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"Grandma, I lost."
Professor Carolina paused what she was doing, then looked at the screen. "Did you go easy on him?"
Cynthia, lying on the bed, shook her head. "No, I've already used my full strength."
"And you still lost like that?"
Professor Carolina asked in disbelief.
She knew her granddaughter's strength very well; so far, she had only lost to the Champion of the Galar region, Leon, so she hadn't expected her to lose to Lucas this time.
Cynthia nodded.
"Is that kid's strength really that strong?"
After saying this, Professor Carolina suddenly remembered the events involving the Duo Gods of Time and Space in Poplar Town, the master of the Distortion World at Mt. Coronet, and Arceus at the Michina Temple, all of which were resolved because of Lucas.
Thinking about it that way, it wasn't unacceptable that the guy's strength was even greater than Cynthia's.
"So that means... you two..."
"Yeah."
Cynthia hummed in agreement. Professor Carolina slammed her hand down suddenly. "That kid, did he touch you? Let him wait. Tomorrow—no, I'm going over there right now to slaughter him."
Cynthia suddenly realized what her grandma meant, and her face flushed red. "No, Grandma, what are you thinking? I meant that I agreed to be with him, we haven't... done that yet..."
"Oh, I see. Then I'll let him off the hook for now."
Professor Carolina breathed a sigh of relief.
"If you have time... bring that guy home for a meal."
After a long while, Professor Carolina spoke again.
"Okay, I'll tell him. If we have time, I'll bring him home to eat."
"He has to make time, even if he doesn't have any. What? Once he's won you over, he doesn't have time?"
Professor Carolina got angrier the more she thought about it, and her voice grew louder.
"So, have you handed the Champion position over to him now? That's fine too; come back and help me with my research, be my assistant."
Professor Carolina continued.
"No, I'm still the Champion of Sinnoh. I told him to take the Champion position, but he refused. He said the Breeding House couldn't function without him, so he wouldn't be Champion."
Thinking back to yesterday when she told him to become the Sinnoh Champion, he had shaken his head like a rattle, looking as if the Champion position were something truly terrifying.
Cynthia sighed helplessly.
"He beat you and doesn't want to be Champion? What an irresponsible guy."
Professor Carolina frowned again.
"Grandma."
Cynthia lay on the bed, looking at Professor Carolina on the screen, and called out softly. "The Breeding House really can't function without him. Besides, he didn't participate in the League Conference and didn't defeat me there, so for now, I am still the Champion of Sinnoh."
"Alright, alright, I can't win against you. You haven't even married him yet, and you're already defending him like this, afraid I'll eat him up."
Listening to Professor Carolina, Cynthia's face flushed red for no reason. "Grandma..."
The best way to handle Professor Carolina was to use Charm.
Specifically, Cynthia-brand Charm.
"Alright, alright, I won't talk about him anymore. Look at how worried you are for him, but you don't seem to worry about this old lady here."
Professor Carolina waved her hand and spoke.
"I'll come back to keep you company tomorrow."
Cynthia looked at the white hair on her grandma's head on the screen and spoke softly.
"Forget it. The League Conference just ended, you still have a pile of announcements to make, and a lot of League affairs to handle. If I'm not mistaken, it's almost time for the Gym inspections, right?"
Hearing Professor Carolina's words, Cynthia made a bitter face. "That's right..."
Time to work again... Ugh...
After the Gym inspections, it's time to start preparing for the next League Conference.
I thought I'd finally be able to rest for a while...
Forget it, I'll let Lucian go.
"I'm going to do the Gym inspections?"
Lucian pushed up the frames of his glasses, looking at Cynthia in disbelief.
Cynthia nodded gently.
Lucian looked at Cynthia before him, then at the thick stack of papers in his hand, and the pile of folders on the desk.
???
Are you really using me like a nuclear-powered donkey?
"big sis, do you want to take a look at what I'm doing right now?"
Lucian said weakly.
Lucian was handling all the aftermath of the League Conference alone—not almost, but all of it!
Since the battle between Lucas and Cynthia ended yesterday, both Flint and Aaron had disappeared, no one knew where.
When called to come back and handle affairs, one said he wanted to continue training to try and defeat Cynthia next year, and the other said he was going to be Flint's sparring partner...
As for Grandma Bertha...
Forget it, Lucian suddenly felt that maybe he could handle it after all.
Cynthia: ...
Lucian suddenly remembered something and looked at Cynthia: "big sis, wouldn't it be better to just let our other Sinnoh Champion go?"
Cynthia understood immediately who Lucian was talking about. "Him? Asking him to make a special trip would be like taking his life."
"We can be flexible. Have the Gym Leaders go to the Breeding House instead, and let the Gym Leaders have a good rest while they're at it. I'm sure they'll like the environment at the Breeding House."
Cynthia thought Lucian's idea made a lot of sense. "And then we reimburse the expenses?"
"No."
Lucian interrupted Cynthia, speaking righteously: "The League doesn't have much money left."
Cynthia: ...
"So I have to participate in shows again, is that it?"
"As of now, that seems to be the case."
Lucian nodded.
Cynthia sat on the sofa to the side and sighed.
"So annoying... being Champion is so tiring..."
Watching Cynthia slumped on the sofa, Lucian stood up, took a portion of the folders, and prepared to walk over to hand them to Cynthia.
Cynthia instantly appeared at the door. "It's decided then. I'm going to the Breeding House to find Lucas and tell him about this. I'll leave the League affairs to you for now."
After saying this, Cynthia pushed open the office door and walked out with Garchomp.
Lucian looked at the vanished Cynthia, then at the folders in his hand. She ran off before he could even say anything?
"That was close."
Walking out of the League gates, Cynthia let out a sigh of relief, then looked at Garchomp. "Let's go, to the Breeding House."
Garchomp nodded. Cynthia jumped onto Garchomp's back, then flew high into the sky, heading in the direction of the Breeding House.
"No matter how many times I come here, it's always just as comfortable as ever."
Lance lay lazily in his armchair in the garden, took a sip of hot tea, and spoke.
"There seems to be some kind of magic here that can make people calm down very quickly."
Wallace sat elegantly on a chair to the side, skillfully brewing tea for himself, then poured a cup for everyone present.
"I'm thinking about whether the next Wallace Cup could be held here. I feel like Sandgem Town also has a venue capable of hosting the Wallace Cup."
Wallace picked up the teacup, blew on it, drank it in one gulp, and continued: "We could even have Lucas be a special guest. Since it's so close this time, he shouldn't be able to escape."
"By the way, what are we eating tonight?"
Steven asked. He turned to look at Lucas, who was crouching in the shadows with Gengar, saying something to the shadows.
"What are Lucas and Gengar doing?"
Steven asked.
"Stop hiding, come out and apologize to Alcremie."
Lucas said to Darkrai, who was hiding in the shadow.
Gengar reached half its body into the shadow, extending its hand to try and drag Darkrai out.
"I don't want to, let me go, I'm going back."
"Gen gengar."
Don't even think about running.
Gengar puffed out its cheeks, dragging Darkrai by its feet, its own short little legs kicking in the air, even its expression showing effort as it tried to drag Darkrai out.
"If you don't come out, I won't be able to help you if you get beaten up later."
Lucas said, looking at Darkrai, who was tugging with Gengar.
"Who can beat me!"
Darkrai was fearless.
Distortion World.
Alcremie fed the food that she and Gothitelle had brought in to Giratina bit by bit.
Giratina could tell that Alcremie was in a bad mood. While opening its mouth, waiting for Alcremie to toss the dessert to it, it asked Alcremie what had happened.
"imai..."
That big villain Darkrai came to the Breeding House again.
Darkrai?
"imai."
Yeah, it steals the food from the Breeding House every time. That was clearly food I prepared for Lucas and the Pokémon at the Breeding House. I even cried last time. Although Lucas said he was the one who let Darkrai take it, I know it was Darkrai who stole it secretly.
The more Alcremie spoke, the more aggrieved she felt. Her little face scrunched up again, and peanut-sized teardrops dripped down into the Distortion World.
Giratina comforted her for a long time before Alcremie recovered.
"imai..."
Sorry, I cried again...
After Alcremie fed all the food in her hands to Giratina, she stood up from the ground and clapped her little hands. "imai."
I have to go back to make dinner for Lucas and the others. I'll make some more food to bring in for you tomorrow.
Okay, don't worry, I'll get back at him for you.
Giratina opened a distortion channel to comfort Alcremie.
"imai."
Thank you, Giratina. You really are a good Pokémon, just like Lucas, a good person.
After speaking, Alcremie clapped her hands and, with her short little legs, walked out of the Distortion World and returned to the kitchen of the Breeding House.
After Alcremie left the Distortion World, Giratina's eyes instantly turned sharp. It cruised around the Distortion World, searching for Darkrai's shadow.
Its six steel wings continuously made sounds of steel colliding.
Until it found Darkrai's location.
Breeding House?
That makes it even easier.
It just so happens I've been in a bad mood from working overtime lately.
Darkrai, who was tugging with Gengar, suddenly felt its scalp tingle. The next second, a distortion channel suddenly appeared beneath its feet. A giant Pokémon rushed out from the Distortion World, used its feet to restrain Darkrai, and then dragged it into the Distortion World.
Darkrai: ???
Giratina?
Darkrai: Lucas, save me!
The distortion channel disappeared.
Pfft~
Gengar popped out from the shadow and landed on its butt on the grass.
"Gen gengar?"
What happened? How did Darkrai disappear?
"Sigh... I told it to apologize properly, but it wouldn't listen. Now look, it got dragged in by Giratina to be taught a lesson."
Lucas shook his head, stood up, and reached out to pull Gengar up. "Forget about it, let's go prepare dinner. A bunch of gluttons are waiting."
"Gen gengar?"
Gluttons? What are those? Are they delicious?
"Eat, eat, eat, all you think about is eating. Hurry up and come over to help."
"Gen gengar—"
I don't want to! If I go in, I'll get criticized by Gothitelle again. I'm going to go find Vespiquen to play.
"You? Go find Vespiquen to play? If you want to steal honey, just say so. Be careful about getting your butt stung swollen again; I don't have time to apply medicine for you."
"Gen gengar."
None of your business, bleh.
Gengar made a face at Lucas, then flew toward the garden to find Flint's ace Pokémon, Infernape.
"Gen gengar."
Do you want to go eat honey?
Infernape: "Roar?"
What do you mean?
"Gen gengar."
I'll take you to eat sweet honey, do you want to? Hehe.
Infernape was tricked by Gengar, following behind it as it ran toward the Forest Area.
Dragonite and Metagross on the side looked at each other, then shook their heads.
Still too young.
Forest Area, inside the beehive.
Vespiquen, sitting on the throne, suddenly opened her eyes.
Oh no! This familiar feeling!
Pass on my order: all Combee, go out and be vigilant against that hateful big fatty!
Lucas, who was cooking, looked up and glanced through the window toward the direction of the Forest Area.
"What's going on? Did I hear Infernape's scream?"
Mime Jr. looked up. "Nini?"
Could it be that you misheard? If anyone were screaming, it should be Gengar, right?
"That makes sense, I must have misheard."
Lucas nodded, then lowered his head to continue processing the fish in his hands.
"Gen gengar."
Ta-da! Gengar makes a shiny entrance!
Gengar passed through the wall, holding two jars of sweet honey. Like offering a treasure, it handed one jar of sweet honey to Lucas, keeping the other for itself.
Lucas took it very skillfully and set it aside, then looked Gengar over; it was completely unscathed.
"Strange, this doesn't seem like Vespiquen's style. How are you unscathed today?"
"Could it be that Vespiquen isn't in the hive? That shouldn't be..."
Gengar rolled its eyes, then gave a hehe laugh.
"Gen gengar~"
Don't worry about it~
"Awoo..."
Lucas looked out the window. "What's going on? In my memory, the Breeding House doesn't raise any dogs, right?"
"Gen gengar."
You misheard, you misheard.
"Really?"
Gengar nodded confidently. "Gen gengar."
Definitely not a dog barking.
"Fine then. You and Dash and the others go set up the table outside. The food is almost ready, and today there's that big pork knuckle you like."
"Gen gengar!"
Yay, hooray!
Then it extended its tongue to lick Lucas, wiggled its big butt, set up the table, and floated toward the backyard.
Gothitelle flicked her hand.
"Oof... my teeth..."
Lucas, chewing on a Cheri Berry, let out a scream.
"It almost knocked my tooth out."
"Gothitelle."
I will be careful next time.
At the dinner table.
Lucas looked at the battered and bruised Infernape.
"??? Infernape was also dragged into the Distortion World by Giratina and beaten up?"
Hearing Lucas's words, Infernape glanced at Gengar and found Gengar was busy stuffing its face. It opened its mouth, not knowing what to say.
"Pi!"
It came to steal my sweet honey, so I beat it up!
Lucas glanced at Vespiquen, then at Infernape.
Lucas sighed helplessly.
No need to say it, I already know whose fault it is...
Then Lucas looked at Darkrai, also battered and bruised, but it didn't stop it from burying its head in its food.
Feeling Lucas looking at it, it raised its head. "What? You have some in your bowl, this is mine."
After speaking, it even licked the big pork knuckle in its bowl with its tongue, fearing that Lucas would snatch its pork knuckle away.
Lucas: ...
"It's fine, eat up. Being able to eat is a blessing."
"I was just saying, when did the Breeding House start raising a dog? So it was a monkey screaming..."
Lucas added a piece of fish to Lilligant's plate and said softly.
Although he said it softly, everyone and every Pokémon in sight heard it.
Infernape: ...
This is bullying a monkey too much...
Infernape buried its head in grief and indignation, eating the pork knuckle in its bowl.
"Awoo..."
It's... so delicious... *sob sob sob*...
Fine, I'll be a dog then... it's just really too delicious...