Lucas was still sitting in his usual spot in the rest area, drinking tea with Steven and Brock.
Cynthia had set off for Mt. Coronet after receiving reports yesterday that the silhouette of a giant Pokémon had appeared there once again.
Not long after Cynthia left, Ash and Brock had returned to the Breeding House.
"Are the Gym matters mostly handled?"
Lucas asked Brock, who was sitting next to him. Brock nodded.
"There will be a Gym inspection eventually, but it shouldn't be much of a problem."
"Gym inspections... I remember those are usually handled by personnel dispatched by the League."
Steven, sitting to the side, spoke up and asked.
Brock nodded.
"I remember one year I was the one who went to conduct the inspection, in my capacity as the League Champion."
Steven said with a smile.
"You have the nerve to say that. You handed the Championship over to Wallace and ran off to dig for stones all over the world, while Wallace runs all over the world hosting Pokémon Contests. In the end, all the affairs of the Hoenn region fell onto Lance's shoulders."
Hearing Lucas's words, Steven continued to smile and then said, "Isn't Mr. Lance a case of 'the more capable one does more work'?"
"You sure can talk. Why don't you say that to Lance's face?"
Steven pretended not to hear Lucas's words. "Besides, Lucas, when I was the Hoenn Champion, I did die once."
Lucas knew what Steven meant. He had commanded Metagross to hold out against the three Regis for three days and three nights, finally dying of exhaustion.
However, he was eventually resurrected.
As expected of the Pokémon world.
"Having died once, it's not too much to ask for a good rest, right?"
Steven said with a smile.
"Speaking of Gym inspections..."
Lucas suddenly remembered that Nurse Joy who went to inspect Gyms. Didn't she seem to have a Latias?
Latias hadn't followed Gothitelle to the Cottage today; instead, she had stayed at the Breeding House.
Lucas looked at Latias, who was chatting with Lilligant in front of the counter. "Latias, do you know Nurse Joy?"
"Nurse Joy?"
Latias's clear voice rang out in Lucas's mind. "I know her, the Nurse Joy from Twinleaf Town."
"Besides Sister Joy, do you know any other Nurse Joys?"
Latias shook her head. "Why?"
"Nothing, I just suddenly remembered some things."
Latias looked at Lucas with a bewildered expression, but Lucas shook his head to indicate it was nothing, so she went back to chatting with Lilligant.
Could it be that the Latias with that Nurse Joy wasn't this one?
Lucas fell into deep thought.
"Great, Pikachu, let's do it Encore!"
Ash's energetic voice came from the backyard, snapping Lucas out of his thoughts.
With the Lily of the Valley Conference about to begin, the Sinnoh region was still calm and peaceful.
Could it be that Ash and the others had already resolved those incidents in secret?
That shouldn't be right. If those things had happened, how could he not have received any news?
Lucas fell into deep thought once again.
But if Ash and the others had already resolved it, it would be a very good thing, both for the Sinnoh region and for himself.
After all, it was too terrifying.
Lucas vaguely remembered the pressure of facing the twin dragons of time and space back then.
"By the way, Brock, have you guys been to Eterna City yet?"
Lucas suddenly asked Brock.
Brock shook his head. "No. Why go to Eterna City?"
Lucas's brow suddenly furrowed.
They haven't?
Could he have remembered incorrectly?
Or was it possible that his arrival had changed the development of predestined events?
If that were the case, it would truly be a cause for celebration.
Lucas nodded to himself.
Meanwhile, Brock was pondering Lucas's words. He suddenly remembered that yesterday, while chatting with Ash and Dawn, he seemed to have heard Dawn mention that a Pokémon Contest was being held in Eterna City, and it seemed Dawn was thinking of participating.
"I've imposed on you for quite a few days, so it's time for me to take my leave."
After finishing his tea, Steven said to Lucas.
"Leaving already?"
Steven nodded. "The few days of rest here have left me in great shape. Also, someone told me that a place in Kalos has been discovered that might hide some precious stones, so I plan to go check it out."
Lucas nodded, then stood up with Steven to see him out of the Breeding House.
Steven stood atop his Metagross and looked at Lucas. "Lucas, after I'm done digging, I'll come by the Breeding House. I like it here. And of course, mainly to share my findings with you."
Lucas laughed. After these few days of interaction, Lucas had also become somewhat obsessed with collecting these stones.
Lucas remembered what Cynthia had mentioned to him a few days ago about Meowstic. Since he was free right now and the Lily of the Valley Conference hadn't started yet, he might as well go to the Kalos region himself.
"Wait for me a moment, I'm also planning to go to Kalos."
Seeing Steven's confused look, Lucas pointed toward the Canteen: "Meowstic."
Steven suddenly understood.
He dialed the Cottage's number. "Gothitelle, I'm planning to go on a long trip. Do you want to come along?"
"Gothe."
Wait for me.
Hanging up the phone, Lucas gave some instructions to Mr. and Mrs. Fujino, then looked at Brock. "You guys can rest at the Breeding House until the Lily of the Valley Conference begins. Of course, if Ash and Dawn want to go somewhere else to train, please feel free."
"Alright, Manager. I'll let Ash and Dawn know."
Lucas nodded, and Lilligant ran back to her room to pack her bags.
By the time Gengar appeared at the Breeding House entrance with the luggage, Gothitelle's figure also appeared at the entrance.
"Latias, could I trouble you to give me a lift?"
"No problem!"
Lucas smiled and sat on Latias's back.
After saying goodbye to Mime Jr. and the others, he flew off toward the Kalos region with Steven.
Brock sat back down in the rest area and continued reading the breeding insights Lucas had recorded.
After an unknown amount of time, Ash's voice rang out, "Huh? Where are the Manager and Mr. Steven?"
Brock looked up and saw Ash and Dawn coming out from behind the counter. He spoke up, "He had some business and went to the Kalos region with Mr. Steven."
"Kalos region? That's another region I've never heard of."
Ash said.
"? I wanted to say goodbye to the Manager. I was planning to participate in one more Pokémon Contest before the Grand Festival starts. It's the Wallace Cup hosted by Mr. Wallace."
Dawn said regretfully.
"No problem. Before the Manager left, he told me that we can go participate in any competitions to improve ourselves as we please."
Brock relayed what Lucas had just told him.
Dawn nodded. "The Manager is such a good person. We've been at the Breeding House for so long and he hasn't taken any money from us, and he even makes delicious food for us every day."
Ash also nodded repeatedly from the side. "Yeah, so I definitely have to win the championship at the Lily of the Valley Conference and not let the Manager down. Let's keep working hard, Pikachu!"
"Pika Pika!"
"Alright then, let's get ready and head to the 'Wallace Cup' hosted by Mr. Wallace."
Brock asked, "Is the location Eterna City?"
"That's right."
Dawn was full of Joy.
After Ash and the others packed their things and said goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Fujino, they set out on their journey.
On the other side.
"Garchomp, is the Pokémon Contest in Eterna City about to start?"
Cynthia stood on Garchomp's back, looking at the snow-white Mt. Coronet range before her as she asked.
"Garch?"
What?
Cynthia thought for a moment. "Let's pick up the pace, then head straight to Eterna City to see how he plays the role of a Special Guest for the Pokémon Contest."
"When the time comes, we'll also invite him to be a Special Guest for the Lily of the Valley Conference. Do you think he'll agree?"
"Garch!"
If he dares to refuse, I'll slash him!
Cynthia laughed. "Full speed ahead."
Garchomp transformed into a fighter jet, flying around the Mt. Coronet range.
Wallace put down his phone, not seeing a reply from Lucas.
Lucas is probably busy.
Wallace thought.
Then he put his phone back in his pocket and continued working on the preparations for the Wallace Cup.