Breeding Center
Since the cafeteria was too crowded, they moved to Wayne's house instead.
At this time, everyone else was also beginning their work.
Their conversation this time wasn't overly formal. Lance held a sandwich in one hand and Moomoo Milk in the other.
"Thank you very much!"
Because Lance hadn't eaten breakfast yet.
"You should finish eating first before we talk."
Having gone through many trials and tribulations, Lance was no longer the same as before.
This Kanto Elite Four member and Johto Champion was still very approachable when not in battle, especially around familiar people.
Somehow, even though this was his first formal meeting with Wayne, Lance felt an instant connection with him.
Lance ate while pondering. "Perhaps it's because of Red, Green, and Cynthia?"
Red and Green had very high opinions of Wayne.
On the way there, Lance had learned that Cynthia and Wayne had known each other since childhood.
Roughly speaking, they could be called childhood friends.
What Lance didn't know was that Wayne actually experienced the same feeling.
This was also why he could joke around with Lance during their first meeting.
However, Wayne didn't overthink it like Lance did. He believed it was simply Lance's personal charisma.
Once Lance had eaten and drunk his fill, they got down to business.
Lance and Cynthia's gazes fell on the Shaymin in Wayne's arms, and Lance's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Shaymin really likes you!"
"Shaymin~"
Shaymin suddenly turned its head and buried itself in Wayne's arms.
Wayne said helplessly, "The child is very shy. How can you be so direct?"
"Haha!"
Lance scratched his head awkwardly.
Cynthia suddenly said, "May I hold this child?"
Wayne lowered his head and asked softly, "Shaymin, is that okay?"
"Shaymin."
Shaymin turned to look at Cynthia and nodded.
Cynthia reached out and took Shaymin from Wayne's arms, gently cradling it.
"Little one, you're safe now."
"Shaymin~"
Shaymin's cry in Cynthia's arms was soft and incredibly cute.
Just then, the flowers on Shaymin's body suddenly bloomed, like spring arriving and all things coming to life.
Both Cynthia and Lance were somewhat surprised.
Wayne, the only Breeder present, explained, "When Shaymin feels gratitude, the flowers on its body will bloom."
Lance's eyes lit up. "Oh? You know quite a bit!"
This was exactly what Lance had perceived with his Viridian Power.
Although Lance could also tell, it was an ability he'd been granted, and his theoretical knowledge was insufficient.
Lance suddenly realized, "Wait—how could you tell?"
"Yellow told me yesterday."
"That's right."
However, Lance could actually tell not because Yellow had explained it, but because Lance also possessed Viridian Power.
Viridian Power granted Lance the ability to heal, perceive, and read the memories and emotions of Pokemon.
Speaking of this, Wayne had an idea to let Lance read Feebas's memories to find the right treatment.
Compared to Yellow, Lance, who had experienced many trials and witnessed various evils, was less likely to be disturbed by negative emotions.
"How did you two end up coming together?"
Cynthia gently stroked Shaymin's back and explained:
"After the competition yesterday, I heard Lance discuss this, so we came together. We arrived in Jubilife City last night and then went to see Section Chief Zorro."
"Section Chief Zorro?"
Seeing Wayne's puzzled expression, Lance explained, "Section Chief Zorro requested the League to dispatch an investigator to assist, and since I happened to be in Sinnoh, I took on the case."
The four major Leagues of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh had very close ties.
The relationship was so close that Kanto and Johto were often collectively referred to as the Kanto region, considered a single area.
He's really dedicated.
This matter, in Wayne's opinion, wasn't significant enough to require Lance, the Chief Investigator, personally.
But he still handled it himself.
Having such a Chief Investigator was a blessing for the Kanto region and even for all regions.
Although Lance possessed Viridian Power, he was still human after all.
He simply bore the responsibility of a Champion.
He would always bear the Champion's responsibility, charging forward when danger arose.
This was Lance's charm.
"After discussing with Section Chief Zorro last night, we both agreed that this operation by the Pokemon Hunters must have a buyer behind it."
"It's just that the search area is vast, and it's too difficult to locate the buyer. Besides interrogating Hunter D, Shaymin might be the breakthrough. Perhaps Shaymin saw the buyer behind this—who knows."
Although Shaymin could use telepathy, simply asking Shaymin would be useless.
Shaymin, being innocent and kind by nature, wouldn't pay much attention to such things.
This was where Lance's Viridian Power came in handy.
"Forgive my presumptuousness, Shaymin. May I perceive your memories?"
"Shaymin!"
Although the red-haired man before it had sharp eyes, Shaymin sensed the warmth in his gaze.
And Lance's aura was even more appealing than Wayne's.
Taking Shaymin from Cynthia, Lance's palm glowed with a gentle light.
He first used Viridian Power to heal Shaymin's remaining injuries.
Shaymin comfortably closed its eyes.
"Shaymin~"
(Com...comfortable.)
Lance closed his eyes, and Viridian Power allowed him to read Shaymin's memories.
Lance's perspective suddenly lowered. He temporarily became Shaymin, situated in a sea of flowers.
"Shaymin!"
"Shaymin!"
The Shaymin lived happily in the Gracidea Flower Field in Floaroma Town.
Smelling the scent of the Gracidea flower, Shaymin transformed into its Sky Forme and flew into the sky...
"Wow! You're so cute!"
"May I hold you?"
This was Officer Jenny. Lance recognized her.
Lance suddenly entered a warm embrace.
Lance, with his eyes closed, suddenly blushed.
???
You have a problem!
Why are you blushing?
Wayne was very curious about what Lance had witnessed.
The Gracidea Flower Field was on the outskirts of Floaroma Town, and Shaymin met many people...
Until the sleeping Shaymin was suddenly pursued, fleeing all the way to the coast north of Jubilife City...
Then Lucario descended like a divine protector, and Wayne commanded Metagross and Dragapult to apprehend Hunter D.
Everything—Lance witnessed it all as Shaymin.
An incredibly brilliant command sequence: when first facing the Pokemon Hunter, he first destroyed the ship, then the petrifying beam emitter...
In Lance's opinion, Wayne possessed the potential to become an investigator.
Lance suddenly opened his eyes. "I have some ideas."
Lance smiled kindly at Shaymin. "Thank you, Shaymin, for providing very useful information."
Wayne and Cynthia said in unison, "How is it?"
Lance's suspicious gaze darted back and forth between the two of them.
So synchronized?
However, he didn't think much of it, simply attributing it to their concern for Shaymin.
The two people before him were both individuals with genuine affection for Pokemon.
Wayne could make Shaymin feel comfortable around him, and Cynthia could make Shaymin's gratitude flowers bloom.
Such people were already very rare.
A smile appeared on Lance's lips.
"I have a few suspicious candidates, but I still need to confirm them in the League's database."
"I also have a suggestion. Would you like to hear it?"