If we can preserve all these blueprints…
Then after we return to the modern era, we might really be able to try restoring a full set of Hisui Era Pokeballs.
For people who study the history of Pokeball development today, this material is absolutely worth far more than ordinary money.
"Thank you, Leader Cyllene."
Cynthia carefully put away the two blueprints.
Cyllene waved her hand.
"These are rewards you earned for completing the mission yourselves, no need to thank me."
Everything that needed to be reported had already been fully reported.
Ash and Cynthia didn't stay at Team Galactic Headquarters any longer and soon returned to their own place.
Back home, the first thing Cynthia did was take out the Heavy Ball and Wing Ball blueprints she'd just received.
Very soon, the table was covered with several pages of notes she was jotting down herself.
Ash stood beside her and watched for a while.
Five minutes later…
"Pikachu."
"Pika?"
"Let's not disturb sis."
"Pika."
Pikachu nodded in deep agreement.
The Trainer and Pokemon quietly moved away from the table.
Stuff that needs research into material ratios and structures is better left to the professionals to worry about!
Ash is in charge of fighting, Pikachu is in charge of fighting together with Ash.
Division of labor: perfect!
So Cynthia sat at the table studying Ancient Pokeballs, while Ash took Pikachu to play on the other side of the room.
As for Typhlosion, Ash had already released him and checked him over again after returning to Jubilife Village.
The Sitrus Berry from Lilligant had restored quite a bit of Typhlosion's Physical Strength, and with Ash using the Power of Viridian to heal, the recoil from Flare Blitz and the damage from the kicks had fully recovered.
What he really needed now was just rest.
So Ash didn't bother Typhlosion any further and simply let him stay in his Pokeball and sleep peacefully.
Time ticked by bit by bit.
By the time Cynthia finally finished sorting out the basic structures of the two blueprints, the sky outside the window was already completely dark.
"Phew…"
Cynthia set down her pen and raised both arms to stretch: "Let's stop here for today."
Her golden hair fell lightly down her back with the movement.
After several hours of continuous research, there was already obvious fatigue on her face.
"Time for bed, Ash~"
"Already?"
Ash was still squatting on the floor playing with Pikachu.
"Just look outside."
Ash turned his head toward the window.
Okay, it really was bedtime; the sky was already black.
As for Ash, who'd used a large amount of Aura Power during the day to strengthen Typhlosion, he still didn't look very tired at the moment.
That level of Aura expenditure simply didn't count as a burden for someone like him who'd already reached Divine Domain Level.
The one who really needed recovery was Typhlosion, who had borne the reinforcement.
"Come on, Pikachu, we'll play again tomorrow."
"Pika-pi~"
Pikachu very naturally followed Ash back to the room.
The two small beds were still in their original places.
It wasn't long before the room became completely quiet.
The night passed uneventfully.
The next morning, Ash had just opened his eyes when he heard soft footsteps outside.
Once the two had washed up and opened the door, a Team Galactic guard was already waiting outside and had been for a while.
"Captain Kamado asks that you two head to Team Galactic Headquarters once you wake up."
The guard said this, then added, "Captain Irida of the Pearl Clan and Captain Adaman of the Diamond Clan are already there."
"Irida really did come back."
Ash and Cynthia exchanged a glance.
Just yesterday Adaman had told them Irida had been run ragged lately by the trouble at Cobalt Coastlands.
Yet now, first thing in the morning, she'd already come straight to Team Galactic Headquarters.
Looks like the problems at Cobalt Coastlands are a bit more troublesome than they had originally expected.
After a simple breakfast, the two headed to Team Galactic Headquarters with Pikachu.
Following the stairs all the way to the top floor, they found the three people in the room had already been waiting for some time.
Kamado was still seated in the main position.
Adaman and Irida sat to either side.
"Ash, Cynthia." Kamado nodded to them as they came in. "Sit."
Ash and Cynthia naturally took the seats prepared for them.
Pikachu still perched on Ash's shoulder.
The three had all seen Pikachu before, but this time Irida's gaze at Pikachu clearly held a few more shades of astonishment than before.
Adaman had already told her yesterday what had happened at the arena.
This little guy who usually just sat quietly on Ash's shoulder, looking like he had no threat beyond being cute…
Had actually defeated the multiple-times-strengthened Lilligant in just a few moves yesterday.
Just goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover.
You can't judge a Pokemon by appearance alone either!
"Pika?"
Pikachu was a bit baffled at being stared at by Irida.
What's going on? Why is she looking at him like that first thing in the morning?
"Ahem."
Adaman cleared his throat lightly, pulling the topic back: "Let's talk about the stuff I promised you yesterday first."
He took out a sheet of paper that had already been compiled.
"This is the list of Ground Attribute Items I had the Diamond Clan members tally overnight. You can choose two from it."
"That fast?"
Ash was a little surprised.
Yesterday Adaman had still been in Crimson Mirelands dealing with the Queen; yet by this morning he'd already gotten the whole list sorted.
"I already promised you; I couldn't exactly drag it out for ten days or half a month."
Adaman handed the list to Cynthia with a smile: "Pick whichever two you need, but let me say this up front, only two."
"We know."
Cynthia accepted the list, smiling. "It's not like we're planning to empty out the Diamond Clan's warehouse."
"Good."
Adaman nodded, then beckoned to the person beside him. A clearly very heavy wooden chest was carried over.
Adaman opened the chest himself.
A sheet of dazzling gold immediately appeared before Ash and Cynthia.
Ash blinked.
"This is…"
"One hundred taels of gold."
Ash: "???"
One hundred taels?!
He had originally thought the payment Adaman mentioned yesterday would just be some high Energy Ground Attribute Items.
Turns out the items were only an extra bonus?
"This time you helped the Diamond Clan stabilize the Queen, and you also safely brought Arezu, who'd ran into Crimson Mirelands alone, back out."
Adaman's smile grew a bit more restrained. "Without you, the injured at the arena would only have increased, and no one knows what might have happened to Arezu in the end."
"So this money isn't just the commission for the Queen-stabilizing mission; it's also the Diamond Clan's thanks for you saving Arezu."
Ash instinctively looked toward Cynthia.
Better to let Cynthia decide at a time like this.
Letting him decide whether to accept such a big chest of gold, something just felt off.
But before Cynthia could speak, Irida, sitting on the other side, had already let out a soft snort.
"Since Adaman's prepared all this, we of the Pearl Clan won't be giving any less."
She first took out a small box from beside her.
Once opened, a very exquisite little bell lay quietly inside.
Cynthia's eyes lit up instantly.
"A Soothe Bell!"
"It's what you asked me for before."
Irida passed the bell over. "I promised to get it to you within three days, and I managed not to go over."
Cynthia accepted the Soothe Bell and gave it a gentle shake.
A clear, soft chime rang through the room.
From the information she'd dug up in Team Galactic's records earlier, this kind of item helps a Trainer and the Pokemon that carry the bell long-term deepen their bond more easily.
It's just right for Eevee right now.
As long as intimacy reaches the required level, then Eevee learns a Fairy Attribute move…
The conditions for evolution into Sylveon will basically be complete.
"Thank you, Captain Irida."
"Don't thank me just yet."
As Irida spoke, she had Pearl Clan members bring in a second chest.
Ash suddenly had a bad feeling—no way…
The chest opened: another sheet of dazzling gold.
"One hundred taels of gold."
Ash: "…"
Of course it is!
Irida shot Adaman a glance.
"Kleavor of Obsidian Fieldlands is a King looked after by the Pearl Clan, and Ursaluna is likewise cared for by our Governor Xipu. The problems you helped us solve are no less than the ones you solved for the Diamond Clan."
"Since Adaman's willing to put up this amount, we of the Pearl Clan naturally won't give less."
Adaman's mouth twitched slightly.
"Why do I feel like that last sentence is the real reason?"
"You got a problem with that?"
"No."
Adaman very wisely chose to shut up.
Ash looked left and right, and in the end still felt like this reward was just a bit too much, wasn't it?