Penguin Delivery Bird gave Lu Ye a strange look.

Changing jobs wasn't something it minded - it was just earning some meal money anyway.

It just didn't know what else it could do besides express delivery work.

"Just changing work locations," Lu Ye said with a smile. "I'll submit an application to your company."

These Pokémon working for humans weren't technically captured in the strictest sense.

In this tranquil rural town of Masago Town, Pokémon and humans were partners, not master-servant relationships.

This was also what the King of Team Plasma, the green-haired youth named 'N' who was descended from both humans and Pokémon, had always pursued—

Letting Pokémon leave their Poké Balls to live freely alongside humans.

N viewed Poké Balls as symbols of "human enslavement of Pokémon," a notion both simple and obsessive.

In the anime and games, Ash and Touya respectively changed N's perspective.

The key wasn't the Poké Balls, but how they coexisted.

Teacher Lu shared deep bonds with his little companions.

More often than not, even at the risk of household destruction, he let his Pokémon stay outside to play.

For him, Poké Balls were merely tools for convenient Pokémon carrying.

Different ball types... occasionally could also boost style points...

"Woo~" Delivery Bird looked up at Lu Ye, not exactly agreeing, but simply pulling a newspaper from its backpack and handing it to Lu Ye.

Then, the little penguin shouldered its pack and left, waving back at Lu Ye when it reached the intersection.

"Woo~"

Goodbye, I'll think it over carefully~

Brief encounters between lives nurtured precious emotions.

Lu Ye leaned halfway against the mailbox, holding the newspaper, smiling as he waved back.

The twilight hour was approaching.

Haunter floated up from the shadows, grinning mischievously as it licked Teacher Lu.

"Gengarrr~!"

Lu Ye reached out toward Haunter, who pursed its lips and pulled a Chesto Berry from its pocket, placing it in Lu Ye's palm.

Crunch!

Chewing the Chesto Berry, Lu Ye said indistinctly, "After the café is established, we should make another trip back to Masago Town."

"An Ice-type Delivery Bird... could also do quick deliveries of popsicles and ice cream..."

**

In the chat group.

"I've already got my third badge!" Ash said excitedly.

Chewing the Chesto Berry, Lu Ye said vaguely, "After the café is established, we should make another trip back to Masago Town."

"Keep it up~ You're already behind schedule for the conference~" Lila said, covering her mouth.

Xiao Yin said, "I just saw you starring in a tokusatsu drama on TV."

"Ah... that was a director I met on the road who asked me to film it!" Ash said, scratching his head with a laugh. "Pikachu was interested, so I joined in too."

Marshal grinned widely. "Can't get complacent now, baby Ash! Gathering badges quickly is the real deal!"

"No problem, Uncle Marshal!" Ash said cheerfully.

Marshal felt complicated - had he really reached the age where people called him uncle?

Roxie bared her little fangs. "I won't go easy on you! If you come challenge the Virbank Gym, be prepared!"

Ash: "Pikachu and I will give it our all!"

"Virbank Gym is Unova's eighth gym," Brock reminded. "You're still far off in badge count."

"Eh... So I can't just challenge it directly...?" Ash was greatly disappointed.

"Mentioning this reminds me... Unova's fourth gym leader is a super beautiful model," Marshal said, rubbing his chin.

"That would be Elesa," Old Man Ironspin laughed heartily. "She's an Electric-type expert!"

Teacher Lu: "@Ash, remember to invite newcomers to the group."

Cynthia: "?"

Teacher Lu: "I meant Unova's Cheren... Forgot to add him after last time's match."

Cynthia: [Garchomp · Dragon Rush · GIF]

Lorelei: [Cloyster sulking · Jpg]

Johto's Dragon-type Gym Leader Kotone asked curiously, "Ash, is there a girl from the Village of Dragons traveling with you?"

"Yes," Ash scratched his head. "Her name's Alice, even more childish than me."

Lance sipped his tea calmly. "That girl has the highest talent in the entire Village of Dragons, the designated successor of the Opelucid Gym."

Ash's eyes widened. "That's too exaggerated!"

"Just exceptional talent," Lance shrugged. "I'm also the successor of the Blackthorn Clan."

Kotone said speechlessly, "Yet you never return to the clan."

"Because I really can't stand those old fossils and all their rules and restrictions," Lance sighed.

Lance was also an obsessive perfectionist, evident from his particular fondness for capes.

Regarding Alice, Lance didn't show particular concern.

Talent wasn't rare - what was rare were geniuses who could fulfill their potential.

In other words, in this group... who wasn't a genius in their youth?

Except for A-Jin.

That guy was a delinquent.

"I'll be visiting Miare City soon," Teacher Lu mentioned casually. "Might open a café, everyone feel free to drop by often."

The moment he sent the message, Lu Ye's expression turned subtle, immediately regretting it.

Everyone drop by often?

Kotone said speechlessly, "Yet you never return to the clan."

A-Jin said cheerfully, "We'll definitely come, definitely come!"

Marshal grinned widely. "We'll definitely visit!"

"Mainly it's too far... otherwise you could probably give me any leftover bread."

Lily wiped her nose tip, thinking: "With Teacher Lu's cooking skills... even expired would be fine..."

"Miare City has a mineral collection hall that even exhibits Mega Stones," Steven said with a smile. "There's also a traditional medicine shop whose history supposedly predates the entire city."

Traditional medicine shop!?

Password correct, Lu Ye nodded slightly.

Seemed he absolutely had to visit Miare City.

Although the highest grade medicine, Revival Root, could be grown by Blastoise itself.

But different regions produced medicines with different potency... definitely necessary to expand reserves!

The moment he sent the message, Lu Ye's expression turned subtle, immediately regretting it.

The tank bottom was covered with Water Stones resembling sapphires, water patterns shimmering with Mystic Water ripples, while the solid [Purification Water Drop] from Manaphy sparkled with transparent radiance.

Lu Ye's mouth twitched.

Even Red's Everstone wasn't as extravagant as this!

A-Jin said cheerfully, "We'll definitely come, definitely come!"

In the future when Blastoise activated 'Aqua Ring,' it could not only heal but even detoxify...

Blastoise wouldn't need Haunter's help testing poisons anymore!

...

Night gradually fell.

Cynthia sat reading at her desk, gaze focused.

"Fuu~" Sylveon quietly slipped out through the cat door, preparing for one final patrol of the surrounding area.

If there were wild experience points... naturally that would be even better.

Lu Ye received a call from Professor Sycamore.

"A ready-made storefront on Central Avenue?" Lu Ye said surprised.

"It's the previously closed Sunrise Café that belonged to Fleur-de-Lis..."

Professor Sycamore said regretfully, "But it's already been subleased."

Just in Miare City from "Pokémon XY," there were 15 cafés and 4 restaurants.

Finding a café available for transfer wasn't particularly unusual.

According to Professor Sycamore, Sunrise Café combined commercial and residential space, even having a central courtyard connecting front and back yards, quite fitting Teacher Lu's requirements.

In bustling Miare City, only Fleur-de-Lis could acquire such land.

But competition was quite fierce, remaining undecided until recently being subleased.

Lu Ye paused slightly.

"Is the lessee Rocket Delivery?"

"I'm not sure," Professor Sycamore said thoughtfully. "I'll have my assistant continue looking for other locations."

While asking Professor Sycamore for help, Teacher Lu had also sent Matori to handle matters.

Looking at it this way... seemed Team Rocket had taken over Team Flare's base.

"No need to trouble yourself," Lu Ye said with a smile. "I'll communicate with that storefront directly."

Professor Sycamore paused, then thinking of Lu Ye's champion status, smiled understandingly. "In that case, I won't overstep. I wish you smooth travels."

Since Rocket Delivery had secured the storefront.

As their mentor, naturally I wouldn't need to pay a single cent in rent.

But renovation... would probably still require hiring Kalos's renovation team.

Teacher Lu's expression turned complicated.

Couldn't escape this fate after all...

Come to think of it.

Team Flare had been eliminated... now taken over by Team Rocket.

The Pokémon Café could serve as the trio's secret base in the Kalos region.

With champions and elite four members sitting in the café above, and a villain organization underground—

Lu Ye's mood turned subtle.

So the Kalos region's villain was actually myself?!

...

The trip to Kalos was tentatively scheduled for three days later.

Teacher Lu commissioned Matori to handle simple renovations according to his requirements first.

"Securing this location as a secret base,"

Matori said approvingly, "is comparable to Team Rocket's decision to renovate Cianwood Town's bun shop in Johto."

Lu Ye: "...No, I actually want to open a proper business."

Matori: ?

Imagining the scene when the café opened.

Young Master Xiao Yin would likely attend, meaning Boss Giovanni would definitely be present.

Probably, Boss Giovanni would even have a historic meeting with that legendary trainer named 'Red.'

Matori's expression turned subtle.

Mentor... you always manage to come up with something new!

But why am I always the one running errands! Don't you have those three idiots working under you!

It wasn't that Teacher Lu was making things difficult for Matori.

Teacher Lu's expression turned complicated.

And Matori was just as efficient as Olivia.

As the saying goes, this was precisely what "let the secretary handle matters" meant.

Taking advantage of the three-day break.

Lu Ye visited White Poplar Town with Cynthia again.

While traveling, they brought some Pokéblocks for Darkrai.

The melodious bells of the Twin Space-Time Towers rang out.

Lu Ye's mood turned subtle.

Just a few short months had passed in the blink of an eye, the reverberations of space-time still echoing in her ears.

But... I'm not alone anymore.

"Groah..." Garchomp stood behind Cynthia, also looking up silently.

Must become even stronger... to better protect my master.

For this, even challenging legendary Pokémon would be worth it.

Elsewhere, Pokémon Garden.

The atmosphere was completely different.

"You think you can buy me off with just this..."

Darkrai held a glass jar, grabbing and chewing simultaneously, saying indistinctly, "I'm telling you, dream on!"

Lu Ye grinned, saying:

"Actually, there are some things I'd like to discuss with you."

Darkrai instinctively sensed something wrong, its back slightly chilling.

Last time it agreed to this kid's request.

Matori's expression turned subtle.

Reason told it to refuse, but its hand grabbing Pokéblocks just wouldn't stop.

"You speak first," Darkrai said dryly. "Let me hear it!"

"I'd like to invite you... to work part-time as security at my café," Lu Ye said.

It wasn't that Teacher Lu was putting Matori in a difficult position.

"I know you won't leave Pokémon Garden..." Lu Ye said sincerely. "But you could work during the day and return to rest at night."

As a legendary-level Darkrai, it could travel between regions in just hours.

With Sylveon and the Lunar Wing present, Darkrai wouldn't affect others.

He could also provide it with a new place to settle.

Darkrai was exasperated, itching to conjure Dark Void with its hands.

Do I look like a Pokémon that would work as security?

Lu Ye made an offer: "How about one truckload of Pokéblocks per month?"

Darkrai: "..."

Darkrai held up two fingers.

Gotta pay more!

Lu Ye chuckled wryly: "No problem!"

White Poplar Town's Darkrai didn't wish to be captured by humans - even Alicia hadn't been able to capture it in a Poké Ball.

What Darkrai valued most was precisely 'protection,' and the 'bonds' with humans.

Seeing Darkrai standing with crossed arms in silence, Lu Ye gradually smiled.

I caught Darkrai (×)

Darkrai became a staff member! (√)