The sages were sent away.
Once they learned that Sato was Ho-Oh's envoy, all of them -including Mingguang- followed his every word without a hint of resistance.
But Sato strictly ordered them not to spread the news of him being the envoy of Ho-Oh, and certainly not to act in his name ever again.
He knew his own situation well. Sato was fully aware of how he had passed Ho-Oh's trial, so there was no way he would let others use that status for their own agendas.
After trying once to explain Ho-Oh's true intentions to Mingguang and the others, Sato gave up on convincing them.
"Lord Ho-Oh would never abandon us. Envoy, this must be a test from you. We've waited for hundreds of years and now we've finally found you. Doesn't that prove our perseverance was worthwhile?"
As he said this, there was a glimmer in Mingguang's eyes.
The sages of the Bell Tower… were far too obsessed.
With those unexpected guests driven away, Sato's life returned to its usual rhythm.
Although plenty of students still gathered to watch his lectures, both the professors and Sato himself had gotten used to it.
After holding his third public lecture, Sato announced that he would no longer be offering any more sessions. After all, his popularity would eventually decline.
Better to leave behind an unbeatable record than to drag things down as the quality waned.
Or maybe someday, after Sato reaches the Elite Four level, Celadon University would formally invite him back… and he'd give one last lecture then.
It seemed that Sato had completely settled into the life of a university student.
---
Kalos Region - Lumiose City - In a certain castle.
It was a sunny morning. A few carefree Fletchling soared through the sky, completely at ease.
At that moment, Joseph was in the backyard, feeding his Pokémon breakfast.
Florges was surrounded by several petite Flabébé, each carrying a large flower as they fluttered through the air, their cheerful laughter filling the garden and lifting Joseph's spirits.
Gogoat lay lazily on the grass, soaking in the warmth of the morning sun.
Wigglytuff, Meganium, and Gallade all sat quietly beside Joseph, enjoying this rare moment of calm.
Only the younger Clawitzer and Delibird were still goofing around; one firing Water Gun, the other countering with Icy Wind.
They were having a great time!
After breakfast with his Pokémon, a maid arrived in the backyard with quick, light steps.
"Young Master Joseph, the family head asks that you bring your main Pokémon to the training grounds. He… wants to evaluate your combat ability."
Joseph turned his head and glanced at the maid who had delivered the message.
'Looks like the people my fourth brother bought off couldn't hold back any longer,' Joseph thought to himself.
Among the six maids who served closest to him, four had been bought. Two of them even played both sides. Honestly, it was a waste of their talents to be working as maids.
"What else did the family head say?" Joseph asked softly.
'Too bad he was walking the wrong path… there was no chance of him competing for the position of next family head.'
The other three personal maids silently thought this, their eyes lowered, their expressions perfectly respectful.
"Young Master, the family head had no further instructions. He only asked that you head there as soon as possible."
Joseph blinked, gave a light smile, then took out his Poké Balls and recalled all his Pokémon, except for Florges and Delibird.
"Keep an eye on the Flabébé and Delibird, don't let them wander out of the yard," Joseph instructed Florges.
"Flor~"
Florges nodded but then pointed at itself with a slightly worried look.
"Don't worry, I won't need you to fight. Just stay home and keep things in order," Joseph replied with a soft smile, then turned and left the backyard.
"Flor…"
Florges watched Joseph leave, keeping its gaze on him until he vanished from sight.
Then, it coldly glanced at the three maids who had sat down and started chatting as if nothing mattered, a trace of amusement flashing through its eyes.
In the Narcissus Family, where the rules were so strict, maids casually sitting in the master's seat to gossip was an act of zero tolerance.
And yet, it was happening right here in the courtyard Joseph belonged to.
Joseph had already been back for two months, but none of these scheming maids had realized he could understand Pokémon speech.
Clearly, they had never truly cared for Joseph. All they did was put on a show, selling off any surface-level information Joseph could detect.
'Foolish women!'
Florges sneered and used Vine Whip to snatch Delibird, which was trying to sneak off, then turned and disappeared into the backyard with the Flabébé.
No one paid them any mind.
---
Led by a maid, Joseph walked for a full ten minutes before arriving at the family training grounds.
At the center of the field, an intense battle was already underway. A Greninja and a Barbaracle were locked in fierce combat, both clearly at Low Ace level.
"Hey, Sixth Brother, you're late! Second Brother and Third Sister's match is almost over, you missed a perfect chance to learn something!"
A young man with a slight resemblance to Joseph called out warmly, but his tone was laced with mockery.
Late to arrive, and not even taking the chance to observe seriously? Such a tactic was far too basic. Joseph didn't even bother replying, simply walking directly to the Narcissus family head's side.
"Father."
"Hmm. Why are you nearly half an hour late?"
The one who spoke was Mars Narcissus.
The current head of the Narcissus Family. Joseph's biological father. Though over seventy, he still looked full of vigor. Aside from a bit of gray in his hair, he could easily pass for a man in his forties.
Joseph was Mars's only child from his third wife, making him the sixth in the family lineup.
Of course, Mars -ever unsatisfied- had long since married a fourth wife. But she had yet to bear any children, leaving Joseph as the youngest.
The Narcissus Family had existed since the Kalos Region was still an independent kingdom. With such a long lineage came strict traditions.
For example, every child in the Narcissus Family must start with a Water-type Pokémon. Every child must aim to become a strong and outstanding Trainer.
The family operated under survival of the fittest. Those who failed would be disowned.
All of this had once made young Joseph feel deeply resistant and miserable.
Then, less than three months after his mother's death, his father married his fourth wife and Joseph exploded.
He pointed at Mars's nose and screamed at him, cursing like an unruly street thug.
The very next day, Joseph went from the most favored child to the most ignored.
Eventually, during a visit from his uncle, Joseph seized the chance to flee Kalos, taking with him Florges, his mother's final gift, and his uncle's parting present: his Starter Pokémon, a Skiddo.
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150 PS - CH