“This Poké Ball was something I received not long ago from a friend. It’s said to have been developed by Silph Co. in the Kanto region—a rare ball that can catch any Pokémon. It’s not available on the market.”

The way Miss Himawari came to possess a Master Ball was purely by chance. She had previously worked in Nimbasa City, which is the largest entertainment city in Unova. Moreover, most of the important goods coming from Castelia City into the various regions of Unova would also pass through Nimbasa.

The Master Ball is a crystallization of Silph Co.’s advanced technology, once targeted by Team Rocket’s greed. After Team Rocket was utterly crushed by the guardian of Mt. Silver, Silph Co. resumed its development of the Master Ball.

“I think for a Trainer, the most suitable item would be a Poké Ball, right?”

Hikaru found Miss Himawari to be quite formidable.

While she wasn’t exactly a powerful Trainer, in the games, players often encountered her advice and introductions in many places—clearly, in her youth, she had traveled across Unova. She was also acquainted with the mother of Touko/Touya from Nuvema Town and had connections with Professor Juniper.

Taking into account all versions of the game, there are a total of five obtainable Master Balls in Unova—

One given by Professor Juniper after earning all eight Gym Badges.

One after using C-Gear to connect with 50 people in Opelucid City.

Another from Professor Juniper two years later in Lentimas Town.

One obtained after defeating Colress aboard the Plasma Frigate.

One given by Drayton after defeating Kieran at Blueberry Academy.

Out of the five, two are from Professor Juniper—so the origin of this Master Ball is likely self-explanatory!

[Artifact: Master Ball!]

[Description: Unlike standard Poké Balls, it has a purple shell and bears a mysterious ‘M’ logo. Developed by Silph Co. of the Kanto region, it is the pinnacle of cutting-edge science with astounding performance, ranking among the most elite Poké Balls!]

[Effect: Capture rate ×255 on all Pokémon—guaranteed capture!]

[Note 1: Though it can capture any Pokémon, some Pokémon can actively break free from a Master Ball. Don’t put too much faith in it.]

[Note 2: The Master Ball can suppress powerful energy leakage and isolate overwhelming strength, allowing the Pokémon inside to remain calm. With special modifications—such as injecting unique liquids—it can even help stabilize a Pokémon’s mood. Under normal circumstances, without immense external force or internal energy surges, the Master Ball is extremely difficult to break.]

[Note 3: Without access to Silph Co.’s research data, modern versions of the Master Ball cannot be produced. However, by studying ancient mystic technology, it may be possible to craft seal-type Poké Balls like “Stone Gems” with effects somewhat akin to a Master Ball.]

Hikaru: “This might be a little forward of me, but—”

“Oh, no worries! If this Poké Ball suits you, then I’m happy too.” Miss Himawari smiled. “Only in the right Trainer’s hands can this Poké Ball truly shine.”

“My friend, she’s a Pokémon Origins researcher—Professor Juniper from Nuvema Town! The Master Ball was one of her research tools when studying Pokémon ecosystems. She said when she meets the right Trainer, she entrusts it to them.”

Hikaru: “I see. Then thank you very much.”

Miss Himawari smiled. “It’s I who should be thanking you!” She then gazed a little wistfully at the Master Ball.

“A precious ball that guarantees the capture of any Pokémon… Juniper once said, Poké Balls are really about dreams—dreams of meeting a certain kind of Pokémon. Because you like them, you want to catch them. And because you want to meet them, the Poké Ball becomes the bridge between people and Pokémon.”

“There are all kinds of Pokémon. Even among the same species, their personalities can be completely different. I wonder what kind of Pokémon would truly suit my daughter… Though, she once said she really liked Snivy.”

“The kids next door are around the same age—Kyōhei, Asher, and her make three. I wonder what kind of journey they’ll embark on together… Just thinking about it fills me with hope for the future.”

“Is that so?” Hikaru pondered for a moment, then gave Miss Himawari not just one, but three medals.

A single Source Gem could only be used to forge a limited number of medals. Even when crafted thinly, it could only produce ten such medals.

“This is a little gift from me. This medal is called the ‘Heartbound Emblem.’ When they begin their journey, these medals will offer a bit of support for the young ones.”

“Who knows what kind of adventures they’ll face… whether beautiful or perilous… what kind of impact they’ll have on the world.”

“Ah, you’re making it sound a bit ominous now. Is this a prophecy?” Miss Himawari looked slightly puzzled. She had heard rumors that Hikaru might be a Psychic. Psychics often said strange things like “I see your future,” or “I have a third eye.”

“No, it’s just a wish of mine. In other regions, many young boys and girls have already done remarkable things. A journey is full of unknowns—if they manage to leave a mark in history, their lives will become truly extraordinary!”

Hikaru chuckled, continuing to chat warmly with Miss Himawari, eventually revealing his identity and even adding her as a friend.

Miss Himawari was quite intrigued by Hikaru’s identity as an item craftsman, especially since traditional craftsmen like that were rare in Unova.

There were certainly “item enthusiasts” and “item maniacs,” but most of them were either proficient in using specific items or well-known for collecting certain kinds of tools. As for people who actually made items by hand, Miss Himawari had never met one.

If she had to compare…

“You remind me of someone. You’re a bit like Alder from back in the day. And as for making items, towns like Lacunosa, Opelucid, and White Forest are known for preserving those kinds of traditions.”

Overall, these traditions were mostly found in Unova’s central-northern and eastern regions. The western and central-southern areas, on the other hand, were more industrialized and modernized.

“Ugh—”

At this moment, the Chief Ranger finally stirred from his nap. He lifted his head with difficulty, only to see a Foongus swaying its body in front of him.

“Wah! I’m sorry!”

The Ranger instantly sat up straight and stared at the awkwardly smiling Foongus. He blinked and then let out a breath of relief.

“Oh… you’re not mad at me anymore?”

“Foon!”

The Amoonguss expressed that it had just been startled and had panicked for a moment.

“Amoonguss was really worried about you,” Hikaru said, greeting the Ranger. “For the past two days, it was worried you wouldn’t change your mind. It knows your job is different from ordinary Trainers and feared you’d leave Unova for good.”

“I…” The Ranger looked awkward. “To be honest, I really did think that.”

As soon as he said it, he saw the Amoonguss lower its head, looking visibly disappointed and dejected.

‘Why would my partner abandon me? Weren’t our days of sleeping on the streets fun enough…?’

“Let me introduce myself… I’m a Chief Ranger from the Almia region. My name is Altano. Of course, there are many Chief Rangers in Almia—I’m just one of them.”

“You’ve heard of the Ranger Union, right?”

Hikaru nodded.

Of course he had.

The Ranger Union is a special international organization independent of the regional Pokémon Leagues. It’s responsible for protecting the harmony between humans and nature and dispatches Rangers to various regions to carry out missions related to Pokémon conservation. Its headquarters is located far away in the Almia region.

Most Rangers don’t use Poké Balls. The Pokémon who travel with them are called partner Pokémon. In the field, they rely on a Capture Styler to temporarily enlist the help of wild Pokémon during battles.

“My reason for coming to Unova is different from the other Rangers. Most of them are here to protect nature, and some are cooperating with the Unova League—like our colleagues at the Snowdrift Wetland.”

“That wetland was once ravaged by a wildfire. Many Pokémon were hurt. Later, the Unova League cooperated with us to send Rangers for ecological restoration. It’s said that one of Unova’s legendary fires started there, which also ties into the story of the Swords of Justice.”

“But as for me, as a Chief Ranger, my mission is to investigate the preservation of the world’s rare natural environments. Personally, I have a deeper interest in ancient legends.”

“The voices of nature… the voice of the wind, the forests, the stories of history…”

“The founding legend of Unova fascinates me. After staying here for some time, I encountered this Amoonguss. We really hit it off, so I temporarily caught it as my partner Pokémon.”

“After that, many things happened… until I heard Team Plasma’s speech.” Altano covered his face. “At the time, I began thinking, ‘The Capture Styler might not be a Poké Ball, but it still has a restraining effect.’ If we really could communicate freely with all Pokémon, then perhaps using such a machine wouldn’t be necessary.”

“Afterward, I made a terrible mistake.”

“A Ranger should never abandon their partner Pokémon… yet I did. Which means I no longer deserve the title of Chief.”

To waver in one’s beliefs as a Ranger, to abandon a partner—this was an utter disgrace. However, seeing Amoonguss’s worried expression, Hikaru smiled, pulling out a shattered small crystal and one of the Heartbound Emblems.

“Hold them.”

Hikaru instructed gently, then placed one hand on Altano and the other on Amoonguss.

His psychic power surged.

The ancient crystal began to emit a radiant glow, and the Heartbound Emblem deepened the bond between Pokémon and Trainer. A power of transmission was born—allowing a faint resonance with the self and the world.

In that moment, a feeling like no other washed over them.

Within Altano’s heart, all his dark and negative emotions were slowly cleansed away. He had never felt such radiant joy. And then, from deep within, came a strange, anxious voice—it sounded like both a self-reproach and Amoonguss’s voice!

“Can you hear it? I’ve linked your thoughts slightly. While you can’t fully understand each other’s language, you can now feel each other’s emotions.”

“This… this is psychic power?!”

“Yes.” Hikaru nodded gently.

Altano was filled with wonder. There were no psychics in Almia—this was his first time experiencing something so incredible.

And now, his partner’s will was truly reaching him.

Amoonguss had been confused and troubled by being abandoned. It feared it couldn’t manage daily work alone. Without Altano, it wouldn’t be able to handle dangerous enemies or Pokémon.

Worse yet, after being separated, Amoonguss was taken by Team Plasma. Despite their claims of releasing Pokémon into nature, they still used it while preaching abandonment. Even then, Amoonguss still missed Altano dearly.

It genuinely believed its Ranger partner was amazing—a truly good person.

Altano’s heart warmed.

His partner’s acknowledgment was the highest form of praise—more meaningful than any medal from the Ranger Union.

“I really did something foolish. Those cultish words… there was no reason to believe them. Why did I make that choice? Just because our ideologies were similar?”

As their wills intertwined, Altano began to understand how Hikaru and Amoonguss had bonded—though it had only been two days, they had built mutual trust without any barriers.

By challenging Team Plasma’s lies and returning Pokémon to where they truly belonged, Hikaru had mended the relationship between humans and Pokémon. It might seem small, but to Pokémon, it was more than enough.

“Gus!”

Amoonguss’s eyes lit up with flame.

Partner, let me walk with you again! I really, really want to be with you!

If you think my Spore is too messy, I can swap it out—Stun Spore, Rage Powder, Poison Powder, we’ve got options!

The resonance of their hearts gradually faded as Hikaru released his hands. Altano looked deeply grateful.

“Amoonguss really trusts you… to build that kind of bond in just two days makes me ashamed.”

“Thank you—for helping me hear my partner’s heart. Alright, I’ve got to pull myself together now!”

The negativity inside him had completely vanished, and the Ranger’s energy returned, entirely transformed. Miss Himawari and Nurse Joy watched in amazement.

“So this is psychic power… I’ve seen psychics before, but never anything this powerful.”

“Right? Most of the ones I’ve seen can only move small things with telekinesis.”

“Ah, now that you mention it, Rangers are said to be able to hear the voice of the forest. Could that be a kind of special ability too?”

The two women began chatting excitedly. Meanwhile, Altano turned to Hikaru with renewed enthusiasm:

“Your power is incredible! A psychic… this is my first time meeting one, and experiencing it firsthand is just—wow! Are all psychics as amazing as you?”

“I’ve heard there are many people in the world with special powers—Psychics, spirit mediums, Aura Guardians, people who’ve awakened special abilities, those who can use magic, those who have the power of bonds, even some who can make Pokémon forget moves or see their memories.”

“Just as Miss Himawari said, we Rangers are those who share a will with the forests, nature, and Pokémon. That’s our unique power!”

“Truly… thank you.”

Altano, now free of doubt, removed a pendant from his neck.

“As a Ranger, I don’t carry much. I was going to offer something else as a thank-you, but that item doesn’t matter anymore. Instead, I want to give this to you. I believe it will be of great use!”

“And perhaps… it’s thanks to this pendant that I was able to recover my conviction, meet you here, and reunite with my partner.”

“This is a special pendant from Almia, from Shiver Camp—a blue crystal known as the Prince’s Tear. In the cold north of Almia, it’s a symbol of good fortune.”

[Artifact (?): Azure Crystal Pendant – Shard of the Blue-Haired Prince’s Tear]

[Description: A pendant crafted from the legendary blue crystal known as the Prince’s Tear. When endless darkness descended upon the Kingdom of Almia, the blue-haired prince, clad in azure garments, used the light of his soul to bring back the light. This crystal strengthens the heart and is said to be a mythic mineral formed from the prince’s soul and will. Other crystals with similar properties include Red, Yellow, and Dark Crystals.]

[Effect: +50% mental purification, +50% luck, +50% soothing. Enhances psychic/spiritual abilities related to the mind. Guides the soul and light!]

[Note: This pendant has not lost its power. The crystal shard still holds great strength! With the infusion of powerful mental, generative, or radiant energies, its true potential can be unlocked.]

[Note 2: The shard’s power is limited. If the crystal’s original stone is found, it can greatly enhance the strength of the mind.]

The moment Hikaru touched the pendant, it burst into radiant blue light!

Waves of psychic ripples spread outward, calming and purifying everyone’s hearts.

“What is this?!”

Altano was stunned. Though many people in Almia possessed such pendants, no one had ever known they held such power!

“This pendant is similar to rare items found across the regions—like the Life Orb. It guides people toward their destiny.”

Life force condenses into the Life Orb, just as the soul and will can become artifacts like the Source Gem or Four Crystals.

No matter what, this pendant was incredibly meaningful. Hikaru recalled from his studies of psychic knowledge that the Red, Yellow, Blue, and Black Crystals could all greatly enhance psychic abilities.

And the story of Almia likely took place after the events involving Team Galactic in Sinnoh.

To obtain the Blue Crystal’s original stone… he vaguely remembered it required a special Pokémon—Riolu!

“Do you know the ancient legends of Almia?”

“Huh?” Altano was taken aback.

Although he traveled the world investigating history, his main duty was still as a Ranger. Even within Almia, very few people knew the region’s ancient legends—they had mostly been forgotten.

“Let me try to recall it…”

“Once upon a time, a king lived in a castle in Almia with his three sons. The king longed for peace in the kingdom, but the three princes constantly schemed and fought for power.”

“The king grew furious and ordered all three sons exiled. One prince went to the desert, another to the volcano, but the third remained in the castle. In time, the king’s heart gave rise to endless darkness in the world…”

Altano was shocked—but the story stopped there. Hikaru said the rest had been lost to history, which left him quite regretful.

But why had the king’s heart brought forth darkness?

The prince hadn’t done anything… the legend was clearly incomplete.

“I didn’t expect my homeland to have such an old legend… maybe this whole desire to return—”

A sudden, unrealistic thought popped into Altano’s mind.

The pendant’s power was mysterious. Maybe it had been influencing him, urging him not to fall for Team Plasma’s manipulation and to return to the Ranger Union.

“Thank you…” Altano whispered to the pendant—and in the next instant, the crystal shimmered softly, as if responding to his words.

“Amazing… but on me, it would’ve just gathered dust. If you take it, you’ll definitely use it to improve the bond between humans and Pokémon!”

“Oh right! If you’re interested—” Altano suddenly slapped his forehead. “Why not try becoming a Ranger? I really think you’d be perfect for the job!”

“The Ranger Union is based in Almia—my hometown is a great place to move to! People from Kanto and Johto have relocated there. Plus, there are no large mysterious organizations there.”

…Are there not?

No, there will be soon.

Hikaru mentally retorted, but agreed that he might visit Almia sometime. The blue crystal pendant had truly piqued his interest—it was a one-of-a-kind miraculous material. Even if he couldn’t find the original crystal, just collecting shards in the northern region would be worthwhile.

“By the way… do you know where Alder is now?”

This was the most important question in Hikaru’s mind. Altano thought for a moment.

“Alder’s whereabouts? I do know him, but lately he’s been looking for something. We’ve only met four times in the past month.”

“First was in Pinwheel Forest. Second was Celestial Tower. Third was White Forest. Fourth… Opelucid City.”

“At the time, he was saying weird things like ‘time’ and ‘found it.’ Said something about seeing it for the first time since leaving Nacrene City. After that, I haven’t seen him, and he’s been unreachable.”

“He didn’t leave any clues in Opelucid either. Some even say he left without notifying Drayden. But that’s just like Alder—doing things his own way.”

“I don’t know exactly what he was doing in those places… but if you want to find him, try searching there.”

(End of Chapter)

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep