After spending a day in Cerulean Town, Axel boarded the S.S. Anne to head to Aurient.
While on the ship, Axel also heard from Lance about Aunt Stacy's identity.
A former member of Team Rocket, under Lance's command, specifically responsible for researching the [Bell Tower] in the Johto region.
After discovering some historical secrets, she decisively left Team Rocket and fled to live in the Aurient region.
Lance had once sent people to Aurient to hunt her down, but all those Team Rocket members were completely defeated by Axel's parents.
Axel wasn't surprised by this.
To survive over ten years in the Ultra Wormhole and persist until he awakened his system, his parents' strength as trainers was absolutely not to be underestimated.
At this point, Axel finally understood why Aunt Stacy and Uncle Sonny's family treated him like their own son.
There's no such thing as love without reason in this world, but the son of their lifesaver was different.
"So what are you planning to do this time?", Facing Axel's question, Lance's eyes were filled with fanaticism as he revealed the perfect answer he had thought of all night.
"Reporting to the great master of divine beasts, this time I will definitely capture that researcher and make her continue the Bell Tower research."
"Once there's a breakthrough, we'll help you and the divine beasts capture Lugia and destroy Team Rocket in one fell swoop!"
"Not a bad plan," Axel nodded, then continued, "But have you considered the possibility that I was raised by that subordinate of yours?"
Lance: "???"
Confusion, fear, disbelief… countless emotions instantly clouded his heart.
Seeing Lance's expression, the corners of Axel's mouth curved slightly.
Without Lance, he might still worry about Aunt Stacy and Uncle Sonny's safety.
Now with Lance as a buffer, they were already safe.
"Alright, you go first. Just stay in Aurient as normal, and protect Aunt and Uncle Sonny while you're at it."
"I probably won't stay in Aurient for long. I'll still have to rely on you when the time comes."
"Understood!", Lance suddenly stood tall with excitement, his voice reaching a fanatical peak.
'The great master of divine beasts actually trusts me so much, I must repay this favor tenfold.'
No matter who came, he would never let anyone lay a finger on Uncle and Aunt.
———
HOOOO~
A long, melodious horn echoed through the harbor as the S.S. Anne slowly docked.
Before even stepping off the deck, Axel saw a little loli in a white long dress holding a Smoliv waiting on the pier.
The little loli spotted Axel from afar, jumped up, and waved at him with a smile, "You're finally back!"
Axel summoned Dragonair and flew down from the deck, patting the little loli's head, "Why'd you come all the way out here to pick me up without saying anything?"
The little loli stuck out her tongue and tightly hugged Axel's arm, "Missed you."
Since the two could remember, this was the first time the little loli had been apart from Axel for so long.
Even the pink Dragonair beside her was subconsciously ignored by the little loli.
"Let's go, I'll take you home."
Axel waved at Dragonair, and the little girl instantly understood, whipping up a gust of wind that carried Axel and the little loli onto its back, rising into the sky.
The crowd on the beach instantly focused their eyes on Dragonair, eyes wide, all thinking they were seeing things.
As a pseudo-legendary Pokémon, Dragonair was extremely rare anywhere.
Even in Dragon City, known as the northern tourist hub of Aurient, it was the same.
This kind of Pokémon couldn't be bought even with money—typically only inherited through bloodlines.
"My god, is that a shiny Dragonair?"
"So cool, someone's actually riding a dragon on the beach, so jealous!"
"Heh~ Just wait until it evolves into a yellow fat thing, then you won't be jealous."
Hearing someone insult his master, Lance viciously glared at the last trainer who spoke, "That's still better than your Muk!"
"What's wrong with my Muk? I'm an elite-level trainer!"
"Hmph, then let's battle!"
"Bring it on!"
Ten seconds later, the Muk trainer was squatting on the beach in tears, "Big bro, I was wrong..."
"I'm asking you, was that trainer flying in the sky handsome or not?"
"Handsome, handsome, super handsome!"
"Then here's your mission: today, post a hundred threads online saying that Dragonair trainer is super handsome."
"Okay, big bro!"
———
In the sky, the little loli excitedly teased Dragonair.
"Wow, Axel, you're amazing, you actually brought back a shiny Dragonair."
Axel grinned, "It's all thanks to Gary. He helped a lot."
"Did anything fun happen while I was away? Tell me about it?"
"Of course! I even caught an Aron!"
"A few days ago, Emberpine County held a research competition, studying the command methods between trainers and Pokémon."
"My project had a great concept and won first place. The prize was a gym-level Aron."
'Aron?'
Hearing this name, Axel couldn't help but blink.
'The world really is strange.'
Before returning to Aurient, he had gone to Cerulean Cave in Kanto to get a Shell Bell, originally to give the little loli as a necklace.
But now, with an Aron, a highly successful strategy suddenly appeared in Axel's mind.
Before the world merged, official Pokémon tournaments were often held, and the appearance of Aron marked a pivotal revolution in competitive history.
Someone used a level 1 Aron with Shell Bell and almost swept an entire official tournament.
The principle was simple: Aron's ability is Sturdy. If at full health, it can't be one-hit KO'd.
And Aron could inherit Endeavor, a move that does fixed damage. Coupled with the Shell Bell's healing effect, that contestant's Aron's HP kept bouncing back and forth, breaking the opponents down bit by bit.
Although this tactic was easily countered, it was low-cost.
An untrained Aron with a cheap Shell Bell from its native region could easily crush many trainers' Pokémon.
"By the way… how's Gym Leader Sasha doing lately?", Hearing Axel's sudden question, the little loli blinked in confusion.
"She's doing great. After you defeated her, many people from Emberpine County came to challenge the gym."
"But for some reason, Sasha's Incineroar has become especially strong, even Homer from Blue Dragon County, who's expected to challenge the Elite Four, can't beat her now."
After hearing the little loli's words, Axel grinned.
Even without checking in person, he could guess what was going on.
Back when Sasha said "just once," Axel had already expected this outcome.
It was hard enough to obtain an Intimidate Incineroar, how could one resist using that strategy?
Saying "just once" was simply a trainer's pride.
In Axel's heart, that line was even more hypocritical than "just the tip, no going in."
"Are you in a hurry to go home?", Axel pinched the little loli's cheek.
The little loli blushed, curled up in Axel's arms, and whispered like a mosquito, "Not really… Dad and Mom know I came to pick you up, and moving house isn't that urgent."
"We don't have to go home tonight..."
Axel: "..."
'Why are all the girls around me so evil?'
"What are you thinking? I just want you to unlock the 'Torment the Gym Leader' achievement!"
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