"Sir, do you have any business here? If not, please leave. This is a private farm and not open to the public," the guard said. His words were polite, but Brian could still feel the pressure behind them. Judging from the man's stance and presence—plus the fact that he had a King-tier Pokémon and a Gym Master—Brian guessed he was probably a retired soldier.
"Oh, I'm here to visit my grandfather, Brown Arden. Is this really his farm?" Brian asked, his tone filled with doubt and a dozen questions running through his mind.
The guard's expression shifted slightly. He had heard that Brown Arden had two children, with the second being a daughter who now lived with her husband. Still, he wasn't entirely convinced.
"Wait here a moment. I'll make a call," the guard said before heading back into the guardroom.
Inside the large farmhouse, six people were gathered around the dining table: Brown Arden; his wife, Lishi; their eldest son, James Arden; James's wife, Margaret; and James's two children, Rowan Arden and Clara Arden.
"How are you two doing in college? Do you think you'll be able to reach Senior-level as Pokémon trainers before graduating?" Brown asked.
"Of course, Grandpa. We're not like Brian's cousin who didn't even go to college," Clara replied.
"What's that supposed to mean, Clara? Why do you always bring up Brian's name in conversations like this?" James asked, his voice edged with irritation.
"Hmph. Dad, who is your son, really? You've always given him more attention and affection than you've ever given us," Clara said. Her words struck close to the truth—James had indeed always been more attentive toward Brian, and that was exactly why Clara harbored such resentment toward him.
Brown, Lishi, Margaret, and Rowan could only sigh at the tense exchange between father and daughter.
They sighed because they understood James's feelings for Brian—feelings that Clara couldn't see. Years ago, during the war between Tyranitar and Pelipper Champion level, Brian had nearly lost his life saving an unconscious Clara. The whole family knew about it… except Clara herself.
It wasn't that they didn't want to tell her; Brian had personally asked everyone to keep it a secret. Even his own parents were unaware, just like Clara.
The incident had happened when Brian was visiting Solok to spend time with his grandfather's family. That day, the battle between Tyranitar and Pelipper had turned the world into chaos—earthquakes ripping the ground apart, storms howling, and torrential rain drowning everything in sight, That's when the real Brian saw the power of a champion-level Pokemon that could change the terrain. In the middle of it all, a terrified Clara had fainted. When a massive quake split the earth beneath her, she nearly fell into the yawning chasm.
Brian had been the one to grab her and pull her back—almost falling into the ravine himself in the process.
While father and daughter were still in the middle of their argument, a maid entered the room and addressed Brown.
"Sir, there's a young man named Brian outside. He says he's your grandson."
The heated exchange stopped immediately. Both James and Clara looked toward the maid, surprised by the timing.
"Ah, I see. Ask Losse to let him in—he's familiar with the farm," Brown replied without hesitation.
"Yes, sir," the maid said with a small bow before leaving.
"Do you think Brian will be surprised?" Lishi asked, a faint smile on her lips.
"Surprised?" Brown raised an eyebrow.
"Of course. He hasn't visited often, and we're usually the ones who go to see him. With a gatekeeper and a maid waiting at the entrance, he's bound to be caught off guard," Lishi said.
"That's true, Grandpa. I'll go out to greet him," Rowan said, pushing back his chair and standing.
"Hmph!" Clara snorted, glaring at her brother as he left the room. The sight of everyone else smiling at Brian's arrival only fueled her irritation.
Outside, Brian had just been shown through the gate when he spotted Rowan jogging toward him.
"Hey, Brian!" Rowan called, breaking into a grin before pulling him into a big hug.
"Hey, Rowan," Brian replied with a smile of his own. The two had always been close—Rowan saw Brian as a little brother, and when they were younger, he often shared his food and toys with him.
"You're here! How've you been? Oh—what's this?" Rowan asked, eyeing the package Brian was holding.
"These are vegetables from our family's garden," Brian said, holding up the package.
"Why'd you bring these? We've got plenty here," Rowan replied.
"These are different, Rowan. I'm telling you—the ones I brought are way better than what Grandpa grows," Brian said with a confident grin.
"Oh really? The ones I grow are tastier," came a familiar, booming voice. Brown, tall and broad-shouldered, was walking toward them with a teasing smile.
"Of course, Grandpa. If you don't believe me, just let Grandma cook them—you'll see for yourself," Brian shot back.
"Alright, I'll cook them later," Lishi chimed in as she stepped out behind Brown. "Now, let's go inside."
...
Inside the house, everyone had gathered—everyone except Clara."How are your parents and your brother?" Brian's grandmother, Lishi, asked.
"They're doing well. Alan's also become an unofficial junior trainer," Brian replied.
"Oh, really? Your brother's already that capable? What's the quality of his Pokémon?" James asked.
"Green-level, Uncle."
"Wow, Alan's lucky to have a green-quality Pokémon before even becoming a full trainer. Uncle Leon must really care about him," Rowan said.
"Oh, so you're saying I don't care, Rowan? Already siding with your little sister?" James shot back.
"No, no, Dad—you do care. You even went out of your way to find for me," Rowan said quickly.
"Mm. Fair enough," James muttered with a faint frown. "And you, Brian? Fiona told me you skipped college to open a shop. You're not planning to give up on being a trainer, are you?"
"Of course not, Uncle. I'll stay a trainer—though I might not join the Alliance's constant tournaments," Brian said.
"That's enough. In this world, if you lack strength, you'll always be stuck at the bottom. Money used to be king, but since the rise of Pokémon, it's nothing more than paper. And in the hands of a strong trainer, it's just a pile of paper that's easy to come by."
"Yes, Uncle, I agree."
"Well then, Brian, I'd like to know—what Pokémon do you have, and what level is it?" Brown asked with a warm tone. He was already thinking that if Brian's Pokémon lacked potential, he would personally give him one.
"Grandpa, don't be shocked when I bring it out," Brian said.
"Go on, I won't be shocked. Let's see it."