If it were Lewis, who had contributed so much to the town, or someone like Ron, a popular figure who was always on everyone's lips, someone might actually know his last name.
But he was just a useless old man.
He couldn't even take care of himself; sometimes he even needed help just to get a letter out of the mailbox.
Who would pay attention to an old man like that?
George angrily slapped the armrest of his wheelchair, feeling both indignant on Ron's behalf and resentful of this mockery. It felt like his uselessness was being paraded in front of everyone once again, forcing him to confront himself—to realize just how insignificant he was, how no one cared about him, and how no one remembered him.
"Indee."
Indeedee called out softly.
"Can't answer?" the Scholar said unhurriedly. "Then I'll consider your challenge a fail—"
"Mullner." Ron answered.
With that, the surroundings fell into absolute silence.
Under George's shocked gaze, Ron repeated, "George Mullner."
"You see, people still care about you, don't they?" Evelyn whispered right next to George's ear.
Amidst the background noise of the Scholar loudly announcing Ron's correct answer, George stared blankly at Ron's face. After a long while, he let out a heavy "Hmph! What's so interesting about this? Let's go look at something else!"
Evelyn smiled and pushed George away.
Taking the Calico Eggs, Ron casually handed them to the waiting Indeedee, then walked over to Penny's side.
"How did you know George's last name?" Penny asked in disbelief.
She considered herself fairly familiar with George in Pelican Town, but she hadn't the slightest clue what his last name was. When the Scholar asked that question, she had even broken into a cold sweat for Ron.
"I guessed," Ron said.
"Indee, In."
Right, right, guessed.
"If you don't want them, give them back." Ron reached his hand out toward Indeedee. Indeedee just clutched the Calico Eggs to its chest and scampered away like a streak of smoke.
"That's amazing." Penny didn't take his words literally; she just felt Ron was being incredibly sincere. "George must be over the moon."
"You think so?"
"Absolutely."
"Are we going to participate too?" Linus asked awkwardly, looking at Leo who was pulling his hand. "I don't really want to—"
"But then what are we going to use to get Calico Eggs?" Leo asked.
Hearing this, Linus looked at the stage with a troubled expression, and hesitantly stepped up.
Surprisingly, the first three questions weren't too difficult. After a little thought, Linus answered them easily.
Then came the fourth question.
"Alright, the final question is—exactly how many trash cans are there in all of Pelican Town?"
An uproar spread through the audience.
Trash cans were arguably the most insignificant things in Pelican Town. Other than when throwing away garbage, who would pay attention to where each trash can was located?
"Eight," Linus said without a moment of hesitation.
—
"Correct!"
"Awesome!" Leo cheered from below the stage, and the people around him joined in the applause.
Accepting the Calico Eggs he had earned through his own skill, Linus was just about to lead Leo away when he heard someone mutter, "But how does he know that so clearly?"
Linus paused for a second, then tightened his grip on Leo's hand and walked away.
On the other hand, Sailor had easily completed Willy's fishing challenge. Willy handed the Calico Eggs over to Sailor's paws.
"For someone capable of catching a Legend Fish, these questions are basically free points." Willy winked at Sailor. "But then again, this is a privilege our Sailor deserves anyway."
"Rattata!"
"Awesome!" Sandy hugged Sailor, pocketed the Calico Eggs it handed over, and asked, "Where to next?"
Sailor looked around with its head tilted back, then pointed at Emily's tent and let out a cry.
"Rattata."
—
"You want to get a dress-up?" Sandy asked, a little surprised. "Let's go, it's a perfect time to see how Emily is doing with her stall."
Saying this, Sandy carried Sailor over to the tent.
"Did you work hard today?" Sandy called out to Emily by the tent.
"Of course!" Emily replied. "Even without your help, I still managed to set this tent up."
"Oh, is that so," Sandy said with a hint of teasing. "I thought Ron helped you."
"!" Emily's eyes widened.
Sandy laughed, and then she noticed a Rattata walking out of the tent.
"Rattata~"
This was the Rattata that loved to dress up even on normal days. It touched the hairclip on its head, tugged at the little skirt it was wearing, walked over to Emily, stood on its hind legs, and handed over some money.
"Are you going to buy it?" Emily asked as she accepted the money.
"Rattata!" The Rattata spun in a circle and let out a coy, charming cry at Emily.
"Do you want to try on a dress?" Sandy asked Sailor.
"Rattata?" Sailor couldn't believe its ears. "Rattata?"
"Alright then, go get changed." Sandy said, pushing Sailor inside with a slight hint of disappointment.
Sailor had just entered, but hesitated for a moment before poking its head back out to look at Sandy. "Rattata?"
"It's asking if you really want to see it wear a dress, meow." Meowth, who was passing by, kindly translated.
"If possible," Sandy said. "But you don't have to force yourself."
Sailor took a deep, heavy breath, then turned around and ducked back inside.
After a good while, another head poked out from the tent.
"Rattata."
"You're not allowed to laugh, meow."
Out of curiosity about what Sailor looked like in a dress, Meowth had lingered by the tent and translated the words.
"I promise I won't laugh." Saying this, Sandy covered her mouth with her hand, glanced at Emily, and then freed up her other hand to cover Emily's mouth too.
"I didn't say I was going to laugh!" Emily mumbled, her voice muffled. "As a tailor—I support everyone's right to freedom of dress!"
With that, Sailor walked out of the tent wearing a dress.
"Pfft—"
Meowth slapped a paw over its mouth and slowly turned its back.
"Rattata." Sailor looked up, examining the two in front of it. Seeing their shoulders shaking rapidly, it fell silent for a moment before crying out, "Rattata!"
"You said—hahahahaha—you said you wouldn't laugh, meow!" Meowth translated, trying to hold back its laughter, but completely losing control and bursting into loud guffaws.
That sound was like opening the floodgates for the two girls; even with their mouths covered, laughter still spilled out from between their fingers.
"Rattata!!!"
Sailor let out a shriek, furiously ducked back into the tent, and changed into a dashing pirate outfit before finally coming back out.
Clutching the pirate's hook, Sailor was just about to strike a cool pose to salvage its mighty and heroic image, but the two girls just looked at its dead-serious expression and burst out laughing all over again.
"Rattata!!"
"You said—you said—you wouldn't laugh, meow." Meowth translated, clutching its stomach, which ached from laughing, its voice reduced to a mere whisper.
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