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"What's wrong with him?"
Officer Jenny walked into the Breeding House. Seeing Lucas lying on the carpet with dull, lifeless eyes, she couldn't help but ask what had happened.
She hadn't had time to come to the Breeding House for a meal yesterday, but since she wasn't as busy today, she dragged Nurse Joy over to eat. Who would have thought that as soon as they walked in, they would see Lucas looking like he had lost all hope, lying motionless on the carpet with his eyes fixed straight at the ceiling.
Lilligant, Gothitelle, Vespiquen, and Ninetales were surrounding Lucas, looking equally helpless.
"I heard he failed the intermediate Breeder exam, and he's been lying on the carpet ever since he got back."
Mrs. Fujino stood to the side, looking completely at a loss for what to do.
Nurse Joy, who had just taken a sip of the honey water handed to her by Meowstic, couldn't hold it in and spat it out, landing right on Officer Jenny's face next to her.
Officer Jenny: ————
Nurse Joy coughed violently for a while, then apologized with a flushed face: "Sorry, I couldn't help it."
Officer Jenny wiped her face with a tissue and then asked: "So what do we do now?"
Gothitelle and Lilligant both shook their heads; they had been coaxing him all day, but there was still no improvement at all.
Gothitelle had even specially run back from the Cottage to comfort him, but she hadn't managed to cheer him up.
"Linnea, aren't you a doctor? Take a look at him."
Officer Jenny patted Nurse Joy on the shoulder, entrusting this heavy responsibility to her.
"Me?!"
Nurse Joy pointed at herself and asked in disbelief.
"I am a doctor, yes, but I'm a Pokémon doctor. He isn't a Pokémon, and this is clearly a psychological issue, right?"
"Besides, who would believe it if word got out that a top-tier Breeder, praised by Champion Cynthia and others, couldn't even pass the intermediate Breeder exam?"
Nurse Joy couldn't hold it in and laughed again.
Gengar, watching the soul drifting out of Lucas's mouth, was horrified. He quickly reached out to grab it and stuffed it back into his mouth.
∑(ǒǒ||)
"Don't die! Lucas! Don't die!"
On the other side, Misdreavus and Dusclops, who were on the ceiling, watched the motionless Lucas on the carpet. Dusclops nudged Misdreavus.
"Dusclops?"
What's wrong with him? He isn't dead, is he?
"Misdreavus?"
I don't know, why don't you go check?
"Dusclops."
Dusclops shook his head.
"You're still twisting the knife. If he doesn't recover, you'll be eating dirt tonight instead of something delicious."
Officer Jenny's words made Nurse Joy's smile instantly freeze.
That's right! If he doesn't get up, where will I get my food?!
"Lucas, you have to be strong!"
Nurse Joy's voice rang out, "If we don't pass this time, we'll take it again next time. If we don't pass next time, there's the time after that, and the time after that."
Pfft————
"Linnea! That's not how you comfort someone!"
"Gen gengar!"
I can't hold onto his soul anymore!
Today, Kangaskhan happened to take Kangaskhan to the seaside to chat with Lapras.
Nurse Joy realized she might have said the wrong thing again, so she simply stopped speaking and just wailed.
"Don't go! Lucas! Don't go!"
"Gen gengar!"
Don't die, Lucas, please don't die!
Just as Nurse Joy was throwing herself onto Lucas and crying out, Lucas's phone rang.
Linnea took a look and discovered it was a video call from Cynthia. Her eyes lit up.
"I think I know what to do."
So, Nurse Joy answered the video call. On the other side of the screen, Cynthia was standing on Garchomp's back, flying high in the sky. The sound of the biting wind transmitted through the rotom phone into the ears of everyone in the Breeding House.
"Lucas, you———— Nurse Joy?"
"Hello, Champion Cynthia."
Nurse Joy greeted her.
Cynthia was already very familiar with Nurse Joy, Officer Jenny, and Nina from Twinleaf Town. Seeing that it was Nurse Joy who had answered the call, she asked curiously: "Is Lucas busy in the backyard?"
Nurse Joy shook her head, and amidst Cynthia's puzzled expression, she flipped the camera around.
Cynthia looked at Lucas, who was lying on the ground, motionless, with dull, lifeless eyes, looking like a dead pig. "What's wrong with him?"
Nurse Joy's voice sounded, "Well———— it seems it's because he didn't pass the intermediate Breeder exam———— and he's been like this since he got back."
Nurse Joy finished this sentence while trying hard to hold back her laughter.
"What?"
Cynthia's voice got louder.
"Lucas? Intermediate Breeder exam? Failed?"
Cynthia's eyes in the video curved into crescents.
"If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten that he was also a Breeder."
Cynthia continued: "Who would have thought that a Champion's Breeder would go to take the intermediate Breeder exam and fail?"
"If Mr. Lance and the others found out, they would probably die laughing, right?"
Pfft————
"Gen gengar!!!"
Stop twisting the knife, I can't hold it down anymore!
"There is no way to make him recover right now."
Officer Jenny, standing to the side, covered her forehead and said.
"I guess he's so competitive that he was struck by this sudden situation."
Cynthia analyzed.
In her impression, Lucas was very competitive. From the beginning, when facing the two groups of Zangoose and Seviper, she had pulled him behind her, to Poplar Town where he had pulled her behind him—what a competitive man he was.
How could he be so devastated by the intermediate Breeder exam——————
"It's fine, let him lie there for a while, I'll be there soon."
After Cynthia said this, she hung up the phone.
"Garchomp, let's take a detour and go to the Breeding House. There's a heartbroken young man who needs us to comfort him."
"kao!?"
Can I comfort him with my scythe? By wiping his neck?
Cynthia thought for a moment, then nodded, "Sure, I'll make the decision for him."
Hearing that Cynthia would be there soon, Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy felt relieved. They sat in the lounge area, leisurely watching TV and eating the desserts prepared by Alcremie.
Nurse Joy was still typing away on her phone.
Nurse Joy: Did you hear?
Nina: ???
Nina: I'm busy, Linnea.
Nurse Joy: Oh.
Nina: ???
Nina: So?
Nina: What did I hear?
Nurse Joy: Lucas failed his intermediate Breeder exam.
Nina: ???
Nina: Really?
Nurse Joy: I have proof [Image]
Nina: Pfft————
Nina: Hahahaha!
Nina: That's what he gets for bragging all day about how good his breeding skills are!
Nina: So what do we do now? Do you need me to come back?
Nurse Joy: Didn't you say you were busy?
Nina: He's my brother after all, I can't let him lose confidence just like that.
Nurse Joy: It's fine, we told Ms. Cynthia, and she'll be here soon.
Nina: OK, then I'm relieved. I won't talk to you anymore, I have to go to a meeting.
Nina: [I want to die————] (Meme of Lucas lying on the ground with dull eyes)
Nurse Joy: Pfft, you're fast.
Nina: [Life is hopeless]
Lucas, lying on the carpet, reached out to scratch his back, then changed positions and continued lying there.
A crisp sound of high heels stepping on marble reached his ears, followed by an alluring, faint fragrance in his nose. Lucas lifted his eyelids and discovered a woman with blonde hair, wearing a black trench coat and cropped straight-leg pants, looking down at him.
"What is this———— It's not a Lilligant————"
Cynthia: ————
Cynthia narrowed her eyes slightly, "Oh? Are you disappointed?"
Gengar, on the side, was fluttering his short legs in the air, grabbing Garchomp's arm.
No! You can't go over there!
"Yeah———— If only it were a little skirt————"
Lucas said weakly.
Lilligant: ?!
"Oh~ Wouldn't a miniskirt be better?"
Cynthia's voice was incredibly gentle.
"Yeah." Lucas nodded, "Miniskirts are good."
Gothitelle on the side: ————
It's over.
Gengar: Stop it! Garchomp-chan! You can't!
"What's good about miniskirts?"
"Short———— convenient————"
Garchomp: Let go of me, you bastard, I'm going to slash him to death! Miniskirt! I'll let him wear one, alright?!
"That's not impossible!"
Cynthia: ?!!
Gengar: !!!
∑(AO|I)
How am I supposed to save you! Lucas!
Ninetales buried her head in her tail, unable to bear watching.
Garchomp:
"It seems you have a lot of experience."
Cynthia crouched down, looking at Lucas lying on the carpet.
None of the surrounding people, including Officer Jenny, the Fujino couple, and Nurse Joy, dared to speak.
Lucas, oh Lucas———— you———— have a safe journey————
Lucas looked at Cynthia, who had crouched down. Because of her ample assets, Lucas could only see her slightly narrowed eyes and couldn't see her somewhat gritted-teeth expression.
"You even know about convenience? Have you tried it?"
After Cynthia finished speaking, she turned her head to look at Gengar and revealed a bright smile.
Lucas began to realize something was wrong.
Whoosh————
"Gen gengar"
Oops, my hand slipped———— I'm so weak—————— I have no strength left————
After saying this, Gengar, like a leaf in the wind, slowly drifted from the air to the ground, stuck out his tongue, and fainted.
Misdreavus: Don't, Boss! Don't die!
Dusclops: Ah, this———— I———— Boss, don't die!
Cynthia turned back, looked at Lucas, and then slowly raised her right hand, clenching it into a fist.
"Little skirt! Miniskirt!"
As Cynthia's movement landed, a fragrant breeze first entered Lucas's nose, followed by the sound of marble shattering near his ears.
Lucas: ————
Lucas: Help———— save me————
"Hm?"
Cynthia retracted her fist and looked at Lucas with a smile.
"Hehe, what you said, all of this was told to me by Gengar. It watches TV all day and only learns these bad things."
A smile appeared on Lucas's face, and he spoke quickly.
Gengar, lying on the ground feigning death, being pushed back and forth by Misdreavus and Dusclops: ? Σ(∀°)
It's me again?
You're making me take the blame for this too?
I've already turned from a purple fatty into a purple-black fatty, and you still won't let me go?
"You're saying all these things were told to you by Gengar? It led you astray?"
Lucas nodded continuously.
"Is that so? Gengar?"
Cynthia turned to look at Gengar.
Gengar hesitated for three seconds, then with an expression of resignation to fate, nodded heavily.
"Gen gengar!"
That's right, it was all me!
(ǒǒ)
Goodbye, my snacks————
Goodbye———— my sweet honey————
Goodbye———— everything I have————
In the next life, I must not meet Lucas. Promise me, okay!
"Are you done?"
Cynthia stared at Lucas, "I'm hungry."
"Okay, okay, okay."
Important things must be said three times; if I don't get better, my head will explode.
"Wait a moment, I'll cook right away."
No matter what, I can't let my own precious cabbage go hungry.
Lucas did a kip-up and, taking Gothitelle, Mime Jr., Meowstic, and Alcremie, rushed into the kitchen.
"Gen gengar"
Save me, Lucas, save me!
"Strange, Mime Jr., did you hear any noise? Why does it seem like I hear some noise ringing?"
Mime Jr. rolled its eyes, "Nini?"
There's nothing? Did you hear it, sister?
Gothitelle shook her head.
In the backyard, Gengar was being chased by Garchomp.
"Gen gengar!!!"
It's me! I'm going to be beaten to death! Save me!
Behind Gengar, Garchomp was full of murderous intent, the scythe in her hand shining with a cold light under the sun.
"kao!"
So it was you who taught Lucas to say he wanted to see me wear a little skirt, right? And a miniskirt? Die, you bastard!
"Gen gengar—"
I'm innocent! Your Honor! I'm innocent!
I'm really innocent!
"What? You want to eat clear broth? Hot pot? Wait a moment, I'll make it for you now."
Lucas stood by the window and shouted to the backyard.
Hearing this, Gothitelle skillfully began to prepare today's hot pot ingredients.
"Gen gengar!"
You clearly can hear it! And you're still pretending not to! Help me explain, I'm really going to die!
"Sigh, I'm getting old, my ears aren't so good."
Lucas shook his head and lowered his head to prepare the ingredients in his hands.
Gengar: ∑(ǒAǒ)/
Stop it!
"This really isn't my problem; it's the questions they set. I just wrote down the experience I personally gained, but then they told me mine was too idealistic and didn't conform to written expression."
Lucas was complaining incessantly at the dining table.
"Not all Pokémon are like the Pokémon at the Breeding House. Besides, your breeding method, it's combined with———— diet therapy? If I remember correctly, right?"
Hearing Cynthia's question, Lucas nodded.
"As far as I know, among so many Breeders, it seems only you pay such close attention to diet therapy, using food to raise Pokémon."
"....."
Cynthia put down her chopsticks and put her hands together, "I'm finished, thanks for the meal."
Elegantly taking a tissue to wipe her mouth, Cynthia continued to speak: "Every Breeder has their own breeding method, but if you write it on the exam paper, and other Breeders haven't tried your breeding method, they will definitely think yours is wrong. Therefore, Breeder exams all have uniform answers. As for actual breeding, Breeders can use whatever breeding method they want."
Cynthia looked at Lucas, tucked her blonde hair behind her ears, and smiled brightly, "So, top-tier Breeders can also be stuck by Breeder exams, especially the intermediate one."
After saying this, Cynthia even covered her mouth with her hand.
"At worst, we'll just take it again next time. I saw that there seems to be an exam in Veilstone City next week."
Nurse Joy said.
Lucas shook his head, "I'm not taking it anymore. Just leave it like this, beginner level is enough."
Beginner is beginner, beginner has beginner-level breeding methods.
After dinner, Lucas stood beside Cynthia and Garchomp, with a bruised and battered Gengar floating beside him.
"Are you leaving so soon?"
Lucas felt a bit reluctant.
Cynthia nodded, "I'm not done with my business yet. I only came here specially because I saw you were in a bad mood, and next I have to go to the Unova region."
"Alright then."
Looking at Lucas's reluctant face, Cynthia smiled, reached out and hugged Lucas, and then pressed her lips lightly against Lucas's face.
"Do you feel better now?"
Lucas smiled like a peacock spreading its tail, "Of course, who do you think I am!"
"A beginner Breeder who has defeated a Champion."
Lucas puffed out his chest, looking proud.
"Alright~ Then our great Champion Lucas, great beginner Breeder, your Cynthia is going to continue to work, and you also need to continue to work hard, okay?"
Cynthia said this in a tone used to coax children, and Lucas nodded.
"Remember to tell me if anything happens, and I will appear by your side at the first opportunity."
Lucas puffed out his chest again.
Cynthia acquiesced to Lucas's action of taking advantage of her, then whispered: "You too."
Afterwards, Cynthia let go of Lucas, jumped onto Garchomp's back, and headed off into the distance.
Lucas looked at Gengar beside him, "Thank you for your hard work, Gengar."
Hmph!
Gengar turned his face to the side.
"Didn't you say you wanted to eat roasted sweet potatoes? I'll make them for you tonight, how many do you want?"
Ten!
Gengar held up ten fingers, then thought about it, and raised his toes as well.
Twenty.
"I'll give you twenty."
Yay! Long live Lucas!
I must meet Lucas in the next life too!