February 28th, Sunday. Clear skies.
Leaving Kizuna City, the transport carrying the Adamant Orb continued en route to Celestic Town.
At this point, what they were transporting no longer really mattered.

The two sat in the front seats. When their eyes met, they paused slightly before turning back to look ahead.

Back seat.
“Gengarr! ﾍ(;´Д｀ﾍ)” Gengar wrapped itself tighter in its Ghost Cloak. The chef’s cooking was perfectly fine—why did it suddenly taste like lemons?
“Chomp… (இωஇ)” Garchomp’s eyes brimmed with tears. The homegrown cabbage was lush and tender—how did someone still manage to trample it?!

The forgotten safe sitting in the backseat stayed silent.
I’m the main character, you know?!
Can’t you at least show me some attention?!

“Ka-meh…” Only Blastoise stayed professional, eyes locked on the bomb, lost in thought.
Should I… find a chance to chuck this thing somewhere?

According to the schedule, they would arrive in Celestic Town by evening.
At noon, they stopped over in Casual Town.

It was a peaceful, laid-back town. The main trade came from Miltank ranches, home to several farming families and loads of Miltanks.
Passing through forest-lined trails, one could see Gold’s favorite Day Care and the entrance to the Casual Ruins.

“They say the Casual Ruins were where the first Unown in Sinnoh were discovered.”
Cynthia explained with a smile, “And in other regions, similar ruins always have Unown sightings too.”

“So this is my specialty then?” Lu Ye said.
Cynthia didn’t deny it and sighed softly. “Can’t you be a little more humble—like Sirfetch’d?”

“Quack!” Upon hearing the compliment, Sirfetch’d lifted his lance and shield with composed elegance.
No one understands chivalry better than I do!

Lu Ye rubbed his chin.
Knowing Ducklett… it might just be a coward at heart.
But with Lu the teacher’s high emotional intelligence, he didn’t say that out loud. Instead, he changed the subject:
“Wanna check out the ruins later?”

Cynthia’s eyes lit up—it was exactly what she was hoping he’d say.
With Lu Ye, an expert in ancient languages, exploring the Casual Ruins would be much easier.

Lu Ye curled his lips in a smile.
Young Cynthia still hadn’t realized—every gift in life comes with a price tag.
Once she had translated enough documents… there’d be no reason to refuse wearing a bunny girl outfit…

Strolling through the town, Cynthia glanced around, her black hair ornament swaying slightly.
“Haven’t been here in ages… Feels like it’s changed a lot.”

“You used to come here often?”
“My grandmother did,” Cynthia looked into the distance, her slender neck like a black swan’s.
“She loved the café behind the mountain—the Moomoo Milk there was supposedly top-grade.”

“Ooh!” The chef’s ingredient radar kicked in. Lu Ye’s eyes lit up. “Let’s go check it out!”

“Aren’t you afraid you’ll run into her?”

Cynthia folded her arms, resting a finger on her chin, teasing in her tone.
“What’s there to be afraid of? Worst case, I’ll make her some Moomoo pudding.”
“Gengarr! (¯﹃¯)” Gengar suddenly popped out of Lu Ye’s shadow.
Lu Ye: “I get it, I’ll make yours first.”
“Gengarr~! (๑`▽´๑)۶”

The café behind the mountain turned out to be a maid café…
No one knew why the owner opened one in such a remote place.

A girl in a short maid outfit with delicate features carried a tray and, upon noticing Lu Ye’s face, froze momentarily.
“Hello, your…”

Another maid quickly nudged her. The first hugged her tray and bowed in a panic.
“Your Moomoo Milk and Apple Pie, enjoy!”

Cynthia wasn’t mad. She laced her fingers under her chin and looked at Lu Ye with a gentle smile.
“Looks like you’re quite the popular one.”
“Sinnoh’s Champion is no different.”
“I’ve never… had that kind of experience.” Cynthia looked around, her cheeks slightly flushed, lowering her voice.

She was talking about dating.

Lu Ye, biting into his apple pie, froze for a second. He set the pie down, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and nodded.
“Me too.”

For some reason, Cynthia felt a little more balanced. She pushed the Cheri Berry pie toward Lu Ye.
“For you.”
“You’re not eating it?”
“Don’t you like Cheri Berries?” Cynthia asked, confused.
“Uh…”

Lu Ye looked down at the pie dripping with honey, enduring the pain of being lovingly fed.
“I’ll eat it!”

The two maids hugged their trays to their chests, exchanging glances filled with bittersweet emotion.
So THAT’S why they ordered so much?!
Can’t finish your pie? Give it to someone in need at the café!

Casual Town was close to Celestic Town, so there was no need to rush.
In the afternoon, sticking to their plan, the two of them walked through a leafy trail outside town toward the Casual Ruins for investigation.

Ten minutes later, a palace-like ruin with an arch-shaped entrance came into view.
“Wait, are those… Dialga and Palkia?”

Lu Ye looked at the familiar statues outside the ruins, surprised.
Cynthia nodded, her black skirt swaying as she confidently approached the statues in high heels.
“Come over here,” Cynthia called. “I want to show you something.”

“Lemme see!”

Below the Dialga statue was a line of engraved text.
Cynthia traced her finger over the inscription and softly read aloud:
“All lives touch other lives to create something new.”

She turned to the Palkia statue and put the two inscriptions together.
“Together, they form my favorite line.”

She stood before the statue, arms folded, golden hair cascading over her waist.
“This is my favorite line,” Cynthia paused. “Now I’m giving it to you.”

Lu Ye blinked and smiled.
“I’ll tell you my favorite line once I think of it.”
“Like what?” Cynthia asked curiously.
“Like, ‘As expected of you, Teacher Lu,’ or, ‘A Pokémon and its Trainer are always in sync,’ that kind of thing.”
“I look forward to it,” Cynthia said with a smile.

Ring ring! The Rotom Dex’s ringtone shattered the warm silence.
“Beep beep… Incoming call, Rotom reporting!”

Lu Ye glanced at the screen—and swore.
Those three idiots actually had the money to make a call?!

Answering, he was greeted by the trio’s collective wails.
“Boss, help! We’re trapped again—again—AGAIN!!”

Lu Ye sighed deeply.
At least you idiots know what ‘again’ means now!
“Call me when you get blasted out again.” Lu Ye replied coldly. He knew they wouldn’t get hurt anyway.
“Noooo! We finally got a signal inside the ruins, and you’re our only hope right now!”

Lu Ye froze for a second, then glanced at the arch-shaped entrance.
“Which ruin?”

“We were going up against this villain named Hunter J—trying to outwit her—but we fell into her Dig trap! Now we’re stuck inside the Casual Ruins! Meowth cried.
“Wasn’t that trap one we dug ourselves?” James muttered awkwardly.
“Shut up!” Jessie and Meowth yelled in unison.

“The Casual Ruins?”
“Yeah! The one with all the Unown in it—ahhh, help!!”

The call cut off.

Lu Ye looked at the ruins—he could faintly hear explosions coming from inside.
Hunter J was a notorious Pokémon hunter in Sinnoh. Even after Team Rocket’s reform, attempts to capture her had repeatedly failed.
That these three could actually go toe-to-toe with her… was honestly impressive.

“What’s going on?” Cynthia asked.
Lu Ye explained the situation with the Rocket trio.

Cynthia frowned slightly.
“You seem… quite close to Team Rocket?”
“Even Red was in Team Rocket once.”

Still unsure how to break the truth, Lu Ye casually said, “Those three are kind of my friends. I help if I can.”
Cynthia stuffed her hands in her pockets. She didn’t pry, instead gazing toward the ruins.
“Well then… let’s head in together.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read