"?"
Listening to Gary, Lucas stopped what he was doing in confusion and looked up at him curiously.
Shauna was still picking at her rice, only her two dark, round eyes visible as she watched Lucas and Gary.
Seeing Lucas's surprised expression, Gary quickly explained.
"I want to learn from the Manager how to take care of Pokémon, so I can better handle my relationship with them."
This was something he had seen in Lucas today that was different from others.
Not only his own Pokémon, but even wild Pokémon could live in harmony in this Breeding House, which was why he wanted to stay and learn from him.
"Of course, I can pay for it."
Listening to Gary, Lucas began to think.
Learn from him? Pay a fee?
It didn't seem impossible.
"Alright, but there's a prerequisite."
"Tell me."
"You can stay, but you have to help me with chores, like taking care of Pokémon and weeding."
Gary nodded without hesitation.
"Also, how much you learn depends on you."
Gary had no objections either, and nodded.
"Then it's settled."
Seeing this, Lucas had no problems and said to Shauna:
"Shauna, you eat first. I'll take him upstairs to tidy up a room. After you finish eating, remember to go back to your room to shower. I'll clean up the rest later."
"Okay~"
"Next time, swallow what's in your mouth before speaking to avoid choking."
"Okay."
A clear voice rang out, and Lucas led Gary back to the second floor.
He found an empty room, then skillfully took out a duvet cover, helped him put the quilt inside, and then covered the pillow.
"The restroom is in the room."
After telling Gary the Precautions, Lucas returned to the first floor and went to the backyard.
He watched today's wrestling show with Shauna.
Before long, Shauna went back to her room to shower, and Gary came to Lucas's side after his shower.
"Oh, right, you can keep your Pokémon in the Breeding House."
Hearing this, Gary flicked his wrist and threw out several Poké Balls: Blastoise, Arcanine, Electivire, Nidoqueen, and Nidoking.
They all appeared in the Breeding House's field.
As expected of Gary, they were all powerful Pokémon.
However, it seemed Gary had many Pokémon, so each time he saw them, it would be a different lineup.
Lucas and Gary talked about the Breeding House and Gary's travels.
"Why aren't you continuing as a Trainer?"
Lucas asked the question he was most concerned about.
Gary paused, then said:
"My friend will become a powerful Pokémon Master, and I have always been more inclined to research Pokémon."
"Ash?"
"Does the Manager know Ash?"
Gary was even more shocked. Did the Manager also travel in the Kanto region before?
"Champion Cynthia told me."
Lucas said, not blushing or skipping a beat, bringing up Cynthia. Anyway, Gary probably didn't know Cynthia.
"Champion Cynthia, huh?"
Gary murmured to himself.
"So, as a Pokémon researcher, what do you most want to research?"
Hearing Lucas's words, Gary let out a long breath and then said:
"Ancient Pokémon. Because I believe Pokémon ecology is diverse, I want to research ancient Pokémon to see what they were like and how they lived back then."
"Ancient Pokémon, huh?"
Lucas said softly.
He remembered that whenever Gary made a cameo as a researcher in the anime, he was always researching ancient Pokémon.
Ancient Pokémon like Aerodactyl and Shieldon.
"So, I want to first learn from the Manager how to properly handle relationships with Pokémon."
Hearing this, Lucas smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
"I hope your wishes come true."
Gary was a bit confused, but he still took Lucas's words as encouragement.
"Strange? Where did Gengar go?"
Lucas glanced around. Gengar had left with Vespiquen after dinner and hadn't returned yet.
Just as he was about to go look for Gengar, two scarlet gazes lit up in the distance.
Immediately after.
"Gengar—!!!"
Gengar's cry drifted into Lucas's ears.
Gary and his Blastoise were ready for action.
Lucas looked at the yellow body gradually emerging from the scarlet gaze behind him, and then at the small jar in Gengar's hand.
Cold sweat kept breaking out on his forehead.
It couldn't be that he stole again, could it?
Thinking of this, Lucas became terribly flustered.
Then Gengar came to Lucas's side. Seeing the honey still on Gengar's mouth, Lucas felt a headache, and his teeth started aching too.
Vespiquen stopped in front of Lucas, staring intently at Gengar behind Lucas, and also at Lucas himself.
"Uh, this…"
Lucas looked at the aggressive Vespiquen in front of him, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his hand, and organized his words.
"This is all Gengar's fault. I don't know anything."
Lucas quickly stepped aside after speaking.
"Gengar?!"
Seeing the approaching Vespiquen, Lucas on the side was still grinning, ready to watch the show.
Gengar's mind lit up, he reached into the small jar, got some honey, and then, while Lucas was grinning, he shoved it into Lucas's mouth.
Looking at Vespiquen's murderous eyes, Lucas involuntarily chewed.
Wow! So sweet! Sweet but not cloying!
The next second.
"Gengar!!!"
At this moment, Gengar pointed at Lucas with a look of righteous indignation!
"Gengar!"
He ate it too!
Then he wiped the honey from the corner of his mouth with his small hand and put it into his mouth.
Vespiquen's claws were trembling non-stop.
Lucas swallowed the honey in his mouth, then scratched his hair and chuckled.
"You have to know, this isn't my fault. Gengar forced it on me."
"You have to believe me, I was forced!"
Listening to Lucas, Gengar argued with him.
The human and the Pokémon started arguing like this.
Just as Vespiquen's claws began to glow white, and Lucas and Gengar were trembling in fear.
Gary's voice rang out.
"I just saw Combee not collecting there—Bee!"
Vespiquen interrupted Gary.
"Oh~"
Lucas looked down at the honey in Gengar's hand, a special edition.
He figured Vespiquen must have found a place or a method to increase the production of special honey.
Then he and Gengar looked at Vespiquen with questioning eyes.
Vespiquen was momentarily a bit guilty, but then it remembered that this was honey it had brewed itself, and it became assertive again.
"Bee!"
But it wasn't as forceful as before.
Lucas also noticed this.
Finally, he seized the opportunity to launch a verbal attack.
Gengar assisted from the side.
Finally, an agreement was reached.
One jar of regular honey every fifteen days, and one small jar of special honey once a month.
Vespiquen nodded contentedly, then turned and left.
Watching Vespiquen's retreating back, Lucas knew that this was honey they had worked hard to brew.
He couldn't bear it.
"Vespiquen."
Vespiquen turned around.
"Bee?"
"We were tricking you. We don't want the special honey anymore."
"Gengar—"
Gengar also returned the special honey in his hand.
Vespiquen looked at the two of them, then tossed its head and continued to fly towards the forest area.
"Bee."
If I say it's yours, it's yours. Take it and eat it.
It thought they would be very moved and thus give up the idea of asking for more honey, but then it heard their conversation.
"Why are you so foolish? Next time, you go secretly. You have to observe secretly, and only then can you negotiate for more."
"Gengar—"
I see, I understand.
Its claws trembled slightly, then glowed white.
"Bee!"
An Air Slash flew towards the sky.
It looked back and saw Gengar and Lucas pouting at the air.
They didn't dare to say another word.
Seeing this, Vespiquen quickly flew back to the beehive.
It explained the forest rules to all the Combee.
1. When you encounter a purple fatty, do not talk to it.
2. When you encounter a purple fatty, you must ignore it.
3. When you encounter a purple fatty, you must turn and run.
Late at night, Gary's window was knocked. Gary opened the window, and Vespiquen was holding a small jar.
It handed it to Gary.
"Bee!"
Shhh!
Watching Vespiquen's retreating back, Gary was a bit torn between laughter and tears.
"Was I—bribed?"
....
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