Night fell over the snow-covered city of Snowpoint.

The roadsides were lined with piled-up snow, recently cleared. Snowflakes continued to fall, blending with the neon glow of nearby buildings.

“Doesn’t look like there are any restaurants around here…” Ash looked around.

“I am one of Sinnoh’s Elite Four, after all.”

The self-proclaimed “Wise Old King” Wusong adjusted his glasses, the lenses flashing with reflected light. “Just leave it to me—I know the way!”

“But… aren’t we getting farther and farther from the city center?” Ash asked.

“Huh? But this is what the guidebook says!” Wusong hurriedly flipped open the sightseeing brochure tucked into his book.

“That’s the old town sightseeing guide…” Lu Ye said, facepalming. He looked up. “Xiao Luo, navigate to the nearest starred restaurant.”

Wusong froze and stammered, “A-a starred restaurant?”

Ash: “Wusong-senpai is so generous!”

“Ha-ha… it’s nothing!”

“RotomDex—continuing navigation for you!” Rotom floated ahead, lazily waving its mechanical arms.

“So cool.”
Ash’s eyes sparkled. “Rotom has so many features!”

Rotom had been a bit sulky earlier, but now it turned proudly, arms crossed.

“I hold an F1 racing license, a pilot license, I’ve solved thousands of detective novels… they call me the Front-Load Washer—”

“Mmph!”

Lu Ye quickly covered Rotom’s screen with one hand, sighing in exasperation.

“Don’t say such cringe lines in front of others!”

A question mark flickered on Rotom’s screen. It asked earnestly:

“Then how should I introduce myself, Roto?”

Lu Ye pushed up his imaginary glasses with his middle finger, replying coldly, “You should be more dramatic, something like…”

“Say my name out loud—”

“Rotom!!” Ash jumped up excitedly and pumped his fist.

“Not bad,” Lu Ye grinned, giving Ash a high five.

“Whoa! New script unlocked, Roto!” Rotom spun around, mechanical arms shaking with joy.

Wusong, walking in the middle of them, had dark lines on his forehead.

If you stay around idiots long enough… you might actually start catching it.

Doing childish things like this, in the middle of the road—

“Your turn, Wusong.”

Lu Ye and Ash turned at the same time, locking eyes on Wusong.

“Uh…” Wusong took half a step back, stiffly adjusted his glasses, and dryly declared:

“I-I am Wusong, Elite Four of Sinnoh’s Psychic Division!”

“Eh? That’s such a lame line.” Ash waved dismissively, carrying Pikachu ahead.

“Yeah, you’d be better off reading a poem to celebrate Gengarrr or something.”

Lu Ye and Ash walked off side by side, leaving Wusong standing alone.

Snowflakes drifted down on his maroon suit, gradually frosting over his shoulders and hair.

Wusong looked up at the sky.

Snow falling, northern winds howling.

“So hard… I have to work overtime and treat them to dinner—this is too much! (;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`)”

…

Sinnoh League, Lily of the Valley Island

Night cloaked the sea. The watchtower’s beacon swept across the tranquil waters.

A red-haired man rode on Dragonite, soaring through the night. His Champion’s cape flapped dramatically in the wind.

He was heading to the Sinnoh League to wrap up final paperwork regarding the “Pokémon Hunter Incident.”

The prosecutors under Lance had successfully arrested Hunter J.

But according to Officer Jenny’s recollection…

It was a sharp-eyed Sirfetch’d who delivered the poacher, tied up like a dumpling, into police custody.

That kind of efficiency and firepower, paired with such a signature Sirfetch’d…

There was no way it wasn’t Mr. Lu.

Lance looked thoughtful as he arrived at the League and met Sinnoh Champion Cynthia.

“Thanks for your hard work, Mr. Lance.”

The blonde beauty wore a black coat, her hair clip gleaming. She placed a hand on her waist and smiled. “I’ll handle the rest.”

Lance nodded, arms crossed, the other hand stroking his chin.

“By the way, it was Mr. Lu who took down Hunter J.”

“Mr. Lu?” Cynthia’s smoky-gray eyes flickered with concern. “Why would he be involved?”

“He was the one who suggested the plan to wipe out Sinnoh’s poaching group,” Lance mused. “Maybe he learned Hunter J had escaped… and went after her alone.”

Cynthia blinked, her gaze shimmering.

“So, what happened to him…”

“Hunter J is under arrest.”

“I meant Lu Ye,” Cynthia clarified.

Lance’s face froze for a second. So now I’m even third-wheeling your questions?

He scratched his red hair, then said:

“You should ask him yourself…”

“But for certain reasons, Mr. Lu had to be there personally.”

Lance recalled his conversation with Lu Ye—about justice and hypocrisy.

In the end, following his true conviction… was justice.

Lance thought of that steadfast man and felt a rare pang of envy.

“Because he is… the Mr. Lu whom everyone looks up to.”

Cynthia’s eyes softened. She whispered:

“For a reason he couldn’t ignore, huh…”

“Exactly.”
Lance smiled. “A reason that left him no choice.”

“I see.”

Cynthia’s lips curved into a small smile, her eyes beneath golden bangs narrowing into crescents.

“If you don’t mind, Mr. Lance, why not rest here a day before heading back?”

“No can do. I’ve got work waiting in Kanto—more overtime,” Lance sighed, raising a brow.

“Oh, by the way, I’d originally assigned this to Wusong…”

“But since Mr. Lu handled it, Wusong doesn’t need time off anymore.”

“Perfect,” Cynthia nodded with a smile. “I just happen to have work for him too.”

Lance: “May I ask a bold question?”

Cynthia paused, cleared her throat awkwardly, and turned away.

“P-please go ahead.”

“Is the League planning to reward Mr. Lu?”

Lance was curious. “Taking down a long-standing poacher boss… sounds like Champion-level work.”

As the Kanto Champion, Lance had once gone alone to Johto’s Lake of Rage to investigate the red Gyarados.

Even Hoenn’s seemingly aloof Champion Steven had personally fought against Team Magma and Team Aqua.

Now, Mr. Lu had provided invaluable tactical insight to the League…

And risked his life in the field to arrest the poacher ringleader.

Even Lance, the icon of justice, had to admit—

Mr. Lu might be a bit shady, loves smurfing newbies, and insists on entering Baby Cups…

But his Champion-level charisma was undeniable.

“Reward, huh…”
Cynthia rested her chin on her hand, looking thoughtful.

“Oh right! I can give Lu Ye a reward…”

Lance’s face twitched. He reminded her, “It was a major feat, but no favoritism, okay?”

“Don’t worry.” Cynthia smiled gently. “It’ll all be within the League’s approval.”

Lance looked conflicted, coughed, and clenched his fist.

If there weren’t an approval system, she’d probably give Mr. Lu the entire Sinnoh League!

Is this… what they call a rich sugar mommy?

Even Lance—the eternal bachelor—felt a twinge of envy.

All he had was a whip-cracking younger cousin: Clair, Gym Leader of Blackthorn City.

She used to be such a cute kid!

The red-haired man sighed deeply, flicked his cape, and turned to leave.

“Till we meet again, Champion Cynthia.”

“Farewell.”

Cynthia watched Dragonite vanish into the night sky. One hand rested under her chin. Her smoky-gray eyes brimmed with thought.

He went after the poachers alone…

Because of a reason… he simply had to go?

Unconsciously, a smile tugged at Cynthia’s lips. Her steps light, she turned and walked back into the League.

“A major achievement like this… I must report it to HQ!”

“Now, what should I give him… Blastoise seems short on Mystic Water, and Sirfetch’d really likes Miracle Seeds…”

“Oh, and Gengarrr’s baby blanket needs replacing too…”

“So hard to choose…” Cynthia tilted her head, troubled—until her eyes lit up.

Then I won’t choose.

Just report everything to the League—one gift for each of his little ones!

…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read