Chapter 482: Beastfolk Shall Never Be Enslaved! Unless...
The free-entry doubles match at the Seven-Star Hotel concluded with Teacher Lu and Ami's crushing victory.
Ami, having eaten her fill for once, walked in the cool night breeze and couldn't help letting out a small burp. Instantly, the twin-braided girl's face turned crimson as she glanced around furtively. After confirming no one had noticed, she sighed in relief.
Lu Ye was currently consoling the defeated Ash: "Third place still gets prize money~!"
Ash sighed: "Senior Anemone is just too strong... Butterfree's Sleep Powder hits every single time!"
Never did she imagine she'd one day be called "senior." Celadon Anemone clasped her hands behind her back and giggled shyly: "Just luck, pure luck~" After all, she was a girl blessed by Viridian Forest. Her fortune might not match Togepi's, but it certainly surpassed ordinary humans.
Considering tomorrow's fishing tournament, Lu Ye decided to return to the hotel early. "By the way, how did your Gym battle with Melisa go?" he asked.
"Won!" Ash's eyes sparkled, about to explain when he remembered Melisa's warning and awkwardly scratched his head. He couldn't let Teacher Lu know Melisa planned to simply give him the badge—this was recognition from Gym Leader Melisa herself, a little surprise!
Lu Ye simply went "Hmm" without pressing further. Either Melisa went easy, or Ash's Counter Shield tactic happened to counter Drifblim's sleep strategy. The former seemed more likely... after all, Ash was still using his newly caught Sinnoh team whose strength wasn't fully developed yet.
"Teacher Lu, aren't you judging tomorrow's exhibition match?" Ami asked softly.
"Taking a day off so Mr. Contesta doesn't have to keep scowling at me." Ami covered her mouth, recalling today's scene of Mr. Contesta facing three perfect scores alone. "Serves him right!"
The girl suddenly realized something: "Right! I need to get back to business!"
Lu Ye asked curiously: "What are you selling tomorrow?"
"Sylveon merchandise!" The girl said proudly. "With your amazing performance today, they'll sell like hotcakes!" Teacher Lu's expression turned odd. Should he warn her that Team Rocket Trio had already beaten her to it...? Ah well, even if she took losses, someone else would cover them.
As night deepened, rustling winds stirred through the deciduous woods by Lake Valor. In the distance, a crescent moon reflected off the shimmering lake surface. After bidding farewell to Ash and others, Lu Ye checked into the lakeside luxury hotel using Matori's complimentary voucher.
The voucher bore no instructor information, so the staff merely treated him as an incredibly lucky guest, leading him to the presidential suite on the top floor. The lavishly decorated room offered a panoramic night view through floor-to-ceiling windows.
Lu Ye glanced at his chat group, discovering Aaron—who had delivered a Pokémon egg to Lake Valor—had already rushed off to another work assignment. A complicated feeling arose in Teacher Lu's heart. So this was why Sinnoh League had such a slacking culture—it was Aaron carrying the workload for Flint and Aaron!
"Gengarrr~" Haunter floated to the window, pressing its face against the glass to peer outside. Finding this unsatisfying, it phased straight through to hover mid-air outside. Bathed in moonlight, Haunter stuck out its tongue and made faces at Lu Ye through the glass.
Lu Ye chuckled helplessly. "Gengarrr! (～￣▽￣)～" Haunter kept jumping in and out of the window, thoroughly enjoying itself. There really was nothing Lu Ye could do about it, until he suddenly remembered something: "Give me the incubator." A few hours shouldn't be enough to infect it with "self-management awareness"... probably.
"Gengarrr! (￣▽￣)／" Haunter rummaged through its pockets and handed the transparent incubator through the glass. According to Aura senses, the egg still had a long way before hatching. Lu Ye sighed in relief—plenty of time for Ducklett to teach it the "philosophy of successful slacking"!
The spacious suite allowed Arcanine to roll about on the carpet with an expression of pure bliss. "Awooo~ᕦ(･ㅂ･)ᕤ" Lu Ye rubbed its warm belly as the completely undignified fire type grinned goofily.
"You could at least learn something from Green's 'Lion King'," Lu Ye said wryly. "Awoo? (O_o)??" "Never mind, just be happy."
"Eevee~o(´^｀)o" Sylveon lay on the sofa, pink ears twitching slightly. Perhaps tired from today's battles, it lazily yawned... or maybe just found its opponents too weak and boring.
Considering he still needed to convince Ducklett to help incubate the egg, Lu Ye pondered before deciding to use today's acquired [Lansa Fruit] to make new Pokéblocks. Conveniently, Haunter had brought the berry blender from home—just let Rotom possess it and it's ready to use...
"Does not compute, Rotto~o(TヘTo)" "Hurry up, I'll have Ampharos charge you tomorrow!" "All systems go, Rotto!（๑`▽´๑)۶"
The Lansa Fruit Pokéblocks had a peculiar taste, their crystalline sheen reflecting the berry's exceptional quality. "Mmm..." Lu Ye swallowed saliva but ultimately handed the sample to Haunter instead of taste-testing himself. "Gengarrr~(o≖◡≖)✧" Haunter gave the new flavor top marks. Adding some leek juice should make it more to Ducklett's taste...
After adjustments, Lu Ye presented the final product to Sirfetch'd. "Quack?" The leek knight pointed at itself in disbelief. "Specially made for you," Lu Ye said solemnly. "Even Togepi didn't get any!" "QUACK!(´థ౪థ)σ" Instantly, tears welled in Sirfetch'd's eyes, deeply moved. All this time I thought Master saw me as emergency rations... I misjudged him!
"Quaaack~~(๑´ㅂ`๑)" Sirfetch'd swallowed the [Lansa Block], its sharp brows relaxing as it broke into a grin. The fruit's critical-hit boost synergized perfectly with Sirfetch'd, making its leek blade gleam with metallic sharpness—especially relevant for its ultimate move, Meteor Assault!
Suddenly, Sirfetch'd's eyes focused with newfound determination: "QUACK!" If I can rank higher in team battles... I could eat more of these delicious blocks! Instantly, Sirfetch'd felt reinvigorated!
"Actually... I need a favor," Lu Ye said somewhat apologetically. "QUACK!" Sirfetch'd brandished its leek—just give the order! Nodding, Lu Ye took the warm egg from the incubator and handed it over. "Quack?" Sirfetch'd looked utterly perplexed.
"From now on, you're on egg duty," Lu Ye nodded. "Be careful not to sit on it." "QUACK!(´థ౪థ)σ" Sirfetch'd's heart broke as tears streamed down. How can a knight incubate eggs? Galarian Farfetch'd shall never be enslaved!!
"I'll make more Lansa Blocks tomorrow," Lu Ye said. Sirfetch'd's expression turned solemn as it nodded gravely. Those are irrelevant! Mainly I want to share Master's burdens!
As if sensing the team's harmonious atmosphere, the gray-green egg wobbled slightly. Instantly, everyone held their breath, staring intently until the egg settled down again. "Hatching will take months at least..." Lu Ye rubbed his chin.
In this team, Haunter inherited his "dirty tactics," Blastoise represented "caution," Sirfetch'd embodied "slacking"... If hatched Pokémon resemble their trainers... what kind of life would emerge from this egg? Lu Ye pondered fruitlessly before shaking his head.
Then Teacher Lu opened his system interface to a prompt: [Claim "Random Poké Ball*1"?] [Yes/No] "Yes." [Ding! Obtained "Dark Ball*1"!] ...