Inside the city hall, Fessen received the message that Baron Cass had arrived.
Resting his chin on both hands, he stared silently out the window at the sky, his eyes narrowing slightly as he fell into deep thought.
Knock, knock, knock—
At that moment, the office door of the city hall was knocked upon.
From outside came the voice of one of the officials:
"Lord Fessen, Baron Cass has arrived."
Hearing this, Fessen took a deep breath, stood up, adjusted his clothing, and walked toward the door.
…
At Fairhaven Town's northern gate, Baron Cass's carriage was slowly approaching. Inside the carriage, the baron continuously looked toward the distant, towering walls.
It was truly hard to imagine that this entire town had been built within only half a year. Anyone who knew anything about Fairhaven Town would inevitably feel the same shock and admiration.
"Baron, I see Young Master Fessen."
The butler outside the carriage suddenly spoke with a tone of surprise.
"Fessen? You said Fessen?"
Baron Cass froze for a moment, clearly unable to react right away.
He found it hard to imagine that this son, who had long since left the family, would personally come to the city gate to welcome him!
Furthermore, Fessen was the steward of the Pokémon Domain, essentially the second-in-command of the entire region. Such treatment was extremely lofty even for a baron like him.
"Butler, stop the carriage. We'll enter the city on foot," Baron Cass said, suppressing his rising doubts.
The carriage stopped on the main road in the distance. Baron Cass, along with his two sons, stepped down and began walking toward Fairhaven Town.
Outside the gate, a crowd had already gathered. After all, Fessen was the steward of the Pokémon Domain—people were curious who could warrant such personal reception.
"Judging from those noble decorations, he looks like just an ordinary baron," a commoner whispered as he looked at the medallion on Baron Cass's chest.
"That might not be right. In the noble hierarchy, titles don't always equal actual influence. Remember Baron Ruize? Before he was formally granted his lands, he was just a baron too."
After stepping down, Baron Cass scanned the surrounding crowd. Seeing the awe in the eyes directed toward him, he instinctively straightened his back.
Fessen indeed held a lofty status in the Pokémon Domain and he was Fessen's father! Unconsciously, he slipped into the mindset of the father of the steward of the Pokémon Domain.
"Father," Fessen greeted with a respectful tone.
As he had always done in public, Fessen maintained the appearance of a harmonious father-and-son relationship. To outsiders, they would look like a model of familial warmth.
Hearing Fessen call him "Father," Baron Cass finally felt relieved. It seemed his eldest son was still willing to acknowledge his Cass Family identity in front of others.
Makes sense.
Even if the Cass Family was only a baron house, it still provided a noble title—a crucial advantage in this nobility-centered world.
Believing he had figured out the reason, Baron Cass puffed out his chest even further and swept a proud gaze over the nearby onlookers. His heart was practically bursting with excitement.
He knew that once today's scene spread, the news that Baron Cass was the father of the Pokémon Domain's steward would spread far and wide, bringing huge benefits to the Cass Family.
"Fessen, my good son, long time no see!" Baron Cass said enthusiastically.
His two sons behind him also stepped forward, happily greeting:
"Brother Fessen, it's been a long time!"
"Mm, long time no see."
Fessen nodded and gestured politely.
"Father, please follow me into the city. I've already prepared rooms for you at my home."
Baron Cass's eyes instantly brightened. He had not expected his son to even invite him to stay at his residence. This was exactly what he wanted!
Such arrangements would naturally strengthen the appearance of closeness between them, especially in the eyes of outsiders. From now on, no one would question that they were truly a family.
As Fessen led the Cass Family away, the commoners and merchants surrounding the gate erupted into discussion. Those who knew certain "inside information" were downright stunned.
They simply couldn't understand it.
With Fessen's current status, he had absolutely no need to flatter the father he didn't get along with. If anything, the situation should be reversed.
"What is Fessen planning?"
Sutter, arms folded behind his back as he leaned against the city wall, frowned as he watched the distant figures.
He was the closest to Fessen and knew perfectly well the nature of Fessen's relationship with Baron Cass. Ever since Fessen brought his mother away, his ties with the Cass Family were severed.
Considering Fessen's current position, there was no reason whatsoever for him to maintain even the superficial illusion of filial harmony.
He truly could not understand Fessen's intentions.
Could there be hidden reasons?
…
Meanwhile, Fessen led Baron Cass back to his personal residence located within the Trainer District. As one of the Pokémon Domain's senior officials, he naturally had a private home.
As they walked through the northern district, Baron Cass found his gaze constantly wandering. He soon noticed the enormous buildings lining the district and the large number of commoners entering and leaving them.
Even more surprising were the many women among them, women who, in any other territory, would be confined to domestic work, yet here they moved in groups, working openly. This was unheard of elsewhere.
"That is the Pokémon Food Factory. All of the Pokémon Domain's Pokémon food is produced there," Fessen explained as he paused.
Then he pointed farther ahead.
"And that is the fertilizer processing plant. You should have heard of fertilizer, it's a special type of agent for plants and grass-type Pokémon."
Hearing this, Baron Cass and his two sons couldn't help clicking their tongues in amazement. They had never imagined that Pokémon food and fertilizers originated from such places.
"It would be wonderful if our Town could have both a Pokémon food factory and a fertilizer plant," Gerrod lamented.
But as soon as he finished speaking, Fessen suddenly added:
"Don't worry. Casston will definitely have its own Pokémon food factory and fertilizer plant."
The Cass brothers were stunned.
Then their faces lit up instantly, and their attitude toward Fessen became even more respectful.
If Casston Town truly obtained both factories, its strength would skyrocket to terrifying levels.
However, Baron Cass himself frowned slightly. He glanced again at the factories, sensing that things were unlikely to be as simple as they appeared.
…
After passing through the prosperous industrial district, they finally reached the Trainer District in the eastern area. The street was filled with Pokémon accompanying trainers.
"Rhyyy…!"
As soon as Cass's Rhydon entered the area, it growled nervously.
It could sense the overwhelming power within this district—many of the auras here were far stronger than itself.
"So this is the birthplace of Pokémon trainers?" Gerrod continued praising endlessly.
The entire journey had been one shock after another. The sheer number of Pokémon walking openly in the streets alone demonstrated the terrifying strength of the Pokémon Domain.
At this point, they probably wouldn't even need the Pokémon Domain's knights.
Just the power of these trainers could easily crush most territories.
"Good day, Lord Fessen."
"Good afternoon, Lord Fessen."
Trainers walking through the streets greeted him one after another.
After politely acknowledging them, Fessen finally led the group into a residential district.
The rowhouse-like district was exceptionally neat. In modern terms, every building was essentially a two-story villa.
The courtyards in front of each house were spacious, and because trainers lived here, many Pokémon could be seen resting or wandering in the yards.
Once Baron Cass entered, he couldn't stop looking around.
Although the place wasn't as luxurious as a noble castle, it exuded an unexpectedly comforting atmosphere.
"We're almost there," Fessen said to the Cass father and sons behind him.
After passing through two more residential buildings, they finally arrived at Fessen's home.
As soon as Fessen returned, a hulking Rhydon rushed out to greet him, swiftly opening the front gate with practiced familiarity.
Inside the courtyard, many other Pokémon were present as well, all coming forward the moment they saw him.
"Thank you, Rhydon," Fessen said, gently patting the Pokémon's head.
After briefly soothing the excited Pokémon, he invited Baron Cass inside. A small Oddish hurried beside them, quickly swinging the leaf on its head to push the door open.
"Come in. I happened to have something I wanted to discuss with you."
Once they were home, Fessen's tone grew noticeably colder.
Baron Cass was startled by this shift. He immediately understood—the act was over. Although they appeared harmonious in public, as if father and son were still close, the truth was their relationship had never been good. And clearly, nothing had changed.
Meanwhile, the two sons standing behind Cass suddenly froze, their expressions shifting slightly as they followed their father into the room.
Fessen led them all the way to the study. Sitting down behind his desk, he gestured for the Cass family to join him. The four of them sat around the table.
"Fessen, I wonder what it is you wanted to discuss," Baron Cass asked, choosing his words carefully.
He had come to the Pokémon Domain with his own agenda; naturally, he also wanted Fessen's help—for the benefit of House Cass.
(End of Chapter)