Chapter 455: Ash and Larvitar, The Future Rivals About to Meet

"A modest gift, please accept it."

The woman, with a beautiful face and a gentle demeanor, handed Luo Mu the handbag she was carrying, which bore the words "Kanto Specialties."

Her name was Delia.

As for her identity, she was merely an ordinary yet great mother.

Beside Delia, Ash, wearing clothes his mother had stitched needle by needle, scratched his head and apologized to Luo Mu, "Sorry, Brother Luo Mu, my mom insisted on coming along."

"Pika-pi."

On his shoulder, Pikachu looked at Ash with considerable speechlessness.

After traveling for so long, how could his way of speaking still lack such emotional intelligence?

Sure enough, Delia said with some anger, "You child! Didn't Mom say that once I safely delivered you, I would return to Pallet Town?"

"This is your first time traveling so far from home!"

Knowing he was in the wrong, Ash dared not make a sound.

Delia truly cared for Ash; upon hearing that Ash wanted to travel to the Paldea region on the other side of the planet to train before the opening of the Silver Conference, she did not stop him but open-mindedly agreed to his idea, only requesting that she personally drop him off and pick him up for both legs of the journey.

She was truly a model mother.

Holding the "Kanto Specialties," a smile appeared on Luo Mu's face as he spoke to break the tension, "Would Ash's mother like to come inside for a cup of hot tea?"

Having her emotional release interrupted directly by Luo Mu, Delia also realized she had been somewhat improper; her face rarely flushed red as she adjusted her hair and waved her hand apologetically, saying, "I won't trouble you; I still need to catch the next flight back shortly."

At this moment, Ash suddenly changed his stance, dragging out his tone, "Eh—leaving already?"

Delia glanced at him, feeling somewhat speechless toward this child whose words made no sense from one sentence to the next.

Just a moment ago you were hoping I'd leave, and now you're pulling this trick again?

Sigh, but what can be done about it? This is my own flesh and blood.

Delia rubbed Ash's head and instructed the boy, who had puffed out his cheeks and looked somewhat unhappy, "Mom will come to pick you up when the time comes, so during this period, you mustn't cause any trouble for Mr. Luo Mu, okay?"

Ash, who had just begun to feel some reluctance at her departure, immediately felt that Delia was being naggy again.

Delia ignored him and stroked Pikachu's head as well.

"Pika-chan too; I'm leaving Ash in your care~"

"Chu~"

Pikachu narrowed his eyes, greatly enjoying Delia's touch.

Delia arrived quickly and left just as fast.

Luo Mu did not stop her again, even though he had many ways to solve the problem of Delia missing her flight.

Having Dragonite provide transport, or even directly asking Lei Guan Wang for help, could all ensure Delia returned safely to the Kanto region.

The reason for this was that Luo Mu realized that Delia, as a mother, understood that if she stayed, Ash would likely feel somewhat restrained, so she chose not to stay and accept the hospitality.

How to put it? She was indeed a very open-minded and considerate mother.

That maternal radiance was very striking; no wonder back at Greenfield, even Mimi insisted on having Delia be her mother.

After seeing Delia off, Luo Mu walked toward the farm with Ash and Pikachu, whose faces seemed to hold expressions of excitement.

They hadn't walked even a few steps when several sounds suddenly came from inside Ash's backpack.

Ash hastily put down his backpack and said, "Ah! Larvitar, are you awake?"

Larvitar!?

Under Luo Mu's stunned expression, Ash unzipped his backpack and asked with concern toward the small green Pokémon inside.

Looking closely, it was indeed the famous Pokémon of the Johto region, the initial form of the Desert Tyrant Tyranitar: Larvitar!

However, compared to Tyranitar, whose title alone made one feel an overwhelming sense of dominance, this Larvitar currently possessed not even a shred of the Desert Tyrant's appearance.

Seemingly because it was hungry, it touched its shriveled little belly with a grievous expression, whimpering softly as it cried.

For some reason, upon hearing the soft crying, Ash and Pikachu somehow felt quite relieved, a reaction that left one baffled.

"Are you hungry? But Brock and Misty have both gone home to visit their families."

Realizing that Larvitar seemed to be hungry, Ash and Pikachu felt somewhat at a loss.

Throughout this journey, Larvitar had been cared for by Mom Delia; besides Ash and Pikachu, Delia was the only person Larvitar was willing to get close to.

Not even Brock and Misty received such treatment; whenever either of them approached Larvitar, the Pokémon would become completely stiff.

With Delia's departure, Ash and Pikachu instantly became like headless flies.

Just as they watched helplessly while Larvitar's cries grew louder and louder, nearly panicking into chaos, Luo Mu, having realized the situation, walked over.

He squatted down and, to the surprised expressions of Ash and Pikachu, scooped up Larvitar and held it in his arms, skillfully coaxing the child.

Reacting a beat slower, Ash subconsciously tried to snatch Larvitar back, explaining, "Brother Luo Mu, Larvitar only gets close to me and Pikachu; if you hold it like that, it will..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ash's hand stopped in mid-air.

Larvitar subconsciously sniffed at Luo Mu's body; for some reason, regardless of what scent it detected, it did not become stiff due to nervousness and timidity, but instead, under Luo Mu's soothing, its crying gradually ceased!

"... become stiff."

Ash spat out those unfinished words.

He stared blankly at Larvitar, which was rubbing affectionately against Luo Mu's chest, his expression nearly collapsing.

Why!

He and Pikachu had expended unknown amounts of effort to make Larvitar open its heart!

But upon their first meeting, how could Larvitar be so close to Luo Mu?

Ash felt as if the sky were about to fall.

So this was it.

This was what they called jealousy?

By the long-unused fireplace, Luo Mu sat cross-legged on the ground, holding the baby bottle that Infernape had just dug out, which Growlithe had once used, and skillfully fed the warm Tapu Tapu Moumou milk in his arms to Larvitar.

Xiao Zhi sat on the sofa to the side, the emotions on his face exceedingly complex.

On one hand, he felt that Big Brother Luo Mu was indeed reliable.

On the other hand, he was truly jealous.

Thinking about it from another's perspective, if a child who usually only clung to you suddenly treated a stranger with even more enthusiasm and affection, wouldn't anyone lose their temper?

Anyway, Xiao Zhi had broken down.

As for Pikachu?

Pikachu was sitting nearby, gulping down Tapu Tapu Moumou's fresh milk just like Larvitar!

The difference was that the baby bottle in its hands was one previously used by Tropius.

This baby bottle and the Tapu Tapu Moumou fresh milk were what Pikachu, thick-skinned despite Xiao Zhi's angry expression of disappointment at its lack of ambition, had begged from Luo Mu and Oranguru.

At this moment, Pikachu's figure appeared slightly plump; it was clear it hadn't undergone thorough weight loss and slimming yet, so naturally, it was particularly interested in all kinds of food.

Very soon.

Larvitar forcibly finished drinking ten bottles of Tapu Tapu Moumou's fresh milk, only then feeling a sense of fullness; it let out a milky burp and peacefully fell asleep in Luo Mu's arms just like that.

For a Larvitar born less than a week ago, only sleep could allow its body to grow rapidly.

And nutrition was something even more indispensable.

Without the protection of parents, and without special soil to consume, other methods had to be used to supplement its nutrients, which was extremely costly.

But Larvitar's problems were not just this.

Handing the sleeping Larvitar to Oranguru, who placed it in a crib that Oranguru had already dug out from the warehouse, Luo Mu began walking with extra caution; sitting opposite Xiao Zhi, he asked with pretended ignorance, "Is this Larvitar a Pokémon you captured, Xiao Zhi?"

Xiao Zhi wanted to nod, but after thinking for a moment, he shook his head and said, "It is my friend, entrusted to my care by Professor Elm."

Then, Xiao Zhi told Luo Mu the specific details regarding Larvitar.

This Larvitar had hatched from a Pokémon Egg he obtained at the Pokémon Marine Research Institute.

Originally, Xiao Zhi was supposed to escort the Pokémon Egg to Professor Elm's laboratory, but along the way, the egg suddenly hatched, turning into a Larvitar that, for some reason, remained constantly asleep and had a very low body temperature.

After enduring a rainy night, Professor Oak, Professor Elm, and Mother Hanako arrived, successfully treating Larvitar, but another problem immediately followed.

Larvitar showed absolutely no reaction to external stimuli, just as if it were immersed in One's Own World.

After experiencing a few more events, Larvitar accepted Xiao Zhi and Pikachu, but it would still feel timid and stiffen its entire body whenever others approached.

After completing registration for the Silver Conference, Xiao Zhi remembered he had promised Luo Mu to come to Paldea for special training; ultimately, with everyone's agreement, the result was that Mother Hanako would accompany Xiao Zhi to Paldea, while Misty and Brock took time off to return home and visit their families.

"As soon as Professor Oak heard you had invited me, he strongly advised me to come find you, saying you might have some method... and sure enough, as soon as we arrived, Larvitar became so affectionate toward you."

Xiao Zhi said with a face full of jealousy.

Pikachu swept its tail across Xiao Zhi, wearing a look of mockery.

"Pika Pika, Pikachu~?"

Could it be that your charm is too poor, Xiao Zhi~?

Xiao Zhi, who had initially developed the trait of telepathic understanding, immediately flushed red with anger and started frolicking with Pikachu.

Luo Mu watched them play, his mind churning with thoughts.

As expected, this Larvitar was indeed the one belonging to Xiao Zhi in the anime.

Luo Mu also roughly remembered Larvitar's origins.

It was born in the Silver Mountains, a descendant of one of the Tyranitar there.

After being forcibly snatched away from its mother by a Pokémon Hunter, Larvitar fell into a certain stream due to an accident.

Following that, Larvitar's Pokémon Egg went through many twists and turns before being obtained by Xiao Zhi and his companions, who intended to deliver it to Professor Elm.

But perhaps due to its experiences while still an egg, and the memory of being forcibly separated from its mother, Larvitar's psyche had suffered great damage, displaying obvious symptoms of autism.

Subsequently, naturally, Xiao Zhi and his companions helped Larvitar overcome this with care, allowed it to see its mother again, and achieved a reunion ending where it stayed by its mother's side.

The timing of Xiao Zhi's arrival was indeed too coincidental.

When Luo Mu had invited Xiao Zhi, he had completely forgotten about this matter.

This also resulted in Xiao Zhi and his companions not continuing their journey toward the Silver Mountains, but instead parting ways with an agreement to meet up later.

As for why this Larvitar became affectionate toward him upon their first meeting, Luo Mu was also unclear as to the reason.

At the very least, this Larvitar was not the one he knew.

"... This is troublesome."

Stroking his chin, Luo Mu's expression was somewhat helpless.

It seemed that not only Ye He Yue, but he had also butterfly-effect-ed away the entire subsequent plotline of Larvitar's growth.

Worrying endlessly was not a solution; since the matter had already occurred, he just needed to think of a way to remedy it.

Luo Mu quickly cast these thoughts aside; while contemplating subsequent arrangements, he simply prepared a lunch for Xiao Zhi and Pikachu.

For Pikachu, naturally, it was its favorite omelet rice stuffed full of ketchup.

Of course, the ketchup was the true essence.

As for Xiao Zhi's lunch, Luo Mu showed off his skills, using the spices he had gradually collected over this period to stir-fry several specialty dishes for him, leaving the boy with grease dripping from his mouth.

After all, the Kanto and Johto regions primarily focused on Japanese-style cuisine, and the only slightly rich-flavored food was something like curry rice; tasting for the first time the aroma created by combining numerous spices and ingredients through stir-frying, Xiao Zhi naturally could not hold back.

After eating and drinking their fill, Luo Mu was about to take Xiao Zhi out.

Hadn't he specifically moved today's lessons to the afternoon precisely because he planned to take Xiao Zhi to the Grape Academy?

Originally, Xiao Zhi was somewhat worried about whether Larvitar would adapt.

But the result was that it slept soundly in the strange environment, paying him no mind whatsoever; coupled with the experience of the past few days, and Luo Mu saying that newborn Pokémon spend most of the day sleeping, Xiao Zhi finally went out with Luo Mu.

"I'm counting on you, Charizard!"

Xiao Zhi flipped the brim of his cap and threw out a Poké Ball that had been transmitted to his hand from Charicific Valley.

A moment later.

After a roar, the Charizard, whose size was considerably smaller than its kin, performed its classic move—breathing fire straight up into the sky.

Ash had brought Charizard as promised.

Originally, Charizard had intended to blast Ash with fire, but upon seeing Luo Mu, it immediately reined in all its temper.

This was the person who had beaten it senseless with a Delibird!

Can't mess with him, can't mess with him!

Before entering Charicific Valley, Charizard would absolutely have been the type to confront anyone it saw.

After experiencing some setbacks, although it still retained its pride and dominance, it also knew the rule: unless necessary, one must not provoke the strong.

Moreover, that Dragonite, which looked a hundred times stronger than even the mightiest Charizard in Charicific Valley, was watching it with hawk-like intensity.

Click—

Luo Mu pressed the shutter, and the camera in his hand emitted the sound of taking a photo.

Having completed the snapshot, Luo Mu looked at the developed photograph of Ash and Charizard together, feeling slightly regretful.

He had said he could capture the decisive evidence of Super Newbie.

Luo Mu expanded the Black Sphere, transmitting the photograph along with a note containing a message to the Delibird far away in the Johto region.

At this moment, the Delibird should already be near the Bell Tower, likely intending to view the Sacred Fire before heading to the athletes' village where the Silver Conference was being held.

Luo Mu's note mentioned asking it to take some photos of the Silver Conference when the time came.

After doing all this, Luo Mu flipped onto Dragonite's back and said to Ash and Charizard, "Follow me."

It was time for Ash and Paul, these rivals, to meet ahead of schedule.

(End of Chapter)