Chapter 202: Iono and Hearing Hearing Nimo's Invitation, The Bakery in Levincia City

Shuang Nai Xian wanted to try the various desserts of the Kalos region, especially the chocolate cream cake from a town called Vaniville, which was very famous in Kalos.

That town happened to be near Lumiose City, where the Pokémon Connoisseur Academy was located, so they could stop by there along the way.

All of this information was what Shuang Nai Xian had found online using Luo Mu's phone.

Until now, Luo Mu still hadn't figured out how Shuang Nai Xian learned to operate a phone, but seeing it wanted to learn various dessert-making methods via the internet, he thought about it and decided not to ask; things were already good enough as they were.

On the morning of March 21st, after handling farm affairs and asking Luxray and the others to guard the farm well, Luo Mu bid farewell to his Pokémon, rode on Dragonite, flew all the way, and arrived at a corner of the Paldea region—Levincia City.

As a city with extremely developed technology, Levincia City naturally also had flights to various regions.

Just as the flight Luo Mu and Kukui took to the Alola region departed from Levincia Airport in Levincia City, so too did this flight to the Kalos region.

Today, the only flight to the Kalos region was the evening one; Luo Mu felt it was perfect to use this time to stroll around Levincia City, especially since two people had sent him invitations to observe a Gym Challenge.

The inviters were Iono, the rookie Gym Leader of the Levincia Gym and an online streamer, and Luo Mu's prized student, the future Paldea Champion, Hearing Hearing Nimo.

Luo Mu had once stayed in Levincia City for a period of time, roughly about a month or two, and it was then that he met Iono, who had only recently become a Gym Leader and was still very green in all aspects.

Walking down the street lined with skyscrapers, Luo Mu wore an expression of slight sighing and nostalgia.

Billboards occupying more than half his field of vision were everywhere; adults in business attire and students carrying backpacks hurried past the traffic lights. If not for the Poké Ball still at his waist, Luo Mu would have even felt the disorientation of having traveled back in time.

Here, dazzling lights shone day and night; it was a city that never slept. The various neon lights shining in the night were magnificent, but unfortunately, it was currently daytime, so the shock value brought by the lights was greatly diminished.

Thinking for a moment, Luo Mu released Shuang Nai Xian, letting it stand on his shoulder as it curiously surveyed the surroundings, and said with a smile, "There's a bakery in Levincia City that I highly recommend; the taste is excellent. Let's go try some, and then buy some to take as gifts for Iono and Hearing Hearing Nimo."

"Mawf~"

Shuang Nai Xian held its cheeks with great anticipation, and just like that, standing on Luo Mu's shoulder, they arrived at the entrance of a shop with a sign reading "Memory Bread."

The bakery was decorated very warmly; the transparent glass separating it from the outside allowed one to see the neatly arranged, freshly baked various breads inside, which looked appetizing at first glance.

Pushing open the shop door, a familiar crisp sound of wind chimes rang out; Luo Mu, wearing a nostalgic smile, walked through the doorway.

"Welcome, please feel free to choose."

A greeting voice rose up that wasn't particularly enthusiastic, but certainly couldn't be called cold either.

Luo Mu looked toward the counter, where a mature uncle with a ponytail hairstyle, wearing a clean white chef's uniform and a red scarf tied around his chest, was sitting.

He had a lollipop stuck in his mouth, holding it there without moving.

Luo Mu knew his craving for cigarettes had struck again, and he was relying on the lollipop to quit smoking.

The corners of his mouth lifting, Luo Mu smiled and said, "Uncle Yuuren, long time no see."

Uncle Yuuren was his boss back when he was in Levincia City; at that time, in order to earn money, he had worked part-time at this bakery, which also allowed him to learn some craftsmanship along the way.

The uncle called Yuuren froze for a moment while fiddling with his phone, then quickly looked up toward the entrance; when he clearly saw who had arrived, a smile appeared on his face, and he hurriedly stood up, saying, "How did you come to Levincia City!?"

Luo Mu walked into the shop with practiced ease, picked up a tray and tongs, and began selecting bread on his own, not forgetting to answer, "I have business passing through and need to stay here for a day. I thought it's been a long time since I ate the bread you made, Uncle, so I came to buy some, and also to use as gifts for others."

"It's impressive that you ate them almost continuously for about two months under the excuse of work meals just to save money for training resources without getting tired of them," Yuuren retorted, but when he saw the Pokémon on Luo Mu's shoulder curiously sizing up the bread, he exclaimed, "Shuang Nai Xian!? Did you catch a Shuang Nai Xian?"

After evolving, Shuang Nai Xian still maintained its lively and cheerful personality; it wasn't frightened by Yuuren's suddenly increased volume, but instead smiled and waved toward him.

As if struck by Shuang Nai Xian's cuteness, Yuuren clutched his chest and let out an unbearable scream.

Luo Mu put down the tray and tongs, covered Shuang Nai Xian's auditory organs, and said helplessly, "Uncle Yuuren, control yourself; the child is still young. I can understand your desire to have your own Shuang Nai Xian assistant, but please stop staring at my Shuang Nai Xian with such a drooling gaze."

"Drool is almost flowing out."

Yuuren subconsciously wiped the corner of his mouth, and only when he felt his hand was completely dry did he realize he had been tricked by Luo Mu again; he said in a bad temper, "Forget it, forget it. Sooner or later, I will encounter my destined little Alcremie and Shuang Nai Xian; until then, I disdain all other Shuang Nai Xian!"

"Also, how have you been lately? Which Gym have you challenged up to?"

Luo Mu picked up a piece of Cocoa Orange Peel Rice Bread and placed it on the tray, blinked, and said, "Uh, I've already retired."

Yuuren widened his eyes: "Hah?"

Luo Mu had no intention of hiding anything; he picked up a Lemon Black Tea Bagel that Shuang Nai Xian was very interested in, smiled, and said, "However, all of this is based on the premise that I have already completed the challenge of the eight Gyms and passed the Champion Assessment."

"Quick, quick, Uncle, call me 'Champion'?"

"Go, go, go, you're already retired, so why call you Champion?"

Yuuren pretended to be disgusted and waved his hand, but his gratified expression betrayed him.

The air froze for an instant; his tone suddenly became choked with emotion: "... But I have to say this: you are truly amazing. Congratulations on becoming Champion."

"I told you so; among all the Trainers I've seen, no one is more talented than you, and no one works harder than you. Hmm, Uncle here expected this small matter long ago."

"Haha, in the future, when I talk to those boastful neighbors, I'll finally have something to brag about. How about saying, 'The Champion once worked part-time in my tiny bakery'?"

"Wouldn't that completely crush their stories about some distant relative's nephew from their seventh aunt and eighth great-aunt's family passing some random Gym?"

"Mm, thank you, Uncle Yuuren."

Luo Mu hadn't expected the other party to trust him completely, without the slightest hint of suspicion.

Holding back for a long time, he could only offer a plain word of thanks to this uncle who had once helped him so much.

(End of Chapter)