Pokémon: Starting as a Farmer Instead of a Trainer

Chapter 403 Gladion Arrives, a Mission Related to Ultra Beasts (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Under Lusamine's warm hospitality, the group visited the protected area within Aetherland. The Aether Foundation is a renowned charity that takes in and cares for injured or abandoned Pokémon.

"Kail~"

Keldeo really liked the atmosphere here. Watching the Pokémon in the reserve being cared for by the staff and playing happily, its understanding of humans deepened considerably.

With her head covered in tarpaulin, Ponpon, accompanied by staff from Etherland Park, ran directly into the ecological park and began to tour it.

Lusamine held Latias's hand. She learned from Lillie that it was thanks to this good friend that her daughter was able to overcome her trauma and become able to interact with Pokémon.

This also made her realize her neglect of her daughter, which restored the mother-daughter relationship. Although some minor conflicts still occur from time to time, she is very grateful to Latias. Therefore, Lillie never inquires about the financial assistance provided to Kitakami Township.

"So you absolutely must try my cooking tonight, it's absolutely delicious!"

"Waaah~"

Seeing their happy expressions, only Mingyou was completely dispirited. She had only just arrived and had already been teased by Lusamine. She was not even in the same league as Lusamine. This was a real boss of a big company. She, who did business with integrity, was indeed no match for her.

Lillie stepped aside, her demeanor dignified, and gave an awkward yet polite smile. She said softly, "Don't mind her, Mother especially likes to tease people, especially us children."

"It's alright, I'm just not good at dealing with these kinds of people, but the auntie makes a pretty good impression."

Mingyou responded with a smile, though he didn't see it from Lusamine, but from the protected Pokémon in Etherland.

These Pokémon live happily in Etherland, without suffering any unfair treatment or being bullied. Even if they pretended well, it was impossible for them all to be like this, so Lusamine must genuinely care about these Pokémon.

This is a true protector of Pokémon!

After all, Mingyou himself is a professional in this area; he and Xiaozhao are both like that...

After visiting the reserve, Lusamine led the group to the mansion behind Etherland. As they stepped out of the elevator, passing employees greeted them politely.

Among them, a man with his back bent and hands in his pockets, wearing a white coat and an exaggerated green pair of sunglasses, couldn't help but look at Mingyou, who was leaving with the group through the back door.

He stroked his mustache, pondered for a moment, then grabbed a nearby ordinary employee and asked, "Hey, who's that guy?"

"Don't you know? Director Zaobo, he's Mingyou, the guy who's been all over the internet lately. The chairman invited him here."

"Is he Mingyou? Why now, at this crucial moment, could it be that he's discovered something...?"

"Director, what's wrong?"

Seeing Zaobo's surprised expression, the employee subconsciously asked a question, but Zaobo reacted quickly and shook his head: "This is none of your business. It's almost time to leave work, so pack up and get ready to go."

"Received... By the way, Director, I heard that Mingyou is supposed to be fighting against the young master of our Ether Foundation tomorrow. We haven't even met that young master yet... Director? Why did you leave?"

The employee stood there, completely bewildered.

Zaobo left in a flustered state, seemingly hiding something, especially after hearing that Gladio had returned...

As night fell, Lusamine's mansion became lively. All of Lillie's friends, except for a few who were temporarily not in Alola, had come to hold a small party.

The long-awaited liveliness was a welcome change, especially since even during the Lunar New Year, only Rosamund and Lillie were present.

However, the main focus of the banquet was always on Mingyou. Everyone was eager to learn about his participation in the World Championship and his ultimate goal, and some even wanted to challenge him to a match to demonstrate their strength.

The lively atmosphere of the banquet continued until the latter half of the event. Talebages really enjoyed the atmosphere, but the tortoise was hardly noticeable; even when it crawled around everywhere, no one recognized it.

"Don't get lost, or it'll be a real hassle to find you since you're so small. If you want to play hide-and-seek, let's wait until we get home."

Mingyou pulled it out from under the table, held it in his arms, and turned to look at the messy banquet scene. He planned to help clean up afterward; he felt quite sorry for Lillie's family...

Just then, Rosamund, wearing an apron with a Piccolo pattern, walked over with a smile and asked softly, "How's the food?"

"It was quite nice, thank you for the hospitality."

"Mmm, just like me~"

"Ha ha……"

Mingyou could only force a smile; this lady's personality was truly a bit quirky.

However, once the joke was over, Lusamine's eyes suddenly became a little serious, though her expression remained largely unchanged. She said, "Let's get back to the main topic. I heard from Lillie that you'll be battling Gladion in Aether Paradise tomorrow?"

"Um!"

Mingyou took out her Rotom phone and handed it to her opponent to view.

After confirming, Rosamune's eyes immediately welled up with tears. She wiped away the glistening tears with her fingertips and said gently, "It really is this child... Her silly expression hasn't changed at all. She ran away from home without saying a word. It really worried me."

"..."

Mingyou really doesn't want to complain anymore. Is this her real mother? She recognizes her son based on his silly face? Although Gladio's photos do look pretty silly, like he's suffering from some kind of chuunibyou (middle school syndrome).

However, there was one thing he was curious about: his previous guess was that Gladio had participated in the previous World Championship shortly after running away from home, and there was no need to hide his identity unless there was some other reason.

So he offered his guess, saying that although it was someone else's family matter, it was better to give a heads-up in case any family conflicts had occurred.

After hearing his words, Lusamine vaguely sensed that something was amiss. She lightly stroked her chin, pondered for a moment, then looked at Mingyou and said, "Can I ask you for a favor?"

"sure!"

Mingyou agreed without hesitation. The Ether Foundation had helped him so much, he couldn't possibly refuse the request, especially since it was the chairman's personal request.

Seeing his straightforwardness, Lusamine grew to like the boy more and more. So she put her hands on her hips and said with a smile, "However, I can only tell you the details after you finish your battle with Gladion tomorrow. It might be a little troublesome after that."

"!!!"

Mingyu is alert!

He instantly realized that he had probably agreed to something incredible again.

Is this okay?

Lila is going to be sweating buckets again!

It's unlikely that it's such a coincidence that it's connected to the work of the Interpol police...

He coughed lightly, concealing his flustered state, and asked, "Could you reveal a little bit?"

"Ultimate Beast!"

Lusamine didn't beat around the bush and told Naruyu the answer directly.

This was the thing she was most infatuated with, and it was also the culprit that caused her family to be destroyed. Although she was a Pokémon protector, she could no longer explain her feelings for Ultra Beasts.

The reason for mentioning Ultra Beasts is that this thing is highly classified, and even among the Interpol police, only a small number of people know about it.

But Mingyou was already drenched in sweat...

How could he not recognize this thing? This is most likely what the Interpol mission involves.

Oh no, am I going to have to stay here for many more days?!

A sense of helplessness welled up inside Mingyou, but she didn't show it on her face. She simply nodded slightly with a hint of curiosity: "Then let's find out more tomorrow."

"Yeah, let's look forward to tomorrow!"

In the stillness of the night, the sea breeze whips up the currents, blowing relentlessly, and the lights of Ether Park shine like a giant lighthouse throughout the night.

After the banquet, no one left but stayed at the mansion, planning to watch the battle between Mingyou and Lillie's brother the next day.

Rosamina stood alone on the balcony of her room, wearing a blue nightgown adorned with stars that resembled an evening gown. The sea breeze blew in, and her long, loose hair swayed gently in the wind.

But she paid no attention, only staring at a family photo in her hand with a sorrowful expression. Her slender fingers gently brushed over the man and boy in the photo, and a tear dripped onto it...

"Bang?"

Talebages, which was crawling around aimlessly, peeked out from the balcony with a puzzled look, but Lusamine didn't notice it. After enjoying the breeze for a while, it went back to its room to rest and wait for dawn.

Although the balcony window was closed, Talebagos' presence was too inconspicuous. The turtle successfully sneaked into Lusamine's room and, after she fell asleep, took the photo that had made her cry from the drawer.

"Bang~"

The contents must be very exciting.

Okay, so I'll take it back to show Mingyou.

But it seems like all the doors and windows are closed... Heh heh, let's wait until it's light out before we talk about it again.

Time continued to pass, dawn broke, and the first rays of sunlight the following morning shone from the horizon, waking the entire city of Hoola from its slumber.

The port area also welcomed its first ship of the morning. Although it was a cargo ship, it carried quite a few passengers. Taking a cargo ship is slightly cheaper.

The passengers disembarked from the ship along with the monstrous figures carrying the cargo. Among them, a boy with a unique aura walked alone through the crowd, startling the surrounding passengers who made way for him.

He was almost entirely dressed in black, with his hands in his pockets, looking quite menacing. What was particularly striking was a very obvious claw mark on the chest of his black hoodie, with the gap revealing the red lining, making it look like a wound. Next to the claw mark was a zipper decoration.

"So, I'm finally back here again...?"

The boy stopped, his emerald green eyes, hidden beneath his hoodie hood, swept across the sea, gazing at the Ether Paradise standing majestically in the distance.

As a sea breeze blew by, it knocked his hood down, revealing a face that resembled Lillie's. The boy's identity was immediately apparent: he was none other than Mingyou's opponent today—Gargio!

……

(End of this chapter)