Lucas, coming downstairs, saw Shauna and her Petilil lying still on the counter, staring intently at the flowers in the vase.
"What's wrong?"
Lucas walked over and asked.
Shauna pulled her gaze away and looked at Lucas.
"Uncle, do you like flowers?"
Lucas looked a bit puzzled, then glanced at the flowers Shauna had given him and nodded.
"I do."
Shauna thought for a moment after hearing him, then asked:
"Then... Uncle, can I plant some flowers in the backyard? Just a small spot is fine."
Shauna gestured with her tiny hands.
Seeing her carefully gesture with her small hands, Lucas couldn't help but laugh.
"Alright then, when the time comes, you find a spot, and I'll plant them with you."
"No!"
Shauna refused on the spot.
Lucas was stunned, his eyes wide. "Wh-why?"
"Because I want to do it myself. That way, the flowers I grow can be given to the people and Pokémon I like."
Shauna's small face was serious as she continued, "When the flowers grow, I want to give them to Daddy and Mommy, Uncle, Champion Cynthia, Sister Reese, Sister Linnea, Sister Nina, and Gengar and the others."
"That's why I want to do it myself, please, Uncle."
Shauna tilted her head back, shaking Lucas's hand incessantly with both of hers.
Seeing this, how could Lucas refuse? However, he still said, "Then you must let Gengar and the others help, only then will I agree."
Shauna thought about it, nodded, and agreed crisply.
"Okay."
Afterward, he took Shauna to the backyard and, according to her request, marked out an area, conveniently not far from the afternoon tea spot.
According to her, she planned to build a stone enclosure and then plant beautiful flowers inside that area.
Lucas heard that stones also needed to be moved, looked at Gengar and the others, and then nodded.
Even if he wasn't allowed to help, with Gengar and the others around, it shouldn't be a big problem.
Lucas then used something to mark out this area, so Shauna could do it herself when the time came.
Once everything was settled, after playing with Shauna for a while, he closed the Breeding House when no customers arrived and began preparing dinner.
After dinner, after Shauna had showered and put her clothes in the washing machine herself, Lucas took out a hairdryer to dry her hair, then let her play with Chingling and the others in her room.
However, this time her room had Chingling, Petilil, Mime Jr., and Vulpix; they would sleep with Shauna tonight.
Lucas's room was once again left with just him and Gengar.
Lying on the bed, Lucas opened the chat window.
Lucas: So handsome today!
Cynthia: I am the Champion.
Lucas: Okay, Champion Cynthia.
Cynthia: Cynthia.
Lucas: Okay, Champion Cynthia.
After a few more exchanges, Lucas stopped bothering Cynthia with her work and opened his phone to scroll through short videos.
"Gengar?"
Gengar extended half its body from the ceiling, looking into the distance through the balcony.
"What's wrong, Gengar?"
Lucas followed Gengar's gaze; the distant sky was a fiery red.
"This is...?"
Lucas looked at the distant sky and walked onto the balcony.
"Vespiquen!!"
Vespiquen's cry echoed throughout the entire Breeding House backyard.
Heracross and the others rushed over immediately.
Lucas quickly went to Shauna's room and knocked on her door.
As soon as Shauna opened the door, Lucas said to her sternly:
"Shauna, you must hide well in the room with Chingling and Petilil. Something's happening outside, I'm going to check. Remember, don't open the door unless you hear my voice, understand?"
Seeing Lucas's serious expression, Shauna nodded obediently.
As Lucas turned to leave, Shauna's voice came through: "Uncle, be careful."
Lucas turned back and smiled, then took Gengar downstairs and ran towards Vespiquen.
He had just discovered someone had broken into the Breeding House's backyard from the balcony.
In the forest area, two men in uniforms were directing Golbat and Vespiquen to entangle each other, while Heracross and the others were tied up by Skuntank and Toxicroak.
Vespiquen was struggling under the two Golbat.
Heracross punched the Toxicroak in front of it, forcing it back, then took a Wing Attack from a sneak attack by Golbat, crying out in pain.
"Vespiquen, dodge, Air Cutter."
Vespiquen dodged the Fire Fang coming towards her, then launched an Air Cutter at Golbat.
Gengar, with lightning speed, afflicted Skuntank and Toxicroak with Will-O-Wisp.
After a brief skirmish, Vespiquen and the others came before Lucas, staring intently at the two people opposite.
The two men also frowned when they saw Lucas.
"Are you the owner here?"
One of the men opposite shouted at Lucas.
Lucas didn't reply, staring intently at the two of them, looking at their familiar attire.
"Pokémon Hunters."
An organization that captures and sells Pokémon by taking on commissions.
Now he knew what the glass dome that fell from the sky last night was; they used equipment to trap Pokémon.
Looking towards the distant forest, the fire began to spread.
"Did you set the fire?"
Hearing Lucas's words, the two men exchanged glances, then immediately commanded their Pokémon to attack.
Heracross and the others met them.
Watching the flames grow larger, Lucas cursed loudly in his heart.
Damn Cheat, why didn't you just say I'd die?
Staravia flew over from a distance.
"Staravia, help me out, Brave Bird!"
Staravia soared higher, then its entire body covered in light, plummeting rapidly straight towards Toxicroak. With the added power of its Reckless ability, Toxicroak immediately lost its ability to battle.
The remaining Skuntank was also defeated by Heracross and the others.
Lucas gave Gengar a look, and Gengar's body disappeared.
Just as the two Pokémon Hunters were escaping, Gengar appeared before them, its eyes emitting a strange light.
Close-range Hypnosis, a perfect hit.
The two Pokémon Hunters immediately fell to the ground, falling into a deep sleep.
Taking out the thick rope given by Cheat, he tied them to a tree, then took all their Poké Balls. After all this, Lucas looked at the distant forest.
The fire was burning fiercely.
He fumbled in his pocket; he hadn't brought his phone. He asked Heracross to return to the Breeding House, then Lucas gritted his teeth.
"Gengar, let's go check it out."
Then he took Gengar and the others and ran towards the forest area.
In Shauna's room at the Breeding House, Shauna sat on the bed, trembling, hugging Petilil.
"Chingling~"
Shauna turned to look at Chingling. Chingling opened the door for Heracross, who was holding Lucas's phone.
Shauna's eyes lit up. She then picked up Lucas's phone and dialed Officer Jenny's number.
On the other side, at the forest entrance, Lucas looked at the woman riding a Salamence in the air, his expression frozen.
"It can't be that bad, can it?"
Wearing glasses, riding a Salamence, with short silver hair.
Hunter J.
....
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