Chapter 42: Steven Is My Dear Friend and Brother-in-Arms~
The following day...
On a private island owned by Steven...
Asher lay on a lounge chair beside a hot spring, wearing a facial mask. A cocktail decorated with a tiny umbrella sat within reach, while a parasol shaded him from the sun.
A beautiful woman in a swimsuit massaged him from the side, while two female attendants stood behind him and cooled him with large palm-leaf fans.
"Hiss... This is the life~"
"Mr. Rehsa, is the pressure satisfactory?"
"Mm. It’s acceptable, barely."
Steven sat on the lounge chair beside him, dressed in a matching bathrobe and holding a glass of red wine. His expression was complicated as he stared at Asher.
"Would you like another seafood platter? This resort’s lobster sashimi is supposedly caught locally in Alola. Paired with rock salt—"
"Order it."
The moment he heard that, Steven snapped his fingers. An attendant immediately hurried away to place the order.
Asher lowered his facial mask slightly and looked toward Steven.
"We agreed that you’re paying. I didn’t bring that much money with me."
"Of course."
Steven raised his glass with a smile.
"The Devon Corporation is entertaining an honored guest. How could we possibly ask that guest to pay? It is my privilege that Mr. Rehsa was willing to accept my invitation."
Asher pulled the facial mask back into place, obvious satisfaction entering his voice.
"Steven, I’ve decided. You’re a friend worth keeping."
The corner of Steven’s mouth twitched.
He’s already calling me by my first name?
Still, that was fine.
Closing the distance between them was precisely what Steven wanted.
By the time they had finished the seafood sashimi, Asher’s opinion of Steven had changed from How do I get rid of this guy? to This brother is someone I can rely on.
Sometimes, friendship between two men was simply that uncomplicated.
"Steven."
"Hmm?"
"That obsidian tie pin of yours—was the stone mined near Ecruteak City in Johto?"
Steven’s eyes instantly lit up. He sat upright, reacting with even greater excitement than when he had first recognized Asher.
"Mr. Rehsa, you understand minerals as well?"
"A little. Only a little."
Asher tapped the rim of his glass with one finger.
"Ecruteak obsidian is formed from volcanic glass, but the cutting angles on yours follow a Kalos style. You commissioned a craftsman from Kalos, didn’t you?"
Steven’s eyes almost filled with tears.
Whenever he discussed stones in the [VIP Chat Group], Wallace mocked him and everyone else quickly changed the subject.
But the man before him...
Not only did Asher understand him, but he understood the stone itself.
"...Mr. Rehsa."
Steven placed his wineglass aside and clasped Asher’s hand between both of his. His gaze was as solemn as though he were delivering the opening speech at a League Conference.
"Please accompany me while I survey Alola’s mineral veins."
For once, Asher showed a trace of genuine appreciation.
"That can be arranged. However, the consultation fee—"
"Two hundred million in League currency."
"Steven, from this day onward, I acknowledge you as my brother."
Just as Steven prepared to say something else, the familiar voice once again echoed beside their ears.
[System Notification: The intermission has concluded. The broadcast will now resume.]
[Ding! Parallel-World Celebrity Series—Episode One: Water-Type Pokémon Master Raina—Stage Four will now begin!]
Asher immediately stood up.
"I just remembered that I have something to do. I’ll be leaving—"
"Hey~ Don’t leave, Brother Rehsa!"
Steven immediately grabbed Asher’s arm.
"I’ve shown you so much sincerity, yet you intend to leave the moment the broadcast begins. Could it be that you’re unwilling to acknowledge me as your brother?"
"No, I genuinely have something to do!"
"I understand. We’re the only two people here, so you have nothing to worry about."
Steven gave him an extremely serious promise.
"Whatever happens here will remain known only to you, and me. There will absolutely never be a third person who learns of it!"
The corner of Asher’s mouth twitched.
Did Steven truly think Asher didn’t know what kind of person he was?
After considering it for a moment, Asher sighed.
"Just don’t say anything strange in the chat."
"Of course, of course. I’ll remain silent from this moment onward. I may need to ask you about anything I don’t understand later!"
Steven’s face lit up when he realized Asher was willing to stay.
"The video is starting. Hurry and watch!"
Viewers rapidly flooded into the chat group.
[VIP Chat Group]
[Dawn]: The livestream is always so punctual~
[May]: Hehe, I woke up early and waited for it to appear~
[Bill]: I couldn’t sleep! I couldn’t sleep at all!
[Gary]: Is it really that serious?
[Lucian]: Oh? Has it begun? What a rare moment of leisure.
[Ash]: Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry! The question! Give us the question!
[Pikachu]: Pika, pika, pika!
[Generating random question...]
[Question: During Raina’s exploration of Pokémon Tower, how many Ghost-type Pokémon voluntarily gave her gifts?]
[A. Three]
[B. Four]
[C. Five]
[D. Six]
[The answering period will begin in thirty seconds!]
[VIP Chat Group]
[Ash]: What?! Who would actually count how many Pokémon gave her presents?!
[Brock]: I have a general impression... but the exact number...
[Dawn]: This question is far too sneaky!
[Wallace]: Steven, what do you think?
[Wallace]: Steven?
[Wallace]: Strange. Normally, you would already be giving us an extensive analysis by now. Why are you so quiet today?
[Steven]: Ahem. I’m thinking.
[Wallace]: Thinking about what?
[Steven]: The question, obviously~
[Wallace]: Then which answer do you think is correct?
[Steven]: ...B?
[Wallace]: What’s your reasoning?
[Steven]: Intuition.
[Wallace]: Intuition? Aren’t you the person who despises answering questions based on intuition?
[Steven]: Today is different. Today, I have a special intuition.
[Wallace]: Did you take the wrong medicine?
[Leon]: I noticed it too. Steven’s manner of speaking today is completely different from usual.
[Cynthia]: Steven, are you feeling unwell?
[Steven]: I’m perfectly fine, thank you for asking. I’m merely working overtime.
[Wallace]: You’re currently on a business trip in Alola, aren’t you? What kind of overtime are you doing?
[Steven]: Working overtime at the hotel. Extremely busy. Don’t worry about me.
[Wallace]: Working overtime at the hotel???