Lucas had never seen Lusamine show such a vulnerable expression—
Wait, no, he'd only met Lusamine for the first time this morning. No matter how he looked at it, he wasn't in any position to make such a comment.
In any case, for Lusamine, internationally renowned as a business queen, to let slip this sort of emotion regardless of who was present—just proved how much her husband meant to her.
Even Wicke, waiting just outside the door, noticed the commotion and rushed in.
But what she found was Lusamine, so shaken, she was standing extremely close to Lucas—and her cheeks instantly turned red.
Flustered, she subconsciously covered her eyes with her hands, peeking through her fingers and hurriedly stammered, "I-I-I didn't see anything!"
Lucas & Lusamine: "..."
"Is she always like this?" Lucas glanced at Wicke, speechless, and then turned to ask Lusamine.
"No, at least—not most of the time. Wicke is actually pretty reliable—"
Having calmed down a bit, Lusamine stood up with Lucas's help, smoothing out her clothes.
Then she offered an apologetic smile to Lucas. "I'm sorry. Whenever I hear anything about Mohn, I can't help but lose my composure."
"No problem, let's sit and talk it through," Lucas nodded slightly, not minding at all.
Wicke also realized she might have misunderstood something, and tried to dash out of the receiving room like an ostrich playing dead.
But this time, Lusamine called her back.
"Wicke, you should listen to this too."
So Lucas sat on one side, with Wicke and Lusamine on the other.
After a few quick explanations from Lusamine, Wicke finally understood why Lusamine had been so emotional.
But it wasn't just Lusamine—even Wicke herself was getting worked up!
"You really know Professor Mohn!?" Wicke confirmed again and again.
"Yes, I do," Lucas nodded gently, then pulled out a photo album from his backpack.
He'd thought about it on the way: just bringing a single photo when meeting Lusamine seemed a bit forced. Since he'd brought his whole album anyway, may as well fill in the gaps that way.
As Lucas opened the album, Wicke and Lusamine instantly had all their attention fixed on it.
Most of the pictures in the album were of the Pokémon on Lucas's farm, shots taken during their evolution, in daily life moments, or even the big family photo Perrin had taken.
But the main point wasn't those.
"This is a photo of Mr. Mohn and me."
Flipping to a certain page, Lucas placed the open album in front of Lusamine and Wicke.
"Mohn..." Staring at the Mohn in the picture—who looked gaunter, maybe older, than she remembered—Lusamine unconsciously reddened at the eyes. She knew—the man in the picture with Lucas was her husband!
Although there were a few unfamiliar Pokémon in the shot, considering that Lucas's appearance hadn't changed at all, it was easy to judge that this was a picture from the past year or two.
"It really is Professor Mohn!"
Wicke was also very excited, immediately scanning the photo's background, trying to guess where Mohn was.
Heavy snow...could it be near Mount Lanakila on Ula'ula Island?
Professor Mohn actually settled there?
"President Lusamine, I'll take people to search for Professor Mohn around Mount Lanakila right away!" Wicke couldn't sit still, shooting up from her seat and preparing to leave that instant.
Lusamine just started to speak, but Lucas interrupted: "What's the hurry? I'm not done yet."
So, Wicke could only sit honestly back down, staring at Lucas wide-eyed like Lusamine.
Lucas shifted uncomfortably, then continued, "It was a few months ago—when I was in Galar's Crown Tundra, staying in a place called Freezington for, well, let's call it a vacation."
"Professor Mohn lives in Freezington?"
Once Lucas finished, Wicke asked.
He shook his head, "Not exactly. He lives somewhere even farther out from Freezington, outside the village, living alone."
"Living alone..."
Lusamine mulled these words over, her face growing paler.
She couldn't understand—if nothing had happened to Mohn, why, in all these years since Lillie was just a baby, hadn't he come back to look for her, or to see Gladion and Lillie?
But Lucas's next words chilled her to the core.
"No. That's not correct, let me clarify: Mohn isn't living alone, he has a daughter. It's just that I didn't meet her that day."
"D-daughter?"
A huge shock hit Lusamine, making her face go paper white. Her whole body trembled, close to fainting from sorrow.
Luckily, the truth hadn't been revealed to her face, so even though she was overwhelmed, she didn't lose consciousness as she might have in the anime.
"How could this be, Professor Mohn..."
Wicke, too, was utterly stunned. Her understanding was that Professor Mohn and President Lusamine were the most affectionate, inseparable couple in all of Alola. How could he betray Lusamine and start a new family!?
Lucas wasn't in the mood to play guessing games. He simply shared the rest of what he knew.
"Actually, that daughter—if I recall, Mohn said her name was also 'Lillie'."
"But here's what's strange: in the room where his daughter was hiding, my partner sensed something identical to the aura from an Ultra Wormhole."
Lucas frowned, describing the details he was "aware" of:
How he'd seen, from afar in Freezington, the outline of a domed hat with yellow and white trim.
How Freezington's villagers had never even seen Mohn's "daughter" Lillie.
How Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests, could sense the Ultra Wormhole aura there.
Before long, and with Wicke's help, Lusamine slowly recovered her color.
Thanks to Lucas's careful hints, she also became aware of a few important questions.
Let's leave aside just how Lucas's partner could be so familiar with the Ultra Wormhole's aura—
Still, the Mohn Lucas described was certainly odd. But exactly what was strange could only be discovered by meeting him personally.
Lusamine truly lived up to her reputation as the single-minded, ever-expanding ruler of the Aether Foundation.
Rather than wallowing, she planned to investigate the Crown Tundra herself. Whether it was to speak frankly with Mohn or to seek the truth—with a new lead on him at last, she was already satisfied.
Amidst Lusamine's repeated gratitude, Lucas—having finally finished this whole affair—sighed in relief and mentioned, after all, it was almost time for him to head back.
As he left, he thoughtfully offered Lusamine one more reminder:
"The Crown Tundra is a tough environment. Sometimes, just like in Alola, Ultra Wormholes might even open there and unleash those 'Ultra Beasts.'"
"So if you're going, you'd better bring your best-trained Pokémon—or at least a bodyguard."
With that, Lucas no longer concerned himself with what Lusamine would do. Led out by Wicke, he mounted his Dragonite and left Aether Paradise flying.
He thought: With hints as obvious as this, clever Lusamine should have realized the situation. At the very least, she'd be well-prepared before heading to the Crown Tundra.
The anime version of Lusamine's team was excellent:
Clefable, Salazzle, Milotic, Lilligant, Mismagius, Absol, and Herdier.
Such a line-up should be more than enough to keep her safe on any "truth-seeking" adventure.
Whether they could get "Lillie" back in the end would depend on Lusamine and Mohn.
As for whether Gladion or Lillie would be allowed to go to the Crown Tundra—Lucas was of the opinion that they would not.
He had already warned Lusamine about the dangers, and she wasn't the kind of mother to drag her children into harm's way. Gladion might be okay, but with Lillie's current condition, Lusamine almost certainly wouldn't allow her.
Besides, pre-Nihilego-parasite Lusamine, at this period, was self-willed and overprotective. She'd never let her "little baby" Lillie get near danger.
Lusamine also had the massive Aether Foundation to run. No matter how anxious she was, she'd most likely be delayed by work before she could set off.
Lucas figured, when the time came, he could just give Gladion a quiet tip-off.
He then left in style.
But Lusamine and Wicke could not stay calm.
Not only did they have the trip to the Crown Tundra to arrange; there were a ton of other matters to see to.
Tonight, clearly, was destined to be sleepless.
By the time Lucas left Aether Paradise, it was already after five in the afternoon.
He delayed a bit on the way back, buying some Poni Radishes at the Poni Island Market.
When he finally returned to his villa on Akala Island, it was nearly 7PM.
Seeing the gentle outline of the villa near the beach, Lucas—who had been through so much in one day—felt like a whole lifetime had passed.
Dragonite felt the same and couldn't wait to sit out on the porch swing, enjoying the sea breeze of the evening.
Coincidentally, they encountered the Eevee sisters, Ogerpon, and Spectrier, returned from their own excursion.
But their appearance left Lucas slightly shocked.
The normally neat fur of the Eevee sisters was a dirty tangle, especially the younger Eevee's silvery-gray fur—which was covered in muddy smudges.
Ogerpon's cloak was just as messy. Only Spectrier looked better, though not by much.
Just what had they been up to in the forest—?
A massive question mark hung over Lucas's mind.
Before he could think further, as if sensing their arrival, Oranguru came out from inside the house—wearing its apron, yellow lamplight at its back, and the faint outline of a busy Gladion carrying plates.
"Welcome back, everyone! Let's wash up before dinner."
Oranguru wore a kindly smile, and Lucas, as well as his Pokémon, all returned a tired but contented expression.
That's right: whatever had happened, it could wait until after a good bath and a meal.
After all—they had all made it back safe and sound.
Even after using Purified Water for cleansing, only after a satisfying hot bath did Lucas feel truly refreshed.
It was both physical and symbolic.
In the living room, Lucas saw Gladion—locked in a staring contest with Tapu Fini.
Even though Lucas had already introduced Tapu Fini and Popplio as new farm residents… Compared to the Pokémon, who were used to welcoming new friends, Gladion's entire worldview was clearly being upended.
Lucas had just gone on a trip… How had he brought back an Island Guardian!?
And from the sound of it, Tapu Fini wasn't just a guest, but planned to move to Paldea!
What about Poni Island…?
Gladion hadn't noticed Tapu Fini's color difference. Lucas figured he'd explain later.
Looking around, the freshly cleaned Eevee sisters were excitedly lying beside Luxray, listening to its stories.
Ogerpon, eyes starry, seemed entranced by Swampert's tale.
Seeing Lucas finished, Oranguru came out from the kitchen, smiling, and called out with psychic power: "Dinner's ready!"
He'd had Gladion help him study recipes all day, and tonight's dishes were sure to impress!
The food was piping hot—Popplio, who had hardly seen the outside world, clapped its fins in delight. But Tapu Fini, warned by Burnet, quickly scooped Seel aside.
—Given Popplio's current health, it could only eat supplements or Moomoo Milk, not solid food.
Except for Popplio, everyone had their own dinner. Even with the surprise addition of Tapu Fini, Oranguru was always prepared with extra, so it wasn't a problem.
At the table, Gladion ate silently. Lucas looked around, wanting to ask the Eevee sisters, Ogerpon, or Spectrier about their day in the forest.
At that moment, Oranguru brought over a pitcher of what looked like juice with its telekinesis.
Like magic, a dozen paper cups floated down in front of everyone, then were filled from the pitcher.
"Yare Yuta!"
Oranguru proudly introduced the beverage he'd spent months perfecting: the world's tastiest Pinap Juice.
He was confident—even Tapu Fini, an Island Guardian, would be impressed!
But Ogerpon, after a casual sip, blurted out something that left Oranguru thunderstruck.
"Boni Boni!"
It tasted exactly like the drink made by another Oranguru in the forest!
In that instant, even the slow-witted Gladion felt the tension fill the room so suddenly, he almost choked.
…
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