath his surprisingly long, dense lashes, his eyes were filled with deep affection.
Brock thought that if he were a woman, he would probably fall instantly under that gaze.
"I acquired her at an auction in the Kalos region. The moment I saw her through the glass, my heart was struck."
Steven neither knew the diamond's origin nor cared about its astronomical price. He had simply fallen in love at first sight, purchased it, and brought it back to Hoenn to cherish.
Lucas, watching the scene: "…"
What a stone-obsessed pervert.
The man who treated rocks as lovers was now giving stones to him and Brock. How was that any different from handing over his own "girlfriend"?
Lucas suddenly felt curious about what was going through Steven's mind.
Steven returned the pink diamond to its stand, carefully wiped away his fingerprints with a handkerchief, and began introducing his other pieces.
The next item appeared to be an ordinary gray stone with an odd shape—nothing valuable on the surface. Yet Steven handled it with the same reverent tenderness he had shown the diamond.
Lucas and Brock had assumed that after a few introductions Steven would let them browse and then everyone could retire for the night.
Instead, Steven looked ready to recount the entire story of every stone from beginning to end, all the way until sunrise.
Drowsiness was already assaulting Lucas's brain. Seeing no other option, and with Brock watching in admiration, he interrupted Steven's endless stream of words.
"…Um, how about we just look around ourselves first?"
As the most eligible bachelor in Hoenn, Steven possessed impeccable upbringing and high emotional intelligence—except, apparently, when stones were involved.
The moment he noticed the prominent dark circles under Brock's already dark complexion, Steven instantly realized his mistake. He loved stones, but he would never force his passions on others.
After the day's battle, both Brock and Lucas were exhausted and desperately needed rest. His behavior had been inconsiderate.
"I'm sorry," he said with genuine apology. "I got carried away again. Please, look around. Ask me if you have any questions."
Brock exhaled in relief and replied sincerely, "My hometown of Pewter City is famous for its stones, and my father has studied them extensively. If you don't mind, Mr. Steven, I'd be happy to chat with you all day tomorrow."
"Then it's a promise!" Steven's eyes lit up.
Brock nodded firmly. "A promise!"
Watching them, a warm, genuine smile spread across Lucas's face.
Compared to Roxanne, Brock—the Rock-type Gym Leader—actually got along surprisingly well with Steven. Their interests aligned closely, aside from Brock's… personal preferences.
After all, everyone knew about Steven's legendary love for stones.
Thanks to his father Flint's influence, Brock possessed considerable knowledge on the subject. The two of them chatting would likely be unexpectedly pleasant.
"Looks like I don't need to step in. That's good."
Muttering to himself, Lucas greeted Steven and began wandering through the collection room.
He had to admit—Steven's treasures were genuinely captivating.
Ordinary evolution stones of every type, already meeting the strictest standards of shape, color, and energy saturation, sat alongside rare specimens such as meteorites and comet fragments.
Lucas even spotted a damp rock the size of a basketball—far larger than the palm-sized versions sold on the market.
Still too small, though.
He thought of the two-meter-wide damp rock at the bottom of Thunder Lake on his farm—the one big enough to lie on like a bed. That was the true priceless treasure, beyond any monetary value.
If Steven ever visited the farm, Lucas would definitely show it to him. He couldn't wait to see the expression on his face.
By the time Steven finished his current affairs—probably around the time Ash challenged the Kalos League—he should have some free time.
Lucas continued exploring. Soon he came upon a large display of various fossils: Shell Fossils, Claw Fossils, Old Amber, Root Fossils, and more. Each type had at least a few specimens, though fossils from Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, and Galar were absent—likely because Steven hadn't spent extended time digging in those regions.
After the fossils, his gaze shifted to a glittering pile of gems of every imaginable shape.
Honestly, most of the items didn't move him much.
Did he not want them?
Of course he did. But his desire for wealth hadn't reached the level of obsession.
He was already considering selecting one particularly valuable gem, taking it back to Paldea, and asking Geeta to auction it off. The proceeds could help fund the construction of the Terarium Dome he planned for the future.
He was a practical man with no refined collector's hobby. Choosing a gem that carried a clear price tag wouldn't dishonor Steven's generosity.
What would truly pain Steven was selling the stones he had personally excavated and cherished.
Among the gems, Lucas also discovered several Evolution Key Stones and multiple Mega Stones.
Imitating Steven, he opened a glass dome and picked up a smooth, bead-like stone with a pale-green base and an orange-and-dark-green gene-spiral pattern.
"This should be Sceptile's Mega Stone," he murmured.
There were also Mega Stones for Abomasnow, Banette, and Absol. He counted at least three Key Stones as well.
The number seemed small, but these were items Steven had collected unconsciously. Now that Drake had publicly demonstrated Mega Evolution during that exhibition match, the information would soon reach Hoenn's highest authorities. While it might remain secret from the public for a while, someone of Steven's status would learn of it immediately.
With his wealth and deep understanding of stones, Steven's collection of Key Stones and Mega Stones would only grow—whether purchased or personally mined. When he finally unearthed his own perfect set, his strength would leap forward once again.
Lucas returned the stone to its stand and exhaled softly. He turned, intending to retrieve the sapphire he had admired earlier—the one named "Heart of the Ocean."
But his peripheral vision caught something in a corner he had previously overlooked: a single exhibition stand.
One glance and he froze.
He didn't recognize the item, nor was he stunned by its supposed value.
The moment his eyes fell upon it, he felt an inexplicable, powerful stirring in his chest.
The object itself wasn't particularly striking. Its surface was encrusted with thick rock and dust—Steven hadn't cleaned it for some reason. Through the coating, a portion of a crystal was exposed: a soft, rounded light-blue hue that caught the light in gentle curves.
From what little was visible, the crystal didn't look extraordinary.
Yet the instant he saw it, Lucas's gaze locked on and refused to move.
Perhaps because he had lingered so long, Steven—who had been explaining fossils to Brock—approached with a smile.
"Found something you like?"
Lucas blinked. He had meant to say the sapphire, but instead his finger pointed at the crystal as if guided by instinct.
"What is this?"
Steven's eyes followed Lucas's gesture. A flicker of surprise crossed his face—not because a valuable piece had been noticed, but because he hadn't expected Lucas to be drawn to this particular crystal.
After a brief pause, he explained, "To be honest, I don't know exactly what it is or what special abilities it possesses. The only thing Devon Corporation's equipment could confirm is that it contains a unique form of energy inside—energy that no known Pokémon can utilize. That's why I named it the 'Mysterious Crystal.' Its secrets remain unsolved."
"Mysterious Crystal…"
Lucas repeated the four words under his breath.
A voice suddenly called from behind them.
"Mr. Steven, I've made my decision."
They turned to see Brock approaching, holding a piece of Old Amber. He had clearly thought long and hard.
Steven asked seriously, "Are you certain?"
He had already explained that the genes inside Old Amber could only be identified after extraction. There was no guarantee it contained Aerodactyl— it could just as easily be Omanyte or Lileep. Fossils with clear external shapes were far easier to identify.
After a difficult internal struggle, Brock had still chosen the Old Amber.
No matter which ancient Pokémon emerged, he was prepared to accept it.
Brock nodded firmly. "I've decided!"
A smile spread across Steven's handsome face. "Since this is your choice, I won't interfere. Tomorrow I'll arrange for specialists to airlift the fossil-revival device here."
"Thank you, Mr. Steven!"
Brock bowed deeply and sincerely.
Then he looked up at the stand in front of Lucas. He had been curious what his friend would choose.
When he saw only the tip of the light-blue crystal peeking out, a puzzled expression crossed his face.
Huh? Why does this crystal feel strangely familiar?
Brock tried to recall more details, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't remember where he had seen anything like this "Mysterious Crystal" before.
…