The moment Lin Shou pushed open the gilded, embossed door to the private room, the crystal chandelier's fractured light spilled across the scarlet velvet carpet in shimmering fragments. He narrowed his eyes, adjusting to the warm glow, and spotted four figures seated around a polished mahogany round table, silver cutlery clinking softly against delicate blue-and-white porcelain.
"Brother, you're here? Sit next to me." The eldest of the group beckoned warmly, pulling Lin Shou to the seat on his left.
At the head of the table sat a middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses, absently turning a jade ring on his finger. His sharp, hawk-like eyes swept over Lin Shou from behind the lenses. "So… this is the boy who helped you cheat?"
The eldest brother's hand slammed the table with a resounding thud. "Cheat? Don't talk rubbish! A win is a win!" His voice rose with genuine offense. "Now, stop whining and hand over your stakes. I've been losing to you lot for years—can't I enjoy a single victory?"
The others laughed, tossing their wagers onto the table. Lin Shou didn't get a clear look at the items, but from their gleam and craftsmanship, he knew none of them came cheap.
The eldest brother crooked his finger at the man in glasses, the agarwood beads on his wrist swaying with the motion.
The middle-aged man's brow furrowed. "Didn't I already give you everything? What else could you possibly want?"
"A lifetime membership card," the eldest brother said without missing a beat. "The kind that gives free credit on every purchase." He waved his hand dismissively, as if explaining would only cheapen the demand.
The man in glasses removed his spectacles and polished them slowly. Fine laugh lines crinkled at the corners of his eyes, but his voice was laced with mockery. "Why would you want that? Don't tell me you're so broke you can't even eat without your big brother's charity?"
"Even if I couldn't afford a meal, I could sell this card and feed myself for years," the eldest brother shot back. His hand flashed, and a Poké Ball appeared as if by magic. He tossed it onto the table with casual arrogance.
The middle-aged man's sharp instincts kicked in—his brother never acted without purpose. "What's in that Poké Ball?" he asked cautiously.
"Guess," the eldest brother drawled, milking the moment. His thumb pressed the release button, and scarlet light burst forth in a swirling haze.
A Meowth appeared—sleek-furred, eyes narrowed, and tail lashing. It bared its teeth at the eldest brother, claws sinking into the carpet and tearing up tiny tufts of velvet. Then its gaze shifted, spotting the middle-aged man. The hostile glare melted into a pitiful cry, as if pleading for rescue.
"What else could it be? Your hotel's best little pickpocket," the eldest brother sneered. "Took me six Poké Balls to finally catch this sly brat."
The Meowth hissed as he reached for it, so the eldest brother grabbed it by the scruff. The gold chain around his neck swayed, the links brushing against the cat's ear with a faint jingle.
"Behave," he warned, voice low. "I'm your master now."
The Meowth, however, seemed unimpressed. Its tail flicked defiantly, lips curling in a mock grin.
"Oh, really? Keep this up and I'll send you to a Ditto breeding center. You can spend the rest of your days making eggs."
At the mention of Ditto, the Meowth froze. Its ears flattened, tail drooping like a wilted flower. It crouched low, tracing faint silver claw marks into the carpet.
Veins bulged on the middle-aged man's temple. His jade ring tapped the tabletop sharply before he flicked a sleek black card into the air. It spun in a graceful arc before landing in the eldest brother's palm.
In the blink of an eye, the Meowth darted back into its Poké Ball and returned to the middle-aged man's arms. There, it purred and rubbed its head against his chest, breathing in the faint cologne scent from his unbuttoned collar.
"You two-faced little charmer," the eldest brother muttered.
Lin Shou glanced at the man's faint smirk, then at the Pokédex readout: Meowth — Female. A slow realization dawned. Ah… so it was that kind of loyalty. Workplace romance, huh?
The chandelier lights dimmed, and a procession of waiters rolled in gleaming dining carts. Rich aromas wafted through the air—the earthy scent of truffle-laced foie gras, the tang of Burgundy red wine, the sweet steam rising from freshly seared king crab. As the silver domes lifted, clouds of fragrant mist curled around the table.
The eldest brother downed an entire glass of beer in one go, collar open and cheeks flushed. "Eat, drink—everything's on me tonight! No holding back!"
"Then I'm ordering more dishes," someone chimed in.
"Go ahead, but no one leaves this room sober!"
Lin Shou was naturally sociable. Before long, he was trading jokes with the rest of the group. These men were more than friends—they were brothers forged in fire, quick to tease but quicker to defend one another.
Midway through the meal, the eldest brother slung an arm over Lin Shou's shoulder. "Let me tell you, my buddy here is amazing! Today's win? All thanks to him!"
The man in glasses leaned forward, intrigued. "Oh? What's your trick?"
Lin Shou straightened, puffing his chest slightly. "Good eyesight runs in the family," he said modestly, though pride tinged his tone.
"Let's put that to the test," one of the friends said, grinning. He murmured to a waiter, who soon returned pushing a small cart draped in brown velvet. The soft thud of its wheels over the carpet drew every eye in the room.
A system notification blinked in Lin Shou's vision:
[Pokémon Egg: Frigibax (Shiny)]Weaknesses: Fighting ×2, Rock ×2, Steel ×2, Dragon ×2, Fairy ×2Ability: Thermal Exchange — Boosts Attack when hit by Fire-type moves; immune to burns.Known Moves: Tackle, Glare, Dragon Tail, Freeze-Dry.
The corner of his lips lifted.
"Is that a Pokémon egg?" he asked, tapping the velvet and feeling a faint chill seep through.
"You've got sharp eyes," the egg's owner admitted, pulling back the cloth to reveal a temperature-controlled incubator. Inside, the pale egg glowed faintly.
"I told you—my brother's a natural," the eldest boasted, but was quickly shushed.
The owner leaned in. "Since you're so clever… what Pokémon do you think it is?"
Lin Shou walked slowly around the cart, studying the egg with deliberate care. Inside, he was already certain of the answer—but there was no harm in making them sweat a little.