Chapter 134 — I Think I've Seen Your Husband Before

After Lillie made up her mind, everyone headed to the Aether Foundation headquarters, the artificial island called Aether Paradise.

"I'm sorry everyone, but visiting hours are over for today."

As soon as they reached the dock, a staff member in an all-white uniform stepped forward to block their way.

Who knows if Lusamine, as the highest authority of this island, had some kind of obsession with the color white.

The entire artificial island was covered in white, from the floors to the walls, and even the staff uniforms were white.

"I brought them here."

Lillie stepped forward and spoke.

"Miss Lillie?!"

The employee was startled, hesitated for a few seconds, then stepped aside.

"I apologize, I didn't know you had returned, Miss. Please..."

"Even if it's the young miss, she can't enter at this hour."

Before the employee could finish their last word, a sharp voice cut through.

Looking up.

A man in a white coat with a small mustache and the look of a scheming minister approached quickly, stroking his facial hair.

"He looks like a fly,"

Sun Ming remarked candidly.

"What did you say? You insolent fool!"

The man, who happened to hear this, exploded in anger.

To dare speak that way about the great Branch Chief Faba, such a crime deserves death!

"Faba! Where is Nebby?!"

Lillie demanded impatiently.

This was the man who had stolen Nebby from the Malie Library on Ula'ula Island hours ago.

"Seven-five-seven"

He was also her mother's deputy.

Faba's angry gaze left Sun Ming as he calmly replied:

"The President is making final preparations to open the Ultra Wormhole. Though I didn't expect the young miss would dare return, I regret to inform you that the President has given strict orders that no one is to approach her room, including you, Miss..."

"So annoying..."

Sun Ming grew irritated listening to this and threw out a Poké Ball.

Bang—

A dull impact resonated across the pure white floor.

An intimidating Bewear stared straight at Faba with eyes that seemed to look at a dead man walking.

The pressure was terrifying!

"Alright, you all go ahead."

Sun Ming gestured toward the interior of Aether Paradise.

"But..."

Lillie, who had always been well-behaved since childhood, was clearly shocked by Sun Ming's forceful methods.

"Don't worry about it, let's go!"

Serena grabbed Lillie's hand and ran inside with Marnie and the others.

"Wait! I said you can't enter... ugh!"

Faba's face showed great alarm as he tried to stop them, but before he could finish speaking.

Bewear had grabbed him by the neck and lifted him half a meter off the ground.

Its other hand waved at Faba, as if asking if he'd ever seen fists as big as sandbags before.

Faba broke into a cold sweat, wondering where Lillie had found these barbarians.

"Hey! Release Branch Chief Faba immediately!"

At this point, numerous Aether Foundation employees in pure white uniforms surrounded Sun Ming.

"Heh~ Perfect,"

Sun Ming smiled:

"Bewear, show me what you can do."

...

...

In a room as immaculately white as the outside.

A woman of otherworldly beauty wore a white form-fitting dress, with cascading golden hair and black and white leggings that wrapped her long legs, emanating an air of elegance and nobility.

But now her face showed an unusual, almost horrifying smile as she looked at the peculiarly shaped metal box in her hands.

"Finally, my long-held wish will be realized... Cosmog."

"Mother!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, a group of women led by Lillie burst into the room.

From Lillie's way of addressing her, it was clear.

This woman before them was the master of the Aether Foundation—Lusamine.

"You dare come back to see me, Lillie."

Lusamine slowly turned around, her voice filled with frost.

"Mother... is Nebby in there?"

Though Lillie was afraid to meet her mother's gaze, she gathered her courage to look at the metal box by Lusamine's feet.

"Silence! Don't call me 'Mother', for I have no daughter, nor son!"

At this point, Lusamine's face, which was no less beautiful than any woman present, became almost grotesque.

"Children who reject my love and leave me, how can they be called my children!?"

The son took away Type: Null.

The daughter took away Cosmog.

One after another they abandoned her—in Lusamine's view, this was an unforgivable betrayal!

Faced with her mother's accusations, Lillie lowered her head silently, her heart aching as words caught in her throat, unable to speak.

"Nothing to say? How disappointing."

Lusamine spread her hands.

"Isn't that a bit harsh?"

Serena, who had always had a good relationship with her own mother, couldn't help but interject.

"You seem to have found quite a few helpers, but that wasn't necessary. As my daughter, if you had begged me, I might have agreed."

As she finished speaking, Lusamine's face showed a devious smile, "Just kidding~"

"Yare yare, what a nasty woman indeed."

Just then, Sun Ming's voice suddenly rang out. Everyone turned to look, seeing him and Bewear strolling casually towards them.

Looking far behind Sun Ming, countless Aether employees in white uniforms and their Pokémon lay on the ground writhing in pain.

When he saw Lusamine, even Sun Ming, who was used to seeing all kinds of beautiful women, couldn't help but pause.

He had to admit, this woman was truly stunning.

"Hmph, another helper?"

Lusamine pulled the handle on top of the metal box, lifting the container holding Cosmog high.

"Very well, watch carefully how I summon the Ultra Beasts."

Instantly, the surface of the box began to emit light.

Then, an enormous energy burst forth as a storm in all directions.

One could faintly hear Nebby's painful cries from within the box.

"No! Please stop! Mother, if you keep using Nebby's power like this, it will die!"

Lillie pleaded through tears.

But Lusamine's only response was that bewitching, demonic smile.

Sun Ming simply watched this scene quietly from start to finish.

Partly because he was interested in these so-called Ultra Beasts, and partly because he could sense that Nebby's energy wasn't showing signs of fading.

Finally, the intense energy fully erupted.

Above Lusamine's head, a portal emanating strange light opened up.

"Is that... the Ultra Wormhole that's been appearing in Alola according to rumors?"

Lana's eyes widened slightly. Though she had heard about it through rumors, this eerie feeling was truly chilling.

Clang!

Having achieved her goal, Lusamine carelessly tossed the metal box aside.

Lillie quickly rushed over to check on Cosmog's condition.

But Lusamine didn't even look at her daughter as the overwhelming suction from the Ultra Wormhole pulled at them.

Yet Lusamine made no resistance, maintaining that signature smile of a femme fatale on her face, arms slightly spread as if welcoming an embrace from above, as her entire body was drawn into the portal.

"No! Mother!"

Shocked, it took Lillie a while to come to her senses and reach out with a cry.

But by the time she called out, the Ultra Wormhole had completely closed.

"Master, why didn't you stop that woman earlier?"

Hau couldn't help but ask Sun Ming.

"She seemed pretty happy going in, and I couldn't guarantee I'd be able to get back out if I went in."

Sun Ming answered honestly.

Spatial dimensions, parallel worlds.

These things were too complex.

Even Sun Ming didn't dare mess with them carelessly...

There was another important reason—as someone who had crossed over, he hadn't watched the Alola arc and didn't understand what these things were capable of.

At this point, the metal box seemed to automatically open as its power source was lost.

Cosmog fell out on its own.

"N-Nebby?"

Seeing Cosmog fall out, Lillie looked surprised.

Because now it seemed to have withdrawn into a cocoon, with its eyes faintly visible but tightly closed, as if sleeping.

"What happened to Nebby?"

Serena, Marnie and the others gathered around curiously.

Hau used his sensing ability and said:

"Its life force is still there and stable. We shouldn't need to worry for now."

After a brief silence, Lillie held the transformed Nebby in her palm and spoke softly:

"I saw a record in the Malie Library—

In the empty sky, a hole suddenly appeared, and a giant beast emerged.

It was called the beast that devours the sun, and was revered as the king of Alola.

The beast that devours the sun, that beast was dazzling,

It used all its might to make the island guardian deities submit to it.

The beast that devours the sun illuminated the Alolan dynasty, bringing natural blessings.

The beast of the sun and the beast of the moon intermingled and called forth new life.

The island guardian deities protected life...

The Alolan dynasty played twin flutes at the altar, offering beautiful music to express gratitude to Solgaleo, the beast of the sun..."

"Solgaleo? Could it be related to Nebby?"

Serena, who had seen many legends, speculated.

Lana then said:

"Whatever the case, we can only follow this lead and investigate. Perhaps... the Island Kahunas, as the guardians of Alola's four islands, might know something. We could ask them."

Marnie nodded in agreement, "Perfect timing. We can split up and go to the four islands to ask Alola's four Island Kahunas."

"I'll go with everyone too!"

Lillie said with determination: "Whether it's Nebby or Mother, I have to save them both!"

Everyone had reached an agreement and was ready to leave when they noticed Sun Ming still standing there.

Serena couldn't help but ask: "Teacher, what's wrong?"

"You all go ahead, I'll stay here,"

Sun Ming replied:

"Who knows what other trouble might pop up here?"

The women thought about it and agreed Sun Ming had a point, leaving with a "See you later" before quickly departing from Lusamine's room.

Sun Ming then walked over to Lusamine's fragrant bed.

Don't misunderstand, he wasn't thinking of doing anything perverted.

He just picked up a photograph from the bedside table—it was a family photo.

The top left and right showed two adults

The bottom left and right showed a boy and girl around 5 years old.

"This must be Lillie?"

Sun Ming speculated, looking at the brightly smiling girl of about 5 years old in the bottom right corner.

The woman in white dress on the right was undoubtedly Lusamine.

It was incredible—she looked almost exactly the same now as she did ten years ago.

Her beauty might even have increased a level.

But what really caught Sun Ming's attention was the man on the left wearing a white coat, half a head shorter than Lusamine, with a slightly protruding belly.

Sun Ming couldn't help but laugh and mutter to himself:

"Is it trendy in this world for beautiful women to pair up with ugly men?"

Earlier he couldn't understand how Palina could have a crush on that lion-headed Fladali.

Now Lusamine's taste in men made Sun Ming question life itself.

How could such a beautiful woman marry such an unattractive husband?

Could it be that the dog author can't find a girlfriend because he's too handsome?

"I still feel like I've seen this person somewhere before."

Sun Ming furrowed his brows and examined the man in the photo again.

Indeed, he felt like he had seen Lusamine's husband somewhere before.