He slept until the afternoon.
Lucas's room was in chaos once again.
Lucas clutched the back of his head.
A forceful wake-up service.
Lucas felt like he was truly not far from the series finale.
The reason was that after Ninetales woke up, it suddenly stood up.
Lucas, who was pillowed on it, wasn't paying attention, and with a 'Duang' sound, several bumps rose on the back of his head.
Ninetales sat obediently by Lucas's side, constantly licking his face with its tongue.
"Nine~"
I didn't do it on purpose.
Gothitelle was applying medicine to Lucas.
"Nine~"
I forgot I evolved into a Ninetales.
Ninetales stuck out its tongue.
Lucas sighed and reached out to rub its small head vigorously.
"Just be more careful next time."
"Nine."
Lucas is the best.
"Nini?"
Mime Jr. rubbed its eyes and crawled out from under the covers.
"Nini?"
What happened? Why was it so loud just now?
Lucas picked up Mime Jr. and teased its little nose.
"Thank you for your hard work, Mime Jr. You're so cute."
"Mime Jr.~"
Hee hee.
After playing with Mime Jr. for a while, seeing Gengar float down from the ceiling rubbing its eyes, and after Gothitelle finished applying his medicine, Lucas stood up holding Mime Jr.
"Time to eat."
Lucas led them downstairs.
Suddenly, his steps paused.
He looked at the text that suddenly popped up in front of him.
He was somewhat surprised.
[Ninetales's Gift: The unknown gift sent by Ninetales has arrived; please check for it.]
[Unknown Gift: ————]
[I didn't misjudge you, Lucas — Ninetales]
Lucas looked at the introduction of the unknown gift, feeling quite surprised.
"You really know how to give gifts."
He smiled and then walked downstairs.
"Uncle, there's a package for you."
As soon as Lucas went downstairs, Shauna, who was watching TV, turned to look at him and pointed to the package on the table.
Lucas nodded and took the package to Shauna's side. Shauna, along with chimecho, curiously leaned their heads over, wondering what was inside Lucas's parcel.
After Lucas opened the package, Shauna discovered a brilliant stone lying inside.
"Wow~ it's so beautiful, but why does it look so familiar?"
"Gen Gengar?!"
Isn't this ————
Lucas nodded and then put it away.
After the group finished dinner and cleaned up, Paul walked in with the Elegant Man.
Their practice session for today had ended.
"Store Manager, I'll be taking Sceptile with me."
Lucas nodded. Sceptile had already learned Dragon Dance yesterday; the Lapras Siblings had told him so.
Since it had learned Dragon Dance, he would naturally take Sceptile and continue his journey.
Lucas calculated the price and told it to the Elegant Man. The Elegant Man nodded and then paid the money.
"It's actually this cheap."
After the Elegant Man paid, he let out a sigh.
Lucas:?!
This is cheap?!
"Is it usually very expensive to learn moves at other Breeding Houses?"
Lucas asked weakly.
The Elegant Man nodded. "Yes, to learn a relatively powerful move at a Breeding House in the Hoenn region usually costs over 1.5 million, but you only charged 800,000."
Lucas: ————
He thought he had charged a high price, but it turned out to be only half of what others charged?!
Gengar was equally shocked on the side.
It looked at Lucas with a somewhat resentful gaze.
Do you know how much money you missed out on?
Lucas pretended not to see Gengar's eyes, while constantly calculating in his heart to raise the price a bit next time.
The Elegant Man recalled Sceptile and looked at Paul.
"I look forward to the day of our true battle."
Paul nodded. "It doesn't matter, I will win."
Lucas couldn't help but laugh beside them.
As expected of Paul.
After the Elegant Man left, Lucas looked at Paul.
"You're about to leave too, right?"
Paul hesitated for a moment and then nodded.
"Now?"
"I can."
Paul nodded.
Lucas walked over and gave the back of his head a slap.
"Have you learned it?"
"A little, I plan to learn the rest during my journey."
Lucas felt deeply gratified and gave him another slap.
Lucas's own head hurt a bit, so he gave Paul a slap too.
"Go pack your things."
Lucas waved his hand, and Paul nodded and headed upstairs.
Lucas returned to the counter, took out a wooden board, and began to carve.
Paul finished packing his luggage and came downstairs to the counter.
His Pokémon all came over as well.
"I'm packed, Manager."
Hearing this, Lucas used a paper to wipe the small wooden plaque in his hand.
"Here, for you. It's the symbol of our Breeding House; you're welcome back anytime."
Paul took the wooden plaque and found that it was different from others. It was hollow inside, looking like two pieces of wood glued together. When shaken gently, it made a thumping sound.
Lucas had put something inside.
"Inside is a gift I'm giving you."
Lucas smiled, stretched, and continued, "If one day in the future, you feel that you and your Pokémon have reached a timing you deem appropriate, or if you encounter a powerful enemy you cannot defeat, you might as well open it and see. It might be of help to you."
Paul looked at Lucas in confusion.
"Oh right, you must hold back. It's best to wait until one of the two situations I mentioned occurs before you open it."
Lucas ignored Paul's confusion and continued.
Although Paul was puzzled, he still nodded and hung the wooden plaque around his neck.
Lucas walked out from behind the counter to the entrance of the Breeding House.
"I look forward to seeing your figure on TV, and I also look forward to hearing the good news you send back."
Lucas looked at the darkening sky.
He said.
At the same time, I also look forward to your battle with Ash.
"Brother Paul, you must come back to visit often."
Shauna was already used to partings.
However, she wasn't sad because she knew they would come back one day in the future, and then they could play together again.
Paul's expressionless face showed a smile for the first time as he pinched her little cheek.
"Okay."
Paul recalled his other Pokémon, leaving only an Electabuzz, and stepped onto the Breeding Road, walking forward.
"Oh right, if you encounter a problem you can't solve, remember to call me. After all, I can be considered your Master."
Lucas leaned against the door and called out.
Paul turned back and gave a deep bow.
Goodbye, Master. I won't let you down.
Paul thought silently in his heart.
I will defeat him, and Mr. Brandon, to prove that my method is actually not wrong.
I wonder if Ash can still defeat him? Will Gary participate in the League Conference?
Looking at Paul's back, Lucas shook his head, pulled back his thoughts, and sat down in the lounge area.
Gothitelle stood by the side pouring tea for Lucas, while Ninetales lay on the floor.
"Brother Paul has left too."
Swinging her little feet beside him, she let out a sigh.
"Shauna likes Brother Paul very much."
"Yes, although Brother Paul doesn't smile, he would play with Shauna."
"Then what about Brother Gary?"
"Shauna likes Brother Gary very much too."
Lucas narrowed his eyes, revealing a mischievous glint.
"Then between Brother Paul and Brother Gary, which one do you like more?"
"Um ————"
Shauna frowned, then relaxed: "I like both of them."
"You can only choose one."
"Why can I only choose one?"
"Anyway, you just have to choose one."
Gothitelle glanced at Lucas from the side.
Shauna's expression wrinkled up again.
"Then ———— Brother Gary a little bit more."
Shauna made the difficult choice.
Just as Lucas was about to speak, he found Gothitelle holding the tea to his lips, staring at him.
Try saying one more word?
Lucas obediently took the teacup and took a sip.
As expected of you, Gothitelle.
The rocking chair behind Lucas kept swaying.
Paul, oh Paul, you still can't compare to Gary.
That's what Shauna said.
Lucas thought of the gift he gave to Paul.
He laughed again.
I'm really looking forward to it.
[key stone: A stone containing unknown power, capable of allowing a Pokémon holding a Mega Stone to undergo Mega Evolution.]
[Aggron's Mega Stone: ————]