"I just can't believe it," said Mark, his voice filled with awe and disbelief.
"You are seeing it right now, Mark. You must believe it," replied Axel, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"No, I mean, I can't believe that you've discovered three new evolutions in just few months. It's simply ridiculous. If you were given another year, I can't even fathom what groundbreaking discoveries you might make," Mark said, his voice tinged with both amazement and slight concern.
Mark was undoubtedly a genius in his own right, but Axel's potential seemed immeasurable. Discovering a new evolution was already a rare feat, yet Axel had managed to achieve it with apparent ease.
"Can you tell me all the details so that I can publish it?" Mark asked eagerly, his excitement evident.
"No, we're going to keep this one to ourselves, at least for now, and perhaps future discoveries as well," Axel responded, a note of reservation in his voice.
"But why? If we inform the league or share this knowledge, we could gain numerous benefits. Besides, aren't you worried that others might figure it out or even attempt to steal your idea?" Mark inquired, his curiosity and ambition shining through his words.
"First of all, we don't currently require anything. We have ample resources and funds, and as an elder of the Venu family, you should never be lacking in those regards," Axel explained calmly.
"Moreover, I doubt others would be able to replicate our findings. Even I can't fully comprehend how these evolutions occurred. It's better to keep some of our hidden cards close to our chests for now, preparing for the future," Axel added, his voice filled with a sense of caution and wisdom.
"You make a valid point. Well, you are the head researcher, and ultimately, it is your choice," Mark acknowledged, understanding Axel's reasoning.
Axel had decided to keep these evolutions a secret for the time being. First, there were numerous Pokémon capable of learning the move 'Ancient Power'. If Piloswine could evolve into Mamoswine by leveling up 'Ancient Power' to 40, then there was a slight chance that other Pokémon could undergo similar transformations.
While the games and anime provided no knowledge on this matter, Axel was confident in the evolution of Piloswine to Mamoswine, Tangela to Tangrowth, and Yanma to Yanmega. However, the potential of other Pokémon evolving through this method remained uncertain.
Even Pokémon like Charizard had the ability to learn 'Ancient Power' raising the possibility of further evolution. Axel contemplated teaching his Charizard this move and leveling it up to 40 to observe its effects. If Charizard could evolve into another Pokémon, it would have tremendous implications for both Axel and the world at large.
The second reason for keeping these discoveries under wraps was the availability of resources. Previously, Axel had lacked the necessary resources, but now he had access to a vast forest teeming with potential. While he might not possess high-tier resources like 10,000-year-old naturally formed type-enhancing items, he didn't require them until his Pokémon reached King rank.
With the support of the Venu family and the resources within his forest, Axel believed he could manage until his Pokémon achieved King rank, which would undoubtedly take a considerable amount of time.
Axel wanted to preserve some hidden cards for himself. He had achieved these discoveries through his own hard work and didn't want to reveal them to the world just yet. He recognized that, eventually, the world would become aware of their existence, but until then, he wanted to prepare himself accordingly.
Knowing that an evil organization would eventually hunt him down, Axel needed to build up his strength. While it had only been a few days since the discoveries, Axel and his team had already embarked on a new training plan.
However, Axel was aware that his team possessed a unique advantage, making it unlikely for others to catch up to his current level. With this in mind, he devised a bold plan and called for a meeting with the elders and the leader of the Venu family.
###
"Now that everyone is here, Axel, please tell us the purpose of this meeting," Angela, the leader of the Venu family, inquired.
"I have a proposal to strengthen the members of the Venu family. Initially, I hesitated to share this plan, but considering the looming threat of an evil organization that controls the entire region, I've reached a decision," Axel announced, his voice determined.
"Spit it out, boy! What's this proposal?" Drojo, one of the Venu family elders responsible for overseeing the family's rules and regulations, interjected, his tone filled with impatience. Today was his day off, and he was reluctant to attend the meeting.
"I want you to grant me ownership of Deorclacu Holt," Axel stated, his request hanging in the air, causing Drojo to erupt in outrage.
"Blasphemy!" Drojo shouted, rising from his seat. Sujan and Serena, the other two elders, also stood up, their eyes wide with surprise.
"Don't be so disrespectful," Sujan commented, seemingly taken aback by Axel's audacity.
Angela calmly waited until all the elders had settled down before she spoke. "Axel, you must understand that Deorclacu Holt covers three-fourths of the Venu family's land. The forest has been our lifeline, sustaining us through difficult times. Why should we entrust you with the ownership of such a vital resource?"
Axel was prepared for the refusal. Essentially, he was asking for complete control over the Venu family—a significant request.
"Angela, you must have noticed that my Pokémon are stronger and advance faster compared to those of other trainers. If you have any doubts, you can ask Elder Adam," Axel replied confidently, glancing at Adam, who nodded in agreement. He was well aware of Axel's extraordinary abilities.
"This is due to my unique talent. I cannot disclose the specifics or its origin, but I can assure you that if the forest belongs to me, the Pokémon within will grow stronger and advance at an accelerated pace, much like my own Pokémon.
My plan is to release the Venu family members' Pokémon into the forest, integrating them into its ecosystem. This will foster faster growth. You just have to trust me on this," Axel explained, his voice filled with conviction.
"If you expect me to trust you with the ownership of the forest, then you should also trust me with the secret of your talent," Angela countered calmly, her gaze fixed on Axel.
"It's not that I don't trust you, Leader. There's some sort of restriction that prevents me from divulging this secret," Axel revealed, honesty in his voice. The Venu family had never betrayed his trust, and now he wanted to trust them with this secret.
Angela faced a difficult decision, one that would shape the future of the Venu family and potentially the region itself.