Lucas was unaware of Paul's encounter with Ash.
At this moment, he was chatting with Gary at the Breeding House.
Since Cynthia was also a knowledgeable Researcher, she would occasionally interject a few words, discussing and guiding Gary.
Shauna, lying on Cynthia's lap, let out a yawn.
She turned to look at Sister Cynthia's face, but couldn't see it.
Having played all day, she listened to Lucas and their conversation, her eyes blinking.
Soon, she fell into a dream.
Cynthia gently stroked Shauna's small head in her arms.
Seeing Shauna asleep, their voices quieted down.
"Mmm—"
Shauna opened her eyes; the room's light no longer affected her vision.
She sat up and rubbed her small eyes.
Her silver hair fell loosely around her.
She looked around.
Her heart was filled with confusion.
"Strange, how did I get back to my room to sleep? Wasn't I with Uncle and Sister Cynthia last night?"
Shauna's movements also woke up Chingling by the bed.
Chingling~
Chingling gently jumped onto Shauna's head, making a pleasant sound.
"Chingling, do you know how I got back to my room to sleep?"
Shauna asked Chingling on her head, still half-asleep.
Chingling~
Chingling shook its head.
Shauna thought for a while, couldn't figure it out, and stopped thinking about it.
Instead, she climbed out of bed, put on her small slippers, and went to the bathroom to wash up.
After brushing her teeth and washing her face, Shauna put on a long princess dress, which was very warm.
Then she picked up the hair tie from her bedside, with Chingling on her head, pushed open the door, and ran downstairs.
Passing Lucas's room, she quietly twisted the doorknob of his room.
Finding the room open, she poked her small head inside.
"Are you up?"
Lucas, holding Vulpix, peeked out from the bathroom, looking at the sneaky little head at the door, and said with a smile.
"Hehe."
Ever since Shauna came to the Breeding House, she learned Gengar's smile.
Each time, she would grin, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.
"Come in."
Hearing Lucas's words, Shauna pushed open the door and ran in, then plopped down on Lucas's bed.
She curiously looked at the photos and items displayed on the table.
Gengar came to her side.
Shauna pointed to Gengar's piggy bank and asked what it was.
Gengar picked it up and showed it to Shauna.
Shauna saw the money inside and suddenly understood.
Then she ran back to her room, took out the pocket money Lucas had given her from the drawer.
And then pattered back to Lucas's room.
"Here you go."
Gengar looked at the money Shauna handed to it, its mouth wide open.
It took the money, glanced at Shauna, and then put the money back into Shauna's skirt pocket.
It also took some pocket money from its own piggy bank and slipped it into her pocket.
"gengar sound"
"For you to buy candy."
Shauna grinned.
Lucas walked over with a clean towel in his hand, just in time to see this scene.
"Oh, so the big brother is giving his little sister pocket money now?"
Lucas looked at Gengar teasingly.
"gengar sound"
Gengar hugged its piggy bank and shook its head frantically.
"No way!"
Lucas rolled his eyes. "How stingy."
After speaking, he ignored Gengar and placed the towel over Shauna's face.
It was a warm towel.
"Uncle—I already washed!"
Under the towel, Shauna's pronunciation was a bit muffled.
"Then wash it again."
After washing her face, Lucas handed the towel to Gengar, then reached out to take the hair tie from Shauna's hand.
"I don't need Uncle to tie my hair today."
Shauna lightly dodged, and at the same time, a soft sentence.
It completely broke Lucas's heart.
Lucas: "?!"
After speaking, Shauna ignored Lucas and turned to run out the door.
"gengar sound?"
"Where's Shauna?"
Lucas didn't answer, still heartbroken.
Gengar gently pushed Lucas with its hand.
Suddenly, there was a sound of shattering porcelain.
"gengar sound?! Σ(ǒAǒlll))"
Finally, Lucas recovered, composed himself, and then went downstairs with Gengar.
He happened to see Gary tying Shauna's hair.
Gary, who was tying Shauna's hair, suddenly felt a surge of killing intent.
He looked up and saw Lucas staring at him with narrowed eyes.
Gary, not understanding why, greeted Lucas.
"Good morning, Shopkeeper, and Gengar."
"gengar sound"
"Good morning."
Lucas didn't bother to argue with a child.
"Oh, right, Shopkeeper, I'll be leaving soon."
"So soon?"
Lucas was a bit surprised, as he had just arrived yesterday and was already leaving today.
"Yes, because last night in my room, I thought about what the Shopkeeper and Champion Cynthia said, and I decided to visit several cities with records of ancient Pokémon, and also challenge some Gym battles."
Lucas nodded, indicating his support for Gary's decision.
"I'll mail the badges back to you then."
Lucas was stunned; he had only been joking, but Gary took it seriously.
However, since Gary said so, it meant he truly had no intention of participating in the League Conference.
It was fine for him to keep the Gym badges for now; if Gary suddenly wanted to participate in the League Conference one day, he could send them to him.
Thinking of this, Lucas replied.
"Alright."
"If you don't know which city to go to first, Oreburgh City is a good choice."
"Oreburgh City?"
Gary was momentarily surprised; he remembered that the Rock-type Gym was in Oreburgh City, and he heard that the Gym Leader's Pokémon also included ancient Pokémon.
Gary nodded.
"Okay, I understand."
Gary nodded, and Shauna's hair was also done.
"Thank you, Big Brother Gary."
Shauna's voice was clear and crisp.
Gary smiled and patted her small head, then walked towards the backyard.
He was going to help Lucas check the physical condition of the Pokémon boarding there.
It must be said that with Gary at the Breeding House, Lucas no longer needed to personally do these things; Gary would consciously organize them and hand them over.
He truly was Professor Oak's grandson.
Lucas took the results Gary had organized and began to read them.
Soon it was lunchtime, and after Lucas and Shauna ate lunch with Gary, they saw him off at the door. "I'm leaving now, Shopkeeper, and little Shauna."
Lucas nodded.
"Go, Big Brother Gary!"
Shauna clenched her small fists, cheering Gary on.
Gary smiled in response.
Just as Gary mounted Arcanine, Lucas suddenly spoke.
"I look forward to the day you become an excellent Pokémon Researcher."
"If you have any questions, remember to tell me."
After all, he was also a Champion's friend, and his own strength should not be bad at the moment.
Gary nodded, touched.
Then he rode Arcanine straight away.
"Gary left?"
A lazy voice came from behind.
Shauna, who had been feeling reluctant about Gary's departure a second ago, threw herself into Cynthia's arms the next second.
"Sister Cynthia~"
Cynthia bent down and hugged Shauna.
"Yes, after all, he also has his own goals."
Hearing this, Cynthia smiled.
"I'm so hungry, is there anything to eat?"
"I saved some food for you. Today it's knife-cut noodles, do you want some?"
"Yes!"
Looking at Cynthia, whose attire was starting to lean towards a more homely style, Lucas smiled.
"Go, the dessert after dinner is the new version of ice cream."
(Her eyes lit up)
....
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