Chapter Fifty-Five: The Magician Beneath the Moonlight

Seeing the picture in Sonoko’s illustrated guide, Amu couldn’t help but marvel inwardly—wealthy people truly know how to enjoy themselves. Indeed, the uncut Mega Evolution stone was already mesmerizing, and once carved, it could be transformed into the most exquisite of jewels. This particular “Fury of Gyarados” was an exceptional specimen among them! Not only was it massive, but with only minimal carving, it had been shaped to resemble a roaring, enraged Gyarados.

In fact, turning it into a usable Mega Stone was far simpler than the intricate carving; one merely needed to cut out the spiral-shaped three-dimensional rune at its core, along with a sphere roughly five or six centimeters in diameter around it, and then it would be ready for a Pokémon to use. Even without this processing, it could still be used, though the refinement simply made it more convenient to carry.

Mega Stones also resonate with the genetic marker of a Pokémon’s “activation item,” meaning they occupy the slot that would otherwise be used for items or healing berries. At that moment, a Trainer must also carry a “Keystone” that can resonate with the Mega Stone. By successfully activating this resonance, a Pokémon can achieve Mega Evolution in battle.

A Trainer only needs to carry a universal Keystone to resonate with all Mega Stones in theory, but each Pokémon species requires its own specific Mega Stone. Some Pokémon even have more than one kind of Mega Stone, each corresponding to a different Mega Evolution form.

Though Mega Stones are incredibly valuable, certain expertly carved Mega Gemstones can be worth even more—sometimes far surpassing the value of an unadorned Mega Stone! After all, the former has only practical use, while the latter is imbued with so-called artistic value.

However, neither Amu nor Misty seemed to be the type to truly appreciate art. Even though this “Fury of Gyarados” was said to be worth ten times as much as Gyarados’ Mega Stone, if given the choice, both would certainly pick a Mega Stone they could actually use.

Noticing the feigned admiration on Amu and Misty’s faces, Sonoko guessed their thoughts and added, “But this isn’t just about the ‘Fury of Gyarados’—there’s a very good chance we’ll see the legendary Master Kaito Kid himself!”

“Kaito… Master?” Amu responded with a bead of sweat on his brow, speechless.

Yes, this “Kaito Kid” was certainly not the one-armed swordsman, but the infamous “Magician Under the Moonlight”—the phantom thief Kaito Kid! As everyone knew, being a “phantom thief” meant this was, without a doubt, an alias. His most famous exploits involved hunting for jewels all over the world…

Worried that Amu and Misty might not know of him, Sonoko eagerly began her introduction.

Kaito Kid traveled the world “stealing” jewels, including but not limited to Mega Gemstones, Pokémon fossils, Pokémon-related materials, and all manner of precious gems. Yet after each “theft,” in most cases, the stolen items were returned within days. Although there were a few exceptions, rumors had it that those gems were merely restored to their rightful owners, rather than being returned to those with dubious claims.

Moreover, to be fair, his actions differed greatly from ordinary theft! He would often announce the time of his heist in advance, and then, through a series of dazzling maneuvers, miraculously walk away with his prize from under the noses of heavily armed guards! It was this spectacle, coupled with his chivalrous style, that earned him countless admirers among the public, especially a devoted following among young women.

Amu also noticed that Sonoko still believed the rumors that “Master Kaito Kid must be a dashing middle-aged man,” clearly having never met him face-to-face. Some insisted he possessed the strength of an Elite Trainer, enabling him to snatch jewels from under the strictest security, while others claimed he simply relied on tricks and sleight of hand, since no one had ever seen him actually battle anyone…

“So… he’s planning to steal the jewel from your family, isn’t he?” Misty glanced wryly at Sonoko, who was so excitedly recounting Kaito Kid’s exploits.

“Exactly! Uncle Jirokichi is such a child at heart—because Kaito Kid has stolen his headlines several times, he often goes out of his way to lure him into performing!” Sonoko declared, her voice full of pride. She then tempted, “How about it? When the time comes, you can have the best seats to witness Master Kaito Kid in action!”

Neither the “Fury of Gyarados” nor “Master Kaito Kid’s performance” held much appeal for Amu and Misty. Still, seeing Sonoko’s enthusiasm, the two of them feigned curiosity and agreed.

“May fifth… Sounds good. As long as nothing unexpected crops up, we’ll definitely be there,” Amu promised.

Amu planned to head to Mt. Moon in mid-May, so he would need to pick up the pace. By May fifth, he should have already arrived in Pewter City.

But before setting out, Amu had two things to do: first, to train his skills properly at the Battle Club; second, to visit a Rhyhorn ranch north of Jianyuan City along the way.

Rhyhorn, also known as the “Single-Horned Rhinoceros,” is a dual-type Rock/Ground Pokémon and one of the mainstream riding Pokémon. After earning two badges, a trainer could take the Pokémon Rider’s License exam.

Even Misty, a Water-type trainer, planned to visit the Rhyhorn ranch to obtain her license and perhaps select a Rhyhorn to take with her, making future travel through the wilderness much easier. Otherwise, on foot alone, some places far from the main roads would be nearly inaccessible.

Soon, it was dinnertime, and Amu and Misty did not linger, especially after turning down Sonoko’s request to escape her “patient’s meal” and sneak out for dinner together.

…

“Hmm? Do you have other plans?” Misty asked in puzzlement at the hospital entrance, seeing that Amu had just refused to return to the Pokémon Center for the free buffet.

“This city is so inconveniently laid out… I’ll just grab a quick bite near the Battle Club,” Amu grumbled.

The Battle Club and the Pokémon Center were in completely different parts of Jianyuan City, and shuttling between them would be a huge waste of time.

“Oh? You’re starting training tonight? You really are dedicated,” Misty remarked, pausing for a moment before adding, refusing to be outdone, “In that case, I’ll come too!”

After dinner, they arrived at the Battle Club. Amu first rented three TM devices—these were not just disks, but when connected and activated in the training room, they projected three-dimensional images and, most importantly, simulated energy.

After a moment’s thought, he rented a fourth.

Carrying the four TMs, Amu and Misty parted ways to train separately.

The four TMs Amu had chosen were for Exeggutor, Ivysaur, Nidorino, and the mischievous Voltorb.

Though he wasn’t sure whether Voltorb would heed his training, it was worth a try.

“This training session will be a challenge for all of us! Amen, you’ll learn ‘Trick Room’; Garlic, you’ll learn ‘Sunny Day’; Nido, only you can master ‘Ice Beam’…”