"I just don't have the habit of acting as a middleman. I appreciate the generous offer, but no thank you."
Kashiwagi didn't even glance at the contract. He spoke politely but firmly. "Please allow me to contact my companions first."
He walked to a quiet corner and began dialing.
"A middleman?"
Maxie blinked, momentarily stunned. He quickly realized that his earlier phrasing had caused a misunderstanding, and a look of wry amusement crossed his face.
Who would have thought that a simple "introduction" would trigger such negative associations?
The kid's got quite a temper, Maxie thought, nodding inwardly.
In his eyes, it was perfectly normal for talented people to have a bit of an edge. After all, did Courtney look like a "normal" person? Yet, she was one of his top generals.
Even Tabitha wasn't exactly known for having a sunny disposition.
These things were understandable. What mattered was finalizing the deal...
On one hand, it ensured Team Magma received the same publicity as Team Aqua; on the other, it opened a new collaborative front in the Orre region.
A wild, untamed land with developing technology but vast unexploited potential...
Wonderful! Truly wonderful!
Maxie felt a long-dormant spark of passion igniting within him.
...
...
On the other side of the room, Kashiwagi was on the phone with Yamamino.
It was late at night in Orre, and Yamamino had been just about to turn in when the call came through.
"Ah~ Brother... what grand feat have you accomplished now that you simply must share with me?" Yamamino gave a massive yawn over the line.
Kashiwagi kept it brief and clinical. He explained everything about Maxie—from Team Magma's ideology to the bizarre series of events that led him onto their airship.
When he finished, there was a long silence on Yamamino's end.
Just as Kashiwagi began to feel uneasy, Yamamino spoke: "Kashiwagi, you really are a sinful man."
"Huh?"
"There are only two major ex-criminal organizations in Hoenn, and somehow you've run into both. Now both of them want to invest in you. If that's not 'sinful,' I don't know what is."
"Uh... it's not like I did this on purpose..."
"Purpose or not, they're the ones chasing you down, aren't they? What does that mean? It means you have the criminal potential to destroy the world! Thankfully, as a member of the Rainbow Organization, I stepped in just in time to save you from the abyss—"
"Are you done being weird?"
"Hahaha! You called me in the middle of the night; at least let me tease you a bit. But this Team Magma... they pique my interest. An ideology centered on using technology to benefit humanity, expanding land to reduce conflict? I'll handle it."
Yamamino's confident voice finally allowed Kashiwagi to relax.
If there were a handful of people in this world he trusted implicitly, this guy was at the top of the list.
Turning back,
he gave Yamamino's contact info to Maxie.
Maxie wasted no time, requesting an immediate video call. Once Yamamino agreed, the two began their discussion.
Meanwhile, Courtney quietly shuffled over to Kashiwagi's side. Having failed to recruit him, she shifted her tactics to pressuring him into signing the partnership contract, launching a relentless verbal offensive.
Kashiwagi finally understood why, in the Pokémon Masters world, Courtney mentioned that Tabitha would often scold her.
This girl has absolutely zero concept of personal space or boundaries!
"Pokémon battle... if I win... would you... agree then?"
"Aren't your Pokémon all in the infirmary?"
"Later... we can... fight again..."
"We'll talk about 'later' when it gets here."
"I can teach you... how to... Mega Evolve..."
"I don't even have a Key Stone. How are you going to teach me?"
"Borrow mine..."
To be honest, Kashiwagi was actually a little tempted by that one. However, his sharp instincts told him that being "indebted" to Courtney would lead to a world of trouble. He refused her with practiced decisiveness.
At the same time,
Maxie and Yamamino—the Mayor of Pyrite Town—concluded their brief meeting.
Both parties seemed highly satisfied.
Closing the comms, Maxie turned his gaze back to Kashiwagi. He stood up and approached, a hint of genuine surprise in his eyes.
"I didn't realize you were actually the leader of Team Rainbow. It seems some of my earlier remarks were indeed disrespectful. Please, accept my apologies."
"There's no need—"
"Kashiwagi, I'd like you to reconsider this contract."
Maxie picked up the document from the table again and spoke softly.
"Forgive my earlier ambiguity. This contract absolutely does not include any 'brokerage fees.' These are purely sponsorship terms. Think about it—I didn't even know Orre existed until moments ago. How could I have drafted a contract for that in advance?"
"..."
"Having dealt with Team Aqua, you surely understand that we were once rival organizations. While we've reconciled and our current businesses don't overlap much, the under-the-table competition remains fierce."
Maxie smiled. "Instead of letting us find another trainer—which might inadvertently create a toxic rivalry—why not act as the bridge for healthy competition?
"Furthermore, as we look toward future construction in Orre, it will help our mutual cooperation. What do you think?"
The man was being incredibly gracious now,
even going out of his way to avoid any "trigger points" that might upset Kashiwagi's principles.
Kashiwagi realized that bringing Team Magma's infrastructure expertise to Orre was an unstoppable win for the region.
Orre was desperate for talent in every field.
One only had to look at the brilliant cities in Hoenn that Team Magma had a hand in building to see their capability.
Even if Team Magma was only responsible for 1% of that success, it was still world-class.
"Then I'll accept, with thanks."
Kashiwagi knew this was a "Win-Win-Win" scenario where everyone walked away happy.
Seeing him accept, a small smile finally broke across Maxie's face. Courtney, meanwhile, covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes crinkling into happy crescents.
...
Team Magma Lounge
Kashiwagi lay on the bed, staring at an unfamiliar ceiling. His Pokémon were gathered around him.
"You guys... even though we just made a fortune, so why do I feel so empty and lonely?"
He turned his head.
Team Aqua started his offer at 5 million per episode, later bumping it to 8 million. Team Magma, following the new contract, had doubled it. He didn't know where they got their intel, but they dropped 16 million without blinking an eye...
Is land development really this profitable?
"Maw-ile~"
Mawile, her secondary jaw wrapped in bandages, nudged his arm. She seemed to be suggesting that a shopping spree would cure his "emptiness" in no time.
Mega Camerupt's Explosion had been no joke. It had actually scorched the outer hide of Mawile's massive horn. Fortunately, the horn was made of transformed keratin; it didn't have many pain receptors, so the injury was mostly superficial.
Chansey had suffered some minor burns, but thanks to her Natural Cure ability, she was already nearly fully recovered.
As for Aggron, he hadn't taken a single significant hit the entire time. Mightyena's Dark Pulse and Sucker Punch had been about as effective as a light tickle.
"We'll see when we get to Mauville City," Kashiwagi said, reaching out to pat Mawile's cheek. She huffed and stepped back two paces. Even a Trainer wasn't allowed to be that "flirty"!
Instead, she offered him her hand.
"..."
Kashiwagi gave a silent chuckle.
Suddenly, the lounge door slid open. Courtney walked in. "Kashiwagi... the production for your... Magma Suit... is ready..."
The Magma Suit.
The same gear Courtney wore—the high-tech suit rumored to let a person stand in lava without blinking. This was a special perk from Maxie, a symbol of their new friendship.
In the games, this was the very suit the player wore to journey into space with Mega Rayquaza.