Lucas, who was "reading" in the lounge area, was woken up by the commotion outside the Breeding House.
"What's going on?"
Lucas sat up and looked toward the Breeding House's entrance, hearing a loud noise coming from outside.
Ninetales sat up from the floor, shook her fox head, and then walked out of the Breeding House.
I'll go take a look.
Lucas put his book away and walked out with her.
Finding many people gathered around the clearing outside the Breeding House that Lucas often used for battles, he walked over curiously.
A Trainer watching the battle inside was getting excited when he suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around ready to lose his temper, but upon seeing Lucas, the anger on his face instantly turned into a smile.
"Ah, Lucas is here?"
Then he shouted loudly, "Everyone make way, make way, Lucas is here!"
The voice made Lucas's ears ring.
However, his name seemed to be very effective; the crowd quickly parted to form a path. Lucas hurriedly thanked everyone and then walked in with Ninetales and Gengar.
It turned out that some Trainers were having a battle.
He had thought it was something else.
Lucas smiled and prepared to turn and leave.
Wait, why did that person just now look so familiar?
Lucas turned his head back and stared for a moment.
It's you! Ash!
Why are you battling here?!
On the field, Ash was currently battling a passerby Trainer. Lucas glanced around and saw Brock and Dawn standing in the crowd not far from him.
Dawn was holding Piplup and waving at Lucas.
"Lucas."
Lucas nodded. He wanted to walk over but gave up on the idea when he saw how many people there were.
"Lucas, let me tell you, that young man is quite strong. He's already won four battles in a row."
A Trainer beside Lucas whispered in his ear.
That was normal; Ash's battle instincts in Diamond and Pearl could be said to be very strong.
Winning four in a row was acceptable, after all, these were just casual matches.
However, what Lucas was curious about was why they chose the clearing he frequently used for battles?
And so many matches at that.
While some Trainers would usually battle in the clearings along Breeding Road, it was never like today with so many matches, and specifically chosen at this clearing.
Lucas asked the Trainer next to him from just now.
The result was that yesterday's "One-Year Promise" between Zangoose and Seviper had already spread. Many Trainers had come here spontaneously to battle, their drive completely ignited. The Trainer also said that battling here would grant the Breeding House's blessing, ensuring success when challenging a Gym later.
How did these Trainers become so superstitious overnight?
Lucas felt a bit numb.
He heard that anyone wanting a roadside battle now would spontaneously come here. Even if they had to queue, they would wait until it was their turn to start battling.
Seeing that this had become an essential battle spot in their hearts, Lucas sighed. Let them fight, then.
There was plenty of spare space here anyway.
After this main road was renovated, there was still a lot of excess empty land unused, currently overgrown with flowers, grass, and shrubs.
He could clear these spaces later and decorate them slightly to turn them into wild battlefields. When they battled here, he could even sell drinks and food. If they were hungry, they could go to the canteen. If they felt their strength wasn't enough, he could help teach moves. If they wanted to buy a pokémon egg, his Breeding House had those too.
No matter how he calculated it, he wouldn't lose; on the contrary, he could make a tidy profit.
I'm becoming more and more like a proper businessman.
Lucas thought to himself.
He then turned and left the crowd, returning to lie down in the Breeding House's lounge area to continue slacking off.
After thinking about it, Lucas still sent Gengar out to maintain order and avoid any unnecessary accidents.
After finishing lunch, the commotion outside still hadn't ceased. Lucas listened to the noise outside, thought for a moment, and decided to fix up the grounds for them tonight.
He took out his phone and called the person in charge of the construction team. After communicating with them, they said they would bring people over this afternoon.
Hanging up the phone, Lucas heard a familiar voice from outside the door.
"Darn it, I was just one step away from winning!"
Ash's voice was full of regret.
The corners of Lucas's mouth curled up as he looked at the door.
Three figures walked in; it was indeed Ash, Brock, and Dawn.
"Manager."
Brock walked into the Breeding House and politely greeted Lucas, as did Dawn.
Lucas looked at the squinty-eyed, bronze-skinned Brock in front of him, wondering if he had already learned Mega Evolution.
"Hello there, Ash, Brock, and Dawn."
"Manager."
Ash ran over happily and then loudly spoke the words everyone had guessed.
"Let's have a battle!"
Lucas laughed happily; it really was exactly what he thought.
However, he shook his head.
"Well, that's a shame."
Ash looked disappointed.
"Your Pokémon have already been through many battles. Let them rest for a while. Maybe I'll agree to have a battle with you then."
Hearing Lucas's words, Ash was instantly revitalized.
"Did you hear that, Pikachu? Lucas said he'll battle us once we've recovered!"
"Ash, he didn't say that."
Dawn interrupted Ash.
"The Manager said he 'might' agree to battle you, not that he 'will' battle you in a bit."
After hearing Dawn's words, Ash let out an "Ah."
"Is that so?"
Lucas felt very good watching them bicker.
"Alright, don't just stand there, take a seat."
Ash and the others sat down, and then Gengar poured each of them a cup of milk tea.
Gengar also knew how to make milk tea.
"Gengar gar—"
Please enjoy~
"Thanks, Gengar, I won't hold back then."
Ash picked up the milk tea and gulped it all down.
Pikachu: "Pika?"
You didn't leave any for me?
Ash only realized after finishing, "Sorry, Pikachu, it was just too delicious."
"Gengar gar—"
Gengar beckoned to Pikachu from the side. Seeing this, Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder and went to Gengar's side. Gengar poured him a cup of milk tea and even brought out some snacks.
"Gengar gar—
—"
We'll eat these.
"Pikachu!"
Hehe.
Pikachu laughed happily.
Ash, meanwhile, looked at the Lilligant serving them snacks, took out his Sinnoh region Pokédex, and scanned her.
"Strange, why can't I find any information?"
Ash said in confusion.
"This probably isn't a Pokémon from the Sinnoh region."
As a Gym Leader, Brock's knowledge of Pokémon was much greater than Ash's.
"Is that so?"
At this point, Lucas spoke up: "It's a Pokémon from the Unova region, evolved from a Petilil. It's called Lilligant. What do you think? Isn't she beautiful?"
Brock and Dawn nodded deeply.
Brock was also a Breeder. He could tell that both Lilligant and Gengar were very well raised, especially the Ninetales at Lucas's feet; he estimated that few Breeders could raise one like that.
Dawn was a Coordinator Trainer. She could deeply feel the aura of beauty coming from Lilligant. If Lilligant were to enter a Pokémon Contest, she doubted any opponent could compare to her.
As for Ash————
He only wondered if Lilligant's strength was very high.