Chapter 154: Crossing: Dragon God Above, Please Don't!

The white-bearded old man chuckled as he hung up the phone, leaning on his cane as he walked over to the clan's department for external affairs to instruct his kin to rush an invitation.

"Oh, Xiao Du, perfect timing. I was just talking about you."

The old man’s eyes lit up. "Come, come, there’s something here I need your help with."

Lance turned around, looking somewhat puzzled.

"Fifth Granduncle? I recall the elder on duty today isn't you."

This old man belonged to the same generation as his grandfather, though he had never earned the title of Dragon Elder. Even so, his strength was not to be underestimated, making him one of the prominent powerhouses of the Dragon Clan.

"Ah, an old man like me needs to stay active so these old bones don't rust."

"And you, Xiao Du, what brings you to the clan's administrative hall today? Aren't you busy with your duties as an Inspector?"

Lance explained, "I requested leave to prepare for the League Conference. Besides, I'm only a trainee Inspector, so my schedule is relatively flexible. I was just wandering around to clear my head today."

The elder pressed an invitation straight into Lance's hands.

"Here, this is the invitation for your friend. I was pondering how best to show our sincerity, and then I realized nothing carries more weight than an invitation personally signed by a friend."

Lance: ?

His friend? Did he have friends?

The future Dragon Champion felt a chill in his heart, his trembling hand opening the envelope.

Please, not him. Great Dragon, anyone but him!

On the invitation, the name of a certain white-haired monkey came into view, turning into maniacal laughter echoing inside Lance's head, making every organ in his body hum with dread.

"Fifth Granduncle, this is an invitation for that white-haired lunatic?!"

The old man instantly turned serious. "Hey, Xiao Du, don't talk like that. It's rare to find someone who can keep up with your train of thought and matches your achievements nearly step-for-step. You shouldn't speak of a friend that way."

"Look at you, only Clair is somewhat close to you in the clan. Other people your age basically just nod in passing. Your social life is completely unhealthy."

"I've already checked with Sister Jing; that boy is heading to the Indigo Plateau anyway. You can just take the invitation along and hand it to him when you go to compete."

The elderly always worried about such matters, leaving Lance with no room to refute.

"Actually, it would be enough for me to just make a call. It's just a simple mention."

He could casually alter the schedule and tell Zhu Sihan to come over for a meal and a chat.

If he actually invited him to participate in the Dragon Festival, Lance was genuinely terrified that this historical walking disaster might dismantle the Dragon's Den entirely.

"Anyway, a person still needs a few friends along the road of life, just like how you choose to construct a battle system for Pokémon battles."

The elder flashed a broad, beaming smile, encouraging his socially awkward and tongue-tied grandson-figure to make more friends.

"I understand."

Lance took the invitation and strode out of the hall, pulled out Dragonite's Poké Ball to exchange a glance with it, and then let out a heavy sigh.

Without this episode, he wouldn't have felt anything special.

Now, however, he had a growing premonition that this year's Dragon Festival was bound to end in disaster.

"I just hope Fifth Granduncle can withstand Grandfather's wrath when the time comes."

He, Lance, did not invite the guy. Truly, he did not!

"I only just got back to the academy, and now I have to run all the way down again. What kind of torture is this?"

The white-haired youth on everyone's mind was currently packing his luggage, with the trio of little ones also gathering the items they wanted to bring along.

After the intensive training camp, Zhu Sihan planned to head straight to Kanto, vacation for a day or two to relax, and then head to the Indigo Plateau.

[You must be the legendary connection-abuser. How come whenever something happens, the Dean personally informs you?]

Zhu Sihan stuffed some simple tools into the censer without looking back.

"If you can convince the academy to let me live in the girls' dormitory, the professor would notify me of everything too."

"And there's one more point I think is quite important."

Zhu Sihan unboxed the delivery parcel left at his doorstep, took out the uniform inside, and gave it a shake.

This was the official work attire issued to training camp participants.

"I'm getting special treatment not because I have connections, but because I can't wear a skirt."

Wearing a skirt was definitely out of the question.

If he wore the regular white uniform, what would happen if people questioned the professional integrity of the Pokémon Center?

Research achievements were one thing, but the general public paying attention to such niche details was rare, let alone pinning them down to an individual's appearance.

It was impossible for a random passerby on the street to recite Zhu Sihan's research findings like reading a menu.

Based on this mindset, the logistics department of Joy Academy specially went to Goldenrod City to procure a men's version of the uniform for Zhu Sihan.

At least it looked like proper professional attire for a Pokémon Center staff member.

"Wu."

Lapras looked over her human, deciding that having her Trainer wear a skirt wasn't entirely unacceptable.

"Milu!"

Not just barely acceptable—it was entirely acceptable!

Mewtwo rested a hand on his chin: [I think they make a fair point, and I've never seen what a guy looks like in that kind of Pokémon Center uniform skirt.]

"In short, you all just want to see me in women's clothing, right? Sorry, but I refuse."

Zhu Sihan folded the clothes and placed them into the censer. "If there's a chance another day, I can introduce you to someone who feels zero psychological pressure whatsoever about women's clothing."

James, the renowned cross-dressing master of the Indigo Plateau arc, whose ultimate technique was the ability to adjust the size of his chest at will, showcasing a confidence, generosity, and substance in his physique.

After all, everything from top to bottom was fake.

However, as James's family background was gradually fleshed out later on—revealing him to be the only son of a powerful conglomerate family spanning multiple regions—Zhu Sihan had always been curious about one question.

Joining Team Rocket in the original timeline was one thing, but if his family members ever saw those cross-dressing photos, would they really not pop a blood vessel from anger?

"That's not the point. Look at Third Sister's figure and build—a living clothes hanger. Isn't this much better than making me wear a skirt?"

Mewtwo: [?]

[Don't believe him, he's just deflecting.]

But Lapras and Milcery didn't care about that at all, because they thought what Zhu Sihan said made absolute sense.

Their Third Sister should also wear plenty of pretty clothes, and they could even hang some exceptionally cute little accessories on her tail.

Mewtwo: !!!

[Without further ado, how about we go to Goldenrod City right now?]

Zhu Sihan was suddenly in no rush. He pulled out a courtyard chair and sat down, watching Mewtwo being dragged into the house by his two elder sisters.

Lapras skillfully turned on the television, while Milcery clutched the remote control and switched to the new fashion channel.

"Cheongsam, an attire that showcases grace and figure—"

Mewtwo's pupils dilated in shock: [No, I am not wearing this!]

Lapras and Milcery exchanged a glance, then tilted their heads in unison to ponder.

Even without entering the synchrony state, the two sisters clearly had established a silent, telepathic accord.

"Milu?"

Not a cheongsam? Then what about a princess dress?

Milcery raised her short arms in a circle: "Milu~ Milu~"

Third Sister, you can wear a princess dress. We can take pictures when you sit like a lady, and we can take pictures when you sit in the traditional kneeling posture. When you stand up, you can spread your arms and spin around, and the fluttering hem will definitely look amazing.

Lapras: "Woo-hoo!"

Besides the small accessories on the tail, they could also have the Trainer mix some perfumes and ointments beneficial for Psychic-type Pokémon to apply.

What was that phrase again?

Milcery raised both hands high, just like a quiz show contestant who had successfully buzzed in.

"Milu!"

Fragrant breezes all around!

Mewtwo couldn't take it anymore and directly turned invisible; he was getting more terrified the more he listened!

He was now desperately wishing for some Legendary Pokémon hostile to Zhu Sihan to appear so he would have an excuse to make a run for it.

Ordinary Pokémon would probably just prompt Zhu Sihan to grab his sticky dango and frying pan himself—it had to be a Legendary Pokémon!

"Are you all ready?"

Judging that it was about time, Zhu Sihan spoke up to keep time, preventing Mewtwo from breaking under his sisters' pressure—and naturally, to prevent the trio from plotting against him.

[Let's go, I'll use Teleport to take you straight to Goldenrod City.]

Mewtwo teleported back into view with the expression of one who had attained enlightenment, closely pursued by a Milcery holding a pink bow, trying to hook the item onto Mewtwo's tail.

Zhu Sihan raised an eyebrow: "Why is there a bow in the house?"

Lapras looked puzzled: "Woo?"

It seemed like something Trainer won from the gachapon in the Rocket Corporation building.

"Fine, I won too many things in that lucky draw and didn't pay attention."

Zhu Sihan glanced at Mewtwo: "Relax, our household supports freedom of attire."

[I think we can drop this subject. Why don't we think about what you're going to do once you get to the Pokémon Center?]

Mewtwo put on a serious front: [We're fine when it comes to healing, but the question is whether your own technical skills are up to par, Sihan.]

"Such a cliché motivational provocation. Though I suppose you can still trust me, a grinding machine who studies even in his sleep."

The pain of allocating points into the blue bar was real, and the subsequent accumulation of knowledge was equally painful.

However, the feeling of instantly understanding things at a glance during class was truly fantastic, and being called upon by the teacher to answer questions carried the thrill of spoiling the plot for the rest of the class.

Plus, being able to treat various Pokémon counted as getting paid to indulge in a bit of harmless perversion if one stretched the definition.

Zhu Sihan patted Lapras's head: "Once we get over there, I'll buy a house immediately, at least large enough to build you a proper, comfortable pool just like the original one."

Other things aside, he was truly not lacking in money, and the living conditions prepared for his partners had to be top-notch.

Blue light flickered in Mewtwo's eyes: [I've scanned several large real estate agencies in Goldenrod City. I'll just teleport us straight over.]

"Find a quiet spot to land, don't drop right into a crowd."

Zhu Sihan laughed: "Mewtwo, are you really not considering a princess dress? I think the color of a princess dress would suit you quite well."

[How did you hear that from outside? Besides, didn't we already drop this topic?]

"Good physical fitness. Wrestling with Tauros would definitely be no problem."

Zhu Sihan grabbed Mewtwo's hand as the blue light of psychic power slowly enveloped the family, ensuring there would be no severe "spatial turbulence" during the transit.

"Then let me share a higher-level philosophy about home, as long as you don't find me boring."

[As long as you don't bring up princess dresses and cheongsams, I find everything you say interesting.]

"That is—as long as we are together, anywhere can be home."

"Even if we light a campfire in the wild, the area illuminated by the fire is likewise a home, because you are here with me."

[Hmph, so sentimental.]