Yet when the silver-haired man's piercing gaze fell upon Theo, something unexpected happened.
He noticed Theo's pale green hair, and the curious Feebas peeking its head out from the inflatable tank strapped to his chest. In that instant, the suffocating aura of intimidation that had weighed down the cavern receded. The sharpness in his eyes softened, transforming into something gentler, almost warm.
At that instant, a very particular silhouette surfaced within the silver-haired man's mind—
A man with the same light-green hair.
A man whose smile was as warm as sunlight, always accompanied by elegant and powerful Water-type Pokémon.
A man who once dazzled audiences on the stage of Pokémon Contests.
Wallace…
The sight of Theo's green hair paired with the unusual Feebas stirred a strange sense of familiarity in Steven.
This combination alone stirred a sudden sense of familiarity and fondness within the silver-haired man's chest.
His brows relaxed, his eyes curved, and the smile tugging at his lips could no longer be hidden.
His gaze softened into something as tranquil as flowing water.
When he spoke to Theo, his voice was low, slightly hoarse, yet tinged with kindness:
"Hello there. Are you lost in the cave? Do you need any help?"
Such a simple, offhand greeting—yet it left Theo frozen in place.
His heart was still pounding violently in his chest.
The pressure from just moments earlier had been far too terrifying—so oppressive it felt as if the entire cavern had turned solid, each breath scraping sharply in his throat.
Theo had been fully prepared for an awkward confrontation—
Perhaps the man would mistake him for an intruder and drive him away.
Yet, just when he expected hostility, the man's overwhelming aura dispersed like a receding tide—
So quickly that Theo almost thought he had imagined it.
He cautiously lifted his head and directly met the silver-haired man's gaze.
The steely, scrutinizing sharpness was gone, replaced by something… friendlier.
Theo steadied himself, forcing down his confusion.
He politely shook his head, though his voice still carried a faint dryness from the lingering tension:
"No, I didn't get lost."
After a brief pause, he pointed toward the deeper part of the cave and explained:
"A moment ago I heard a loud roar from inside, and then the sound of mining. I got curious, so I came to take a look."
Once he finished explaining, Theo hesitated for a heartbeat, then carefully asked:
"Excuse me… are you Champion Steven?"
The livestream chat instantly erupted.
Viewers had been utterly lost by the sudden shift in atmosphere—but once they heard Theo speak that name, the barrage of messages filled the screen:
"HOLY— DID HE JUST ASK IF THAT'S STEVEN?!"
"Do you even need to ask?! Silver hair! Aggron! That aura! Who else could it be?!"
"My god! It is Steven! I got chills from that earlier glare. That's the man who once stood at the peak!!"
"Three years… Ever since he stepped down, he's hardly appeared in public. I can't believe we're seeing him here!"
"This streamer's luck is insane. Shiny Feebas AND Steven Stone?? What kind of cheat code is this?!"
"He's still so handsome. His hair's longer now, but the vibe? EVEN STRONGER."
Inside the cave, upon hearing Theo's question, the silver-haired man,
Steven Stone himself—let his smile deepen slightly.
He gave a single nod and answered with simple certainty:
"Mm. I am Steven."
Just five words, yet brimming with unmistakable conviction.
Hearing confirmation, Theo couldn't help the thrill rising inside him.
Steven Stone!
A legendary figure recorded in the history of the Pokémon League!
Even though he no longer held the title of Champion, his time in office, supported by his formidable shiny Metagross and unmatched battle prowess had earned him countless admirers.
Theo quickly straightened his posture and introduced himself with the respectful tone of a junior addressing a senior:
"Hello, Champion Steven. My name is Theo Glenwood. I'm a new trainer, only recently starting out."."
"Theo…?"
Steven repeated softly, letting the name linger on his tongue.
His eyes once again drifted to Theo's unusual hair, a gentle warmth flickering within them:
"Your hair color is quite special."
"Ah… this? I was born with it," Theo replied with a slightly embarrassed scratch of his cheek.
Steven chuckled faintly.
But then his attention shifted beyond Theo—toward the small floating device hovering quietly behind him.
Sleek, compact, metallic white in color.
Completely silent as it hovered in the air, camera lens fixed steadily on the two of them, broadcasting everything live.
Theo's heart jumped when he noticed Steven looking at it.
He immediately turned and hurried to explain:
"Champion Steven, that's my livestream device.
Ever since I started capturing my first Pokémon, I wanted to record my journey with them.
Gradually, some viewers started watching, so I kept livestreaming."
Afraid that Steven would dislike being filmed—after all, a legendary figure like him valued privacy—Theo quickly added:
"If you feel uncomfortable, I can stop the stream right now! I won't trouble you!"
He had already lifted his hand, ready to hit the pause button—
But Steven gently raised his own hand to stop him.
"No need."
His tone was calm and unconcerned.
"It's just being watched. Nothing inconvenient about that."
His gaze lingered on the device, observing its build with curiosity.
A faint note of admiration flickered in his eyes:
"This device is rather interesting. Small, stable in the air…
It looks like something produced in the smart-tech city of Mauville.."
After studying it for a moment, Steven's attention drifted to Theo's phone screen, where the chat scrolled endlessly. The messages brimmed with awe, nostalgia, and excitement, many repeating his name.
Steven smiled faintly and addressed the viewers directly:
"Hello, everyone. I'm Steven Stone. It's been a while. I'm glad to meet you today."
His greeting was like a stone dropped into a still lake, sending the livestream into an instant frenzy.
"AHHH STEVEN STONE JUST SAID HI TO ME!! SCREENSHOT!!"
"I LOVE YOU STEVEN PLEASE MARRY ME—"
"———"
The number of viewers skyrocketed.
From a steady 5,000, the number shot upward—
Ten thousand in under a minute, soon hitting the platform's hot-recommended status with a "Trending" badge flashing at the top of the screen..
After saying hello, Steven shifted his gaze to the Feebas inside the water tank.
Feebas was swishing its dull-gray tail, staring curiously at Steven with big round eyes.
It occasionally bumped its head against the tank wall—
Its silly, clumsy behavior making Steven let out an involuntary laugh.
Taking in this unusual pair of Theo and his Feebas, Steven grew curious.
He took the initiative to ask about how they first met.
With thousands of new viewers pouring into the stream, all eager to hear the story,
Theo recounted everything—
Their first encounter, the decision to travel together, every small detail…
…
"So that's why you came into the cave—hoping to catch a new Pokémon."
Steven nodded with a knowing smile.
After thinking for a moment, his expression shifted subtly—
As if he had just thought of something amusing.
His eyes sparkled with a playful anticipation as he suddenly asked:
"Since you're accumulating real battle experience,
and searching for a new partner, would you be interested in taking on a little test from me?"
Before Theo could react, Steven continued with a casual wave of his hand:
"If you can meet my expectations…
You've heard of Devon Corporation's fossil revival project from a couple of years ago, haven't you?"
(End of Chapters)