A sharp, playful laugh suddenly echoed through the quiet, dark streets.
The Shuppet hung beneath the eaves of John's house, swaying gently in the night breeze.
Aside from its eerie giggling, it made no other move.
"Is this Shuppet absorbing the jealousy John is releasing?" Lucien murmured to himself.
Seeing that Shuppet had no intention of harming anyone, he didn't disturb it. Instead, he slipped away quietly with Serperior.
The next morning, Elif brought in the intelligence he had gathered.
"Your Highness Lucien, the information you requested has been confirmed," Elif said.
Lucien looked down. The parchment read:
[John Ron, a middle-class resident originally from the royal city of Eindoark. He left his homeland to follow the commoner girl he loved, joining the pioneering group to Lucien City.
A few days ago, the girl, began a relationship with a man named Kane. John fell into depression and jealousy because of this.]
Lucien: "…"
So the girl he loved got together with someone else. No wonder the Shuppet was attracted.
"Your Highness," Elif asked, "did you see that ghost last night?"
Lucien nodded. "It was a Ghost-type called Shuppet. It's drawn to jealousy. I understand the situation now. Bring John to me."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Soon, John arrived.
"Your Highness! Did you figure out what that ghost was?" he asked nervously.
"Of course," Lucien said. Then, with curiosity: "John, what do you plan to do next?"
"Huh? What do I plan to do?" John didn't quite understand.
"Lisa and Kane are together now. I heard you left Eindoak because of her." Lucien said.
John instantly understood. His shoulders drooped.
"I…I really don't know what to do."
"Will you return to Eindoark?" Lucien asked.
"Return? No way!" John shook his head immediately. "Actually, I really like it here. People living together with magical beasts, that's amazing!"
Lucien nodded. "The ghost you saw wasn't a spirit. It was Shuppet, a Ghost-type Pokémon. It feeds on emotions like jealousy and resentment. Your jealousy toward Kane attracted it."
"A…a magical beast?!" John was stunned, then suddenly everything clicked.
"No wonder I haven't felt so horrible these past few nights. I wasn't obsessing over Lisa and Kane anymore!"
"So that magical beast helped me?" John looked excited. "Your Highness, will it hurt people? Can I…live with it? Like how you live with your partners?"
He looked very serious, like he was ready to work three jobs just to feed the Shuppet.
Lucien smiled lightly. "Of course. A Shuppet won't harm people. It will likely come again tonight. If you want, invite it in."
"Yes!" John's eyes lit up.
Compared to love heartbreak, raising a terrifying magical beast seemed far more exciting.
And since Shuppet fed only on negative emotions, it posed no danger.
Lucien didn't bother with the matter afterward.
He casually asked about it the next morning, and Elif told him that John had already brought the Shuppet home to live with him.
"By the way, Elif," Lucien said, "I plan to form a new organization."
Elif blinked. "What kind of organization, Your Highness?"
"An association dedicated to training future beast-handlers, an organization called the Trainer Association."
"As our territory grows, and humans and magical beasts begin to live together, there will be more situations like John and Shuppet. I need trained specialists to handle such matters."
"Your Highness is wise," Elif said earnestly. He clearly approved of the idea. With such an organization, Lucien would no longer need to personally handle every small incident involving Magical beasts.
"How are the Magical beasts in the nature reserve?" Lucien asked.
"They're no longer as afraid of humans," Elif replied. "Some even seem to like people. They frequently leave the reserve and wander into town."
"Good." Lucien was satisfied. "I need you to find a group of children, ten to fifteen years old. Any background is fine."
Children at that age were still pure and impressionable. Unlike adults, they were far more likely to form genuine bonds with Pokémon.
"Yes, Your Highness!" Elif bowed and hurried off.
Lucien watched him leave, and the old king's words resurfaced in his mind.
Indeed, he needed to start cultivating his own power.
Lucien didn't need traditional ministers.
He needed people who understood Pokémon, who could live alongside them, cooperate with them, and use that harmony to develop the land.
He needed young people who would attend school for structured training, learning farming, fishing, mining, public order, justice, taxation, military basics, and most importantly, how to live with Pokémon.
In time, they would become mayors, town chiefs, and administrators who could manage future territories.
They would grow up with Pokémon. They would naturally spread that philosophy.
But before all that, he had to visit the Pokémon in the nature reserve.
The reserve lay just outside town, beside the orchard Lucien had planted months ago.
The Shuckle colony that Ryan had brought back lived there.
After weeks away, Lucien found that every fruit tree had grown tall and lush. Thanks to the Grass-type Pokémon tending the soil, the trees had matured early and were overflowing with plump berries.
As Lucien arrived, he saw several Shuckle slowly climbing the trees, picking fruit in their usual calm manner.
"Dragonite, go bring the Minccino!" Lucien said.
"Woo?"
Dragonite tilted its head, confused, but took off immediately.
A short while later, Dragonite returned with the five Minccino, each of them blinking in bewilderment at the orchard.
They clearly didn't understand why they had been brought here.
"Minccino," Lucien said with a warm smile, "last winter, I promised you I would plant a new berry grove, so you could start fresh and build a new home."
The five Minccino froze for half a second, then their expressions lit up in shock and joy.
"Bubu?! Minccino!"
Lucien nodded gently.
"That's right. This orchard is yours. I kept my promise."