"Master, Madam! Young Master James has returned! It's wonderful!" In the main hall, the Oscar-winning butler reported to the two coffins with a look of immense relief. Ash and the group watched quietly from the sidelines.
Seeing the butler's performance, Suzie finally noticed the glaring inconsistency and whispered in Ash's ear, "Ash, Mr. and Mrs. Sasaki aren't just faking their deaths, are they?"
Ash cast a side glance at Jessie and the others, who weren't paying attention, and whispered back, "Exactly. They're faking it. That's just how those two are. They don't care about playing dead if it means dragging James back home."
Bang!
The moment Ash finished speaking, the lids of the two coffins flew off. Mr. and Mrs. Sasaki, two very much alive individuals, sat straight up and shouted, "Welcome home, James!"
"..."
Seeing the two corpses reanimate, Jessie and Meowth froze in shock. Mr. and Mrs. Sasaki, deciding to temporarily ignore the two who had dragged their son home, looked directly at Ash. "Ash! Thank you so much for this. If we'd known earlier, we should have told you. Maybe James would have come back sooner."
"It's nothing. I didn't expect James to be a wealthy heir either. By the way, let me introduce you. This is Misty, Suzie, and Lara... my fiancées. And this is our traveling companion, Brock."
"Hello!"
"Ah, what lovely girls. If only James could be like you, Ash, and save us some worry." Mr. Sasaki glanced at the rings on Misty and the girls' fingers and smiled faintly. Unlike the rigid traditions of other aristocratic families, Ash had the freedom to choose his marriages. As for his own son... Mr. Sasaki could only apologize in his heart. Worst case scenario, he'd just make James marry all the girls around him too.
"Mom, Dad! I'm not getting married! This is extortion!" Though James was shocked that Ash knew his parents, he prioritized fighting for his freedom. Unfortunately, he was currently captive cargo; Jessie and Meowth had him pinned down so he couldn't escape.
"Jessie! Meowth! Let me go! If we run now, we can still make it!"
"Shut up! We're about to see the inheritance, stop talking nonsense!"
"You idiots! We've been tricked!"
Watching James, Jessie, and Meowth bicker as if no one else was in the room, James's parents felt incredibly awkward. How are we supposed to act with this going on? Seeing their dilemma, Ash stepped in to smooth things over. "How about... we take James to see his fiancée?"
"Twerp! Why are you throwing me under the bus?!" James was horrified at the mention of his fiancée. Mr. Sasaki seized the lifeline Ash provided. "Exactly! How could we forget the most important thing! Butler, take James to meet his future wife! We'll go on ahead. The other staff will show Ash and the guests to their quarters. Let's move!"
Accompanied by the roaring laughter of his parents, James was dragged away. Brock stared at the spot where James had vanished and sighed. "So lucky... Even James has a fiancée... Meanwhile, I..."
Seeing Brock's depressive episode acting up, Ash patted him on the back. "Cheer up. Your destiny might just be waiting for you somewhere." Hearing Ash say that, Brock immediately remembered the fortune teller who said he would find three destined loves on a southern island. He started drooling. "Hehehe... destiny..."
BOOM!
Just as Brock was creeping out, an explosion echoed through the halls, followed by a massive cloud of toxic gas. Seconds later, James, hugging his Weezing tightly, sprinted out at record speed, screaming, "MAMA MIA! Jessiebelle is coming! Weezing, keep the Smokescreen going!"
Watching James sprint away in absolute terror, Brock looked confused. "Jessiebelle? Sounds like someone James knows?"
Swish!
A rope shot out from the smoke, snaring James. Once again, Jessie and Meowth had him captured. "Don't even think about running!"
"Please! Don't do this! Let me go! I don't want to see Jessiebelle!"
James's shrieks were tragic, but he was dealing with his stone-hearted teammates. After a brief struggle, he was dragged right back into the smoke.
His parents and the butler simply stood there, watching him get dragged away without a word. All they had to do was watch quietly.
"Ahem. Uncle Sasaki, it looks like it's about time for lunch. Do you mind if I borrow your kitchen for a bit?" Ash had no intention of getting involved in the Sasaki family drama. Seeing that it was mealtime, he asked to use the kitchen.
Knowing Ash's culinary skills well, Mr. Sasaki beamed. "Of course not! And if you don't mind, please prepare a portion for us as well."
"No problem! Come on, Meowth, Pikachu, let's get to work! Let's leave them to their fiancée business. Momma Bewear, hold on a bit, the honey steak will be ready soon."
"Twerp! Why are you doing this to me?! I don't wanna see Jessiebelle!" Accompanying James's blood-curdling screams, he was hauled away yet again. Suzie watched his pathetic state and asked, "Is this... really okay?"
"It's fine. It's family business, best not to interfere. The ingredients here are top-tier, so I'll make you guys a feast. These are dishes that haven't even made it onto the Continental Hotel's menu yet." While he pitied James, Ash wasn't going to stick his nose where it didn't belong. Besides, he'd rather spend his time with Misty, Suzie, and Lara. As for Brock... who wants to hang out with a guy?
"Boss, can I have fish? Pikachu says he wants pie." Right on cue, Meowth walked over wearing a chef's hat, accompanied by Pikachu and Eevee. Ash nodded at Meowth's request.
"Sure thing. We'll whip up some fish and a pie."
"Long live the Boss!"
"Pika!"
"Eevee!"
(Honey steak... has Ash's cooking leveled up again?)
While Meowth and the others cheered, Bewear was already drooling at the thought of Ash's honey steak. "Mama!" (Big brother makes the best food!)
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