Aoki led his Pokémon and stood there quietly without moving.
He didn't reveal any of his intentions, but wore a smile he believed to be "kind," waiting for the leader of the Carbink to emerge.
Whether Diancie was among this small group of Carbink or not, Aoki had no plans to act recklessly—at least not yet.
However, Aoki was overthinking things.
The Carbink, having lived underground for countless years, had never seen the outside world nor faced any real danger. Their daily lives were simple—expanding their underground domain, filling the caverns with diamonds, and maintaining their peaceful existence.
At first, the group of over a hundred Carbink huddled together, whispering nervously. But as their initial fear faded, they grew indifferent to Aoki's presence.
After waiting for nearly twenty minutes in silence, the Carbink finally stirred.
From deeper within the cave, another wave of Carbink emerged—this time numbering in the hundreds. They moved in formation, surrounding a single, distinct Carbink that stood out from the rest.
Aoki's gaze locked onto it immediately.
This Carbink was nearly twice the size of the others, with wide, ear-like protrusions on its head. At a glance, it simply looked like an oversized, slightly plump Carbink.
But Aoki recognized it—this was the Carbink Minister, a rare variant among its kind.
"If Diancie is here, why is the Carbink population so small?" Aoki wondered, frowning.
For a colony that housed a Diancie, two hundred Carbink was an unusually low number. Yet, for a colony without a Diancie, it was surprisingly large.
The Carbink Minister, flanked by its subjects, slowly approached Aoki.
Despite being larger than the others, the Minister was still tiny compared to a human. To avoid looming over it, Aoki crouched down, bringing himself to eye level.
The gesture seemed to put the Minister at ease. Unlike the other Carbink, the Minister possessed greater intelligence and some awareness of the outside world—passed down through oral tradition among the elders.
Over time, these stories had faded into vague legends, known only to the Minister and a few elder Carbink.
The Minister let out a series of soft, chiming sounds—the natural language of Carbink.
Aoki understood none of it, so he activated Telepathy, linking his mind to the Minister's.
At first, the Minister flinched in surprise at the sudden voice in its head. But after Aoki patiently explained and guided it, the Minister gradually learned to communicate through the mental link.
Awed by this ability, the Minister nearly bowed in reverence—a reaction born from centuries of isolation and wonder toward the unknown.
And that was exactly what Aoki wanted.
While teaching the Minister, Aoki discreetly scanned it with his system, confirming its unique traits.
Pokémon: Carbink (Minister Form) (Dark Green)
Gender: Genderless
Level: 48
Type: Rock / Fairy
Ability: Sturdy
Held Item: Minister's Wisdom
Egg Moves: None
Basic Moves: Tackle, Harden, Rock Throw, Sharpen, Smack Down, Reflect, Stealth Rock, Flail, Ancient Power, Rock Polish, Guard Swap, Power Gem
Learnt Moves: Earth Power, Magnet Rise, Psychic, Gravity, Wonder Room
TM Moves: None
This was the first time Aoki had seen a Pokémon with an alternate form. His system had automatically categorized it as a variant.
The Minister's Wisdom held item intrigued him. Though he didn't know its exact function, he suspected it played a role in the Minister's heightened intelligence.
"No wonder this one's so plump," Aoki mused. "Must be all that brainpower."
The Minister's quick adaptation to Telepathy suggested the item was indeed enhancing its cognitive abilities.
Once basic communication was established, Aoki and the Minister began their discussion.
"So, Aoki… you truly come from the outside world? And this place we live in is just a tiny part of it—not even a fraction?" the Minister asked, its mental voice filled with wonder.
Aoki nodded. Finding crouching uncomfortable, he sat cross-legged on the ground.
"Yes," he confirmed. "This world is vast. You're currently beneath an island in a great ocean, and this underground realm is just a small corner of it."
The Minister's eyes widened in shock.
Carbink were inherently peaceful creatures—so much so that they had never even considered venturing aboveground. Their entire existence revolved around tunneling, mining, and expanding their crystalline domain.
The mineral deposits Aoki had found earlier in the sandstone area were merely remnants of their past migrations.
To them, this cavern was the world.
Aoki's revelation left the Minister speechless. Even it needed time to process this, let alone the rest of the Carbink.
"I… see," the Minister finally said. "But even if the outside world is vast, it doesn't concern us. We are content here. And you… you're the first outsider to enter our domain in centuries. Well, aside from your Pokémon."