"Gigi!"
Since the opponent had made their move, Gengar stopped holding back — materializing instantly and landing a Shadow Ball dead center.
The leader's Klawf was sent flying across the floor, spinning in circles before going down.
"Gengar?!"
All the young people froze.
Outside the shop, the gathered onlookers grew animated.
They'd expected the usual scene of bullies terrorizing an innocent shopkeeper. Instead, the shopkeeper had serious firepower on standby.
The truth was, Gengar wasn't the only heavy hitter present.
Setting aside Deoxys hovering invisibly in the sky, there was also a Lucario sitting calmly near the back door.
Both Gengar and Lucario had been stationed here by Dad to protect Mom.
Gengar was always tucked inside Mom's shadow. Lucario spent most of its time in the shop too — occasionally it wandered into the back breeding garden when things got slow.
Dad had taught them: delay your response and you have the moral high ground.
So unless Mom gave the word, neither of them acted.
Gengar stayed put in Mom's shadow. Lucario lurked nearby, ready to strike the moment it was needed.
Dad said wait for the right moment. But Dad also said the moment Mom speaks, forget timing entirely.
"Gigi!"
Gengar grinned wide, launching Shadow Ball after Shadow Ball until every single one of the opponent's Pokémon lay flat on the ground.
"Damn it!"
The leader grit his teeth, eyes bloodshot — then threw out a High-Crestore ball.
"Houndoom?!"
"And there it is! The classic villain starter Pokémon. Finally, an actual bad guy. Took them long enough."
Just as the young man was about to order Houndoom forward, Lu Ze walked out with Diancie, Mawile, and Lucario trailing behind him.
"Oh? Oh? What do we have here? What's all the commotion about?"
Lu Ze surveyed the floor littered with unfamiliar fainted Pokémon and the group of furious-looking peers before him, genuinely curious.
"What happened? They saw our Mini Dragon, offered to buy it, I said no — and here we are."
Mom yawned as she explained. These people had completely shut down her business. And she'd missed her usual closing time.
"Huh. Mini Dragon. And how much were you offering?"
The leader's eyes lit up the moment he realized Lu Ze was willing to talk terms. He held up one finger.
"One million?"
"One *hundred million!*"
The leader leaned in with a smug shake of his head. "We're from the Li family of Shangjing. Don't worry — we absolutely have the means."
Lu Ze snorted. "A hundred million? That's enough for two quasi-Legendaries. You're spending that kind of money — did your parents sign off on it?"
"Tch. What does a commoner like you know? This is just my pocket change—"
"Lil' Ze, stop stalling. Wrap it up, we're going home for dinner."
The leader's sentence was cut short by Mom.
She didn't understand why Lu Ze was even entertaining their nonsense. Just end it and get it over with.
"Alright, alright."
Lu Ze shrugged, genuinely disappointed. How often did he get to mess with villains willing to trade banter? The real ones — the Church types — never bothered with chat. They just came straight for you.
"Man, this is boring. Deoxys, chuck them out."
Lu Ze waved a hand dismissively and turned to scoop Mini Dragon from Mom's arms.
"Hey there, little dragon. Haven't seen you all day. Miss me?"
"Chew~"
Mini Dragon nuzzled against Lu Ze's cheek, curling happily into his embrace.
"Chew~"
The girl watching from the shop felt her heart melt all over again.
The leader, meanwhile, only burned hotter.
Acting like that in front of us — does he think we're nothing?
"Houndoom! Agility!"
Houndoom was the guard Pokémon his elders had given him for protection. He was sure Houndoom alone could tear through any opponent.
After all, the strongest thing Lu Ze had on display was Gengar — which Houndoom already had type advantage over.
*BOOM!*
As Houndoom rushed forward, Deoxys reluctantly peeled its attention away from Mini Dragon. It was about to telekinetically hurl everyone out when Lucario was already moving.
A bone club condensed from Aura struck Houndoom dead between the eyes.
The sudden blow left Houndoom dizzy — and Lucario pressed the advantage.
*Aura Sphere!*
The energy orb in Lucario's palm pressed directly into Houndoom's face, launching the Houndoom across the room. It hit the ground and stayed down.
"Gigi~!"
Gengar danced with delight nearby. Lucario's strength really hadn't changed at all.
"Buzz~"
Now Deoxys bothered to reveal itself. *Let's just finish this and go home.*
*Psychic.*
Its eyes faintly glowed purple. Everyone on the ground — people and Pokémon alike — began to float.
The crowd outside watched as roughly a dozen humans and Pokémon of various sizes were lifted and then flung out through the door.
"Whoa! Awesome! They even threw out the Li family's young miss!"
"The Lis? Big deal?"
"Super loaded!"
Lu Ze and Mom couldn't hear a word of the chatter outside — Deoxys had helpfully closed the door behind them.
"Ohhh! Boss lady, you're amazing!"
The shop girls cheered in unison.
"Wow, Lucario is so cool! Is that one of the boss's Pokémon?"
"Gengar!! So cute(v)"
"Gigi~"
Gengar blew an unashamed kiss to the girl who'd praised it.
"Alright, everyone — let's clean up and close out."
"Yes, Boss Lady~"
The synchronized, sweet chorus made Lu Ze's spine tingle.
After the employees finished tidying and filed out one by one, Lu Ze and Mom headed through the back door into the research institute.
"Mom, do you think they'll come back tomorrow?"
Mom smiled, shooting Lu Ze a sideways glance. "Almost certainly not."
"Huh? Why not?"
Lu Ze was confused. He hadn't even gotten his satisfying comeback moment in yet. How could they just leave now?
He'd been looking forward to a proper idiot villain. It wasn't easy finding one.
"They'll definitely tattle to their parents tonight, and their elders will send stronger Pokémon. After all — what did their current batch even amount to? Wet noodles, the lot of them."
"So if they *don't* tell their parents, they won't come back. But if they *do*... their parents are going to realize — what kind of operation is running a shop like this? Who's actually backing it?"
"Then tomorrow they'd show up with an apology squad."
Lu Ze blinked, then smiled. "Got it."
He paused. "So, Mom — what are you planning for tomorrow?"
Mom smirked. "I'm not opening the doors. Let them sweat for a day."
Lu Ze caught the idea and grinned back.
"Alright then. Tomorrow — come watch Deoxys vs. Rayquaza."
*(End of chapter)*
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