Chapter 389: Triggered Emotions
Outside.
The sky was growing dark.
Hikaru, having just climbed out of the training house, hadn't even caught his breath.
There was suddenly another "person" in the room...
It scared him into a cold sweat.
The "person" who came was precisely Gengar.
And Gengar was also startled by Hikaru's sudden appearance.
The two stared blankly at each other, unsure for a moment who should speak first.
In the end, Gengar spoke first, "You, day after day, do you even have to hide when making energy cubes?"
Clearly, it interpreted Hikaru's sudden appearance as Hikaru using Latias's ability to hide outside.
Hikaru's tension eased.
This served as a reminder to him.
In the future, when coming out of the training house, it seemed he would first have to check if anyone was outside; otherwise, he'd also have Latias accompany him.
Thinking of this,
Latias was summoned from the training house by him without a trace.
Hikaru felt a bit awkward, "Ahem, some things, indeed require a bit more caution."
Then, he quickly changed the subject, "Ghost Uncle, what brings you here to find me?"
Gengar didn't fuss too much. Instead, it stuck out its large, blood-red tongue, wearing a fawning expression, "I heard the energy cubes you make are very good? Can you make some for me? I'm a bit peckish..."
"..."
He had thought Gengar came here in the middle of the night to lecture him with grand principles again.
It was just some energy cubes.
Hikaru readily agreed, "Sure, as long as you provide the raw materials..."
Before he could finish.
Gengar's grin stretched wide.
Then it frantically started pulling things out of its belly.
Most were shiny black Ghost-type secret treasures.
A small portion consisted of some Berries, some other creatures' bones, and also Yin Wood.
These bones also radiated a dense Ghost-type energy.
Hikaru's eyelids twitched as he looked.
Ghost-type secret treasures were somewhat special.
[SS-Rank Secret Treasure – Trunk of a Millennial Locust Tree: A locust tree grown in a graveyard that stood for a thousand years without falling. After being felled, the energy within was preserved.]
[A-Rank Secret Treasure – Spirit Gem: A stone that has been in a cluster of Ghost-type Pokémon for a long time, naturally accumulating Ghost-type energy.]
[S-Rank Secret Treasure – Marowak's Bone: The thick bone of a Marowak that died with endless resentment, containing Ghost-type energy...]
...
"Come, come, Little Hikaru, see if these can be made?"
Gengar wore an expectant expression.
Last time, it had eaten a Normal-type stamina energy cube with the Young Miss.
Just a first taste, and its taste buds were conquered.
But it was Normal-type; for it, the taste difference was too great.
If it were Ghost-type, Gengar felt it would taste even better.
After all.
Normal-type ones lacked the emotional energy it liked.
"Alright, Ghost Uncle. Wait a few days, then you can come get them."
Looking at the dense pile of secret treasures at his feet, Hikaru had no reason to refuse.
These secret treasures were all high-quality and very rare Ghost-type ones.
If he made energy cubes, and if he got a Ghost-type Pokémon in the future.
He could also keep some.
As his labor fee.
After reminding Hikaru once more not to discard the emotional energy in the secret treasures, Gengar disappeared.
Before he could even sigh in relief.
There was another knock on the door.
The one who came this time was, naturally, Sakura (Xiao Ye).
Opening the door.
The girl was wrapped up snugly as usual, a high-neck sweater plus a jacket. Her lower half was clad in somewhat close-fitting gray casual pants. Such an outfit made her figure look very slender.
Hikaru scratched his head and asked with some confusion, "Is something up tonight? You even specifically asked me to accompany you."
"Heh, it's nothing much,"
Sakura (Xiao Ye) hid her hands behind her back, then, smiling, slipped past Hikaru into the room. She walked to the table and placed two bottles of red wine on it, "Come drink with me..."
"???"
Hikaru was stunned for a moment. Seeing Sakura (Xiao Ye) quickly set out glasses, he was even more bewildered.
Then he reacted, "No way!"
Seeing Hikaru refuse, Sakura (Xiao Ye) wasn't discouraged. She picked up a wine bottle, "Oh, alright then, I'll go find Sister Ming Shuang to drink with me."
"That's not..."
Hikaru walked over to her and pressed down on the two wine bottles, "Don't you know your own alcohol tolerance? You pass out after one glass, and you still want to drink with Sister Ming Shuang... When that happens, someone else will definitely have to take care of you."
"Besides, you're so young, what troubles could you possibly have? Why drink alcohol?!"
Regarding alcohol, Hikaru felt it was always linked to troubles.
Last time with the two senior sisters, although Sakura (Ye Ming Shuang) didn't say it, Hikaru could see she was heavily burdened by something.
It was probably related to her family background.
But family matters were family matters; an outsider shouldn't pry.
Moreover, drinking last time,
Had brought Hikaru a lot of trouble.
Sakura (Xiao Ye) dropped her smile and, rarely, talked back, "What troubles? You won't accompany me, and you won't let me drink with Sister Ming Shuang, why?"
Hikaru felt somewhat helpless. He picked up a bottle of red wine, "Well, does this stuff even taste good?"
Last time, the alcohol content was so high; he only found it very harsh.
"Never you mind whether it tastes good or not..."
Latias stood aside, watching the two of them, unsure why such an intimate pair suddenly had a bit of tension between them.
The pout from the girl in front of him made Hikaru's expression freeze. He carefully observed the girl before him.
After pondering for a good while, he finally pulled up a chair, "Sit."
Then he first poured two full glasses of wine.
The rich red wine flowed slowly in the glass. Hikaru passed one to Sakura (Xiao Ye), "Wait a moment, drinking on an empty stomach is bad for you..."
He went to the kitchen, took some snacks from the refrigerator, and also prepared a few side dishes.
Then he untied his apron and sat down opposite Sakura (Xiao Ye), "Come on... if something's wrong, just tell me."
Ever since he brought Sakura (Xiao Ye) out of the Green Maple Secret Realm, this child had changed a lot. Although she would still be defiant sometimes, she had become very obedient.
The few times she had talked back to him were when she had something on her mind.
"Ngh..."
The formal atmosphere made the girl a bit uncomfortable. She glanced at Latias standing behind Hikaru.
"Latias, you go back first. I need to talk with Xiao Xue."
Hikaru quickly took out Latias's Poké Ball and recalled her.
"Bro..."
Under Hikaru's gaze, Sakura (Xiao Ye), who had just been full of bravado, instantly became as docile as a little lamb, not daring to speak.
"Go on, between the two of us, is there anything that can't be said?"
Only then did Sakura (Xiao Ye) speak timidly, "Actually, these past few days, I've already sought out Sister Ming Shuang several times..."
Hikaru asked curiously, "Oh? What did you two talk about?"
People's emotions, especially girls', are generally easily triggered by certain external environments.
And Sakura's (Xiao Ye) behavior today was clearly triggered emotion.
---
Read up to 27 Chapters ahead on patreon.com/Fanglin
[Please leave a 5 Star review and power stone for this novel]
*Thank you*