Night climbed into the sky and then descended.
Lucas finished washing up, brought Gengar who had completed its morning exercises, then grabbed Vulpix who was still lounging in bed, and went downstairs.
Vulpix shook its head.
"Shuu?"
Mr. and Mrs. Fujino sat at the counter with Shauna, enjoying breakfast with Gary.
Mr. and Mrs. Fujino had stayed overnight, accompanying Shauna at the Breeding House.
"Shopkeeper."
Mr. and Mrs. Fujino stood up and greeted Lucas.
"Good morning, Uncle."
The milk in front of Shauna remained untouched, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Lucas.
Lucas greeted them, watched her reluctantly drink the milk, and then nodded with satisfaction.
"Lajii~"
Lilligant emerged from the door behind the counter, accompanied by Roselia.
It seemed that after Petilil evolved into Lilligant, Roselia became even more attached to Lilligant.
Just like a younger sister wanting to follow her older sister everywhere.
Lucas reached out, habitually intending to fiddle with the leaves on Lilligant's head, but stopped halfway, remembering that it had already evolved into Lilligant. Lilligant narrowed its eyes and leaned its head over, allowing Lucas to fiddle with the flower bud on its head.
"Lajii~"
Lucas smiled and fiddled with Lilligant's flower bud a few times.
Then, looking at Roselia beside him, he also reached out and patted its small head.
"Nii~"
After breakfast, Lucas wanted to put Vulpix down, but found that Vulpix was still sleeping comfortably in his arms.
He patted its little head.
"Shuu?"
Vulpix groggily opened its eyes and looked around.
"Shuu?"
What's wrong?
"Still sleeping? How come you seem to be getting lazier and lazier now?"
Listening to Lucas's words, Vulpix blinked its pupil-less amber eyes.
"Shuu~"
The sound was sweet and cloying.
Lucas directly ignored Vulpix's attempts to be cute, made it finish breakfast, then put it down to let it move around.
Standing on the ground, Vulpix pouted, then shook its body and followed behind Shauna, running towards the backyard.
Mr. and Mrs. Fujino, meanwhile, spoke with Lucas about something.
They planned to take Shauna back to her grandfather's house so she could spend his last days with him.
Lucas had no objections to this, but he still suggested they ask for Shauna's opinion.
They said Shauna had agreed.
Lucas nodded.
They would go home to pack their clothes and then pick up Shauna in the afternoon.
As Mr. and Mrs. Fujino went to the backyard to play with Shauna, Lucas opened the Breeding House's main door.
He hung out the 'Open' sign.
At this moment, Lilligant and Roselia came to the doorway, standing on either side.
Lucas was a little stunned at the sight.
"What are you two doing?"
"Lajii~"
"Nii~"
Lucas understood their meaning; they wanted to attract customers for him.
Lucas smiled with gratification, then said to them:
"You don't need to stand at the door. Just go sit on the counter. If a customer comes, you can greet them for me."
"This will be more effective. After all, who can resist seeing two such cute and beautiful Pokémon as soon as they walk in?"
Lilligant thought for a moment, then led Roselia back to the counter and sat down.
Lucas nodded at the sight. His Breeding House seemed to have its own reception desk now.
Looking at the flowers still blooming outside, Lucas recalled what had happened yesterday.
He reached out and took out the wooden charm hanging around his neck.
"Thank you, Celebi."
The wooden charm moved slightly.
It seemed Celebi was responding to him.
Lucas stood quietly at the doorway.
The trash outside had already been spontaneously cleared and cleaned up by the cleaning lady hired by Mayor Qiyi, the trainers, and the people who came to participate in "Breeding Day."
Just then, Lucas noticed a figure approaching in the distance.
As the figure drew closer.
Lucas's heart brightened.
Oh, what a coincidence!
Paul walked along the road, his mind replaying what had happened that morning.
He woke up early in another forest and found a Staravia practicing Brave Bird. Seeing that powerful Staravia,
He had the idea of catching this Staravia.
Then, after the Staravia stopped to rest, he decisively threw a Poké Ball.
The Staravia flapped its wings, knocking the Poké Ball away.
It had noticed Paul since yesterday. Although its Pokémon's strength was not yet formidable, its understanding of battles was quite good.
If he could earn its recognition, going with him wouldn't be out of the question.
Thinking this, the Staravia dodged the Thunderbolt released by Elekid, flew into the air, and gestured towards the Breeding House.
Then it left directly.
Paul looked in the direction it left, thought for a moment, and followed.
Seeing the person standing at the Breeding House's entrance.
A strange light flashed in Paul's dead-fish-like eyes.
Some of the Pokémon around him looked very powerful. Could that Staravia also be his Pokémon?
Paul pondered continuously, then inadvertently arrived at the Breeding House's entrance.
"Hello, I'm the shopkeeper of this Breeding House. Is there anything you need?"
Lucas looked at Paul, who had stopped at the entrance, and asked as usual.
"Hello, I'd like to ask, is that Staravia your Pokémon?"
Gary, who was sitting in the lounge area dealing with matters on his tablet, heard the voice and looked up.
He recognized the trainer Lucas had mentioned yesterday as being quite strong.
He immediately became curious, then stood up and came to Lucas's side with Umbreon.
Paul looked at Gary beside Lucas, feeling the restrained yet inadvertently revealed aura from Gary, and a spark flashed in his eyes.
He looked at Gary, and Gary was also looking at him.
Here it comes, here it comes, just like this.
Lucas was overjoyed on the side. He had long anticipated what would happen when rivals met rivals.
However, at this time, Paul's overall strength was not weak, but he was definitely not powerful. After all, his team was not yet complete, and his understanding and experience in battles were not sufficient.
Meanwhile, Gary's team was complete. He had only recently transitioned from a trainer to a researcher, so his strength could be said to still be at its peak.
Thinking this, Lucas shook his head regretfully, interrupting their staring contest.
"That one? It's not a Pokémon from our Breeding House. It's just temporarily staying with us, waiting for a powerful trainer to take it away and help it become stronger."
Hearing this, Paul turned to look at the Staravia standing on a tree, preening its feathers.
His older brother, Reggie, had a Staraptor, the evolved form of Staravia, which was very powerful.
His brother was also once a powerful Pokémon trainer, but later switched careers to become a Pokémon breeder.
Although he didn't understand it, he still deeply respected his brother.
So, upon learning that this Staravia was waiting for a trainer,
He was moved.
Lucas observed the expression on his face.
If his guess was correct, Paul at this moment would only focus on the Pokémon's inherent strength.
Meaning, he would catch powerful Pokémon.
Clearly, Staravia had become his target.
Staravia's sharp eyes fixated on Paul.
You want me to go with you? Then prove your strength to me.
Paul deduced this result from its eyes.
Then he turned to look at Lucas.
"Shopkeeper, let's battle!"
Lucas: ?
Lucas's eyes widened.
You want to catch Staravia, and you battle me?
What does that mean?
And Paul looked at the young man in front of him, his figure unconsciously transforming into that of his brother.
Lucas seemed to understand the situation.
"It really is, being used as a Substitute."
Lucas smiled.
Gary, on the side, frowned and stepped in front of Lucas, just about to offer to battle in Lucas's stead.
But Lucas stopped him.
The Pokémon from the Breeding House had already gathered around.
Gengar floated over with Misdreavus, its newly acquired subordinate, its crimson eyes fixed intently on Paul.
The others, like Dash, were eagerly rubbing their fists.
Lilligant also narrowed its eyes at this moment.
Gothorita's eyes emitted a strange light.
Mime Jr. and Vulpix looked at Lucas.
Vespiquen, having received the news, flew over with Shauna.
Looking at the Pokémon from the Breeding House, Paul's face paled, but he still didn't back down.
"Alright, I accept your battle request."
Lucas led Paul to an open area.
"Uncle, go for it!"
Shauna cheered from the side.
Gary became the referee.
After watching so many battles, Lucas felt his understanding of battles had improved quite a bit.
Staravia would not participate in this battle.
Lucas stopped Gengar, who wanted to enter the field.
Forcing himself to ignore Gengar's resentful gaze, he turned to look at the other Pokémon.
Finally, his gaze stopped on Vespiquen.
Looking at the two new moves it had, 'Grudge' and 'Hex.'
Lucas felt a little exasperated.
Gengar, Gengar, what have you done to it?
"Vespiquen, would you be willing to help me?"
Vespiquen's flapping wings paused for a moment.
Then they resumed flapping.
The frequency became faster.
It awkwardly twisted its head.
Well, I'll reluctantly help you out.
"Bee!"
It came to the center of the field and let out a loud cry.
A queenly aura burst forth!
Then it stared intently at Paul opposite.
Paul sent out Elekid, which had a double type advantage against Vespiquen.
Lucas smiled.
Let me show you what it means to be dirty!
The battle erupted the moment Gary's words fell.
"Defend Order!"
"Thunderbolt!"
After Lucas's feeding during this period, and its own strength being honed by Gengar, Vespiquen endured the Thunderbolt head-on.
High Special Defense, it could take it.
Then it summoned Combee, greatly increasing its Defense and Special Defense.
Lucas then grinned.
"Grudge."
Elekid cried out in pain, and the number of times Thunderbolt could be used decreased.
Coupled with its Pressure ability.
After a few rounds, Elekid's Thunderbolt was completely sealed.
Next, Lucas continuously used Roost, Grudge, Defend Order, Toxic, and Hex to battle.
Until Vespiquen completely shut out Paul.
Paul:
"..—"
Looking at the almost satisfied Vespiquen still on the field, a Vespiquen that had stacked countless layers of Defend Order, almost entirely surrounded by Combee.
Paul felt a little bitter.
Gary, next to him, looked at Paul with some sympathy.
The shopkeeper's fighting style is truly—
Extremely unique!
Lucas nodded contentedly.
"You worked hard, Vespiquen. I'll make something delicious for you all tonight."
"Bee!"
Vespiquen twisted its head, then returned to the forest area with Combee.
"Wow, Uncle is so cool!"
As Shauna's words came out,
Paul almost collapsed.
And Lucas also felt a little embarrassed.
Then he coughed twice and said:
"You should understand that even if I didn't use this fighting style, I could still easily defeat you."
With the Breeding House's current strength, easily defeating the current Paul is certainly not a problem.
"So, do you think your strength can satisfy Staravia?"