Meeting Hassel's gaze as he leaned in, Lucas's eyelid twitched involuntarily.
Lucas asked, knowing full well the answer, "Why are you asking me that?"
Hassel's lips curved in a placating smile. "You know how it is. Ever since I cut ties with my family, yours truly has been relying on one person to help feed my Dragon-type Pokémon. And my main pursuits—painting and vocal music—burn money like a furnace."
"I saw Chairwoman Geeta's printed job listing at League HQ. I figured I could handle an art or music teacher's responsibilities, so I plan to apply. I wanted to ask you about Naranja Academy's pay and benefits."
Lucas: "…"
A dignified Dragon-type Elite Four, heir to a clan of dragon tamers, planning to moonlight as a teacher… for the salary? The world really is going downhill.
What's that? I am too?
Ah, then never mind!
"I don't know about art or music teachers, but as a battle instructor my package is: two classes a week; first month probation at 50,000 League credits; 80,000 a month after regularization; four months of long holidays a year; and supposedly quarterly bonuses."
After a brief pause, Lucas gave Hassel a simple rundown of his own terms.
He'd thought this late-blooming rich kid would scoff at such a pittance, but Hassel's eyes lit up. He immediately picked up his phone and started hammering away, then decisively hit send.
"What did you… do?"
An ominous feeling crept over Lucas. Since when do people make decisions this rashly?
Hassel, perfectly matter-of-fact: "I just sent my résumé to the Chairwoman—applying for the art teacher position. With my qualifications, I'll absolutely be accepted."
"I know what you want to say. It's like how you didn't want to run all over taking jobs for money, so you opened a farm and took a teaching post. If I go take assignments, the old folks back home will definitely notice and hound me to come back and inherit the family business, ruining my gig."
"They can hardly interfere with matters inside Naranja Academy. I can create the art I love and also draw a salary to help with expenses. That's a win-win."
Hassel's argument was sound. Even Lucas was stunned by his world-shaking wisdom, and even started to wonder if Hassel only became an Elite Four because he figured his clan couldn't just storm Pokémon League HQ and haul him home…
Lucas was about to say something when a charming melody sounded—he'd heard it not long ago. He raised a brow. "The theme to Kalos Holiday?"
"You know it too?" Hassel picked up the ringing phone and glanced at the caller ID—either surprised by who it was or surprised Lucas watched films. "The theme song 'Unforgettable' paired with a movie that's practically a work of art—I love it. Didn't expect a battle maniac like you to know these things."
"The presence you had in the League when you streamed past the lot of us—I thought you had no interests beyond battling."
"I'm retired now. Can't a guy change his tastes?" Lucas said helplessly, then pointed at Hassel's phone to remind him: "Not going to answer?"
"Right away. I always pick up when the Chairwoman calls."
With zero intention of taking the call in private, Hassel put it on speaker. Geeta's voice came through.
"Hassel, according to the file, you applied to be the Academy's art teacher?"
"You're still working now, Chairwoman? So diligent."
"No, I'm preparing a meeting about the Academy incident. Larry is helping me with the screenings."
As soon as Geeta finished, both Lucas and Hassel wore indescribable expressions.
Just how many hats is Larry wearing these days?
Hassel glanced at Lucas and murmured, "You were right not to take office."
Lucas nodded emphatically. "Couldn't agree more."
Geeta's slightly puzzled voice came: "From the sound of it, you're with Lucas right now?"
Both: "…"
Monstrous powers of perception!
Before Hassel could respond, Geeta spoke like she'd already confirmed it. "Knowing your temperament, you probably went to him to confirm duties and compensation. No problem. As long as you don't neglect your Elite Four duties, being an art teacher is fine."
"By the way, pass a message to Lucas—after a while I have a new commission for him. He'll need to take some people to Unova. There'll be a travel bonus."
"The meeting's about to start, so I'll hang up. Hassel, we'll discuss your start date later."
After Geeta hung up, there was a beat of silence.
"You've been seen straight through," Lucas said.
"Terrifying woman," Hassel agreed with a nod.
Off to the side, Oranguru quietly added a potential Unova trip to his tablet calendar, musing that he ought to preview Unova's data over the next few days.
Lucas forked a piece of cake and slipped it into his mouth, savoring as he pondered what Geeta wanted him to do in Unova.
Night raid on Team Plasma? Kidnap N, the King of Plasma?
Sneak the Light Stone and Dark Stone out of Dragonspiral Tower or the Sword of the Earth?
Or go to Elesa's fashion show…
Hassel didn't miss Lucas's thoughtful look. He also picked up the hot tea Oranguru had just topped up and took a light sip. Waving his knife and fork, he smiled. "If the Chairwoman wants you in Unova, it's most likely to send you to Opelucid Academy or Blueberry Academy."
"Blueberry Academy?"
Lucas frowned. He remembered Opelucid Academy—that was the academy founded by Drayden, the Dragon-type Gym Leader in Unova.
But Blueberry Academy? That sounded suspiciously like it had a subtle connection with Naranja/Uva Academy.
Could it be a facility from a remake he didn't know about—or something added once Kyurem entered the picture?
"You don't know?" Hassel looked at Lucas in surprise and went on to explain. "Blueberry Academy is a newly founded academy in Unova—the sister school to Naranja Academy. Supposedly most of its facilities are built out at sea, with Pokémon battles as the main curriculum."
"They say they're using a new technology to artificially create habitats suitable for Pokémon. I think it's called the 'Terarium Dome'…?"
"Even I'm very interested in that Terarium Dome. If I could use that tech to build an ideal habitat for my Dragon Legion, that would be wonderful—"
Blueberry Academy. Offshore facilities. Terarium Dome.
Aside from the ocean architecture that might vaguely call to mind Slateport or Lilycove in Hoenn, the rest was all news to him.
Seems this is new game content he doesn't know.
"As for why the Chairwoman might send you to Blueberry Academy, I have a guess."
"Naranja Academy is swaying in the storm right now. It needs to send out positive signals to avoid everyone scattering like monkeys from a fallen tree. Sending you to Opelucid or Blueberry should be one piece of the Chairwoman's plan."
Though an artist, Hassel was raised in an ancient clan of dragon tamers. His political nose was much keener than Lucas's. In a few sentences, he helped Lucas parse Geeta's thinking.
Lucas nodded slightly, grateful. "Thanks for the analysis."
"No problem. You shared the teaching package at Naranja; this is just returning the favor."
Hassel seemed to remember something and gently placed the big shoulder bag he'd been carrying on the table.
A vivid Gible was painted on the bag—probably Hassel's own work. It looked a bit stuffed. Lucas asked, puzzled, "What's inside?"
He'd assumed it held Hassel's art tools, maybe even an instrument or two…
But from Hassel's expression, that didn't seem right.
Hassel chuckled and opened the bag to show Lucas. "Ta-da—local specialties for you!"
Two Pokémon Eggs lay quietly in incubators.
One had green and gray-brown stripes with yellow spots.
The other had red and green stripes with no extra markings.
Lucas: "?"
Speechless. Since when are "local specialties" two Pokémon Eggs?
Seeing Lucas's wordless look, Hassel's expression turned complicated. He smiled bitterly. "That was a chaotic night—yours truly made a mistake."
He looked up to gauge Lucas's reaction.
Tapping the plate with his knife and fork, Lucas raised his left hand in a "please continue your act" gesture. "Go on with your story; I'm listening."
Realizing he wouldn't get the reaction he wanted, Hassel straightened, coughed twice, and said solemnly, "Ahem… no more jokes. These two Pokémon Eggs were laid among the Dragon Legion I free-range in my backyard."
"Since my capacity is limited, I want to find reliable new owners for them."
"So you chose me?" Lucas raised a brow, eyes falling to the Eggs. "You do realize most Dragon-types not only eat a lot, they can hardly contribute anything to a farm, right?"
"Which two Dragon-type Pokémon laid these?"
Hassel shook his head honestly. "I don't know."
"You don't know?" Lucas's voice rose a notch.
"I keep them mixed—besides Dragon-types, there are many other Pokémon associated with Dragons. You know how many Dragon-types don't like raising their own offspring. These two Eggs were unclaimed."
"Judging from the Egg colors, they should have some connection to Grass-type. I figured they'd suit your farm, so I brought them."
Hassel looked genuinely aggrieved. Dragon-types are energetic by nature; the occasional mishap or fleeting romance isn't surprising. Add in that he keeps them mixed, and of course you can't always tell whose seed is whose.
Lucas palmed his forehead. "Doesn't your dragon-tamer clan teach you how to identify Eggs?"
"I cut class back then," Hassel said, righteously shameless.
Seeing how unreliable he looked, Lucas could only chant in his heart: "System, give me a hint about the Eggs' Pokémon."
[Coming right up! Dear Host-sama, the Egg on your left holds a Grass/Flying Pokémon; the one on your right holds a Grass/Dragon Pokémon!]
Ever since Swampert mastered Mega Evolution, his power had steadily climbed, and the System had grown ever more sycophantic—practically answering anything he asked.
Useful, though. Soon, Lucas narrowed the possibilities.
Grass/Flying, and dragon-related… most likely isn't Dragon-type, not a dragon but learns Dragon Dance—Tropius.
As for Grass/Dragon, Lucas first ruled out Alolan Exeggutor and Mega Sceptile.
One's a final form, the other requires Mega evolution. The System specified the Egg's Pokémon's typing, so those are basically out.
Which leaves only one answer.
First seen in Galar. A Pokémon with three possible evolutions. It's technically a bug but has the Dragon type—Applin.
If it's those two, he didn't mind taking them.
Tropius's main contribution would be its byproducts.
The fruit on its neck is sweet and beloved by children and the elderly. It bears twice a year, each time lasting half a year—practically continuous as long as it's well-fed.
Applin is even better. With the ability Ripen, used properly it might accelerate Berry maturation.
If this Applin has Ripen, Lucas felt it would absolutely be worth raising.
Both Pokémon would oddly suit the farm. After some thought, Lucas looked at Hassel and asked, "You really intend to give me these Applin and Tropius Eggs?"
"Applin and Tropius?"
Question marks popped over Hassel's head. How did Lucas already know what was inside the Eggs?
Still, both are Grass-type—likely useful to him.
So Hassel didn't dwell on the details. Beaming, he said, "Right? My instincts were spot on—they'll be perfect for your farm."
"I'm already under a lot of pressure raising so many Dragon-types. If you can take these two Eggs, that'd be for the best."
"I believe you'll take good care of them."
Lucas was silent for a while, then nodded firmly. "Understood. Oranguru—"
"Guru~"
Oranguru stepped forward, flicked his fan, and sent a wave of psychic power rolling out, precisely lifting the incubator cradling the two Eggs into the air.
Gentle and exact, he obeyed Lucas's instructions and floated the Eggs toward the third floor.
Hassel raised a brow. As an Elite Four, he could tell this Oranguru was more than a butler-level intellect—its strength might be surprisingly high.
That wave of psychic force hadn't been simple.
Catching Hassel's curious gaze following Oranguru, Lucas thought he might be worried about the Eggs' destination and explained, "I asked Oranguru to take the Eggs to the third floor. Since they're Grass-type, sunbathing during incubation will help the babies be healthier."
Hassel nodded, unopposed. "I see. Since I've entrusted the Eggs to you, I'll take my leave."
Lucas nodded. He was about to get up to walk him out when he suddenly remembered the stock in his storeroom. "Before you go, take some things with you. I happen to have fresh Combee honey and some crops. Bring them back for your Pokémon."
At that, Hassel's eyes lit up. "Please do prepare some for yours truly!"