Steven smiled slightly.
"아카기가 당신 이야기를 많이 했습니다."
(Akagi talks about you a lot.)
Ethan immediately looked at his sister.
Akagi looked away.
Very suspiciously.
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
"좋은 이야기였습니까, 아니면 부끄러운 이야기였습니까?"
(Were they good stories or embarrassing stories?)
Steven's smile widened.
"둘 다요."
(Both.)
Akagi nodded.
"정확해."
(Accurate.)
Ethan sighed.
Of course.
Steven folded his arms.
"하지만 솔직히 말해서, 예상했던 것보다 훨씬 침착하군요."
(But honestly, you're much calmer than I expected.)
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"누나는 저를 어떻게 설명했습니까?"
(And how exactly did my sister describe me?)
Steven glanced at Akagi.
Akagi suddenly found the ceiling very interesting.
"..."
Steven chuckled.
"문제를 끌어당기는 자석."
(A magnet for trouble.)
Whitney immediately pointed.
"I don't know what they're saying."
Lyra nodded.
"But Ethan is definitely being roasted."
Bugsy looked worried.
"How can you tell?"
"Look at Akagi."
Everyone looked.
Akagi was trying not to laugh.
That was enough evidence.
Back in Hangun—
Ethan rubbed his forehead.
"그건 조금 심합니다."
(That's a little unfair.)
Steven laughed.
"그녀는 또한 당신이 이상하게 포켓몬들에게 인기가 많다고 했습니다."
(She also said Pokémon are strangely attracted to you.)
"그건 제 잘못이 아닙니다."
(That isn't my fault.)
"스카이라는 동의하지 않을 것 같군요."
(I don't think Skyla would agree.)
Ethan froze.
Akagi immediately burst out laughing.
"누나!"
(Big Sis!)
Steven looked very satisfied with himself.
Apparently Akagi had shared more stories than Ethan would've liked.
Falkner looked between them.
"...I just heard Skyla."
Whitney gasped.
"WAIT I KNOW THAT NAME."
Lyra immediately pointed.
"THEY'RE GOSSIPING."
"They are absolutely gossiping."
Meanwhile Steven's expression softened slightly.
"농담은 여기까지."
(Jokes aside.)
His gaze became more serious.
"아카기는 당신을 자랑스럽게 생각합니다."
(Akagi is proud of you.)
Ethan blinked.
The joking atmosphere faded for a moment.
Steven continued.
"그녀는 당신이 강해지는 모습을 계속 이야기했습니다."
(She keeps talking about how much you've grown.)
Akagi suddenly looked embarrassed.
Which was rare enough to qualify as a legendary event.
Ethan scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"아직 멀었습니다."
(I still have a long way to go.)
Steven nodded.
"그 대답도 들었다고 하더군요."
(She said you'd answer like that.)
Akagi pointed immediately.
"See?"
Steven nodded.
"Exactly like that."
Ethan looked betrayed.
"I've been profiled."
Kitsu laughed so hard she nearly fell over.
Even though she didn't understand every word, she understood that Ethan was somehow losing this conversation.
Again.
Steven then reached down and picked up the silver suitcase he had brought earlier.
His smile returned.
"그래도 선물은 마음에 들길 바랍니다."
(I do hope you like the gift.)
Ethan's eyes immediately narrowed.
The last time a rich person smiled like that—
He received a Delta Bulbasaur.
And somehow that wasn't even the weirdest thing that had happened that week.
Whitney looked between Ethan, Steven, and Akagi.
Then toward Kitsu, Erika, and Sabrina.
"You three understood what they were talking about this entire time?"
"Yes."
The three girls answered immediately.
Whitney pointed dramatically.
"WHY DOES EVERYONE IN THIS FAMILY KNOW RANDOM LANGUAGES?!"
Sabrina adjusted her glasses.
"It's not random."
Erika nodded.
"It's Hoenn's native language."
Whitney looked horrified.
"That somehow makes it worse."
Meanwhile—
Ethan glanced at the silver suitcase Steven was carrying.
Then immediately shook his head.
"That's for my sister."
Steven blinked.
Then smiled.
"Correct."
Akagi crossed her arms proudly.
"My little brother is smart."
Ethan ignored her.
Steven chuckled.
"I wanted to see where your mind would go."
Ethan shrugged.
"If you brought something in a metal suitcase to a Gala, it's either extremely expensive, extremely rare..."
A pause.
"...or both."
Steven nodded approvingly.
"Good deduction."
Akagi looked very pleased with herself.
Like she had personally trained Ethan to identify rich people behavior.
Which she probably had.
Then Steven snapped his fingers.
A nearby butler stepped forward carrying another package.
Unlike the suitcase—
This one was wrapped in expensive golden paper.
Whitney immediately pointed.
"Now that's definitely for Ethan."
Steven handed it over.
"Go ahead."
Ethan stared at it for a second.
Then sighed.
"Pokémon Egg."
The room went silent.
Steven blinked.
"...Pokémon Egg."
Whitney spun toward Ethan.
"HOW?!"
Ethan pointed at the package.
"It's temperature regulated."
Everyone looked.
Sure enough—
Tiny cooling vents were hidden inside the wrapping.
Steven looked impressed.
Ethan continued.
"The box is reinforced."
"Too small for most equipment."
"Too carefully handled for jewelry."
"Too alive to be a machine."
He shrugged.
"Pokémon Egg."
Steven laughed.
A real laugh.
"Now I understand why Akagi keeps talking about you."
Akagi immediately looked smug.
Whitney pointed accusingly.
"Stop being Sherlock Holmes."
Ethan ignored her and carefully opened the wrapping.
Inside sat a specialized incubator.
Everyone leaned closer.
Even Violet lowered her book slightly.
The lid slowly opened.
And inside—
Rested a single Pokémon Egg.
The shell was dark.
Almost black.
Silver crystalline patterns ran across its surface.
The entire room went quiet.
Even Bugsy felt something unusual about it.
Steven folded his arms.
"Go on."
Ethan studied the egg carefully.
His expression slowly changed.
Then changed again.
Then changed a third time.
"..."
Steven's smile widened.
"You recognize it."
Ethan looked up.
"Maybe."
Akagi immediately became interested.
"Maybe?"
Kitsu narrowed her eyes.
"That's Ethan language for 'he absolutely knows what it is.'"
The egg gave a faint pulse.
Almost like a heartbeat.
The room somehow became even quieter.
Steven smiled.
"Consider it an investment."
Ethan looked down at the egg again.
Then back at Steven.
"...This is not a normal gift."
"No."
"It cost a fortune."
"Yes."
"It will cause me problems."
Steven's smile somehow widened.
"Almost certainly."
Akagi burst out laughing.
Whitney groaned.
"Oh great."
"Another one."
"We've reached the point where rich people give each other mysterious Pokémon eggs as greeting cards."
Bugsy nodded.
"That sounds about right."
"Ethan."
Ethan turned his head.
Standing a short distance away was Lusamine.
She wore a formal white dress tonight, elegant without being overly flashy.
The moment their eyes met, she offered a polite bow.
Ethan returned it automatically.
"Hi."
Lusamine smiled slightly.
"Your father really went all out for this Gala, didn't he?"
Ethan scratched the back of his head.
"He probably did."
"Probably?"
"My family tends to do things without informing me."
Lusamine laughed softly.
"Fair."
Then—
Another voice joined the conversation.
"So this is the young Harmonia."
The room grew noticeably quieter.
Everyone turned.
A tall man approached through the crowd.
Red hair.
A carefully groomed beard.
Sharp blue eyes.
An elegant black suit.
Fingerless gloves.
Everything about him projected confidence.
Not arrogance.
Authority.
The kind of authority that came from someone accustomed to being listened to.
[Insert image of Lysandre]
Lusamine immediately straightened.
"Father."
The man smiled warmly.
A smile practiced enough to appear natural.
"Hello, Lusamine."
His eyes shifted toward Ethan.
Studying.
Evaluating.
Interested.
Meanwhile Steven's expression became more professional.
He stepped forward.
"Mr. Lawliet."
Steven offered a respectful nod.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
The older man smiled.
"And you must be Steven Stone."
"The Devon heir."
Steven returned the smile.
"I could say the same."
Several nearby guests immediately recognized the significance of that exchange.
The Lawliets.
The Stones.
Two of the wealthiest families in the world.
Talking casually.
Whitney quietly leaned toward Lyra.
"I suddenly feel poor."
Lyra whispered back.
"Suddenly?"
"Lyra."
"Fair."
Meanwhile Lysandre's attention returned to Ethan.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Ethan simply looked back.
No nervousness.
No intimidation.
Which seemed to amuse the older man.
"Interesting."
Lusamine immediately recognized that tone.
Her father only used that tone when something genuinely caught his attention.
"You aren't intimidated by me."
Ethan shrugged.
"Should I be?"
Whitney nearly choked.
Bugsy looked like his soul briefly left his body.
Falkner covered his face.
Steven immediately looked away to hide a smile.
Lysandre laughed.
A rich, genuine laugh.
"Most people answer that question very differently."
Ethan nodded.
"Most people probably know who you are."
That made Lysandre pause.
Then smile again.
"Fair enough."
Lusamine covered her mouth slightly.
She could already tell where this conversation was going.
Her father was curious.
Which was usually dangerous.
For everyone involved.
Lysandre folded his arms.
"So."
His blue eyes sharpened slightly.
"The famous Ethan Harmonia."
"The trainer who gave my daughter a Dusk Stone."
The entire room immediately became interested.
Whitney whispered:
"Oh no."
Lyra nodded.
"Oh no."
Because everyone knew exactly what was about to happen.
Two fathers.
One daughter.
One boy.
And enough wealth between them to buy several regions.
This conversation was absolutely going to become a disaster.
And Ethan had no idea yet.
Lysandre looked toward Ethan.
"Young Ethan, have you seen your father by any chance?"
Ethan blinked.
'That was an oddly specific question.'
He thought for a moment.
"No."
Then he pointed deeper into the ballroom.
"But he's probably talking with either the Mikan family, the Horii family, or the Shirona family."
Lysandre nodded slowly.
"I see."
For a brief moment his eyes became thoughtful.
Calculating.
Then the expression vanished behind another polite smile.
He turned toward Akagi.
"Would you be willing to guide me to him?"
Akagi nodded immediately.
"Of course."
She took a step forward—
Only for Steven to gently take her hand.
The movement was casual.
Natural.
But it immediately drew attention.
Steven smiled politely.
"If you don't mind, I'd also like to join this discussion."
For the first time—
A tiny pause appeared.
Barely noticeable.
The sort only observant people would catch.
Lysandre looked at Steven.
Steven looked back.
Both smiling.
Both perfectly polite.
Neither giving an inch.
Then Lysandre chuckled.
"Certainly."
His tone remained pleasant.
Yet something else lurked beneath it.
Something subtle.
Something difficult to define.
"You're welcome to join us, Mr. Stone."
Steven's smile didn't change.
"Wonderful."
Akagi immediately recognized what had just happened.
And suddenly wished she had brought coffee.
A lot of coffee.
Meanwhile—
Whitney watched them leave.
"...Why did that feel threatening?"
Bugsy nodded.
"Nobody even argued."
Falkner folded his arms.
"That's what makes it threatening."
Lyra looked confused.
"They were literally smiling."
Sabrina adjusted her glasses.
"Exactly."
Lyra became even more confused.
Erika quietly watched the four figures disappear into the crowd.
Lysandre Lawliet.
Steven Stone.
Akagi Harmonia.
And somewhere ahead—
Shinku Harmonia.
Three heirs and one Elite Four member.
No matter what conversation was about to happen—
It was almost certainly above their pay grade.
Meanwhile Ethan simply shrugged.
"They'll probably talk business."
Everyone stared at him.
Whitney pointed dramatically.
"YOU ARE THE ONLY PERSON HERE WHO THINKS THAT."
Ethan blinked.
"...What?"
Kitsu covered her face.
"Sometimes I forget he grew up around this."
"Forget what?"
"The fact that your definition of a normal family gathering includes corporate negotiations and Elite Four members."
Ethan thought about it.
"...Fair."
Across the ballroom, Lysandre glanced back once.
His eyes briefly found Ethan.
Then shifted away.
The smile never left his face.
But for a single moment—
The future seemed to move.
A businessman searching for an ally.
A father watching his daughter.
A visionary pursuing an impossible future.
And completely unaware of it—
The boy who would eventually stand against him was currently arguing with Whitney over whether five desserts counted as dinner.
Whitney insisted they did.
Ethan insisted they didn't.
And somehow that felt far more important at the moment.
To be continue
Hope people like this Ch and Give me power stones and enjoy