Ignoring the squad leader who was twitching nearby, whether from emotional breakdown or paralysis, Lucas returned to Jenny.
"Then I'll leave them to you."
Jenny nodded and continued dealing with the matters concerning Team Galactic.
Lucas looked at Ajak and the other person, asking, "Are you going back to Twinleaf Town with Jenny or continuing to deliver the pokémon egg?"
Ajak and his companion exchanged a look, then shook their heads.
"We are going to deliver the pokémon egg."
Lucas nodded. "Then be careful on your way, especially you. Don't let your hot blood rush to your head again; know your limits before acting!"
Ajak scratched the back of his head and nodded in agreement.
Before parting, Aran suddenly turned his head and looked at Lucas.
"I almost forgot, Lucas, this is for you."
Having said that, he handed the pokémon egg in his hand to Lucas.
"This is?"
Lucas curiously took the egg.
"I snatched this from them."
Hearing Aran's words, Lucas was speechless.
So, even while being chased, he didn't forget to swipe someone else's pokémon egg, huh?!
In the end, he could only shake his head helplessly and say, "Alright, I'll keep it for you at the Breeding House for now, and return it when you come back."
Who knew Aran would shake his head.
"We don't need it. You can keep it at the Breeding House. It can serve as a thank you gift for coming to rescue us, although we don't know what kind of Pokémon is inside."
Aran gave an embarrassed smile.
After all, someone personally came to rescue them, and all he offered as thanks was a pokémon egg containing an unknown Pokémon.
If it was a rare Pokémon, that would be fine, but if it turned out to be a Wurmple or something similar, it would be awkward.
Lucas smiled.
"Then I thank you both."
After a brief chat, the two left with the Mudkip's pokémon egg.
Lucas handed the pokémon egg he was holding to Jenny, asking her to help take it back to the Breeding House.
After Team Galactic was escorted away by Jenny's colleagues, Lucas, accompanied by Jenny, arrived at the station and boarded a train heading toward Eterna City.
Jenny, holding the pokémon egg, rode her Arcanine, followed by a Rapidash, heading toward the Breeding House.
Lucas held his Vulpix in his arms, sitting on the high-speed rail, watching the scenery flash past.
"It would be great if I could ride a Pokémon and slowly appreciate this scenery."
A golden berry stick was offered to him; Gengar was sitting opposite him, holding the golden berry stick out for him to eat.
Lucas smiled, opened his mouth, and took a bite.
It was satisfyingly crunchy.
"Thank you, Gengar."
Vulpix lay in Lucas's arms, its tail gently rubbing against his arm.
Soothed by the comfortable feeling of Vulpix, Lucas fell asleep.
Eterna City Station.
"Elite Four Lucian, are we here to wait for someone?"
A woman with a dark green shawl, short brownish-orange hair, looked at the refined, glasses-wearing man with purple hair standing beside her and asked curiously.
"A friend of mine, who is also a great Breeding Master."
Elite Four Lucian gently pushed up his glasses and said warmly.
A friend of Elite Four Lucian? And a great Breeding Master?
That sounds very impressive.
"Do you still remember the infectious disease in Twinleaf Town?"
Hearing Elite Four Lucian's words, Gardenia recalled the news she had received: it was said that after contracting the disease, both humans and Pokémon would quickly develop a high fever, accompanied by body aches, weakness, and loss of responsiveness.
Gardenia then nodded.
"At that time, he alone managed to control the disease throughout Twinleaf Town. By the time I arrived there, the people and Pokémon of Twinleaf Town were almost completely recovered."
"?! He did it alone?!"
Gardenia was very surprised that a highly contagious disease could be cured by a single person.
"Also, the unity of the people in Twinleaf Town. Oh, and his Breeding House's Pokémon, and the wild Pokémon in the forest."
Elite Four Lucian recalled the Breeding House that made him feel incredibly comfortable, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.
"A Breeding House? He opened a Breeding House?"
Gardenia inquired.
Elite Four Lucian nodded. "That Breeding House is very cozy."
The more Gardenia listened, the more curious she became about this person.
She increasingly wanted to meet him soon.
"This time, Champion Cynthia also entrusted him to help."
Elite Four Lucian added another remark at this point.
"He knows Champion Cynthia too?"
Gardenia was shocked yet again.
Knows her? Their relationship is much better than mine is with him.
"As far as I know, they are more than just acquaintances."
Hearing Elite Four Lucian's cryptic remark, Gardenia couldn't immediately process it. Just as she was about to ask further, she saw Elite Four Lucian smiling and walking toward a man.
"Lucas."
"Lucian."
Lucas gave Elite Four Lucian, who came to pick him up, a hug.
For some reason, Lucas felt that Elite Four Lucian's hairline seemed to have receded slightly?
Realizing this, Lucas looked at Elite Four Lucian with sympathy.
Poor Elite Four Lucian, returning to the League only means endless overtime.
Elite Four Lucian looked at Gengar, which had suddenly popped up from behind, smiled and greeted it, and then stroked the little head of the Vulpix in Lucas's arms.
Gardenia walked up to them.
Lucas looked at the familiar figure in front of him and felt that her presence wasn't low at all.
Why do so many people say her presence is low?
Unable to figure this out, Lucas looked at Gardenia before him, and his heart skipped a beat.
Another Pokémon character collected!
"Lucas, this is Gardenia, the Gym Leader of Eterna City."
"And this is Lucas, whom I told you about, the owner of the 'Gengar's Paradise' Breeding House."
"Hello, Master Lucas."
Gardenia greeted him politely.
Master Lucas?!
Lucas smiled. Had he become a Master now?
However, Lucas still preferred to be called Lucas.
"Gym Leader Gardenia, I've heard much about you."
Lucas grinned at Gardenia.
Gardenia froze. Heard much about me? Who? Me?
You've heard much about me?
Oh my gosh, Master Lucas is truly good with words.
Gardenia's face instantly flushed red.
She then quickly bowed: "I am undeserving, I am undeserving, I am undeserving."
Lucas looked at Gardenia, who seemed to have suddenly developed a strange affliction, feeling somewhat confused.
Is this child always like this?
After Gardenia tired herself out, she straightened up and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
"Master Lucas, shall we go eat something?"
The title sounded increasingly wrong.
"How about, Gym Leader Gardenia, you call me Lucas, just like Lucian?"
Lucas tentatively suggested.
Gardenia paused, then nodded.
"Okay, Lucas. You don't have to call me Gym Leader either; just call me Gardenia."
Lucas nodded.
Arriving at a hot pot restaurant, everyone gathered around, comfortably eating hot pot.
Perhaps because Eterna City was close to Mt. Coronet, the temperature there was slightly colder than Twinleaf Town.
Eating a mouthful of steaming hot pot at this moment was incredibly comforting.
"How is the situation now?"
Lucas picked up a piece of beef with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth, and asked Elite Four Lucian.
Elite Four Lucian also took a bite of food, his hands moving continuously, and said, "It should still be nearby. I checked the area, and it seems to still be in the mountains, but I haven't found the exact location."
As long as they confirmed it was still there, things would be easy.
They should now have the confidence to find it.
With Lugia's ability, they should be able to sense something just by getting close to its vicinity.
Elite Four Lucian asked plainly, "How do you plan to deal with it?"
Lucas took advantage of Gengar's inattention, snatched a meatball from its chopsticks, and quickly popped it into his mouth.
"gengar sound—∑ (° A ° ;"
Sneak attack, you villain!
"What else can be done? If it refuses to leave, then we fight!"
With people and Pokémon backing him, he felt confident!
Elite Four Lucian nodded in agreement.
He had zero tolerance for anything that caused him overtime.
Since he couldn't refuse the overtime, he might as well vent his anger!
Gardenia, sitting nearby, listened to their conversation, feeling somewhat timid.
Fight?! Why did The Legendary Birds sound so unimpressive?
It was understandable if Elite Four Lucian fought; as the strongest Elite Four of the Sinnoh region, whose strength was second only to Champion Cynthia, he certainly had the ability.
As for Lucas, although Gardenia only met him today, judging by his tone, he also seemed to be a powerful Trainer.
Moreover, Elite Four Lucian actually thought this was normal.
Sure enough, was she the only weakling?
Thinking this, Gardenia furiously shoveled down two mouthfuls of rice.
She then looked at Lucas's Pokémon: Gengar, who was gorging itself nearby, and Lilligant—
Wow~ Lilligant is truly so beautiful, elegant, and graceful—
Gardenia's attention was completely captured by Lilligant.
As the Grass-type Gym Leader, she already loved Grass-type Pokémon, and the Lilligant raised by Lucas was top-tier in terms of temperament, appearance, and ability.
Lilligant noticed Gardenia's gaze, looked over at her, and gave a slight smile.
Ah! I'm dead!
Gardenia felt her heart rate accelerate.
After briefly skimming over the other Pokémon, Gardenia's attention remained solely on Lilligant.
She then continuously put food on Lilligant's plate until it was stacked into a full tower.
"Laji~"
Thank you.
Thank you~
Obviously, most of it was eaten by Gengar.
Later, Lilligant simply sat next to Gardenia, whispering secrets to her.
By the end of the meal, Gardenia felt lightheaded with joy.
Happiness came too suddenly.
Smelling the blissful floral scent emanating from the top of Lilligant's head.
What a beautiful Lilligant—
"gengar sound."
Lucas, having finished eating, followed behind Elite Four Lucian; Elite Four Lucian was paying today.
Anyway, the League would reimburse him later.
"Lilligant, let's go."
"Laji~"
Coming~
Lilligant stood up, waved at Gardenia, and followed along.
Holding Lilligant's hand, Lucas suddenly felt like he had forgotten something.
"Strange, why do I feel like I forgot a person?"
Gardenia, who was catching up: ————
For Lilligant's sake, Gardenia decided not to hold it against Lucas.
Since Lilligant was beside Lucas, Gardenia had another chance to carefully observe the aura of the Pokémon around Lucas.
It seemed that none of the Pokémon emitted an overly powerful aura.
Yet, Gardenia nodded repeatedly.
As expected of a powerful Breeding Master.
She could sense that Gengar and the others were very well-trained.
She could tell just by looking at Lilligant and Vulpix.
Vulpix's fur color was obviously beautiful, and Lilligant went without saying.
Returning to Lucas's room door, after agreeing to search for Moltres together tomorrow, Lucas took Gengar and the others into the room.
Sure enough, he couldn't sleep because he wasn't used to the bed.
Finally, thanks to the lullaby service provided by Lilligant and Gothorita, he and Gengar finally fell into a deep sleep.
....
Power Stones PLZZZZZ
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