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"Dragon King, we have successfully taken control of the stronghold," the operative reported through the communicator, his voice filled with excitement. "Our team discovered extensive smuggling operations in the main warehouse, including rare Pokemon imported illegally from foreign regions, along with numerous black market items and contraband goods. We managed to capture twenty-six Dawn Society members alive during the raid, while twelve others were eliminated during the confrontation. Dragon King, this operation has been a tremendous success for our organization!"
Maximus listened to the report with satisfaction, though his expression remained controlled and professional. "Good work, but don't celebrate just yet," he responded firmly. "I want you to establish a complete perimeter around the entire stronghold immediately. Work through the night to catalog and secure all the confiscated supplies, then provide me with a detailed inventory list by dawn. The cleanup operations are your responsibility now. I need to return to the Secret Realm as soon as possible." He paused to check his watch, noting the time with growing urgency. "Everyone, I know this will be demanding work, but once we have the complete statistics on our seizures here, I'll ensure each team member receives a substantial bonus for their dedication."
The digital display showed seven o'clock in the evening. If he pushed his Pokemon to their limits and traveled at maximum speed, he could still make it back in time to spend New Year's Eve with his daughter. The thought of Nina spending this important holiday alone in the Secret Realm filled him with a deep sense of guilt and regret. As a father, he had already missed too many important moments in her life due to his duties, and he was determined not to let New Year's Eve become another regret.
The Lin family had gathered around their expansive mahogany dining table, which groaned under the weight of an elaborate feast that represented the very best of traditional New Year's cuisine. The spread included perfectly roasted chicken with crispy golden skin, tender duck prepared with aromatic herbs, fresh fish steamed to perfection, and various cuts of premium meat prepared in different regional styles. Alongside these main dishes were handmade dumplings filled with pork and chives, and sweet tangyuan floating in warm, fragrant broth - each dish carefully prepared to bring good fortune in the coming year.
With such an impressive array of delicious food, premium alcohol was naturally essential to complete the celebration. Scott, who was well-known throughout the family for his appreciation of fine spirits, had been eagerly anticipating this moment for weeks. He ceremoniously brought out his most treasured bottle of aged baijiu, which he had been saving specifically for this special New Year's gathering.
"Everyone, please help yourselves to some wine," Scott announced with obvious pleasure, his eyes twinkling with anticipation. "Ladies, if you prefer baijiu, please have baijiu. If you'd rather have red wine, we have excellent red wine available. Everyone should have at least a little to drink tonight, so we can all be happy and celebrate properly together." His gaze settled on Nina with paternal warmth. "Nina, you should have a little as well."
Nina, who hadn't touched alcohol in several months due to her intense training regimen and disciplined lifestyle, felt her dormant craving for a good drink stirred by Scott's enthusiastic invitation. However, she immediately remembered Jacob's strict warnings about maintaining her physical condition, and furthermore, she was acutely aware that she was a guest in the Lin family's home. What would happen if she drank too much and embarrassed herself or her hosts?
"I think I'll abstain tonight. You all should enjoy yourselves," Nina politely declined, though the effort was clearly difficult for her.
"Are you absolutely certain you won't drink? It would be perfectly fine to have just a little," one of the family members sitting nearby encouraged her gently. "Perhaps some red wine? It's supposed to be beneficial for beauty and maintaining a healthy complexion."
"No, really, I won't drink tonight," Nina insisted, waving her hand dismissively while maintaining her firm refusal.
As the family members continued their good-natured attempts to persuade her to join in the drinking, Nina discreetly glanced toward Jacob, her eyes carrying an unmistakable hint of longing mixed with a subtle, almost pleading expression. She was clearly torn between her desire to participate fully in the celebration and her commitment to the discipline he had helped her maintain.
Meeting his teacher's meaningful gaze, Jacob immediately understood that she genuinely wanted to drink and was only holding back out of respect for his previous guidance. Moreover, this was New Year's Eve, which should be a joyful and lively occasion filled with celebration and happiness. A small amount of alcohol wouldn't cause any real harm, especially on such a special night. He smiled reassuringly and said, "Teacher Nina, if you want to drink, please have a little. Don't feel you need to be so polite or restrained tonight."
"Well... alright then. Just a small amount," Nina responded with visible relief and a bright smile, her previous resistance melting away completely now that she had Jacob's permission.
Seeing this exchange, the other family members chimed in enthusiastically: "Exactly, tonight should be lively and festive! Please treat this place exactly like your own home; there's no need to be so formal or polite with us."
However, Jude observed the interaction between Nina and Jacob with growing curiosity and concern. Something about their dynamic struck her as unusual. Nina, who had been absolutely adamant about refusing alcohol just moments before, had changed her mind immediately upon hearing Jacob speak. The transformation had been instantaneous and complete.
Moreover, Jude had noticed the particular way Nina had looked at Jacob just before he spoke. That expression had seemed somehow inappropriate for a teacher-student relationship. It gave her the distinct impression of a wife seeking her husband's permission or approval before making a decision.
Jude felt a chill of surprise run through her, and a bold, almost shocking theory began to form in her mind. As an educated intellectual who had received extensive higher education and prided herself on her modern, progressive views, her perspective on relationships remained quite open and accepting. Upon further reflection, she realized that such a relationship between them wasn't entirely impossible; she simply didn't know how far their connection had progressed, or whether the Dragon King was aware of the situation.
At the dinner table, the entire family engaged in animated conversation, laughing and sharing stories about the significant events of the past year. The discussion naturally centered around Jacob, who had undoubtedly become the focal point of the family's success and attention this year.
Although Jacob was still quite young, his current status and influence within the Lin family could only be described as extraordinary - second only to the two respected elders. Not only did he surpass the third generation of the Lin family in importance, but even the second generation members, including Lewis and Aris, found that their influence and decision-making power was not as effective or far-reaching as Jacob's had become.
Precisely because of his elevated status and the family's deep appreciation for his contributions, Jacob naturally became the center of attention at the dinner table. Family members took turns toasting him, ensuring that his wine glass was never allowed to remain empty for more than a few moments.
After three full rounds of toasts and drinks, Jacob, whose alcohol tolerance had always been relatively low, began to feel his head spinning with dizziness and his thoughts becoming increasingly hazy and unfocused. Fortunately, his consciousness remained clear enough to maintain appropriate social interaction.
Nina, however, had exercised much more restraint with her alcohol consumption. After finishing one glass of red wine, she quietly switched to fruit juice and devoted her attention to discreetly taking care of Jacob throughout the meal.
When Jacob was engaged in drinking toasts with other family members, she would quietly place additional food on his plate, ensuring he had substantial nourishment. When Jacob finished drinking, she would gently remind him in low tones to eat more substantial dishes to help line his stomach and absorb the alcohol.
Feeling Nina's constant, thoughtful care and attention, Jacob, with his judgment somewhat clouded by the alcohol, found Nina increasingly attractive and captivating the more he looked at her. The wine seemed to enhance every aspect of her beauty and charm.
It must be acknowledged that the greatest appeal of mature women lies in their independence, self-reliance, and gentle, considerate nature. However, younger women possess their own distinct charm: youthful vitality, the courage to love and hate openly, and refreshingly simple, uncomplicated thoughts.
Men are truly complex creatures; they appreciate the gentle consideration and wisdom of older women, but simultaneously find themselves drawn to the admiration and enthusiasm of younger women.
When there exists a woman who can satisfy both of these desires simultaneously, no man can resist such a remarkable combination of qualities.
Jude, who was seated nearby with a clear view of both of them, carefully observed all of their subtle interactions throughout the evening. Ever since she had begun paying closer attention to their behavior, the more she watched, the more convinced she became that there was something romantic developing between the two. Their interactions bore no resemblance whatsoever to those of a typical teacher and student relationship.
Following the conclusion of the New Year's Eve dinner, the family entered a period of free time and relaxation. The younger generation dispersed to pursue their own entertainment activities; some went to catch the latest movies at the cinema, while others departed for romantic dates with their girlfriends or boyfriends. The older generation, who were already seven or eight parts intoxicated from the evening's festivities, either returned directly to their rooms to sleep off the alcohol, or settled comfortably on the living room sofas to watch the traditional New Year's Eve television gala.
"Jacob, Nina, would you like to come to my bar tonight?" Cousin Stetson, who owned and operated a popular nightclub in the city, extended an invitation to them both.
Jacob was already feeling quite dizzy and disoriented from the alcohol. The prospect of going to a loud, crowded bar held absolutely no appeal for him in his current condition. Besides, he wasn't in the mood for that type of social scene. He waved his hand dismissively and refused directly, "No thanks, you all go ahead and enjoy yourselves. I'm feeling quite dizzy right now, so I think I'll stay here."
"What about you, Nina?" Stetson persisted, though he hadn't actually intended his invitation for Jacob to be taken seriously. His real interest lay in spending time with Nina.
He had encountered Nina several times before during family gatherings and had always thought she was exceptionally beautiful and elegant, but he had also been realistic about his chances and knew he wasn't worthy of someone of her caliber. Although he had harbored romantic feelings, he had never dared to express them openly.
However, with Jacob's recent rise to prominence and success, the Lin family's prestige and influence had grown significantly, and Stetson's own status had risen accordingly. His bar business had become increasingly profitable and successful as a result of these connections.
With money filling his pockets and business booming, he had gained considerable confidence in himself and his prospects. Now, seeing Nina again, he couldn't help but nurture a small flame of romantic fantasy. The added attraction was that marrying Nina would essentially mean forming a connection with Maximus, one of the most powerful figures in their world.
"I'm not going either. You all go ahead and have fun," Nina refused directly and without hesitation. If Jacob wasn't planning to go, she naturally had no interest in going either. "I think I'll just stay here and watch some television."
"Come on, Nina, let's go out and have some real fun tonight. It's boring staying at home, and the Spring Festival Gala isn't particularly entertaining this year. We'll leave early and return early, I promise," Stetson refused to give up and continued his attempts at persuasion, becoming more insistent. "We've also purchased some spectacular fireworks that we can set off at midnight. Plus, I can introduce you to some interesting friends of mine."
"No thank you," a trace of obvious impatience flashed across Nina's eyes. If Stetson weren't a member of the Lin family, given her usual temperament and direct nature, she would have already lost her temper and told him off quite bluntly. "I'm tired from the long day and I really don't want to go anywhere."
"Nina, please consider it..."
Jacob had already consumed a significant amount of alcohol throughout the evening, and coupled with Stetson's persistent attempts to get close to Nina throughout the entire day, his patience had reached its breaking point. His voice inevitably grew several decibels louder as his irritation became apparent: "If you want to go out, then go by yourselves. Teacher Nina has already made it perfectly clear that she doesn't want to go, so please stop asking her repeatedly."
At Jacob's firm words and obvious displeasure, an expression of deep embarrassment and awkwardness flashed across Stetson's face. He realized he could no longer continue to pester them without causing a scene, and could only manage an uncomfortable smile as he prepared to leave with the other young family members for the bar: "Alright, alright. No more questions from me. Let's go, everyone."
After the group of young people finally departed for their night out, the house suddenly became remarkably quiet and peaceful. The older generation members also gradually returned to their respective rooms to sleep after watching television for a short while, leaving the living room increasingly empty.
Soon, only Jacob and Nina remained in the spacious living room. They sat together on the comfortable sofa, with only the gentle sound of the television providing background noise to fill the silence between them.
Emboldened by the alcohol coursing through his system, Jacob found his body unconsciously and continuously edging closer to Nina on the sofa. When their shoulders finally made contact, Nina's body visibly trembled at the touch, but significantly, she made no attempt to move away or create distance between them.
This lack of resistance gave Jacob immense courage and confidence. He turned his head to look directly at Nina and discovered that she was flushed with a deep blush that extended from her neck all the way to behind her ears, creating a beautiful rosy glow.
Nina kept her gaze firmly fixed on the television screen, as if she was completely absorbed and engrossed in whatever program was currently playing. However, her eyelashes fluttered constantly and nervously, clearly betraying her inner emotional turmoil and excitement. In reality, Nina was experiencing incredible nervousness at that very moment; her heart was pounding at an extremely rapid pace, and she found herself unconsciously holding her breath in anticipation. As for the actual content of the television program, she hadn't absorbed or processed a single bit of information.
Jacob grew increasingly bold with each passing moment, quietly and carefully reaching out in an attempt to take hold of Teacher Nina's hand.
"Beep."
Nina's phone suddenly rang, the sharp electronic sound cutting through the intimate atmosphere and interrupting Jacob's romantic plan completely. He was forced to quietly withdraw his hand and awkwardly rub his nose, feeling frustrated by the terrible timing.
"Nina, I'm back in the Secret Realm now. Why aren't you at home? Where did you go tonight?" The Dragon King's voice carried through the phone speaker, and his tone was noticeably cold and stern.
"Dad, why are you back so early?" Nina responded quickly, a note of surprise and mild panic in her voice. "I'm currently at Jacob's house. Mrs. Jude heard that I was going to be alone at home tonight and invited me over for the reunion dinner with his family. I'll head back home right away."
"Forget about coming back tonight, it's not safe for you to travel alone this late at night. Are you with Jacob right now?" Maximus's tone became extremely dangerous and threatening: "Let him take the phone."
"Hello, Master," Jacob said, recognizing immediately that it was his master calling. The sound of Maximus's voice instantly sobered him up quite considerably, cutting through the alcohol-induced haze.
"You two are really together right now?!" Maximus's tone grew even more dangerous and menacing: "It's already half past ten at night. What exactly is going on between you two?"
Damn it, you're trying to trap me, Master! Jacob thought desperately, wanting nothing more than to slap himself several times for his stupidity. His reaction time was obviously slowed from drinking alcohol; how could he have failed to realize this was obviously a test? This was clearly a setup designed to catch him in a compromising situation.
It seemed he would need to properly study Sun Tzu's Art of War when he returned home, to better prepare himself for such strategic verbal combat in the future.
After leaving the Lin family residence, Stetson was filled with rage and frustration, but he didn't dare to directly challenge or confront Jacob due to the younger man's elevated status and influence within the family. Instead, he could only channel his anger into going to his bar to drink heavily and attempt to pick up attractive women. Soon enough, he successfully attracted the attention of a young and beautiful woman who seemed interested in his advances. The two of them hit it off immediately, and after engaging in brief but flirtatious conversation, Stetson eagerly escorted the woman out of the crowded bar, both of them ready for a more private and intimate interaction.
However, Stetson did not take the woman to a conventional hotel room as might be expected. Instead, he drove her in his expensive car all the way to the outskirts of the city, then turned onto a narrow, rarely-used side road, finally bringing the vehicle to a stop in a completely deserted and isolated area far from any witnesses.
This had always been Stetson's preferred method and personal habit. Whenever he was filled with anger, rage, or frustration, he enjoyed using the thrill and novelty generated by this unique and risky approach to vent his negative emotions and regain his sense of control.
The two of them were so completely absorbed in their passionate activities that they entirely failed to notice that at that very moment, faint white light had begun to emanate mysteriously from all around their vehicle, growing steadily brighter and more intense.
Several minutes later, Stetson lay back in the driver's seat, smoking a cigarette and feeling somewhat more relaxed after releasing his pent-up frustrations. Suddenly, however, he became aware that something was fundamentally wrong with their surroundings. He clearly remembered that he hadn't parked his car in a forest environment, so why was he now hearing what sounded distinctly like ocean waves and the rhythmic crash of water against rocks?
When he looked out through the car windows with growing alarm, he suddenly realized with absolute horror that his vehicle was completely surrounded by a large group of Lunatone and Solrock, their bodies glowing with otherworldly energy and their eyes fixed intently on the car and its occupants.
Powerful Psychic energy began to surge and concentrate around them, creating an invisible force that started to compress both the car and everyone inside it with tremendous, inexorable pressure. The car windows shattered simultaneously under the immense psychic force, sending glass fragments flying in all directions, and blood began to gush from multiple wounds as the occupants were crushed.
"Ah!"
The shrill, terrified scream was abruptly and permanently silenced, leaving only the sound of the ocean and the eerie glow of the Psychic-type Pokemon in the darkness.