Spring arrived, and the ice and snow finally melted away.
All the lords of Aspiration City could no longer contain their impatience and set out one after another, heading toward the Pokémon Domain.
Although there were still half a month remaining before the start of the Pokémon League Conference, each of them intended to arrive as early as possible.
This time, the so-called Pokémon League Conference was actually more like a grand merchant gathering. They needed to reach the Pokémon Domain in advance to grasp the situation beforehand.
If possible, they could even take advantage of the days before the conference officially began to contact the merchants in the Pokémon Domain. If luck favored them, they might even secure some early benefits.
Baron Cass certainly thought so. He did not even wait for the snow to fully melt before impatiently hurrying toward the Pokémon Domain.
On the muddy road, a Rhydon pulled the carriage forward at high speed. Even though the carriage was enormous and packed full of goods, the Rhydon dragged it effortlessly.
Inside the spacious carriage, Baron Cass frequently lifted the curtain to glance outside. Two young men sat inside with him—his two sons.
"Baron, we will soon reach the Pokémon Domain," came the steward's voice from outside.
"Huh… we're finally about to arrive," Baron Cass exhaled deeply.
However, when the two young men heard the words "Pokémon Domain," discomfort flashed across their faces.
For a long time, the Pokémon Domain had been like a nightmare to them. It was the Pokémon Domain that had shattered the Ironblood Alliance—the very alliance to which their family once belonged.
When the Ironblood Alliance collapsed, everything the Cass Family had painstakingly built over the years crumbled to dust. The once-prosperous town of Casston quickly became one of the weaker lands in Aspiration City.
This winter, Cass Town had nearly failed to endure the cold. And even though they barely survived, the loss of their former magical beast trade still left the town struggling desperately.
In such circumstances, the Cass Family had no choice but to rebuild from the ground up. They needed to find a substitute for the magic-beast business—something that could revive the territory.
Baron Cass naturally noticed his sons' unease. He spoke calmly, "When you meet your elder brother, remember to greet him properly."
Both sons opened their mouths but could not speak.
Especially Gerrod—originally the family's eldest son.
With their father's words, it was clear he had now acknowledged Fessen's position as the true eldest.
A wave of resentment instantly surged in Gerrod's chest.
But the moment he recalled who Fessen had become, his resentment faded into helplessness.
No one could have imagined that this illegitimate son of the family would one day cling to such a towering pillar of support. The Steward of the Pokémon Domain—Fessen's status far surpassed even that of their father!
(TN: Steward seems correct right? Scribe or clerk seem lower that what Fessen do in the Domain.)
"Hm? Judging by your faces, you don't seem very pleased?" Baron Cass snorted coldly.
He knew exactly what these two sons were thinking. Yet in the current circumstances, even he had to curry favor with Fessen, so what right did his sons have to complain?
Unconsciously, he recalled the first time he met Aven. Back then, Aven had come specifically for Fessen and had even taken Fessen's mother away on the spot.
Aven's disregard for status, his willingness to stand up for that child without hesitation—all of it made clear just how highly Aven valued Fessen.
"Do not forget what his status is now!"
"Forget you two—even the Earl of the Northern Frontier would treat him with utmost courtesy!"
"This time, we are going to mend our relationship. I know it won't be easy, but in front of others, we must look close and harmonious!"
"As long as everyone recognizes who we are, they will naturally treat us with some degree of respect. That is extremely important for the Cass Family's future!"
Baron Cass earnestly instructed his sons again and again.
No matter what they thought in their hearts, they must at least pretend to show brotherly affection!
Only then could he secure a position in the newly formed Pokémon League and pave the way for the Cass Family's resurgence—just like the glory they once had within the Ironblood Alliance.
"We understand, Father," the two brothers exchanged glances and nodded.
Even if they felt sick to their stomachs, they had to endure it. They knew their father was absolutely serious.
If they ruined this, Baron Cass would never forgive them.
The carriage continued forward. The moment they crossed into the Pokémon Domain, the ground became noticeably smoother—no more bumps and jolts.
Cass lifted the curtain and looked outside. He saw their carriage now traveling along a wide, well-paved road. Other carriages frequently passed by, moving in both directions.
After a while, vast stretches of farmland appeared on both sides of the road—neatly cultivated fields stretching out to a distant horizon he could not even see.
"What an astonishing amount of farmland!" Gerrod exclaimed.
Baron Cass nodded silently.
The Gilded Fang Merchant Guild had vanished because they had competed for grain and berries.
It was now obvious where the Pokémon Domain's enormous food supplies came from—these sprawling fields. He could hardly imagine how Aven had developed all this land.
And with such extensive farmland… did they really have enough people to tend to it?
He took a deep breath, suppressing his questions. Once he reached the Pokémon Domain, he would find his answers.
Tatatatata—!
Suddenly, rumbling tremors echoed across the road.
The carriage abruptly halted. The steward shouted, "Baron, the patrol knights are approaching!"
"Patrol knights," Cass murmured.
He pushed aside the curtain and stepped out of the carriage.
He looked toward the approaching riders and froze.
Every single mount was a Rhydon.
And each Rhydon radiated immense pressure. His own Rhydon trembled uncontrollably in their presence.
From this alone, he could tell that all of these Rhydons were extremely powerful. His heart sank—an overwhelming sense of oppression crashing down on him.
In all of Aspiration City, only a handful of people possessed a Rhydon. He had always taken pride in having trained one himself.
Yet here stood dozens of them.
In an instant, all his pride evaporated.
The Pokémon Domain clearly possessed large-scale methods to raising Rhydons.
He clenched his fists. Originally, he had planned to use his method of raising Rhydons as a gift. Now, it was completely worthless.
"I am Baron Cass, here to pay my respects to Lord Aven!" he called loudly.
"So, it is Baron Cass. I am Sutter, Captain of the Pokémon Domain's Knight Order."
Sutter stepped forward, a playful smile on his lips.
Baron Cass forced a warm smile. "Sutter, it has been a long time."
"Have we met before, Baron Cass?" Sutter asked with feigned confusion.
Cass choked on his words but maintained his smile. "I am Fessen's father. You should at least be familiar with him."
Looking at the forced smile on Cass's face, a wave of disgust surged in Sutter's chest.
"Oh? Fessen has a father?" he said mockingly.
Without waiting further, he mounted his Rhydon and led the knight order away.
He had genuinely run into Cass by coincidence today.
But now that he had learned the truth, he felt he should hurry back and report this to Fessen. He had no idea how Fessen would handle this so-called father of his.
(End of Chapter)