Ethan, Kitsu, Whitney, Sabrina, Erika, Falkner, Bugsy, and Lyra sat together in one of the Harmonia Estate's lounges.
For once—
Nobody was training.
Nobody was battling.
Nobody was being chased by territorial Bug Pokémon.
They were simply watching television.
On screen, Kamen Rider Black RX was fighting yet another explosion-filled battle against Crisis Empire forces.
Whitney pointed at the screen.
"That jump made absolutely no sense."
Ethan shrugged.
"It's Kamen Rider."
Whitney nodded.
"Fair."
Nearby, Lyra happily munched on popcorn.
"So," she asked, "any idea when the next series comes out?"
Ethan leaned back in his chair.
"The franchise is kind of in a weird spot right now."
Everyone looked toward him.
"Especially after Sinnoh got involved with the Poké Rider project."
Bugsy nodded.
"The merchandising numbers were insane."
"They sold out in three days."
Whitney looked horrified.
"People bought transformation belts for Pokémon?"
Falkner looked at her.
"You bought three."
Whitney immediately pointed.
"That is unrelated."
"No it isn't."
"It absolutely is."
Erika smiled while watching the screen.
"I heard rumors."
Everyone looked at her.
"The next series might be called Shin Kamen Rider."
Ethan blinked.
Then slowly nodded.
"I heard that too."
Lyra immediately leaned forward.
"What's it about?"
Ethan shrugged.
"No idea."
"The rumors change every week."
Sabrina adjusted her glasses.
"Statistically speaking, seventy percent of entertainment rumors are fabricated."
Whitney looked at her.
"You actually know that statistic?"
"No."
Sabrina took a sip of tea.
"But it sounded correct."
The room fell silent.
"..."
"..."
"Honestly?" Whitney admitted.
"I believed you."
A loud knock echoed through the room.
Everyone turned toward the door.
Ethan looked up.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Outa stepped inside with a bright smile.
Her light blue hair caught the afternoon sunlight streaming through the hallway windows.
"Oh good."
She looked around the room.
"Everyone is still alive."
Kitsu blinked.
"...Were we supposed to die?"
Outa ignored the question.
"The Gala starts in one hour."
Instant panic.
Whitney immediately jumped up.
"ONE HOUR?!"
Erika froze.
Lyra looked at herself.
Bugsy looked at himself.
Then looked horrified.
"I only brought bug-catching clothes!"
Falkner sighed.
"You're attending a billionaire gala."
Bugsy looked down at his shirt.
"...Do billionaires not like bug shirts?"
The silence answered for him.
Outa clapped her hands.
"Everyone go get ready."
She pointed directly at Ethan.
"And you especially."
Ethan pointed at himself.
"What did I do?"
"You're a Harmonia."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only answer you're getting."
Whitney immediately laughed.
"Get rich-kid'd."
Ethan looked betrayed.
Kitsu stood up and patted his shoulder.
"Come on."
"We both know resistance is futile."
Ethan sighed dramatically.
"...I miss the forest."
---
As everyone began heading toward their assigned guest rooms to change, none of them realized just how important tonight's Gala would become.
Because among the guests arriving at Harmonia Estate were:
Industrial leaders.
League officials.
Gym Leaders.
Foreign dignitaries.
And one particular visitor—
Flying across the sea with a certain suitcase.
A man named Steven Stone.
And by the end of the evening—
Several futures would quietly begin to change.
After a while, the chaos of preparation finally settled down.
The guests of the Harmonia Estate emerged one by one from their rooms.
And honestly—
Everyone cleaned up surprisingly well.
Bugsy stared at himself in a mirror for what was probably the tenth time.
The Harmonia staff had somehow found a perfectly fitted black suit for him.
"...I look like I'm about to sell someone a Heracross."
Bayleef looked unimpressed.
Across the hall, Falkner adjusted his tie.
Unlike Bugsy, he actually looked comfortable in formal clothing.
Which only annoyed Bugsy further.
"Why do you look like you've done this before?"
Falkner shrugged.
"Because I have."
"...Right. Gym Leader Dad."
"Gym Leader Dad."
Meanwhile Ethan emerged from his room.
The hallway went quiet for a second.
His suit was black with subtle crimson accents.
On the breast rested the silver-and-red Harmonia family emblem.
Elegant.
Simple.
Expensive enough to make most people uncomfortable.
Whitney pointed immediately.
"You look rich."
Ethan looked down at himself.
"I am rich."
"...Right."
"That probably explains it."
Nearby, Kitsu stepped out next.
Her orange evening dress carried subtle Harmonia embroidery around the sleeves and hem.
The warm colors contrasted nicely against her hair.
Ethan gave a thumbs up.
"Looks good."
Kitsu smiled.
"Thanks."
Then she immediately pointed at Ethan.
"You clean up surprisingly well."
"That sounded like an insult."
"It was fifty percent compliment."
"Fair."
A nearby door opened.
Erika stepped out first.
The dress her family had sent yesterday fit perfectly.
Elegant green with floral accents inspired by Celadon traditions.
For a second the hallway actually went quiet.
Whitney whistled.
"Wow."
Lyra nodded rapidly.
"Wow."
Even Bugsy blinked.
"...Wow."
Erika immediately became embarrassed.
"Please stop saying wow."
"No."
"Absolutely not."
Sabrina emerged a moment later.
Her dress was much simpler.
Dark violet with silver details.
Refined.
Elegant.
Completely Sabrina.
Whitney immediately pointed again.
"Psychic princess."
Sabrina adjusted her gloves.
"I choose to interpret that as a compliment."
"It was."
Then came Lyra.
She looked down at her white dress.
"Honestly?"
Everyone looked at her.
"It's comfortable."
Whitney stared.
"That's your review?"
"Yep."
"It cost more than my house."
Lyra shrugged.
"Still comfortable."
The final door opened.
Whitney stepped out.
She immediately crossed her arms.
"I still wanted pink."
Her dress was white with subtle silver details.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
And very much not pink.
Ethan looked at her.
"You look fine."
Whitney pointed dramatically.
"That isn't the point."
"The point is that I specifically requested pink."
Kitsu nodded.
"She did."
"The maids said white matched the theme."
Whitney looked betrayed.
"The theme betrayed me."
Laughter echoed through the hallway.
Even Sabrina smiled slightly.
Then a maid approached and gave a polite bow.
"Young Master Ethan."
Everyone turned.
"The guests have begun arriving."
The atmosphere shifted slightly.
The Gala.
The real reason everyone was here.
Ethan nodded.
"Understood."
The maid smiled professionally.
"The Head of the Family is already receiving guests."
Whitney immediately grabbed Lyra's arm.
"Oh no."
Lyra looked confused.
"What?"
"We are about to meet rich people."
Lyra froze.
"...Oh no."
Bugsy looked equally horrified.
"I just realized I know bug facts."
Falkner sighed.
"Try not to lead with that."
"No promises."
Together, the group began heading downstairs toward the grand ballroom.
Below them, music already echoed faintly through the mansion.
And somewhere among the arriving guests—
A certain man from Hoenn was getting closer with every passing minute.
The moment the group stepped into the main hallway, several heads turned.
Whitney nearly stopped walking.
Lyra actually did stop walking.
Bugsy looked completely overwhelmed.
The Harmonia Mansion had already been ridiculous.
Now there were somehow even more Harmonia siblings.
Standing near the staircase was Violet.
Long purple hair.
Glasses.
A book tucked under one arm.
She looked like she had already calculated how much social interaction remained before she could escape.
And she clearly disliked the answer.
Ethan waved.
"Hi, Jiějiě."
Violet glanced up from her book.
"Hello."
Then immediately returned to reading.
Lyra blinked.
"...That's it?"
"That's actually a lot," Kitsu said.
"She used a full word."
Violet looked up.
"I heard that."
"I know."
Nearby, Akagi folded her arms while looking Ethan over.
"You dressed well."
Ethan adjusted his tie.
"Thank you."
Asagi laughed.
"Yeah, no shit."
Unlike Violet's quiet presence, Asagi seemed physically incapable of lowering her energy level.
Her teal hair bounced slightly as she walked over.
Then she immediately grabbed Ethan's cheeks.
"Look at our little brother."
Ethan's face distorted.
"I'm thirteen."
"Still little."
"I'm literally taller than Tade-Ai."
"Everyone is taller than Tade-Ai."
From behind them—
"HEY!"
Tade-Ai appeared like an angry orange missile.
"That's mean!"
Asagi pointed.
"See?"
Tade-Ai pouted.
Bugsy was staring.
Then staring some more.
Then staring even harder.
"There are so many of you."
Akagi nodded.
"Mother had hobbies."
The room became completely silent.
Even Violet lowered her book.
Kitsu slowly turned.
"Elder Sister."
Akagi immediately raised a hand.
"I am not elaborating."
Lyra nearly choked trying not to laugh.
Sabrina adjusted her glasses.
Erika covered her mouth politely.
Bugsy looked like he desperately wanted to leave.
Falkner looked like he had just discovered why Gym Leaders drink coffee.
Meanwhile, Midori finally approached.
Unlike the others, she carried herself more like a professional trainer than a socialite.
Her sharp green eyes briefly swept across the guests.
Evaluating.
Calculating.
Professional.
Then she nodded.
"Bugsy Azalea."
Bugsy straightened.
"Y-Yes?"
"Impressive Larvesta."
Bugsy froze.
Then immediately brightened.
"You heard about that?!"
"Everyone heard about that."
Bugsy looked absurdly proud.
Lyra pointed at herself.
"I caught a Heracross."
Midori nodded.
"Also impressive."
Whitney looked ready to frame the compliment.
Lyra watched the family quietly.
The more she observed—
The stranger they became.
The Harmonia family should have felt intimidating.
One of the wealthiest families in the world.
Corporate power.
Political influence.
Elite Four connections.
Instead—
Tade-Ai was arguing with Asagi.
Violet was trying to escape conversation.
Akagi was teasing everyone.
Ethan was somehow in the middle of the chaos.
It felt...
Normal.
And that made it far more dangerous.
Because people lowered their guard around normal.
Akagi suddenly clapped her hands.
"Enough standing around."
Everyone looked at her.
"The Gala starts soon."
Her eyes moved toward Ethan.
"Which means, little brother..."
Ethan immediately narrowed his eyes.
"Whenever you say it like that, something bad happens."
Akagi smiled.
A dangerous smile.
"Oh, don't worry."
She pointed toward the grand staircase.
"Tonight you're meeting half the important people in Johto."
A pause.
"And probably causing three political incidents by accident."
Whitney nodded immediately.
"That sounds exactly like Ethan."
"HEY."
Erika quietly hid a smile.
For some reason—
She had a feeling Akagi wasn't joking.
The group followed Akagi through a pair of massive double doors.
The moment they stepped inside—
Conversation washed over them like a wave.
Hundreds of voices.
Laughter.
Business discussions.
Political negotiations disguised as polite small talk.
Crystal chandeliers illuminated the enormous ballroom while orchestras played softly from an elevated platform.
Bugsy stopped walking.
"...Woah."
Lyra immediately grabbed Ethan's sleeve.
"There are so many rich people."
Whitney looked around.
"And somehow I hate all of them already."
"That's racist against rich people."
"It's classist. Different thing."
The ballroom itself was enormous.
League officials mingled with corporate executives.
Gym Leaders spoke with investors.
Researchers discussed projects while waiters moved between groups carrying trays of food.
And perhaps most surprising—
Many guests had their Pokémon with them.
An elegant Gardevoir stood beside a noblewoman.
An Arcanine rested near a businessman while accepting head pats from passing children.
Several Psychic-types floated through the room carrying documents.
Even a Metagross could be seen quietly assisting a group of researchers in one corner.
Falkner stared.
"That's a Salamence."
Ethan glanced over.
"...Yeah."
"No, Ethan."
Falkner pointed.
"That's a Salamence."
The massive Dragon-type was casually lying near one of the walls while its trainer discussed something with several officials.
It looked completely relaxed.
Bugsy meanwhile had discovered an even bigger problem.
"There are people here with Pokémon worth more than my house."
Whitney patted his shoulder.
"There are people here whose watches are worth more than your house."
Bugsy looked horrified.
Lyra suddenly froze.
"...Why is that Alakazam wearing glasses?"
Everyone followed her finger.
An Alakazam was indeed wearing glasses.
And appeared to be reading paperwork.
Ethan stared for several seconds.
"...You know what?"
"What?"
"I'm not even going to question it."
Sabrina adjusted her own glasses.
"A Psychic-type capable of outperforming most accountants is not particularly surprising."
The Alakazam looked up.
It adjusted its glasses.
Then returned to work.
Everyone collectively decided not to think about it.
Meanwhile, farther inside the ballroom—
People had begun noticing the Harmonia family.
Whispers spread almost immediately.
"That's Shinku Harmonia's son."
"The one traveling through Johto?"
"I heard he challenged Falkner."
"No, he challenged Bugsy too."
"Isn't that Erika Midori?"
"And Sabrina Natsume."
"The fiancées?"
"The fiancées."
Ethan immediately felt his soul trying to leave his body.
Whitney laughed.
"Oh, they're talking about you."
"I know."
"It's funny."
"It isn't."
Akagi looked completely unbothered.
"Welcome to high society."
Ethan sighed.
"I want to go battle wild Pokémon again."
Kitsu nodded immediately.
"Same."
From somewhere deeper in the ballroom, a familiar voice suddenly called out.
"Akagi."
Several people turned.
And just like that—
A new arrival had everyone's attention.
Everyone turned toward the newcomer.
Silver hair.
Sharp blue eyes.
An expensive suit that somehow looked effortless.
Even Bugsy recognized him immediately.
"...That's Steven Stone."
The future heir of the Devon Corporation walked calmly through the crowd.
Several guests subtly stepped aside.
Not out of fear.
Out of respect.
Steven's reputation carried weight even outside Hoenn.
He stopped in front of Akagi.
A smile appeared on his face.
"How have you been?"
Before anyone could react, he gently pulled her closer and kissed her.
Akagi smiled.
"Very well."
For a moment, the two seemed to forget the rest of the room existed.
Whitney immediately whispered:
"Oh my god."
Lyra grabbed her arm.
"THEY'RE DOING IT IN PUBLIC."
"They're rich. They can get away with it."
Meanwhile Ethan looked away.
"Why am I here?"
Kitsu looked equally disturbed.
"We have been emotionally damaged."
Akagi ignored them completely.
Instead she gestured toward Ethan.
"Steven."
She smiled.
"This is my little brother. The one I've been telling you about."
Steven's eyes shifted toward Ethan.
Immediately evaluating.
Not judging.
Simply observing.
Then he spoke.
"만나서 반갑습니다. 제 이야기를 들어보셨겠죠?"
(It's a pleasure to meet you. I presume you've heard of me?)
Bugsy blinked.
Lyra blinked.
Falkner blinked.
Whitney pointed.
"Why did he suddenly change languages?"
Ethan immediately understood.
'Ah.'
Steven wasn't testing intelligence.
He was testing background.
The Harmonia family operated internationally.
If Ethan truly had the education Akagi described—
He should understand.
So Ethan answered without hesitation.
"네, 스톤 씨에 대해 들었습니다."
"제 여동생이 당신을 좋아하는데, 저도 기쁩니다."
"부디 여동생을 잘 보살펴 주시길 바랍니다."
(Yes, I've heard about you, Mr. Stone. My sister likes you, and I'm happy for her. Please take good care of my sister.)
A brief silence followed.
Then Steven laughed.
Not politely.
Genuinely.
"감사합니다."
"당신의 한국어도 정말 훌륭하군요."
(Thank you. Your Hangun is excellent as well.)
Ethan shrugged.
"My tutors would be upset if it wasn't."
Steven chuckled.
That answer somehow sounded exactly like something Akagi's brother would say.
Meanwhile—
Whitney was looking between them.
"...Are they insulting each other?"
"No."
Lyra narrowed her eyes.
"Are they planning a corporate merger?"
"No."
Bugsy looked nervous.
"Should we be worried?"
"Probably."
Falkner sighed.
"That didn't answer the question."
Steven turned back toward Akagi.
"I like him."
Ethan immediately responded.
"I haven't decided yet."
Steven laughed again.
Akagi covered her mouth, clearly amused.
For some reason—
The two men had gotten along instantly.
Mostly because they were both completely aware they were evaluating each other.
And neither was pretending otherwise.
To be continue
Hope people like this Ch and Give me power stones and enjoy