Chapter 843 837: Reunion with a Sparkling Stone

"Compared with evolution, this mutated Fire Stone has more research value."

At that moment, Ethan was also observing the mutated Fire Stone on the stage.

Within a mutated Fire Stone, there might exist some kind of mutated flame. If a Pokémon managed to master that mutated flame, it could undoubtedly greatly increase the strength of a Fire-type Pokémon.

Of course, there was also a certain element of luck here. A mutated flame was not necessarily powerful, and extracting a mutated flame from a mutated Fire Stone was not something simple either.

"Lucario, did you discover anything?"

Ethan looked at Lucario, who was beside him with the power of Aura activated.

"Luucaarr!"

Lucario nodded slightly and, through its mental power, transmitted to Ethan what it had perceived.

"This mutated Fire Stone contains a certain amount of Grass-type energy?"

Receiving Lucario's answer, Ethan narrowed his eyes.

The fusion of Grass and Fire made him think of Charizard's Solar Fire.

That Solar Fire move had the move Sunny Day as its core and had evolved from the fusion between Grass-type energy and Fire-type energy.

The mutated Fire Stone in front of him might be able to help in the research of Charizard's Solar Fire.

After thinking about it a little, Ethan still acted and obtained that mutated Fire Stone, intending to give it to Charizard to try.

After the Fire Stone was auctioned, the auction continued.

The following auction items could not compare at all with one like Deino, but even so, the bidding remained intense.

After checking a little, Ethan felt that those items did not have much relation to him, so he did not participate in the bidding.

Until the eighth auction arrived, when a sharp light suddenly flashed in Ethan's eyes.

At that moment, on the auction stage, there was a stone emitting a faint light.

With just one look, Ethan immediately recognized it. It was a Sparkling Stone!

And the size of that stone was no less than ten times larger than the stone he had discovered before!

"Now we will auction an energy stone."

"According to the research of our researchers, this stone contains extremely enormous energy."

"That energy can undoubtedly sustain the energy supply needed for many Secret Kingdom research instruments..."

After the Sparkling Stone was revealed, the auctioneer began to introduce the function of the stone. However, from her words, it could be known that she did not know its exact origin and only regarded it as a stone containing very great energy.

And in fact, it was so. If those people knew the true origin and function of the Sparkling Stone, they probably would not take it out for auction so easily.

"For me, this Sparkling Stone may be the most valuable item in this entire auction."

Ethan made that evaluation inwardly, and at the same time made the decision to obtain that Sparkling Stone no matter what.

...

After the auction ended, Ethan left the auction house carrying the mutated Fire Stone and the Sparkling Stone with him.

"Just as I expected, has someone set their sights on me?"

Ethan walked directly toward the outside of the free trade zone.

Through Lucario's Aura power, he could clearly see a man dressed in black, also wearing a mask, following him.

"It seems he came for this Sparkling Stone."

Ethan frowned as he thought. Although perhaps others did not recognize the Sparkling Stone.

The fact that the Sparkling Stone contained enormous energy had indeed attracted the attention of many forces.

When that Sparkling Stone was auctioned, Ethan truly had to put in quite a bit of effort to defeat the other competitors.

Of course, the price he paid was not small either. The price of the Sparkling Stone directly reached twice the starting price.

Now, that person was following him relentlessly. Most likely, he had come for that Sparkling Stone.

"Since you came, I want to see what you're capable of."

A smile appeared at the corner of Ethan's lips. He threw a Poké Ball, and Charizard's figure appeared.

Riding on Charizard, Ethan quickly flew toward the distant mountains.

The person who had been following him saw this scene. After hesitating for a moment, he also released a Salamence.

"A Salamence, huh. It seems he isn't just anyone."

Through the power of Aura, Ethan observed the other party's movements.

Without stopping at all, Charizard's figure sank directly into the mountains.

After reaching a valley full of strange and rugged rocks, he had Charizard stop.

At the same time, a whistle came from far away. The man in black also approached while riding on Salamence.

At this point, the man in black naturally also knew that he had already been discovered. Even so, he openly flew over there and stopped in front of Ethan.

"Who are you? Why are you following me?"

Ethan remained standing on Charizard's back and asked in a deep voice.

"Hand me that stone. I can give you equivalent resources in exchange."

The man in black stayed silent for a moment and spoke.

At that instant, his gaze also swept over the surroundings. Since the other party had dared to lure him there, he definitely was not afraid of him.

Therefore, he directly chose the safest method: negotiating, attempting to exchange resources for the Sparkling Stone.

Now no one knew the value of the Sparkling Stone. He believed that the resources he would offer would be something the other party would not refuse.

Of course, although it seemed like an advantageous deal for the other party, the final beneficiary would still be him.

The value of a Sparkling Stone could completely compare with a legendary resource. As long as he could obtain it through exchange, he would make an enormous gain.

"And if I refuse?"

Ethan shook his head. What a pity, he was one of the few who knew the value of the Sparkling Stone.

This man in black's attempt to find a bargain simply would not work on him.

"Refuse?"

"You cannot refuse."

The face of the man in black darkened slightly, but his words remained firm.

"Well, it turns out I do refuse."

Ethan shook his head and ordered Charizard to prepare to leave.

But just as Charizard had beaten its wings, a burst of flame suddenly roared toward them.

Charizard's gaze sharpened. It opened its mouth and, with an inhale, absorbed all the flames inside.

"It seems you plan to rob me by force."

"You were the one who attacked first. Even if I finish you off, the Tavaria League won't hold me responsible."

As Ethan spoke, a Poké Ball quickly opened, and Flygon appeared.

After releasing Flygon, Ethan jumped directly from Charizard's back and was firmly held up by Flygon's Levitate ability.

Opposite him, the figure of the man in black stood on Salamence, and a mysterious Poké Ball appeared in his hand.

"That Poké Ball..."

Seeing this scene, Ethan was stunned.

That Poké Ball was far too familiar to him.

Wasn't it a Beast Ball?

Back then, inside the Alola Secret Kingdom, he had mistakenly entered a Dark League base.

There, he defeated a member of the Dark League and confiscated a Naganadel. That Pokémon had been precisely inside a Beast Ball.