Inside the Grand Arena, Melanie and Alex bowed deeply to the audience before leaving the field with their respective Pokémon.
"Is that all…?"
Many spectators watched with a trace of regret, clearly not yet satisfied.
But then, the gate on the left side of the arena slowly opened once more.
A disciplined column of soldiers marched in, clad in steel armor and carrying swords, their steps perfectly synchronized.
Beside them advanced a group of enormous Pokémon.
Their bodies were massive, encased in heavy metal plating, their heads crowned with silver armor.
Aggron.
At a single glance, everyone could tell this was no ordinary force.
"That's Aggron!"
"The Pokémon guarding Lucien City!"
"I saw it introduced in the Royal Gazette!"
Gasps rippled through the stands.
Before the audience could fully process the scene, the right gate of the arena opened.
Another column of soldiers emerged.
This time, however, they were accompanied not by steel giants, but by Pokémon with sky-blue bodies and soft, cotton-like white wings.
"That's...!"
"Altaria!"
"The evolved form of Swablu! It was in the newspaper!"
Confusion spread among the spectators.
Was His Majesty Lucien displaying the strength of the Lucien City Pokémon army?
The very next second, the two Pokémon formations moved.
Dozens of Altaria cried out in unison.
A deep purple energy gathered rapidly within their mouths, condensing into radiant spheres before shooting straight into the sky.
BOOM!
A thunderous roar echoed overhead.
The once-clear sky darkened instantly as violet light spread outward, swallowing the heavens.
The atmosphere changed.
From the sky descended enormous purple meteors, trailing blazing tails of fire as they plummeted toward the arena.
Panic erupted.
"What is that?!"
"Run!"
Some spectators instinctively rose from their seats, terror flashing across their faces.
But at that moment, the Aggron formation stepped forward as one.
Their heavy footsteps shook the arena.
They raised their heads toward the sky, brilliant milky-white light surging from their mouths and converging into a single colossal beam.
BOOOOOOM!
A series of deafening explosions tore through the air.
The falling meteors were annihilated mid-descent, shattered completely by the sweeping beam of light.
Moments later, the strange phenomenon vanished.
The sky returned to calm.
Silence fell.
Every spectator stared ahead in stunned disbelief.
In the VIP seats at the front, the lords were pale with fear.
The demonstration they had just witnessed etched a single truth into their minds.
Death could descend at any moment.
Lord Garp sat rigid, his eyes wide, his body trembling slightly.
If…If those attacks were unleashed on a battlefield...
Their proud armies would be wiped out in an instant.
At that moment, any remaining thoughts of resistance were utterly extinguished.
Then, cheers erupted.
Thunderous applause shook the arena, fervor blazing in every eye.
Outside the crowd, observing from above, Lucien allowed a faint smile to curve his lips.
His objective had been achieved. There was no need for Kyurem to take the stage.
Using that power here would be nothing short of bullying.
"Let's go," Lucien said calmly to Elif. "It's time to prepare the banquet."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The exhibition match was an overwhelming success.
It satisfied the people's spiritual needs, after work, citizens could gather at the Grand Arena to witness thrilling Pokémon battles.
Ticket revenue funded arena maintenance and served as prize money for participating trainers, creating a perfect, sustainable cycle.
Back at the castle, Lucien opened the control panel.
As expected, the exhibition had earned him nearly 100,000 satisfaction points.
"Now," Lucien thought, "I can officially unlock the steam engine and push the kingdom fully into the Industrial Age."
Once steam power solved energy and production bottlenecks, factories could be built to employ refugees and the unemployed.
And after that…
The steam train.
Once railway tracks stretched across the land, factory goods could flow freely between territories.
This would maximize the expansion of Lucien City's production and trade.
With a single thought from Lucien, the Steam Engine technology was officially unlocked.
A vast torrent of knowledge related to steam power, principles, structures, pressure control, transmission systems, flooded into his mind all at once.
However, Lucien did not rush to put it into practice.
Before that, there was something far more important to deal with.
Night fell.
The castle blazed with light.
Lucien sat at the head of a massive wooden banquet table, upon which was laid an extravagantly rich feast.
Soft, sweet white bread. Golden-brown roast chicken. Tender, juicy steaks.
Clear white wine brewed by local farmers. Fresh vegetable salads drizzled with oil.
Silver candlesticks stood between the dishes, their flames flickering gently, casting shifting shadows across the table, and across the unreadable expressions of the lords seated around it.
The aroma was rich and enticing.
Yet not a single lord present had any appetite.
Their gazes kept drifting, involuntarily, toward the youngest king in the kingdom's history, seated calmly at the head of the table.
"Why aren't you eating?"
Lucien's eyes swept slowly across the assembled nobles.
Startled, the lords hurriedly picked up their utensils.
But no matter how exquisite the food, it tasted like dry wax in their mouths.
Lucien found the scene faintly amusing.
He wasn't that terrifying… was he?
Taking a slow sip of white wine, he finally spoke, his tone unhurried.
"The war is over," Lucien said. "What are your thoughts on the future development of the kingdom?"
The clinking of cutlery stopped.
Silence fell over the table as the lords exchanged glances, carefully weighing the intent behind his words.
After a long pause, Lord Sharon of Twin Dragons Territory spoke cautiously.
"Should… the focus be on treating refugees and allowing the people to recuperate?"
Lucien nodded slightly.
"That's correct. At this stage, many civilians are still dying from hunger and cold."
His gaze sharpened.
"I know that some of you may believe civilians are insignificant, that their deaths simply mean others will be born in their place."
"But from today onward, I want you to remember one thing."
"It is because there are enough civilians that you can be called lords."
"They grow our food. They weave our carpets. Even the clothes on your backs are the result of their labor."
A ripple of unease spread through the banquet hall.
Someone finally spoke up.
"Does Your Majesty mean that… without civilians, we are nothing?"
Lucien turned his eyes toward the speaker, a middle-aged noble, roughly fifty years old.
As a ruler, Lucien was patient.
He answered calmly.
"It's not that simple."
"The relationship between the ruler and the people is like that of water and a boat."
"Only when the people are fed and clothed can the boat float steadily."
"If the people live in hunger and cold every day, then sooner or later, the boat will capsize, and the kingdom will be swallowed by war."
The meaning was unmistakable. Every lord present understood immediately.
His Majesty intended to protect the commoners' rights.
Some were visibly shaken.
As members of the ruling class, they knew all too well what this meant.
If the king truly pursued this path, the interests of the nobility would inevitably be curtailed.
Nobles wielded influence. Wealth. Power.
If they united...
"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"
Several lords who had previously supported Lucien cried out in alarm.
Garp remained silent, choosing not to interrupt.
Sharon and the others also stared in astonishment.
"Only in this way can the kingdom go further," Lucien said with a faint smile.
"As for the rest…"
Lucien raised his hand.
In the next instant, a bone-chilling aura swept through the banquet hall. The sudden, extreme cold made everyone shiver involuntarily.
From the shadows behind Lucien, the massive silhouette of Kyurem slowly emerged, its presence pressing down on the room like a mountain.
Lucien calmly picked up a piece of steak with his fork and asked,
"Elif, is the treasury nearly empty?"
"Your Majesty," Elif replied solemnly, "the recent construction projects and reforms have consumed a tremendous amount of funds. At present, the treasury's reserves are almost completely exhausted."
"Mm."
Lucien nodded lightly.
That single, casual response detonated like thunder in the hearts of the assembled lords.
"Your Majesty…"
Even Garp couldn't hide his shock.
The king was clearly preparing to touch the core interests of the nobility.
What could they do?
Several lords felt their hands go numb around their cutlery.
"However," Lucien continued, setting his fork down, "I did not summon you here today for that matter."
At once, the same thought surfaced in every mind, 'It's coming. Now it's our turn.'
"I need your cooperation," Lucien said slowly, revealing his true intent, "to carry out reforms."
The lords of the kingdom currently held enormous power within their territories.
They owned vast estates. Controlled the land worked by serfs.
Collected taxes. Commanded labor.
Some even possessed minting rights.
Lucien intended to nationalize land ownership and redistribute it to the common people.
The feudal lord system would be restructured.
Scattered human settlements would be reorganized into villages, towns, and cities, according to population size, allowing for standardized governance.
Territories would be renamed accordingly:
Flying Cloud Territory → Flying Cloud City
Twin Dragon Territory → Twin Dragon City
The current lords would serve as acting mayors, and, based on performance, could later become permanent mayors.
Furthermore, every city, town, and village would be required to establish:
Pokémon Centers – for Pokémon medical care
Breeding Centers – to shelter wild Pokémon and provide starter Pokémon to children
Schools – to educate citizens and cultivate Pokémon trainers
Police Stations – to maintain order, with officers partnered with Pokémon such as Growlithe
Pokémon Centers and breeding centers would form the foundation for spreading Pokémon–trainer culture.
Schools would serve as the kingdom's talent pipeline.
Police stations would ensure stability and justice.
The mayor's role would be to manage and develop the city, not unlike a lord's duties, but with power divided among professional institutions rather than concentrated in a single individual.
Lucien calmly laid out the future before them all.
Finally, he paused and said,
"I will send experienced officials to assist you with these reforms and teach methods for humans and Pokémon to coexist."
"Do you have any other suggestions?"
The banquet hall fell into a strange silence. Several lords couldn't help but let out bitter smiles.
Their gazes drifted, almost unconsciously, to Kyurem, standing silently behind Lucien.
What other ideas could they possibly have?
Garp closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
So be it.
They were only giving up part of their power, at least they were still alive.
More importantly, they could still remain "lords," even if the title itself would change.
Seeing this, Lucien smiled faintly.
"This world isn't inhabited by humans alone," he said calmly."And Pokémon aren't merely tools for battle. They can play a far greater role in everyday life. With them, our lives will only become better."
Sharon nodded in agreement.
He had seen it with his own eyes.
Grass-type Pokémon helped farmers tend their fields, accelerating crop growth and improving yields.
Water-type Pokémon assisted with irrigation, and some could even use Rain Dance to alter the weather, ensuring that humans were no longer helpless in the face of drought.
Seeing that the lords had finally accepted the situation and shown genuine cooperation, Lucien gave a light chuckle and nodded.
"Everyone, please rest well tonight," he said.
"The war is over. Next year will be a brand-new year for all of us."
With those words, the oppressive atmosphere in the banquet hall slowly dissipated.
Since resistance was impossible, they might as well accept reality and enjoy themselves.
After all, they were hungry after watching performances all day.
And to be fair, His Majesty's food was genuinely excellent.
Lucien finished his meal, stood, and said to Elif, "See that our guests are well taken care of."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Elif replied respectfully.
Lucien left the dining hall and returned to his bedchamber.
It had been an exhausting day.
The Pokémon were already waiting for him.
The moment he entered, Dragonite rushed over happily and nuzzled against him.
Lucien patted its head and sat down at his desk.
Larvesta crawled out from beneath the desk, pressing itself against his feet and radiating warmth with enthusiasm.
At some point, Dragonite had secretly learned a new trick from the maids.
Using its chubby claws, it began clumsily massaging Lucien's shoulders.
The maids had told it this would help His Majesty relieve fatigue.
"Woo?" Dragonite tilted its head.
Lucien blinked in surprise.
"Where did you learn that?"
"Awoo!" Dragonite replied proudly.
Lucien: "..."
The technique wasn't very good, sometimes too light, sometimes far too heavy, but Lucien wisely chose not to comment, unwilling to crush the child's confidence.
He turned his attention back to work, sketching the principles and structural blueprints of the steam engine onto parchment, preparing to hand them over to the Royal Workshop.
When everything was finally finished, Lucien rubbed his temples, feeling the exhaustion settle in.
Being king was really tiring.
For a fleeting moment, he couldn't help but imagine another world.
A world where he didn't need to govern a nation, didn't need to plan reforms or balance power.
Just traveling freely with his Pokémon, like a certain boy named Ash.
That kind of life…really did sound wonderful.
...
STONES PLZZz 💎💎💎
You can support me and read chapters ahead @Keepsmiling 818 p@reon