After rec the video of Slowpoke's evolution into Slowking, Julia it to his aunt, Quinn Walker. However, he didn't hear back from her until ter that night when she finally called. Julian figured she'd been busy all day, studying the video and not cheg her phone.

  Julian told his aunt the same thing he had told Jake earlier.

  In terms of intellect, his aunt, a top-tier Pokémon schor, was far sharper than his father.

  While Jake had his doubts, Quinn believed Julian's story without hesitation.

  It wasn't that Quinn was easier to fool than Jake, but she uood that sometimes the greatest discoveries e from ued acts—often stumbled upon by those with a natural genius for the subject.

  "Aunty, I'll send Slowking to yht away"

  Julian said after chatting with her for a while.

  His aunt hung up, reminding Julian to send Slowking over as soon as possible and instrug him not to annouhe existence of Slowking until her research report was ready.

  Juliahe drill well. Other than his parents and Quinn, no one else knew about Slowki, although he assumed his father had already informed his grandfather.

  With a Pokémon teleporter at home, it was easy to send Slowking to Quinn. He grabbed Slowking's Poké Ball and spoke to it.

  "Slowking, you'll be heading to my aunt's pce. Be sure to cooperate with her, okay? You'll be back soon," he assured.

  The Poké Ball shook slightly, a sign of Slowking's uanding.

  After pg the ball oeleporter's slot aering the coordinates, a quick fsh of electricity sighat Slowking was on its way to Quinn's b.

  At her b near Norman, Quinn eagerly grabbed the Poké Ball as it arrived. The moment she ope, Slowking appeared, standing calmly with its hands csped behind its back.

  Several of her assistants were present, their eyes lighting up with excitement at the sight of a Pokémon they'd never seen before.

  Quinn's own gaze was the most intense of them all.

  Even Slowking, usually unfazed by external reas, felt a drop of cold sweat form on its forehead from all the attention.

  Meanwhile, back at home, Julian was lounging on the sofa when he heard a kno the door.

  He stood up quickly and ope, finding a Pidgeotto wearing a delivery helmet, clutg a takeaway bag in its talons.

  "Pidge~"

  "Thanks," Julian said with a smile, accepting the food.

  The Pidgeotto gave a small nod before flying off to make its delivery.

  As Julian turned baside, he was startled to find the family's steward/Housekeeper, Love, standing there with a disapproving look.

  "Ah... you're still awake, Love?"

  Julian asked awkwardly. He g the clo the wall. It was already eleven at night. Normally, Love would have retired for the night by ten, ready to prepare breakfast for the family in the early m.

  Love, known for her dedication to the family's well-being, was not a fan of takeout, as she deemed it uhy.

  Julia a little guilty, knowing he'd been caught red-handed.

  "Uh, it's just barbecue, not snail noodles or anything too smelly. And besides, I don't even like those. That's more Mom's thing"

  Julian quickly expined, hoping to softeeward's gre.

  As a freak, Love had a strict rule against foods with strong smells, like stinky tofu or durian, and would be mortified if anyone dared eat them at home.

  Love g the takeaway bag, gave a resigned sigh, arieved a of Coke from the fridge, setting it on the coffee table before heading back upstairs.

  Love: "Rest after eating, and don't stay up too te pying on your phone"

  Love instructed before disappearing upstairs.

  "Yes"

  Julian nodded like a good child.

  Cute.JPG.

  Julian exhaled, relieved. The pressure from Indeedee always felt simir to dealing with ae trainer—especially given how essential she was to the smooth running of their household. Julian knew better than to push his luck.

  Even his mother, Tina, would tread carefully around Love. If she ever quit, the family's daily life would fall into disarray.

  It was as if Indeedee was the bae of their home life, just as much as Jake was the pilr outside.

  Julian sat back down, opening the Coke. His eyes caught sight of the Pokémon endorsement on the . The design had ged from Bstoise to Milotic, alongside a handsome middle-aged man known for his ag in Drakoria.

  His partner, Mihe Milotic, was renowned for its Elite-level battle prowess.

  As Julian uned his barbecue, Meltan, who had beeing upstairs, appeared at his side, its little eyes fixed on the food.

  "Here, but dooo much"

  Julian said, handian a skewer of mb.

  Meltan accepted it gratefully, mung happily.

  Just as Julialed back to eat, his phone buzzed. He g it, seeing a message from Will.

  Will: Hey, have you ehe new intermediate-level secret realm yet? It opens to the publiorrow. If you haven't, we could form a team together.

  Julian: I art of the first batch, already been there.

  Will: Damn! You lucky son of an aristocrat. you share some useful tips, brother?

  Julian chuckled, recalling the sed group that had probably just returned. It seemed like they were starting to prepare for the public opening.

  Julian: Head southeast as soon as you get in, and keep going for about a day. There's a volo area with some good finds.

  Julian remembered that the Dowsing Mae had shown about ten red dots around the volouth, within a radius of 20km.

  Julian had already cimed the most valuable treasure there, a fire crystal, but he khe smaller ones could still be useful to Will.

  Will: Thanks, bro! I will give a hug when we meet.

  Julian: F*** off.

  As his only friend in high school, Julian wao help Will whenever he could, and he was also optimistic about Will. If there was no act, it was certain that the other party would bee at least pseudo-Elite iure, and more if he was lucky.

  Although Will himself wao be a champion.

  Finishing his meal, Julian tossed the empty Coke to Meltan, who happily grabbed it, and he headed upstairs.

  His room eaceful, with most of his Pokémon already at rest, except for Steelix who was too big.

  Metagross y on its back, seemingly dreaming of something pleasant, while Lucario sat cross-legged, meditating. When the door creaked open, Lucario's eyes flicked open for a moment, but seeing Julian, it closed them again.

  Dragonair had sprawled out on Julian's bed, its head and tail hanging off the sides, and Aron was gnawing tentedly on a rough diamond, occasionally blowing on it to examis glittering surface.

  Julian smiled. His Pokémon were more than just teammates—they were family.