After a day of fierce battles, the top sixty-four were determined. The remaining time would be spent with these sixty-four battling it out until the Champion of the League Conference was decided.
Lucas stretched, sighing. He had to admit that the skill level of contestants in a real-life League Conference was truly uneven.
Some had just started their journey and successfully cleared all Gym challenges to enter the competition, while others had repeatedly challenged, reconfigured their teams, and participated in the conference again.
The battles in the later stages were expected to be even more intense and exciting.
As Lucas thought this, he suddenly felt a little anticipation for the scene where Ash would meet his rival from Sinnoh.
Lucas wasn't an Ash fanboy, but he believed that Ash's team configuration in the Sinnoh region was quite good, especially his senior brother; his power-ups were too cool.
Lucas lay quietly on the chair, his mind constantly recalling the original plot.
Sinnoh Ash was originally supposed to win the Champion title, but then a legendary Pokémon trainer appeared. In the Kalos region, he could have also won the Champion title, but he ran into a Water Absorb Blaziken.
The Unova region in between was skipped; it was a baby team.
The more Lucas thought about it, the more he looked forward to the moment he could meet Ash. He planned to ask him when he would get Pidgeot back.
"Uncle."
Just as Lucas was deep in thought, Shauna's voice pulled him back.
"What's wrong, Shauna?"
"Uncle, their matches are so good, so exciting."
"Right? Then let's keep watching tomorrow. If you like it, we'll watch more."
Lucas said with a smile, stroking her little head.
"Uncle, what do you think if we also hold a competition? I remember there are many trainers from TV living near our house. We could hold a competition for them, let them participate, and then we could earn money. What do you think?"
Shauna looked at Lucas and spoke clearly.
She now considered the Breeding House her home. She saw how happy Lucas and Gengar were every time he collected money, so today, when she saw the competition on TV and remembered the trainers near her home, she thought: if the Breeding House also held a competition and let them participate, wouldn't the Breeding House make money?
Oh, Shauna's words suddenly enlightened him.
If he used the Breeding House's reputation, collaborated with Miss Jenny and Nurse Joy to organize a friendly match, it could help those trainers who had lost find their rhythm again, allow them to test the strength of their newly configured teams, and also boost the Breeding House's reputation, while simultaneously collecting fees for drinks and meals.
It was killing multiple birds with one stone.
"Shauna, you're such a little genius."
Lucas lightly tapped her nose, saying.
"Uncle also thinks this is a good idea?"
"Yes, we'll decide on the Champion's prize, and then during their matches, we can sell drinks and food, and earn a lot of money to buy delicious things for you all."
Lucas said with a smile.
"Great, great! Shauna will take the drinks to sell then. They'll surely buy from Shauna, she's so cute."
Shauna clapped her hands happily when her suggestion was adopted, then spoke cheerfully.
"No!"
Lucas immediately refused. On one hand, Shauna's condition had only recently improved, and he didn't dare let her face so many strangers all at once. Even now, he only let her deliver herbal tea to familiar people. On the other hand, he hoped Shauna could grow up happily, without having to worry about making money; Lucas and Gengar would handle those things.
What Shauna needed to do was play happily with Petilil and them at the Breeding House and slowly grow up.
Shauna's little face instantly fell.
Seeing this, Lucas explained to her with a pained heart, and finally, Shauna reluctantly agreed.
"I'll discuss it thoroughly with Sister Reese and the others these next few days. If we make money, I'll buy you pretty little dresses, okay?"
Shauna nodded happily, threw herself into Lucas's arms, and her eyes cleverly darted around in his embrace.
"Don't learn Gengar's bad habits."
Gengar was in the middle of finishing the remaining cat ears, taking a sip of soda and a bite of cat ear, eating incredibly contentedly when he was suddenly stabbed.
"Gen gar?! ((ᵒ ꈊ ᵒ᷅ ू ‖))՞"
What does that have to do with me?!
"It's nothing, nothing, you eat."
Gengar glanced at Lucas, snorted, then turned back to continue eating his snacks.
"Oh, by the way, Uncle, can I stay here for these next few days?"
Shauna suddenly asked.
"Of course, why do you suddenly want to stay here?"
"Because Grandpa is sick, and Mom and Dad have to go take care of him. I saw Mom and Dad running back and forth every time, and I'm afraid they'll get too tired, so I don't want them to be so tired."
Shauna sniffled, looked at Lucas, and replied.
"And I also want to play with Petilil and them more."
Shauna showed a big smile.
Lucas smiled broadly after hearing this and nodded in agreement.
"You're so thoughtful. I'll call your mom and dad later to tell them to bring your change of clothes, okay?"
"Okay, thank you, Uncle."
After saying that, Shauna gave Lucas a peck on the cheek.
Lucas's heart melted, and he took out his phone to call Mrs. Fujino.
After speaking with Mrs. Fujino, Mr. and Mrs. Fujino soon brought Shauna's clothes over.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Lucas."
Mr. Fujino tightly clasped Lucas's hand, thanking him repeatedly.
Lucas shook his head, saying it was Shauna's own idea.
Mr. Fujino looked at Shauna, who was playing with his wife and Chingling not far away.
He wiped his reddened eyes and said, "Truly, thank you very much."
Mr. Fujino was not a very expressive person, but Lucas understood his meaning.
Nothing was better than Shauna getting better. No one would dislike such a thoughtful little girl.
After a few exchanges, Mrs. Fujino came over with Shauna.
"Little Shauna, you must listen to Uncle Lucas. When Mom and Dad are done with their busy schedule in a few days, we'll come back to pick you up, okay?"
Mrs. Fujino bent down to tidy Shauna's hair, saying.
Uncle... Lucas's heart twitched, then he self-comforted.
It's fine, it's fine, Uncle it is.
"Okay, Mom and Dad should also rest. I will listen to Uncle."
Shauna said clearly, then kissed her mom and dad on each cheek.
Mr. and Mrs. Fujino thanked him again, then drove away.
Watching their retreating figures, Lucas looked down at Shauna. There was a hint of reluctance in her bright, watery eyes. He smiled and stroked her little head.
"Now you are an employee of my Breeding House. You have to help me with work, understand? Otherwise, I won't give you food."
Shauna looked up at Lucas, who was pretending to be strict, and a brilliant smile bloomed on her face.
"Yes, Uncle."
Her salute was exactly like the one Dash and the others did.
"Very good, little Shauna, I now order you to go play with Petilil and Mime Jr.. I need to go upstairs and tidy up your room."
Shauna saluted again in a proper manner, then took Chingling and ran off to find Petilil and the others.
Watching Shauna gradually return to her lively and adorable childlike self, Lucas and Gengar exchanged glances and smiled knowingly.
Children should be carefree.
He carried Shauna's luggage back to the second floor, opened the door to the room next to his, walked in, chose a pink bedsheet for her, then put away her clothes, arranged the quilt, and finally took out the Eevee doll that Mrs. Fujino had brought and placed it neatly on the bedside table.
Looking at the doll, Lucas nodded.
He would find time to make a few more for Shauna.
Then he closed the door to the room and went downstairs.
Cynthia's room and Shauna's room were on either side of his own room.
....
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