Chapter 144: Asher: Steven, Your Mine Is Gone
[VIP Chat Group]
[Alder]: The light has completely vanished from that child’s eyes.
[Skyla]: Hahahahahahahaha! This is killing me! @Elesa, you really know what you’re doing! I genuinely can’t tell whether that last sentence was you showing concern for Miori or bragging about your vacation!
[Elesa]: ...
[Valerie]: That phone call from Elesa was more devastating than Mega Ampharos’s Thunderbolt. Miori must be on the verge of breaking down.
[Gary]: She dealt with an out-of-control Mega Ampharos during the day, finally managed to lie down that night, and then received a call from her parents—one of them flaunted their vacation while the other spoke in riddles. That’s a double blow. I would break down too.
[Steven]: Brother Asher remains a hidden powerhouse in this life. Even while vacationing, he never forgets to remotely monitor what’s happening at his daughter’s Gym.
[Gary]: His method of monitoring is to learn what happened and still refuse to help, leaving his daughter to handle it herself?
[Steven]: What do you understand? Brother Asher’s educational philosophy has remained unchanged since the first episode: he allows his children to grow on their own and only steps in as their final safeguard.
[Wallace]: And by safeguarding them, he somehow raised his daughters into an Elite Four member, the Master of Space-Time, and the Hero of Ideals.
[Lance]: We’re already on the third episode, and I still can’t see through the Asher of the parallel worlds.
[Steven]: Little Lance, do you truly believe Brother Asher’s strength is something you can comprehend? Attempting to peer into the abyss—do you no longer wish to remain in Kanto?
[Lance]: ...
[Leon]: Based.
[Bruno]: Steven has completely abandoned all restraint today.
[Raihan]: Is there ever a day when he hasn’t?
[Wallace]: Asher could never have become the man he is today without Steven’s considerable contributions.
[Steven]: What are you talking about? My admiration for Brother Asher comes entirely from the bottom of my heart!
[Asher]: Steven, your mine is gone.
[Steven]: ?
[Steven]: My collection! Brother Asher, I’m begging you! As long as you give it back, you can do anything you want to me!
[Asher]: Get lost.
The video continued playing.
Ever since Ampharos was settled inside the Gym’s infirmary, Miori’s daily schedule had gained another permanent set of responsibilities.
She had to administer its medicine at fixed times, regulate the electricity within its body, and perform scheduled examinations.
None of those tasks were particularly difficult for Miori.
The problem was that spending three additional hours in the infirmary every day meant Luxio and Emolga had to remain outside by themselves for three hours.
"Luxio, Emolga, I’m going into the infirmary."
Miori slipped on her white lab coat.
"You two need to get along. No fighting."
Luxio lay on the mat beside the training field and slapped its tail against the floor, acknowledging the order.
Electricity flashed briefly across Emolga’s cheek pouches, indicating that it understood as well.
Miori nodded in satisfaction before opening the infirmary door and walking inside.
The instant the door closed, Emolga flew into the air and precisely positioned itself directly above Luxio.
"Emolga~ Emolga~" (You only defeated me last time because you got lucky! I refuse to accept it! Let’s battle again!)
Luxio raised an eyelid and glanced at it before closing its eyes and continuing to rest.
Emolga moved its face directly in front of Luxio’s. Two bursts of electricity erupted from its cheeks, curling Luxio’s whiskers.
Luxio immediately opened its eyes, and an extremely low rumble emerged from deep within its throat.
Emolga shot back into the air and gestured for Luxio to chase it.
Luxio stared at Emolga for three seconds before closing its eyes again.
That only made Emolga even more excited.
It couldn’t openly challenge Luxio to a fight in front of Miori, but now that Miori was gone, this battle was absolutely going to happen!
Three hours later—
Miori opened the back door and was greeted by a scene that made her eyebrow twitch violently.
The training field had been reduced to complete chaos.
There were smoking mats, obstacles knocked in every direction, colorful pawprints covering the floor, and a potted plant whose leaves had been electrocuted into an enormous afro.
At the center of the field, Luxio raced around while using Wild Charge, relentlessly pursuing the fleeing Emolga.
Luxio’s body was now covered in seven or eight colorful drawings.
There were whiskers, glasses, lightning-shaped patterns, and even a tiny crown painted on its forehead.
Miori took a deep breath.
"You two, stop right now!"
Luxio and Emolga froze simultaneously.
Luxio was still surrounded by the electricity of Wild Charge. All four of its paws were covered in paint, while the little crown on its forehead looked particularly striking beneath the sunlight.
Emolga slowly descended to the ground, its paws still coated in wet paint.
"Luxio, come here."
Miori crouched and removed a wet wipe from her pocket.
Luxio approached with its ears drooping.
Miori carefully began wiping away the drawings covering its body.
Once every last mark had been cleaned off, Miori stood and turned toward Emolga.
"According to the Gym management regulations, anyone who engages in unauthorized, non-training activities within the training field and causes damage to the facilities will be punished by cleaning the entire training field for one week."
Miori removed a small notebook from her pocket and flipped through it.
"Drawing on a teammate constitutes an additional offense, so your punishment is doubled. Two weeks—and you aren’t allowed to ask Luxio for help."
Emolga immediately released an exceptionally miserable wail.
[VIP Chat Group]
[Skyla]: Hahahahaha! Emolga and Luxio’s interactions are far too entertaining!
[Roxie]: What exactly is Emolga trying to accomplish? It causes trouble, gets caught every time, and then immediately causes more trouble. How can it be this persistent?
[Volkner]: You don’t understand the competitive spirit of Electric-type Pokémon. Losing doesn’t matter. What matters is still having the courage to challenge your opponent again afterward.
[Gary]: Why do I feel like this cat-and-mouse relationship is somewhat similar to Asher and Steven’s?
[Brock]: What do you mean?
[Gary]: Steven provokes Asher every day, while Emolga provokes Luxio every day.
[Wallace]: So Emolga is Steven, and Luxio is Asher?
[Leon]: I’m dying. What kind of bizarre comparison is that?