6:30 p.m., at the Vale home.
Auron and his father were sprawled on the sofa.
"Dad, you scientists haven't invented something where you can just beam the ideas in your head straight onto the computer?"
Ashen looked at Auron with pity in his eyes.
"I asked your grandpa the exact same thing back in the day."
Auron pulled a face. "Huh? They're that useless? After all this time they still haven't invented it?"
"Mm. That's what I thought too. When you see your grandpa, ask him again—see what he says."
Ashen tipped his head back, shut his eyes, and let his skull sink into the sofa cushion.
"I don't dare."
"Mm. I don't dare either."
"But how is it just the two of us at home? Where is everyone?"
"No idea. Good chance to rest, though."
"True."
......
"Ma'am, there really isn't anywhere that big… maybe take a look at the agency across the hall?"
"I came here because they recommended you."
"…"
"Then how about the office next door? I'm telling you, their financial backers are—"
......
Skyspire University, in the battle arena.
"A system team doesn't mean invincible. You've got a long way to go. Even Yu Xiuzhu doesn't dare mouth off to me—what are you supposed to be?"
There were still faint traces of a sandstorm lingering on the field.
In the center stood a Lilligant—quiet, serene, completely at odds with the churned-up surroundings.
"With that attitude you dare question my teaching? I told you Sand is checked by Grass, and you still jumped up to proclaim Sand is invincible? Go ask Yu Xiuzhu if he dares say something like that to my face."
Grandma Ashford stood in the arena and let the cannons fire, giving the student who'd challenged her in class a very direct education.
Around them, the battle-hardened onlookers watched the brave youth with a touch of admiration—bold enough to face the Demon King head-on.
As for that brave youth, he was left spiritless, collapsing in defeat at the hem of Lilligant's grass-green skirt.
......
Inside the research institute, Ashford Vale silently took out a Poké Ball—Electivire's.
Flint Jonas saw the motion and immediately closed his mouth, turning away to mind his own work.
Ashford, used to this, put the empty Poké Ball away without a word and turned back to his research.
......
(Not doing this, not doing this. It's too monstrous.)
A Machamp sat gasping in one corner of the ring, all four arms still twitching—a picture of refusal.
On the side, a Machoke, a Kangaskhan, an Ursaring, and two Hariyama stood in a row, schadenfreude plain on their faces as they watched Machamp's misery.
The staffer nearby eyed the monster in the ring with open respect.
The monster was, of course, Snorlax. After an entire day of intense bouts, Snorlax still stood there unruffled, eyes smiling.
(Your strength and stamina are just obscene. I'm done. I really can't go on. Call the next one.)
Machamp waved a hand—using the very last of its strength—tumbled off the ring, and lay there refusing to move.
With Machamp down, Snorlax looked to the staffer on the side.
By now, after a day, he understood what that staffer did—he was the one who sent up sparring partners.
The staffer's face froze. He pointed at the clock on the wall and explained, "Uh… we're closed. Come back tomorrow."
Snorlax glanced at the clock—didn't really understand it—but got the gist of the staffer's meaning. He gave the staffer and the Pokémon below a gentle nod, stepped down from the ring, and lumbered off toward Bewear.
Around 7:20 p.m., everyone trickled home one after another.
Mom came in the door and immediately began venting about capital realtors—how useless they were, how all they did was push one another's listings—absolutely infuriating.
Auron and Ashen, like father like son, both lifted their heads to look at her at the exact same moment, then let them drop and closed their eyes in unison. Unfortunately, you can't shut your ears; they had no choice but to listen to the ongoing tirade.
Hardly had Mom arrived when Liu Xiangjun came in with groceries, in a great mood. The two of them headed into the kitchen to cook.
A little later, Grandpa Ashford returned, brows knit and gaze sharp.
He spared a glance for the two sprawled on the sofa, then quietly walked over and lay down beside Auron—in exactly the same pose.
"Dinner's ready~!"
Who knew how much time passed in that doze? The three of them only knew that they had just lain down when the call to eat rang out.
Mom came out of the kitchen with two dishes in hand and burst out laughing the moment she saw the three on the sofa.
She set the plates down lightly and hurried back to the kitchen to fetch Liu Xiangjun to witness the sight.
At her summons, Liu Xiangjun came out at once, eager to take a look.
"Pfft—hahahaha!"
No sooner had she come out than all three lifted their heads together. They were like they'd been stamped out of the same mold.
The same half-open mouths. The same blank expressions. The same vacant eyes. And they all turned toward the kitchen at the exact same time, toward the source of the voice—Liu Xiangjun.
"Hahahaha—you really are cut from one mold. No wonder you're all from the Lu clan. Those genes are powerful—powerful enough that the rest of us don't even count."
Teasing them, Liu Xiangjun set her dish on the table.
"Well? What're you waiting for—go fetch bowls and chopsticks and serve the rice."
"Okay." ×3
The three answered together and rose together.
Laughter rang out again. Watching them, Liu Xiangjun felt like she was seeing the many eras she'd spent with Ashford: three generations, one silhouette.
Mom felt the same, though what she saw was Ashen Vale—young and old—mirrored in the three.
After fetching bowls, serving rice, and shaking the sleep from their heads, they finally sat down to eat. Mom and Liu Xiangjun's laughter ebbed; the five of them ate and chatted, Mom and Grandma discussing the day's hunt for a storefront, while Grandpa filled Auron in on events at the institute.
Yes, the old saying goes, no talking at table, no speaking in bed, but the Vales didn't stand on ceremony when they ate at home. Family meals were often full of talk, never dull.
Of course, when any one of them ate outside, they were scrupulously polite. Table manners were nonnegotiable.
"Xiaoze, come with me to my lab tomorrow. Leave your papers to your dad—come help me study the Xuàncǎi Stone evolution method."
That sentence made winners and losers. Auron lit up and agreed on the spot; Ashen slumped in defeat. He hadn't even wanted to write his own papers, and now he had to write his son's as well—and there were plenty of those! Outrageous!
"Grandpa, how far along is your Xuàncǎi Stone evolution project? Any roadblocks?"
Ashford frowned and said to Auron, "Mm. We've already had a successful case. But…"
Two chapters at once—how do you like that? (●''●)
(End of this chapter)