"Dad... hurry up and kill him!"
"He hit me... and he made me kneel and apologize!"
"Waaah! Kill him already!"
Harker clutched his pig-swollen cheek, pointed at Aaron, and screamed hysterically at Quentin.
"Huh?"
"You actually dared to hit my son!?"
"I'll kill—"
Quentin's eyes widened in fury, like an enraged lion's. He turned toward Aaron, murderous intent surging from his body.
But before he could finish speaking, he saw Aaron's face.
Quentin froze.
Then his pupils contracted sharply, and shock flashed across his eyes.
"You... you're Aaron!?"
His voice was filled with disbelief as he stared at Aaron.
"Hm?"
"You know me?"
Aaron paused slightly when Quentin called out his name, then replied without expression.
"Gulp..."
After hearing Aaron's answer, Quentin could not help swallowing hard.
His eyes flickered uneasily.
Know him?
Of course he knew him.
Not long ago, Quentin had attended a Regional Council meeting in Hualis.
And that meeting had been held almost entirely because of Aaron.
Aaron.
Eighteen years old.
Recipient of a Second-Class Merit Award for Pokémon Trainers.
The highest-scoring college entrance exam top scorer in Hualis history.
The second person in Hualis history to receive a Special Merit Award.
Ranked first on the Hidden Dragon rankings.
Recognized as someone with the potential to surpass Drake in the future, and very likely to become the next Protector of Hualis.
He could even command the Legendary Pokémon Darkrai, the Nightmare Pokémon, in battle.
The Protector of Hualis, the strongest Trainer in the country, had personally told the Chairman that Aaron's future was impossible to measure.
Champion Drake saw him as one of the most promising talents of the next generation, and the two were on good terms.
Brutus, the Fighting-type Champion, treated Aaron like family.
Lilith, the Psychic-type Champion, was extremely close to Aaron. There were even rumors that he was her young boyfriend.
The Steel-type Champion and the Flying-type Champion, as well as the presidents of Pokémon Crown University and the Pokémon Elite Defense Academy, were also on good terms with him.
...
Those were Aaron's honors and connections.
Any one of them alone would have been enough to make Quentin think twice before touching him.
Did he dare kill Aaron?
Kill a Trainer protected by a Legendary Pokémon?
Kill the number one Hidden Dragon?
...
When Quentin thought of the forces standing behind Aaron, the rage and killing intent in his heart vanished instantly, as if someone had dumped ice water over his head.
A chill ran down his back, and cold sweat broke out across his forehead.
What kind of joke was this?
Even if someone handed him all the courage in the world, he would not dare kill Aaron.
For all Quentin knew, Darkrai could be watching from the shadows, waiting for the slightest excuse to strike.
Quentin forced out an ugly smile and said,
"Aaron... Mr. Aaron."
"Of course I know you. Your name is known all across Hualis."
"Please excuse what I said just now. I misspoke."
Quentin no longer looked anything like the terrifying Champion who had arrived with overwhelming pressure and murderous intent.
At that moment, his attitude toward Aaron was almost flattering.
The surrounding crowd was completely dumbfounded.
Everyone froze in place.
Was this really Quentin, the Champion famous for protecting his son no matter what?
One of Hualis's Ten Champions was lowering his head to a kid?
His precious son had been beaten until his face looked like a pig's head, yet not only was Quentin not furious, he was actually trying to smooth things over?
This child...
Just who was he?
...
For a moment, an eerie silence fell over the area.
"Hiss..."
A sharp gasp broke the silence.
The crowd immediately began whispering in shock.
"Oh my god... I'm not seeing things, right? Champion Quentin is actually talking to that boy like that?"
"You're not seeing things. I saw it too. I can't believe this is real."
"I thought that boy was dead for sure, but this just took a turn. His background definitely isn't simple."
"Isn't that obvious? If he were nobody, Champion Quentin's Hydreigon would've already turned him into dragon food."
"Then who is he? What kind of background makes a Champion act that carefully?"
"Could he be Champion Drake's secret son?"
"Come on. How old is Drake? How would he have a son that big?"
"Then is he the son of another Champion?"
"Probably not. The other Champions are on the same level as Quentin. There'd be no reason for him to act like this toward one of their kids."
"Mm... that makes sense."
...
The crowd whispered among themselves, but Quentin, standing beside Hydreigon, could still hear them clearly.
The corner of his eye twitched.
Inside, he was roaring.
You think I don't want to kill this brat?
But his backing is ridiculous!
Of course, he did not dare say that out loud.
All he could do was keep smiling stiffly at Aaron.
"Dad?"
"He hit your son!"
"What are you doing?"
"Hurry up and kill him!"
Harker was stunned too.
Seeing his Champion father switch attitudes so quickly and act so polite toward Aaron, rage exploded in his heart.
He screamed at Quentin with all his strength.
SMACK!
"Shut up!"
Quentin instantly jumped down from Hydreigon's back.
A loud slap rang out.
"AAARGH!"
Harker let out a miserable scream.
His cheek, already badly swollen, took another slap from his own father and became even redder and puffier.
His eyes could barely open.
He stared at Quentin in disbelief, his gaze filled with confusion, anger, resentment, and countless other emotions.
But Quentin had no time to care about that now.
If Aaron was truly angered, forget Harker.
Even Quentin himself would be in serious trouble.
Quentin forced down the pain and humiliation in his chest, squeezed out a smile, and said to Aaron,
"Mr. Aaron, this is my fault. I failed to raise my son properly, and he made a disgrace of himself in front of you."
"Please allow me to apologize on his behalf."
"I'm sorry."
Quentin lowered his head slightly toward Aaron.