Looking at Gary, who had suddenly fallen silent, Lucas felt a bit puzzled.
Although he didn't know what Gary was thinking, honestly, in his past life, he quite liked Gary, from his initial arrogant and proud demeanor to his eventual maturity and reliability.
Especially his shining moments during his journey—he truly lived up to being Ash's initial rival.
And he himself loved Pokémon.
After waiting a while, Gary still hadn't spoken, so Lucas could only continue, "Do you know why the Breeding House is called 'Gengar's Paradise'?"
Gary shook his head.
"Because Gengar and I opened it together, so it's named after Gengar."
"And 'Paradise' is because I hope this place is a paradise for Pokémon, where they can temporarily forget their troubles, play with like-minded Pokémon, relax, and grow up happily with their companions."
"It's not just for Pokémon; it's the same for people. Whether they're famous trainers or just ordinary folk, they can come here, and with the companionship of Pokémon, take a good rest."
Who could refuse to sit on a chair in the backyard, surrounded by Pokémon, basking in the sun while quietly watching them play, with a fluffy Pachirisu lying in their arms?
Anyone's tightly strung nerves would surely relax.
Thinking of this, Lucas couldn't help but smile.
He certainly couldn't refuse.
"Manager Lucas, may I look around by myself? I know it's a bit presumptuous—" "No problem, go ahead."
Before Gary could finish his polite words, Lucas waved his hand, indicating he didn't mind.
"As long as you don't disturb the Pokémon in the Breeding House."
"Please rest assured."
Gary nodded, then looked towards the swing tree where Umbreon was playing with Shauna and Chingling and other Pokémon. He didn't call Umbreon over, but instead, after answering Lucas, he began to explore the Breeding House's backyard on his own.
Watching Gary's retreating figure, Lucas shrugged.
He didn't know what Professor Rowan had told Gary that made him want to come and learn, nor did he know what Gary wanted to learn. It didn't seem like he had anything to teach him.
Since Gary wanted to tour the Breeding House by himself, he'd let him. That way, he could free up time to arrange the Breeding House's upcoming arena competition in a few days.
Meanwhile, Gary walked alone in the backyard.
When he passed through the grassland area, he would stop to observe Oddish and Budew. Then, he crossed the grassland area and came to the Lake area, where Azurill and Psyduck were spraying each other with Water Gun, and Petilil and Roselia were whispering to each other.
Standing by the Lake, his face was reflected in the water. Just as he was lost in thought, a blue and white squirrel appeared on his shoulder in the reflection.
His shoulder dipped. Gary turned to look, and a Pachirisu was standing on his shoulder, holding a berry in its paws.
"Is this for me?"
Pachirisu nodded.
Gary smiled, then took the berry and bit into it.
It was fresh and juicy.
"Thank you, Pachirisu."
Gary said thank you.
Pachirisu's little face flushed, then it gently rubbed its cheek against Gary's before running straight away.
Touching his still warm cheek, Gary was a little surprised, then he smiled and continued his tour happily.
Arriving in the forest area, an Aipom suddenly appeared in front of him, hanging upside down from a tree by its tail and making a funny face at him.
Seeing that Gary wasn't scared, Aipom was a little surprised, then swung its tail and disappeared from Gary's sight.
Walking further in, he was suddenly blocked by several Combee.
Gary was a little puzzled, thinking this area might be impassable, but then a Vespiquen flew over.
"Bee."
It shook its head, and then the Combee moved aside.
Vespiquen came before Gary, its scarlet eyes fixed on him. It sensed Lucas's aura on Gary, knew that Gary was Lucas's guest, and then politely explained to Gary.
Gary understood its meaning: this area was temporarily inaccessible.
Gary nodded, then turned and left in another direction.
Vespiquen watched Gary's retreating figure, then turned to look at a few Combee who were secretly returning from the flowerbed, sighing in relief.
Good thing he didn't discover them.
If he told Lucas and Gengar, it would be troublesome.
However, it was still uneasy and remained in place, watching Gary's back until he disappeared from sight before turning to leave.
As it turned, a scarlet gaze from not far away was intently fixed on it.
"Gen gar?"
Gary walked to the junction of the Breeding House and the forest, where the fence had not been repaired.
This must be the forest Manager Lucas mentioned, where the Pokémon from the forest come to the Breeding House from here.
Gary stepped out of the Breeding House and arrived at the forest entrance.
He watched quietly for a long time, then remembered Lucas's words and gave up the idea of entering the forest.
Then he turned back.
Returning to the planting area, he found Lucas, Gengar, Gothorita, and Mime Jr. picking some vegetables, berries, and some traditional herbs.
"You're back?"
Seeing Gary return, Lucas wiped the sweat from his forehead and handed the Medical herbs in his hand to Gothorita.
Looking at Gothorita, Gary took out his Pokédex and scanned it.
"Mm."
At the same time, he didn't forget to reply to Lucas.
"Are you having dinner here tonight?"
Lucas looked at the young man before him and asked.
"This..." Gary was a bit conflicted, but finally, he said, "Then I'll trouble you."
"No worries, the food Mime Jr. and Gothorita make is delicious, isn't it?"
"Goth—"
"Mime Jr.—"
"Then please wait a moment."
Lucas finished speaking and continued to pick the Medical herbs needed for brewing herbal tea tomorrow.
Gary looked at Lucas's movements of picking Medical herbs, a little puzzled.
"Manager, these Medical herbs are—"
"Oh, you mean these."
Lucas shook the Medical herbs in his hand, stood up, saw that he had picked enough, then walked out of the planting area, while also having Mime Jr. and Gothorita pull out Gengar, who seemed determined to pick all the berries.
"Gen gar—"
He explained to Gary as he led him to the kitchen.
"These are for brewing herbal tea."
"herbal tea?"
Gary had never heard of herbal tea and was a bit confused.
"You can think of it as unevolved traditional Chinese medicine. It has a very good effect on some minor ailments, such as low spirits, sore throats, and internal heat."
"This is unique to our Breeding House. After all, there are so many elderly people in Twinleaf Town, and as they age, they inevitably have some minor illnesses. If they go to the hospital for such minor illnesses, it would be making a mountain out of a molehill. So, our Breeding House launched the herbal tea service, which can solve these issues very well."
After Lucas finished speaking, Gary nodded in sudden understanding.
Then, while Lucas and the others were making dinner, Gary went to the swing tree and played with Shauna.
Afterward, he sat quietly on the swing, watching Shauna play house with Chingling and the others, then looked up at the Breeding House's backyard.
He had walked through the Breeding House's backyard this afternoon. Although it was far less spacious than his family's Oak Laboratory, it was filled with a different kind of feeling, unlike his family's laboratory.
He had been to other Breeding Houses, but none of them gave him the same sense of peace as this one.
He secretly made up his mind.
After dinner, looking at Lucas, who was grooming the Vulpix in his arms, he suddenly asked, "Manager, can I stay?"
....
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