Cain couldn't help but frown. You, with your excessive wealth, still worry about money? For you, isn't it just a number?
Steven continued, "Tell me, what materials do you need? I'll prepare them."
Cain nodded and replied, "Soft gold and silver powder, which is the material used to make metal coatings. Both are quite valuable and hard to get. Also, you know that your requirements are... let's say, demanding, so these materials are necessary."
"Hmm..." Steven touched his chin, nodding thoughtfully. He wasn't ignorant on these matters. As the heir to the Devon Corporation, he wasn't easy to fool.
Although he wasn't a Pokémon breeder, he knew the basics, especially concerning steel-type Pokémon, his favorites.
And honestly, Cain and he had only met once. Although they got along well, sometimes you can't fully trust people you've just met. Who knows if he would vanish with the valuable materials?
It's worth noting that these two materials together are worth around two million Pokédollars, something only someone like Steven could afford.
Cain suspected that Steven might be concerned about this, so he said nothing more and patiently awaited his response.
Sometimes, trust between people can't be measured by words alone.
"What if..."
"I don't have..."
They both spoke at the same time and paused, looking at each other and smiling.
Cain laughed first, "You go first."
Steven also smiled and, not bothered by the small interruption, continued, "I was thinking that I don't have any silver powder left. Would refined silver powder work for you?"
Silver powder is the basic material for making metal coatings and is of the lowest quality. Using it can result in a Pokémon's evolution not reaching its maximum potential, similar to low-quality evolution stones.
Refined silver powder is a higher-quality material. Although both are powders, refined powder contains more steel-type energy, and its weight is significantly higher, equivalent to a small pile of ordinary silver powder.
"If you want to use refined silver powder, that's fine with me, but the manufacturing costs will increase quite a bit."
"No problem. A few days ago, my Metang ate the last of the silver powder, so I only have the refined one left. If you hadn't asked me today, it would have eaten it tomorrow anyway," Steven said with a carefree gesture.
It seemed that for him, both silver powder and refined powder were mere snacks.
"...."
Cain realized that talking with Steven had been a mistake. If he had known, he would have just sent a message requesting the materials without worrying about whether a millionaire feared being scammed.
Truly...
Poverty has limited my imagination.
Cain wasn't wrong; nobody fully trusts someone after just one meeting.
Steven wasn't a naïve boy; he was the heir to the Devon Corporation. He knew perfectly well who to trust and who not to.
Steven simply saw potential in Cain as a breeder and, above all, in the supposed mentor figure behind Cain.
If there really was a high-level breeder behind Cain, he wouldn't see a problem in investing a little to win his favor.
For a businessman, this is an investment. Steven is investing in Cain, or more specifically, in the mentor behind him.
Besides, for Steven, the materials Cain had mentioned really weren't that costly...
These details were unknown to Cain, who had never had contact with a corporation the size of Devon Company. He couldn't even imagine its power, and poverty became a real barrier to his imagination.
Then, Steven disappeared from the screen. Cain managed to overhear him giving instructions to his servants to prepare the materials.
What Cain described as hard-to-get materials were nothing more than common reserves for Steven.
Moments later, Steven reappeared on the screen. "All set, Cain. I've sent you everything you need. Next time, if you need more materials, just call me. I'll be home most of the time, and even if I'm not, a servant will answer the call. I've already given them instructions."
Hearing Steven, Cain wondered if it would be possible to ask for a Superior-quality evolution stone when Steven wasn't around and if his servants would hand it over without question.
Of course, he only thought about this since he knew Steven's servants wouldn't be foolish.
Cain stored the materials in his ring.
"By the way, do you need me to transfer the research funds now?"
"Not for now; when my mentor finishes the research, I'll let you know."
"Alright. If there's nothing else, I'll leave you. I have a meeting shortly." Steven didn't insist, understanding that research funds aren't a small sum and that Cain would want to consult his mentor.
What Steven didn't know is that Cain didn't have a mentor, nor did he need research funds. He simply wasn't sure how much to charge for his services. He had a figure in mind, but after seeing Steven's attitude, he decided to reconsider.
He felt that even a high amount wouldn't affect Steven, which made him rethink how much to ask.
"Actually, there's a small thing I need your help with." Cain hesitated before speaking.
"Oh really? Tell me." Steven, who was about to end the video call, stopped his hand and asked.
"I'll get straight to the point. You know I developed an intermediate-level Pokéblock that increases Miltank milk production, and that I've been selling it to the Miltank farm in Goldenrod City."
"So far, I've been making them myself, but the number of Miltank is so high that I can no longer keep up. And producing these Pokéblocks consumes a lot of my time."
"That's why I want to sell them the recipe, and I'd like you to help me as an intermediary. I previously declined their offer, and you know I don't have connections..."
"But didn't you mention you have a mentor?" Steven suddenly asked. Advanced-level breeders are highly respected in the league; even the Miltank farm in Goldenrod City wouldn't want to offend one.
"Wait, did you say it's an intermediate-level Pokéblock? Not a basic one? Did you develop it?" Steven realized another key detail. During their conversation on the magnetic train, Steven had assumed that Cain produced basic Pokéblocks.
An intermediate-level Pokéblock completely changes the value of the recipe.
(End of chapter)