"What's wrong, Misty? Isn't Ash back?" Brock, wearing an apron, walked out of the kitchen, first glancing at Ash, and then looking at the figure behind him.
"Clang!" The spatula in Brock's hand fell to the ground.
Next, no one could clearly see Brock's actions, they only saw him in an instant appear in front of Cynthia, half-kneeling on the ground: "Ah! I was wondering where the fragrance came from, and it turns out the Sinnoh Champion has graced us with her presence! I wonder if I have the honor to have dinner with Miss Cynthia!"
"Have dinner with your big-headed ghost! Don't embarrass us in front of the Champion!" Misty couldn't stand it anymore and grabbed Brock by the ear, pulling him away from in front of Cynthia.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch! Take it easy, Misty, give me some face in front of the Champion!!"
"Do you even know what face is? Who would be so impudent on first meeting the Champion like you!"
"Togepi!" At Ash's feet, Togepi clapped its hands, joyfully watching the commotion with an innocent smile.
"Hehe, your companions are really interesting, Ash," Cynthia said with a light laugh, covering her mouth.
"Uh... haha, don't mind them, Miss Cynthia. They're usually very reliable people; they might just be a bit flustered meeting you for the first time," Ash replied with an embarrassed laugh, explaining.
Ash led Cynthia into the living room. Due to his perfume selling business, Ash wasn't short on money, so the house he rented here was basically the most expensive type.
Three rooms and a living room with a kitchen, plus a study with a computer. The living room was spacious as well.
Sitting on the living room sofa, Cynthia curiously looked around: "Is this your temporary residence?"
"Yeah, the Quartz Conference lasts for more than half a month, so we needed to find a place to stay here."
"It's nice here, quite spacious. How long did you rent it for?"
"About a month."
"How much does it cost?"
"Around fifty thousand." Even in a big city, a monthly rent of fifty thousand is quite an exaggerated amount. In this world, things other than Pokemon aren't that expensive, including rent.
With a monthly rent of fifty thousand, in a big city, you could rent an entire villa, but here it's just a house without even a second floor. This price exceeds the normal rental price.
However, Cynthia wasn't surprised at all, because the Quartz Conference was being held here.
During the Quartz Conference, how could the rental prices not go up? Fifty thousand is actually considered cheap. She guessed the landlord must have given Ash and his friends a discount.
Indeed, Ash's fame played a small role. The landlord not only knew of Ash but was also a fan. The fifty thousand was purely a fan discount.
Otherwise, during the start of the Quartz Conference, fifty thousand wouldn't be enough to rent a place like this. This is one of the largest annual events in Kanto, and it's no exaggeration to say that during the conference, whether it's those selling snacks or renting places, or any entrepreneurs, they can easily earn a year's income.
A year without business, one month to earn a year's worth.
After the two chatted for a while, Brock and Misty, who had recovered, called them to eat. Ash had been out training today, and all the dishes were made by Brock, with Misty only helping out. She could help stir-fry, but Brock had to handle the seasoning.
That's why when they opened the door and saw Cynthia, Brock dropped the spatula. Misty had just finished stir-frying a dish at that moment.
"Hmm, this is delicious. Your name is Brock, right? Your cooking skills are impressive," Cynthia praised Brock after casually picking up a piece of meat and putting it in her mouth, showing a satisfied expression.
She's used to eating all sorts of delicacies, but Brock's dishes were no less than those made by top chefs, with a feeling that those dishes lacked – rustic but delicious.
"Not at all, not at all, my culinary skills are nothing compared to your beauty!"
"I think that's enough, we're eating here, don't make me slap you!" Misty said with a vein popping on her forehead, giving Brock a forced smile.
"Ahem, let's eat, let's eat." Brock quickly lowered his head and started eating, while Ash was already on his second bowl. He was still in his growing years.
Moreover, this morning not only did the Pokemon train, but he also trained all morning. It was time to eat, the world could wait, but not a hungry stomach!
Amidst laughter and chatter, lunchtime passed. Ash went outside to distribute the Pokemon food he had prepared for his Pokemon and used the Power of Viridian to help his Pokemon recover.
He's like a mobile Pokemon Center now, but for group recovery, the Pokemon Center is still faster.
Watching Ash lovingly care for the Pokemon outside, Cynthia's lips curved into a smile. Such a warm scene always lifts one's spirits, especially for Cynthia, confirming that Ash was someone who cared for Pokemon was the best thing.
This way, she could tell Ash about that matter without any reservations. Based on Ash's behavior, he shouldn't have any malice towards that existence and would even protect it well.