Don't comment on things you don't fully understand just because you know a little bit, standing on the moral high ground, thinking you're right, with a firm sense of values.
Lusamine's gaze softened a lot.
Then it quickly returned to normal, and she asked with a smile, "Natsuhiko, what do you think of Gladio?"
"What do you mean? Which aspect is the chairwoman referring to?" Natsuhiko was momentarily taken aback and replied.
"Many things, like personality, or perhaps his talent as a Trainer."
Hearing this.
Natsuhiko pondered for a moment.
After weighing his words, he slowly said:
"A little guy with strong opinions, he probably cares a lot about his sister. As for his talent as a Trainer..."
He smiled and adjusted his hat.
"I haven't interacted with him, so it's hard to comment, but I imagine it shouldn't be bad?"
He's the prince of the Ethereum Foundation; even if he were a pig, pouring in massive resources wouldn't produce poor results.
Moreover, Gladio does have considerable abilities.
After Lusamine's affair was exposed, Gladio even served as the acting chairman of the Ethereum Foundation.
"Really?" Lusamine just smiled again.
The two sat down by the couch in the living room, the servant brought snacks and coffee.
Before long.
Gladio reappeared in their sight.
He was followed by a timid little girl, wearing a large wide-brimmed hat, holding a Clefairy doll in her arms, with one hand clutching Gladio's clothes.
"Mo...ther." Lillie called out timidly.
"Lillie, look who that is." Gladio prompted.
Lillie's watery, gentle eyes peeked out from under the brim of her hat and saw Natsuhiko sitting on the couch, looking at her with a smile.
Her eyes instantly lit up, revealing a hint of pleasant surprise.
"Mr. Natsuhiko!"
"Lillie, come to mommy." Lusamine beckoned, calling both little ones to her side.
Gladio and Lillie stood by Lusamine.
She held onto each of them, turned to Natsuhiko and said, "Natsuhiko, although this is a bit sudden, I would like to make a request."
"Please go ahead, Chairwoman."
Lusamine pursed her lips, hesitated a little, and then said, "I wish for you to take these two little ones as your students."
Students?
This time, Natsuhiko was genuinely stunned.
Thoughts flashed quickly through his mind.
He pondered over why Lusamine was doing this, and her intentions and purpose.
Before he could fully grasp it, Lusamine continued, "This is not a request from the chairwoman of the Ethereum Foundation, this is a request from an ordinary mother."
As she spoke, one hand rested on Gladio's head, while the other tightly grasped Lillie's hand.
Then she gave Gladio a look.
Gladio got the hint.
He immediately threw out an Advanced Ball, and a sturdy, jet-black Umbreon appeared in the hall.
"Gladio decided to evolve Eevee into Umbreon after reading your paper, Natsuhiko."
Then she looked at Lillie and gently took off her hat.
She said softly, "Lillie loves reading books. Your paper is the one she reads the most.
She said she wants to become a researcher like you someday, and I've arranged for specialized teachers to guide her. That teacher said with Lillie's current knowledge, she is actually qualified to be a research assistant."
In the original story, after Lillie escaped the Ethereum Foundation and was picked up by Kukui, she served as Dr. Kukui's assistant.
Being an assistant doesn't require much expertise, after all.
Even someone like Natsuhiko, who is half-baked, became a researcher.
The Ethereum Foundation's resources indeed have the capability to nurture them to their current level, even though they are quite young.
The family of three looked at Natsuhiko with anticipation.
Even timid Lillie looked straight at Natsuhiko.
Lillie didn't even know why.
She admired Natsuhiko, but this was her first time meeting him.
Yet she felt no repulsion towards Natsuhiko at all, and even a bit of closeness.
This sense of closeness was only present when she faced Gladio and Lusamine.
The intuition of a child is truly remarkable.
Back then, Natsuhiko helped Lillie with her psychological shadow, which left a bit of an impact.
However.
Natsuhiko found Lusamine's sudden request somewhat unexpected, and couldn't fully interpret her true intentions.
Was it to win him over? To show goodwill? To recruit?
Not keeping them waiting for long, Natsuhiko said tactfully:
"I'm still a student myself, and there are many things I haven't learned yet. To be a teacher, I'm afraid..."
"Teacher Natsuhiko, please have a battle with me!"
Before Natsuhiko could finish his sentence, Gladio suddenly said.
Even before Natsuhiko agreed, Gladio had already changed how he addressed him.
Seeing his determined demeanor.
Natsuhiko pursed his lips.
Battle with Gladio?
It's not really necessary.
His Umbreon is well-trained, but he is young, and the gap with Natsuhiko is too large.
To be blunt, even if Natsuhiko sent out Feebas, Gladio's Umbreon would not be a match.
Yet Gladio stubbornly stared at Natsuhiko, clenching his fists.
Suddenly.
Natsuhiko let out a long sigh.
"Gladio, you seem very keen on training and battling?"
"Hmm?"
Natsuhiko didn't answer directly, but instead asked a question that took Gladio by surprise.
Without waiting for him to answer, Natsuhiko walked to Umbreon's side.
Amidst Umbreon's slightly wary gaze, with a flip of the hand, appeared the Top-level Energy Block that Eevee likes the most.