Chapter 416: The Riches
"Boss! Boss! You're famous now!"
The Vertress Cave Trial Tournament had just ended, and the exhausted group sensibly chose to rest and relax.
Sato, Joseph, and Mark had just finished brunch and were now lying on the sofa digesting in a daze. The small room was already packed with their Pokémon.
On the TV, a news report about the Vertress Tournament was playing. Sato's handsome but youthful face kept flashing on screen, and Mark was visibly excited.
"You're not the one who's famous. There's chilled Pecha Juice in the fridge, one glass, thanks!" Joseph sprawled on the couch and ordered Mark without the slightest courtesy.
"Make that two."
"Ugh..." Mark pouted and slowly got up from the sofa. If he hadn't wanted some himself, there's no way he would've moved that fast. The point was, he couldn't boss the other two around anyway.
"Yesterday, Elite Four Drake said we're not heading back for another half month. Are we just going to wait here for him? Gulp gulp..."
Taking the chilled Pecha Juice Mark handed over, Joseph drank as he asked.
"Gulp gulp gulp... Planning to head to Undella Town, to find a family named The Riches. Gulp gulp gulp... Mark, another glass."
"I just sat down! If you want another... fine, I'll go get it, no problem…" Under Sato's calm and unblinking stare, Mark transformed into a clever little errand boy.
"The Riches? Are you selling that Relic Crown you got earlier? I'll take another glass too!"
Then, Mark brought back a whole pack of Pecha Juice and placed it on the coffee table, becoming the ultimate errand boy.
"Not selling it, just want to learn what these Ancient Relics are really for. Feels like they might be important. Gulp gulp gulp..." Sato said as he picked up his second glass of juice.
"Heading out again? So tiring! Gulp gulp gulp..." Mark complained as he couldn't resist grabbing a second glass himself.
"If you don't want to go, you can stay here. Same goes for you, Joseph," Sato said as he set his glass down, nestling comfortably back into the sofa while leisurely petting Umbreon.
"Let's go. Staying here's boring anyway."
"Then I'm coming too! You guys can't just abandon me!" Mark shouted, looking aggrieved like a scorned wife.
"…"
---
The next day, the three of them said goodbye to Drake and took the high-speed rail to Undella Town.
As for Phoebe and Ryoko, they chose to stay in Vertress City. After the Trial Tournament, Phoebe seemed to have gained new insight into breaking through to Pseudo-Elite Four and was now training intensely.
Ryoko, on the other hand, appeared to have become Drake's assistant, tagging along to all his business meetings. For her, it was a form of learning.
"Ah~ Without those two, why do I feel so free all of a sudden?" Mark commented cheekily, proudly single by skill.
"I may not tell them what you just said, but the walls have ears... like Phoebe's little ghost-types."
"J-Joseph, don't… don't scare me like that!" Mark replied nervously, instantly behaving himself.
Sato ignored the two fooling around. Gazing out the window at the rapidly passing scenery, he felt a vague mix of excitement and tension.
So far, he had obtained four Ancient Relics: the Relic Crown, the Relic Bracelet, the Relic Statue, and the Relic Vase.
And each one had not come easy, especially the fact that Volcarona only gave him a Relic Vase in the end?
To think that Joseph had gotten a Red Maple branch, a mystical item that enhanced special abilities.
And him? "He" defeated an Elite Four Bisharp and only got a vase?
It was just… frustrating!
Sato had acquired the Crown, Bracelet, Statue, and Vase at different times and locations. Then, after an offhand comment from Jona, he learned that The Riches were seeking these items.
Were all these events just coincidence?
Sato didn't know, but that wouldn't stop him from seeking the truth behind it all.
---
At 2:00 in the afternoon, the three of them got off the train and were immediately greeted by the familiar salty and humid scent: the smell of the sea.
Undella Town…
They had arrived.
As a small town with a direct high-speed rail line, it wasn't exactly bustling, but it was full of mansions and villas, all in various styles but sharing the same white-and-blue color scheme.
Clearly, this was a perfect summer retreat for the wealthy. And "The Riches", being the most famous in town, owned the largest villa in all of Undella.
"This must be the place!" Mark looked up at the four or five-story palace-like mansion and couldn't help but exclaim.
"Let's go knock," Sato said, folding away the map and heading toward the gate guard beside the mansion entrance.
To the trio's surprise, they didn't even need to explain themselves. The guard instantly recognized Sato -now a well-known public figure- and after confirming with Zillion personally, let them in without hesitation.
"Wow, this is what it means to be famous, just flash your face and you're treated like a VIP!" Mark said excitedly, drawing curious glances from nearby maids cleaning the area.
"The boss loves making friends with powerful Trainers. Our Unova Champion Alder is one of his close friends," said the butler guiding them. His hair was graying, and he treated Sato and the others with clear respect.
Since they weren't that familiar with him, the three only nodded politely and didn't say much more.
After crossing the front garden, they finally arrived at the mansion doors. They were already open, and a round-bellied man stood there waiting with a warm smile.
"Jona mentioned you before, but I didn't expect you to really come! Hahaha, I've already had the butlers prepare a meal. No need for words, let's eat first!"
Zillion was incredibly enthusiastic. He went up and hugged each of them one by one, and on the way to the dining room, he even listed all sorts of facts about the trio, making sure Mark and Joseph weren't left out.
He had also thoughtfully considered the fact that the three had just traveled and probably hadn't had lunch yet. So even though it wasn't mealtime yet, he had everything ready in advance.
Even the normally cautious Sato couldn't help but admire the man's warm hospitality and attention to detail.
Though it wasn't officially lunchtime, when the three arrived at the dining room, they found a variety of beautifully crafted and delicious dishes already laid out on the table. Nothing looked rushed or last-minute.
"Daddy, I heard we have guests today?"
At that moment, a little girl in a pink princess dress -around five or six years old- came skipping into the room and jumped straight into Zillion' arms.
"Trish, be good. Daddy's entertaining guests right now. If you want to eat, go sit nicely." Zillion patted the little girl's head and pointed to an empty seat beside Sato.
Hearing that she had her own spot, Trish immediately stopped fussing and happily skipped over. But suddenly halted when she saw Sato.
"I know you! You're Sato, the big meanie who bullied big sister Jona!"
Sato: …?