That night, Aoki sent two boxes of items through the specialized teleportation system in the Pokémon world.
The recipients were Steven and Cynthia.
After Cynthia departed, she had obtained Aoki's contact information and requested that his mentor, Matsuda, assist in crafting Pokéblocks—preferably advanced ones suited to her Pokémon's status. Regarding this, Aoki confidently assured her that he had recorded all of Cynthia's Pokémon data in his system and understood their needs thoroughly. With his skills, creating exclusive high-grade Pokéblocks would not be an issue.
In fact, it could even be said that Aoki, with access to all of Matsuda's research materials, now surpassed his mentor in crafting advanced Pokéblocks.
Producing high-quality Pokéblocks for Cynthia served two purposes: not only would it put her in his debt, but it would also be highly profitable. Increased interaction with her would make it easier to request her assistance in the future.
As for what was sent to Steven, it consisted of the advanced Pokéblocks he had previously commissioned Aoki to make. After his Lairon evolved into Aggron, the formula for its exclusive Pokéblocks needed adjustment. When Steven learned that Aoki had prepared custom Pokéblocks for all of Cynthia's Pokémon, he made the same request, jokingly remarking that Aoki shouldn't favor one friend over another.
With such a lucrative opportunity, how could Aoki refuse?
Thus, he agreed.
That night, he dispatched two boxes of exclusive high-grade Pokéblocks.
The reason? Aoki was leaving town the next day.
Everything in Verdanturf Town was running smoothly. With Skye overseeing the gym, there was no immediate cause for concern.
Team Sky continued to grow steadily. After Aoki provided Alec with three additional powerful Pokémon, their strength had improved significantly. Once they fully mastered these Pokémon, they would likely reach the threshold of the elite level.
As for Verdanturf Town itself, safety was not an issue.
With the experienced Matsuda residing there, along with the support of the Jenny and Joy families, the town was well-protected. Additionally, Steven's family had stationed some personnel in the area. Given the recent commercial development—a highly profitable venture—it was only natural to ensure its security.
Another major project was nearing completion: the artificial lake beside the gym.
After over a month of labor, involving both Verdanturf's residents and numerous Pokémon, the massive lake had been fully excavated. The next steps involved filling it with water, introducing wild Water-type Pokémon, and stocking it with fish and other cultivable aquatic life.
Once operational, this lake would provide Verdanturf's residents with another lucrative source of income through fishing and aquaculture.
Aoki had arranged all of this shortly after his arrival. Skye would oversee management, and the mayor had already been informed.
Now, would the mayor of Verdanturf dare to refuse Aoki?
At this point, nobody in town would cross him.
The title of "Star of Hoenn" had spread not just through Verdanturf but across the entire region. Following his highly publicized battle with Cynthia, the League had capitalized on the momentum to elevate both Aoki and Steven's reputations.
Their current standing in Hoenn mirrored the prestige Cynthia enjoyed in Sinnoh and Kanto. While they weren't the only ones being promoted, they were undoubtedly the most prominent at the moment.
So, would the mayor dare to oppose Aoki?
His position was temporary, and as long as Aoki approved of Verdanturf's developments, the League would not interfere. The mayor had been appointed precisely to give Aoki free rein—even if he failed, the consequences were minimal, given Verdanturf's previously insignificant status.
But now, progress had far exceeded expectations. With Aoki as the central figure coordinating various factions, the town had flourished rapidly, now rivaling the more developed neighboring settlements.
After ensuring everything in Verdanturf was in order, Aoki headed to the back mountain to make final arrangements.
The Carbink colony was still best kept hidden for now, so Aoki instructed the Carbink Minister to focus on expanding their underground shelter. Food would not be an issue—Aoki would have Pokémon deliver supplies to the cave entrance daily.
Having inspected the tunnels dug by the Carbink, Aoki noted they were already substantial. While not as vast as their previous home, the walls lacked the same mineral abundance. Still, with time and effort, they could surpass their former habitat—especially with Aoki's full support.
The Carbink would thrive without pressure.
If a Diancie were to appear, their growth would skyrocket.
Aoki also visited the Altaria nesting in the forest, informing her of his impending absence. He left a large stock of Pokéblocks to sustain them in the meantime.
The Altaria remained silent, but her two young Swablu were distraught, pleading tearfully to accompany Aoki.
However, before Aoki could refuse, their mother intervened.
The young Swablu lacked both combat experience and survival instincts—they were not ready to leave. The Altaria's stern gaze made it clear she intended to train them rigorously until they could defend themselves.
Aoki agreed. Taking them along would be unwise, given the uncertain dangers ahead. There might even be identity shifts, making their presence a liability.
For the safety of the mountain and backyard Pokémon, Aoki entrusted their protection to the Altaria.
With her near-Champion-level strength, guarding such a small area would be effortless.
At dawn the next day, Aoki departed quietly.
This time, he would retrieve what belonged to him in his past life.