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"Wow, another Pokémon I've never seen before."
Dawn looked at Alcremie walking over with a cake and said, "What a cute Pokémon."
"It's called Alcremie. It's the new dessert master at our Breeding House—the number one dessert master, in fact."
Lucas took the dessert from Alcremie's tray, placed it on the table, then pinched its nose as he introduced it to everyone.
Alcremie let out a shy cry.
Lucas laughed seeing its shy demeanor. "Thanks for the hard work, Alcremie. You can head back now."
Alcremie had social anxiety; hearing Lucas's words, it gave a cry and left.
Next, Gothitelle floated over carrying freshly brewed milk tea. After pouring a cup for everyone, she looked at Lucas, asking what he wanted to drink.
Lucas glanced at Lucian, who was sitting beside him with eyes fixed intently on him. He smiled and said to Gothitelle, "Could I trouble you to brew some tea for me? Use the tea leaves on the second shelf of the tea cabinet under the counter."
Gothitelle nodded and floated back to the front desk.
Seeing this, Lucian gave Lucas a thumbs up—a true brother.
Seeing Ash and the others staring intently at the cake on the table, Lucas laughed. "Please enjoy the afternoon tea, everyone."
Ash immediately picked up the cake and took a bite.
"Mm—this is so delicious!"
"Pika-pika!"
"Pikachu, why are you snatching mine?!"
Lucas shook his head at their rowdiness and then looked toward Suicune and the others. "Suicune, Entei, Raikou, want to try some afternoon tea?"
Raikou and the others came to the garden. Lucas placed the cake on the table. After they lowered their heads to take a taste, they didn't say a word.
They simply didn't raise their heads again.
Gothitelle floated back into the garden with the tea leaves and stood by Lucas's side, brewing the tea for him.
Lucas waited for a while and noticed Shauna and the others hadn't returned yet. He couldn't help but call out, "Gengar, Latias, Shauna, stop playing for a bit. Bring Celebi and the others back to eat something."
Soon, Shauna and Tomoyo returned with a group of Pokémon.
—
Gothitelle poured out the first steep of the tea, then poured in more hot water, stirred the leaves, closed the lid, and poured a cup of piping hot, fragrant tea for Lucas and Lucian.
"Goth."
Gothitelle gestured with her hand.
"Thanks~"
Lucian picked up the teacup, blew on it, and then downed it in one gulp.
A tongue made of iron—
Lucas couldn't help but roast him internally, then finished his own in one go.
The fragrance of the tea overflowed.
Seeing that everyone and the Pokémon were enjoying the afternoon tea, Lucas looked at Gothitelle. "Shall we try the method we discussed?"
Gothitelle hummed in agreement and floated back to the kitchen to decoct the herbal medicine.
The weather today was just right—warm and sunny. Lucas lazily enjoyed his afternoon tea.
"By the way, Lucas, even though it's the middle of winter with snow, why are the flowers in the Breeding House still blooming so beautifully?"
After finishing her tea, Liuka looked around the backyard. Seeing the flower beds still in full bloom, filling the air with a heart-refreshing fragrance, she couldn't help but ask.
Lucas smiled and gestured toward Celebi, who had perched back on his head to eat cake at some point. "It's all thanks to Celebi."
Kurute nodded. I see.
Their Crown City was also blessed by Celebi, which was why it felt like spring all year round.
It seemed this Breeding House was the same.
"Ash, have you collected all your badges?"
Lucian looked at Ash and asked.
Ash nodded, took out his badge case again, and handed it to Lucian.
"We came here planning to rest and reorganize at the Breeding House, and also to do some training here."
Ash's eyes burned with determination. "At the same time, I'll return to Pallet Town to train with my other partners. This time, I will definitely win the Championship."
Lucian closed the badge case and returned it to Ash.
"I look forward to the moment you lift the Champion's cup."
Lucian chuckled softly. "When the time comes, if you choose the Elite Four as opponents, then I shall be your opponent."
Don't jinx it, Lucian. Stop the 'poisonous' praise.
This kind of praise is really a curse—
Although Ash's strength had improved significantly, who knew what the Legendary Trainer's other four Pokémon were.
What if he pulls out a Cresselia or something later—
However, Lucas was also looking forward to the results of this League Conference.
With Gary participating, along with Ash, Paul, and the Day Care's old acquaintance Alain, plus the Legendary Trainer who appeared out of nowhere, they might even see that mysterious Trainer with a Heatran—
Heatran—
Lucas remembered the Heatran that flashed across the screen at the Pokémon Center back then. Could it also be one of Tobias's Pokémon?
In the original story, the identity of that Heatran's Trainer was never revealed. It might have been the director's sense of humor, but in this real world, nothing was certain.
Could it be they were eliminated early after meeting Tobias?
Regardless, this Lily of the Valley Conference was going to be very interesting.
"Nini?"
Lucas snapped out of his thoughts and found Mime Jr. sitting in his lap at some point, looking up at him and asking curiously.
"It's nothing, I was just thinking about something."
Lucas said, "How about we go watch the Lily of the Valley Conference when the time comes?"
Lucas picked up Mime Jr. and asked.
"Nini~"
Okay~
"The Manager is going to watch the Lily of the Valley Conference?"
Ash asked.
Lucas nodded. "I'll go to cheer for you all and watch your battle with Paul. Didn't you make a promise with him?"
"That guy—"
Ash thought of Paul and his constant dead-fish eyes. "Don't worry, Lucas, I will definitely defeat him!"
Ash was full of drive.
"Pika-pika!"
Pikachu was also full of drive.
"Will Lucas go to see the Grand Festival?"
Dawn asked Lucas, blinking her eyes while holding Piplup.
Lucas looked at the cute Dawn. "Of course."
"Yay!"
Dawn happily hugged Piplup.
Piplup was also nodding repeatedly.
"Piplup-Piplup."
Lucas glanced at the Zoroark beside him, who rarely spoke, and reached out to tap its forehead.
It tilted its head to look at Lucas.
"What's wrong?"
So Zoroark could also use telepathy?
Hearing Zoroark's voice, Lucas laughed. "It's nothing. How is it? Are you adjusting to the environment here at the Day Care?"
Zoroark nodded with a smile. "Yes, it's very warm here, even warmer than our hometown. I can feel it—the other Pokémon living here all love this place very much."
"Because the happiness they feel is left everywhere here."
Gothitelle floated over carrying two bowls of herbal medicine.
After confirming with Gothitelle, Lucas handed one bowl of herbal medicine to Lucian.
"Here."
Lucian took the medicine and looked at Lucas. Lucas nodded. "This is the herbal medicine we developed that has a great effect on hair."
Lucian took a sip, his brow furrowing from the bitterness, but thinking of its benefits for his hair, he held his breath and downed it all.
Only then did Lucas look at Zoroark. Under Gothitelle's explanation, Zoroark had already finished the herbal medicine.
Lucas observed Zoroark's condition.
Not long after Zoroark drank the medicine, an aura of life emanated from its body, slowly moisturizing other parts of its body along with its blood.
The warm sensation spreading through its body made Zoroark involuntarily squint its eyes.
"So comfortable."
Lucas checked Zoroark's condition by hand. "The effect is very good. However, you need to keep drinking it for a period of time until your body is fully recovered."
Seeing Zoroark's state improve, Ash and the others breathed a sigh of relief. Zorua was especially happy, constantly running back and forth between Lucas and Zoroark.
"Thank you, Lucas."