Chapter 139 — I Can't Let Her Live as a Widow Again

"No need to be so shocked, madam," Sun Wuming said with a wry smile. "After all, if you dare to do it, why fear being seen?"

"Those Pokemon... are they..."

Lusamine asked, still shaken.

"They've been rescued and released. Though it's pitiful - even if their bodies recover, they'll probably be traumatized for life," Sun Wuming mocked.

"If anything, you're lucky I was the one who found out. If it had been Lance or Cynthia, they would have torn this whole island apart."

Lusamine lowered her head, falling into a long silence.

Just as Sun Wuming was about to get up and leave, Lusamine finally raised her head. Her stunningly beautiful face showed a resolve as if ready to face death, as she asked:

"What... what would it take for you to keep this secret?"

"Huh?"

Sun Wuming was taken aback by these words.

"...Are you misunderstanding something? I wasn't planning to use this to threaten you."

Sun Wuming truly wasn't trying to play the gentleman.

Setting aside the facts, he bore some small responsibility for what happened.

Well, he could let it slide as compensation for the widow.

As long as she didn't do such perverted things again.

Sun Wuming could let her off the hook.

"Do you enjoy toying with me like this?" 

Lusamine's expression turned cold as she bit her lip and said:

"What do you want? Just say it directly!"

As someone who had climbed to the top of a region through her own power as a woman,

How could Lusamine believe there would be such an easy way out?

Finding leverage and not using it?

That would be insane!

Of course, this was mainly because Lusamine didn't know what Sun Wuming had done before.

But regardless, Lusamine was determined to get Sun Wuming to name his terms today.

She had finally resolved to return to a peaceful life.

She absolutely didn't want this time bomb hanging over her.

Lusamine had already made up her mind - even if Sun Wuming wanted to take away Aether Paradise, which she had spent half her life building, she would agree without hesitation.

Even if it meant returning to life as a commoner and living in hardship with her children, that would be enough for her.

What use did she, a woman nearly forty, have for power anyway?

Sun Wuming was speechless - someone actually asking to be blackmailed?

Though thinking about it, it wasn't strange.

Put yourself in their shoes - if someone held crucial leverage over you,

Any normal person would assume the other party would use it as leverage.

Conversely, if they didn't, no one would feel at ease, only falling into greater panic, suspecting if the person was plotting something bigger.

Since that was the case, Sun Wuming figured he might as well comply and extort something.

But just as this thought occurred, he fell into a dilemma.

This situation was very similar to his earlier bet with Diantha in Kalos.

Lusamine was in the same position now.

She had no bargaining chips that would interest Sun Wuming.

Aether Paradise?

What meaning would that have for someone like Sun Wuming who liked wandering the world?

Rare Pokemon?

Even though Lusamine was a representative figure of Alola's upper class,

How rare of a Pokemon could she offer?

Could she produce a Mew?

Thinking it through, the only thing about Lusamine that might interest Sun Wuming was...

Hmm... Sun Wuming's gaze couldn't help but drift across Lusamine's beautiful face and the fair skin visible at her collar.

Though it lasted less than two seconds, Lusamine keenly noticed.

Or rather, she was already used to men looking at her this way.

Lusamine bit her lip harder.

After a while, Lusamine undid the first button of her hospital gown.

Sun Wuming's heart stirred.

He heard her say in a trembling voice:

"You... you must promise to never... reveal this matter, or else, I... I'll haunt you even as a ghost..."

As she spoke, Lusamine undid the second and third buttons.

Is this how you test an executive?

What executive could withstand such a test?!

[Widow, you can't take her! Great disaster will follow]

Just then, Hoopa Unbound's voice echoed in Sun Wuming's mind.

Sun Wuming paused, then asked internally:

[Is she really a widow? Maybe that old guy isn't dead]

Though thinking about the old fellow being alive actually made him more excited.

Hoopa Unbound replied: [I checked over there, the Sharpedo said they swallowed everything]

After a brief silence, Sun Wuming responded solemnly:

[She's already a widow, I can't... let her live as a widow again.]

Right, time to undo the belt.

Hoopa Unbound: "..."

Zygarde: "..."

Pangoro: "..."

Bewear: "..."

Pheromosa: "..."

Diancie: "..."

...

...

Fifteen minutes later.

When Lillie and the others returned to the room and saw the unconscious Lusamine, they asked:

"Mr. Wuming, what happened? Why did Mother faint again?"

Sun Wuming's eyes flickered with embarrassment, but he maintained a composed expression:

"It's normal, after all she's still very weak, isn't she?"

This reason seemed legitimate, but Marnie still instinctively asked:

"You didn't say something extreme to shock her, did you?"

Sun Wuming was internally speechless.

Yes, she was shocked, but not by words.

Rather, just as he was about to enter, Lusamine's breathing became too rapid and she passed out from hyperventilation.

After all, she had just recovered from a serious illness, doing this right after waking up was too much.

Sun Wuming admitted he had been careless, very careless.

But at least no one died.

Otherwise, who knows what would have happened this time.

...

...

Two days later, at Aether Paradise's airport.

"Big brother, I leave this to you."

By the Aether Foundation's private jet, Lillie waved to Gladion.

"Yes, and Mother... I leave her to you."

Gladion nodded.

Seeing Lusamine gradually return to her old self made him relieved too.

The only regret was that there was still no news of their father who disappeared ten years ago.

"Hey kid, take this."

Before boarding, Sun Wuming tossed something to Gladion.

Gladion caught it - several Pokeballs.

"This is..."

Gladion said in surprise.

"Ultra Beasts, I caught some extra ones, you can use them."

Sun Wuming replied.

Gladion hesitated, about to say thanks, but Sun Wuming had already entered the cabin.

Gladion was also puzzled...

He barely had any connection with this man.

Why would he be so kind to him?

...

...

On the plane, Lusamine still lay in her hospital bed.

After what happened earlier, she seemed even weaker.

"Mother, why do you keep secretly looking at Mr. Wuming?"

Lillie noticed something odd about Lusamine and couldn't help asking.

"Ah?! I'm not, Lillie must be seeing things..."

Lusamine forced a smile.

She could hardly tell her daughter she was afraid she might die if everything went in next time, could she?

"Finally heading to Kanto, the strongest region, I'm so excited!"

Bea in the front seat said while clenching her fists.

"Is it okay to leave your Elite Four duties?"

Marnie asked.

Gloria replied:

"This trip to Kanto isn't just for fun - we're also carrying Chairman Rose's mission to present the Pokemon World Championships proposal to headquarters."

After speaking, Gloria went back to her phone.

"Miss Gloria, what are you looking up?"

Serena asked curiously.

She noticed Gloria had been on her phone since boarding.

"Checking if there's news about any Water-type Legendaries."

Gloria answered while continuing to scroll quickly.

All the other girls had Legendaries or Ultra Beasts, while she had nothing.

Gloria felt quite unbalanced about this.

No!

She couldn't be left behind!

Sun Wuming stroked his chin in thought.

Water-type Legendary Pokemon weren't exactly rare, but weren't common either.

The most famous were of course the sea god Kyogre and the spatial dragon Palkia.

Those two were impossible dreams - they bore the responsibility of protecting the ocean and space, they couldn't be captured.

Besides, Gloria wouldn't be able to control them anyway.

Then there were the secondary and tertiary legendaries.

He remembered Suicune of the Legendary Beasts, Keldeo of Unova...

Well, capturing them would depend on fate.

...

...

After seven or eight hours of flight,

The private jet bearing the Aether Foundation logo landed in Goldenrod City, the largest city in Kanto.

"Should we transfer Mother to Goldenrod's largest hospital?"

Lillie suggested.

"...No, better not stay in Goldenrod. During your time in Kanto, you two should stay in Pallet Town. As for doctors, we can have them make house calls - it's not like the Aether Foundation can't afford it,"

Sun Wuming objected.

"But, but why, Mr. Wuming?"

Lillie asked, completely confused.

No matter what, everything would clearly be more convenient in a big city.

Sun Wuming found this awkward to explain.

He could hardly say that Goldenrod was Sabrina's city, and Sabrina might be a high-ranking Team Rocket member.

If Team Rocket caused trouble in the future, they might get caught up in it.

BOOM!!!

Just as Sun Wuming was wondering how to explain,

A deafening explosion echoed across Goldenrod City.

Millions of citizens turned to look.

They saw that the top floor of a skyscraper in the city center had completely exploded.

Billowing smoke and flames turned the city sky black.

"What a welcoming gift they've prepared for us,"

Sun Wuming couldn't help but smile.