Chapter 165 — Luluna: Being a Housewife Isn't Bad

"Can someone explain to me what's going on here?"

In Rustboro City, at the Devon Corporation headquarters.

Zurich Hibiscus, the Chairman of the Hoenn League and President of Devon Corporation, grimly asked his beloved son Steven and the current Champion Wallace who stood before him.

Although the battle in Slateport City miraculously didn't cause many casualties,

Over 60% of the city's buildings were destroyed, leaving countless citizens homeless.

Although the Hoenn League had issued a statement taking full responsibility for the incident,

This also caused the League's credibility to come into question.

The damage suffered was second only to the Kanto League.

"It's a long story, let me explain."

At this point, Roxanne, a Hoenn Gym Leader, stepped forward.

Compared to Steven and Wallace, she was clearer about the whole situation's cause and effect.

Team Rocket's traitor Vicious, Leader Giovanni, and the masked person estimated to have legendary master-level strength.

And Sun Wuming, who seemed to just join the commotion but took Suicune...

After hearing Roxanne's detailed explanation, Zurich Hibiscus slapped his forehead.

Headache - felt like none of them were easy to deal with!

"The outcome of this whole incident is that the masked person disappeared with Celebi, Giovanni retreated, and Team Rocket's traitor Vicious was killed by another Team Rocket executive."

Roxanne said seriously:

"And Suicune was given to Luluna by Sun Wuming."

"That's going all out for romance~"

Hearing Roxanne's words, Steven couldn't help but comment.

Although he was also wealthy, he would never spend so much money on women - isn't collecting stones better?

Ah, Steven thought again about Sun Wuming's Diancie.

He'd been thinking about making a trip to Kalos to see if he could get one in Route 803.

So beautiful, if possible, Steven indicated he'd be very willing to breed eggs with Diancie...

"You pervert."

Just then, Wallace suddenly said.

"Hm?"

Steven, who had been lost in his fantasies, opened his eyes at his friend's words.

He found Wallace and Roxanne looking at him with disgusted expressions like he was trash.

Meanwhile, Zurich Hibiscus looked like a father who hadn't disciplined his son in over ten years and now wanted to give him a beating.

Wallace said with revulsion:

"You just spoke your inner thoughts out loud..."

Steven instantly understood what a 'social death scene' meant.

"Ahem! Ahem!"

Steven coughed twice to ease the awkwardness, quickly changing the subject:

"This time we in Hoenn just had bad luck. According to my investigation, it was mainly because after Vicious defected from Team Rocket, he fled to our region, so Giovanni and Mr. Sun came after him. Just a coincidence, everyone shouldn't stress too much."

"There's something that concerns me."

Roxanne interjected:

"How did Sun Wuming know about this?"

"When he arrived, he already knew Vicious had both Celebi and Suicune - how did he know this?"

"And his tone when talking with the masked person and Giovanni was strange too, it felt like he had an old friendship with both of them."

Roxanne's series of questions made Steven and Wallace fall silent.

Indeed, thinking carefully, Sun Wuming's attitude had been quite unusual.

Plus, he seemed to have sold Senzu Beans to Team Rocket before... Could it be...

Steven didn't dare think further and quickly cut off the topic:

"Let's not delve too deeply into this matter, everyone should understand what I mean?"

Wallace solemnly nodded.

Although Roxanne was somewhat reluctant, she nodded in agreement.

Although in the Slateport battle, it was mainly the masked person and Giovanni fighting.

Sun Wuming was basically just watching, but even so, the tip of the iceberg of power he displayed

Still shocked the worldview of Hoenn's elite trainers.

For someone like this, as long as he doesn't cause trouble in their territory, it's better to turn a blind eye.

"Well, let's end the Slateport matter here. You should be thankful there weren't many civilian casualties."

Zurich Hibiscus stood up and said:

"Wallace, accompany me to Lilycove City, need to return to headquarters."

"Is there something to discuss, Chairman?"

Wallace inquired.

Zurich Hibiscus, who served as both Devon Corporation President and Hoenn League Chairman, basically shuttled between Rustboro City and Lilycove City.

"It's about the Pokémon World Championships, it's a proposal from Rose, I plan to agree to it."

Saying this, Zurich Hibiscus turned to look at his precious son and said meaningfully:

"The higher the ranking, the more trainers we can attract to join Hoenn. Stop obsessing over those stones and become stronger for me."

"...Yes, Father."

Steven also knew this was a serious issue and nodded to show he understood.

"Hmm,"

Zurich Hibiscus nodded, suddenly remembering something, and smiled:

"Since you both have free time now, Steven, take Roxanne out for dinner tonight and get to know each other better, understand?"

Steven's expression instantly turned sour - so his old man hadn't given up on finding him a wife.

With Wallace's murderous glare making his scalp tingle, Steven forced a smile and said:

"Uh hehe... Father, this... there's no rush, no rush..."

Half an hour later, Zurich Hibiscus boarded the cruise ship from Rustboro City to Lilycove City under Wallace's protection.

Hoenn has the most sea routes among the eight regions, so ships are the most common mode of transportation.

Since this was a Devon Corporation cruise ship, the vast deck only had Zurich Hibiscus and several bodyguards including Wallace.

"Chairman Hibiscus, your tea is here."

At this time, a young woman in a server's uniform, sounding no less than twenty years old, walked up to Zurich Hibiscus carrying a tray with tea set, head lowered.

"Mm, thank you, just set it down."

Zurich Hibiscus, who was browsing confidential Hoenn League documents on his computer, said without looking up.

"Chairman, watch out!"

Just then, Wallace's alarmed cry interrupted Zurich Hibiscus's thoughts.

Looking up, he saw the female server roll up her sleeve, revealing a hidden blade from her cuff, lunging at his heart like Ezio incarnate.

Fortunately, Wallace was quick to react, releasing a Ludicolo from its Poké Ball, whose Double Slap knocked the dagger from the young woman's hand.

"Really now, couldn't you just die quietly?"

The young woman raised her head, revealing her true face.

She was a young woman with short black hair and blood-red ruby eyes.

With her healthy tanned skin, though her looks weren't as outstanding as Luluna and May,

She emanated a sharp, heroic air similar to Cynthia, with slightly bulging muscles on her arms proving she had undergone very strict training.

"Why did you attack the Chairman!?"

Wallace shouted sternly.

"Heh~ Why don't you ask him what he did in the past?"

The black-haired woman smiled coldly, removing her server's uniform to reveal red clothing underneath.

Team Magma uniform?!

Wallace's expression changed drastically, but before he could be surprised for even a second,

The woman threw out her Poké Ball.

Goodra!

"Move aside!"

The woman commanded in a low voice.

Goodra's slimy tail whipped up a wave, spinning around to sweep toward Zurich Hibiscus.

"Chairman, careful!"

Wallace quickly had Ludicolo shield Zurich Hibiscus.

Although Ludicolo had 4x resistance to water, the massive force still pushed it back several steps!

Champion level?!

Everyone present's expressions turned extremely ugly.

Even with quadruple resistance, it could push Wallace's Ludicolo back step by step.

Team Magma, Team Aqua, the Hoenn League was quite familiar with these two organizations.

But they'd never heard of such a strong member.

"Got it."

The woman grabbed Zurich Hibiscus's computer, then looked at the group opposite with a half-smile, muttering to herself:

"But how could we pass up such a good chance for revenge?"

Saying this, the black-haired woman threw out another Poké Ball.

"Roar!"

A dragon's roar rang out, blood-red wings spread wide on the deck.

Hoenn's pseudo-legendary, Salamence! Or rather, Bloodwing Dragon!

Wallace's expression transformed.

He could sense that this Bloodwing Dragon's strength was no less than his friend Steven's Metagross.

"Die."

The Team Magma woman's lips curled in a bloodthirsty cold smile.

The Bloodwing Dragon above opened its mouth.

Dragon Pulse!

"Milotic!"

Wallace no longer hesitated to send out his ace.

...

...

The next day, in Verdanturf Town.

"Not participating?"

At breakfast, Luluna's words made Sun Wuming pause his hearty eating.

Because Luluna had just told him she wasn't going to participate in Sinnoh's Lily of the Valley Conference.

"Mm~"

Luluna nodded, barely touching the breakfast on the table as she secretly touched her belly.

Since last night, she had been feeling quite full.

Luluna explained with a smile:

"With my strength, I probably can't beat May, Marnie and the others anyway, so I thought about it and decided not to participate."

This was a lie.

Luluna did this because after careful consideration these past couple days,

She felt that if she participated in the Lily of the Valley Conference, she would have to return to Sinnoh immediately.

And right now she wanted to enjoy her time alone with Sun Wuming more.

After all, there are competitions every year, but chances for quality time together might only come a few times a year.

She didn't want to give that up.

Of course, this might cause her to grow more distant from May, Marnie and the others.

But after these past few days of "living in the moment," Luluna had gained some perspective.

Why did she have to chase after the absolute top position?

She already had Elite Four level strength, surpassing 99% of trainers worldwide, wasn't that enough?

Life's meaning isn't just about being a trainer.

Thinking of this, Luluna touched her belly again.

She thought that at worst, being a housewife and having a cute baby, then raising her to become world number one wouldn't be bad either~